Please post your suggested starting and ending loads for me. It's a new M77MKII stainless as yet unfired. Please also post your suggestions for barrel conditioning and cleaning during break-in.

I've bought Barnes x 225's and Nosler BT 200's to start with. I will use the Barnes for moose if they shoot well, if not I will pick up some Nosler Partitions.

For powder I have some IMR4831 and just bought some RL19.

Thanks vm,

Mike

Mike, lets start at the beginning. I would highly recommend a barrel break in that consists of shooting one shot, then clean, shoot one shot, then clean, etc. for about 10 or 12 shots. I know it is boring as hell, but every barrel I have done this to has shot well down the road.
After 10 or 12 shots go to 3-5 shots then clean.
Do this for the first 20 or 30 shots.

I just came in from the garage where I loaded another box of .338 Win Mags using the 200 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. The Nosler manual goes to a max load of 75 grains of IMR 4831. I shot that for a while, but found the primer pockets don't last too long. I would recommend a charge of 74 grains of IMR 4831 for a Max. Start down around 72 grains and see what happens.

The 74 grain charge gives me about 2960 fps in my 24 inch barrel. I have shot several wild hogs here in CA with this load and it really puts them on the ground.

In regard to the Barnes X bullets, I just do not like them. Everybody likes different things, I guess. I shot them in my 300 WBY for a while, but had poor luck on them on hogs. A friend had very poor results with the 225 grain version in his .340 WBY shooting several cow elk on a depradation permit in New Mexico.

I prefer the 225 grain Nosler Partition. My best load for this bullet is 71.5 grains of H 4350 powder. I imagine a similar load of IMR 4831 would be comparable. This load of 71.5 grains of H 4350 gives about 2880 fps in my 24 inch barrel and put the last elk I shot in the dirt right now.

However, do not discount RL 19 as a good .338 Win Mag powder. A charge of 72 grains of RL 19 gives me great groups with the 250 grain Sierra boat tail in my .338. The velocity is about 2770 fps.

Hope this helps, R F

Good advise from Mr. Flowers, I also like RL-19 and RL-15, and I have an old batch of surplus 4831 that really cooks...

I used the 225 a good deal and decided it was neither fish nor fowl...so I shoot the 210 Nosler, a wonderfull bullet capable of anything. and the great 300 gr. Woodleigh RN., now there is a killer bullet on big tough stuff like moose or Alaskan Brown Bear....It floors elk like the hammer of Thor.

Gentlemen,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I have heard good things about the 210 Nosler Partition in the circle of friends I run with as well. I will likely head that way this summer and do some further load development. The RL19 is nice small-grained powder and should meter quite nicely. That's the one beef I've had with IMR4831
over the years. (but I use it a lot in my .25-06)
I hope the RL19 works out in both guns.

The scope should be mounted next week and I'll let you know when I've had some bench time.

Mike

Since the only "large" game here in Ga is deer, pigs and coyotes, I've been loading the 180 gr nosler BT. I'm using 73 gr of imr 4831. Not sure what the velocity is but it is very accurate from my beretta mato.
Good shooting, Weagle

Try 65.0 gr. (MAX LOAD) of RL-15 with the 200-gr. Ballistic Tips. Took this suggestion from John Barsness and it gets me 2950 fps, a good 150 fps higher than H4831 or RL-19, with good accuracy in my Beretta Mato.

I always hesitate to give a specific load but my .338 Win. Classic Super Grade likes a 200 Ballistic Tip with IMR 4064 for about 3000fps. Accuracy is outstanding. The 210 Partition is a very good bullet but my rifle just doesn't like it. I will be trying the new 210gr Scirocco as soon as I can find some. Good shooting!

my best load for my .338WM browning safari is;
72 grains IMR4350
WW brass
CCI 250 LRM
Hornady 225 spire point
2898 fps
4196 foot/pounds
I have used this load on a huge black bear, and a porcupine. both one shot kills.