I've got a .338-06 Mauser that I made for elk hunting. It shoots 210 Gr. Nosler Partition bullets well enough but I'd like use it for deer hunting with the 180 Gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip.

So far, I've woefull results with 4064 and a few others. Groups are 3" or more.

Could you folks post your favorite accuracy loads and any other suggestions? Could barrel twist be wrong for the light bullet? Thanks for any help you can provide.

57gr. of RL-15 does it for me. I am fortunate that my rifle shoots everything well, but that load is outstanding.

I'll also vote for RL15 very accurate in my rifle. I use 55 gr.for 2900 fps. Make sure you start about 10% lower and work up to your MAX

i'll cube the vote for rl-15 although i shoot 250 gr sierra's exclusively. 52 grs,win case,fed 210 primer,2600 fps. i stopped there because every group was under .5". smallest group to date has been 3 rounds into .254"@100 meters. either you shoot a 180 bt or 250 sierra, bullet is going thru any deer anyway. good shooting, victor e.

If you want to use 180 grain bullets, I think you'd be better off shooting them out of a 30-06. I'd stay with the 210's for deer. What are you hoping to gain with the use of the light bullet?

The question was what is an accurate load for 180gr. bullets in a 338-06. Not what grain bullet you think is the better choice.

Here's some that have worked for me. Speer 200gr.IMR4064 55 gr, CCI200 primer,Lapua case or 215gr Sierra,N 150 55gr, same primer & case.

wax, I don't care what the question was. I had a question of my own, and I asked it. And it wasn't directed at you, so it's none of your business.

Never the less, Washington hunter is correct, regardless of the question, a 180 gr. bullet is a poor choice because it will destruct and blood shoot a whole shoulder and voids good penitration for a angling shoot because it lacks sectional density.......

A 210 Nosler behind a good dose of IMR-4320 will get you the highest velocity and the better deer or elk bullet..

Folks,
The 338 in 180gr has the same SD of the 150 gr in 308. I shot a mule deer in Colo. with a 150gr in 30-06 Win PP entered the last rib and broke the off shoulder before it exited. I think it will be OK for Bama Whitetails.

[ 03-25-2003, 04:25: Message edited by: Rob1SG ]

In my 338 06 the powder I have I used for years is IMR 4320 with Nosler 210 Part.....killed grizzly and moose with this load

54.0 of IMR 4320
Fed GM210 Match Primers
Fed Cases
Nosler 210 Part

ABM, your load is a good one. I am in the RL15 crowd but IMR4320 is so close in accuracy/vel. I could live w/ it as well. My rifle likes 53.5gr RL15 or 54.5gr IMR4320 under the exc. 210grNP for about 2750fps from my 22.5" bbl.
Grizzly, you may find your rifle just doesn't like the lighter bullets. I have yet to find a good 225gr load in mine. The 200-210gr & 250gr bullets shoot very well, but I can't get much better than 1 3/4" from any of the 225gr bullet/powder combos I have tried. Try RL15 from 54gr & work up. Seating depth may also be an issue w/ this shorter bullet.

Albert:

I agree with the RL 15 crowd if 4064 is not grouping good. the powder I have used the most and turned people onto the most has been good old H380. Use with Fed 210 primers. I use 64 grains of it with 200/210 grainers, 62.5 grains for 225s and 60 grains for 250 grainers.
Has given me and several other 338/06 shooters good velocity with accuracy. I prefer it big time over IMR 4320 loads.

As far as a 180 grainer for deer, I use to hunt in Wisconsin. That bullet is fine for deer there. I have spent some time playing with Nosler ballistic tips and shooting them into wood branches at different velocities and comparing the damage done at different velocities. The 338 caliber is different than the rest of the ballistic tips as it has a very large shank or base as compared to other calibers. Calling Nosler's tech line will verify this for the non believers.

Another thing I have found out playing with the ballistic tips, is that seem to do a lot more damage and come apart a lot less at velocities under 27-2800 fps. We took down an elk that weighed about 650 pounds on the hoof in Montana, with a 165 grain BT out of an '06. the animal was at a broadside dead run at 175 yds. The bullet took out both lungs while cutting the esophagus in half. The animal went 50 yds and piled up. The BT turned the oft lung into a bowl of spaghetti. No big deal one would say, until I mention the fact that the bullet was downloaded for a nephew who made the shot, with me standing right next to him. Since he was only 12 but his dad wanted him to have a rifle he could grow into, I had the velocity down to 2250fps at the muzzle. Basically 30/30 speeds.
( 30 grains IMR 4198).

So if that load at that speed will take down a Montana elk weighing 650lbs at 175 yds with a muzzle velocity of 2250, I am sure you can take a 250 lb Wisconsin Whitetail with a 180 grain 338 load.

If you check reload manuals, one thing cool about using 4064 is that when you use 50 grains of it, velocity with bullet weights from 200 to 250 grains are all at about 2500 fps. 2 and half inches high at 100 yds will give you a point blank zero of 250 to 275 yrds for a whitetail. That is more than enough for any place in Wisconsin, swamp or cornfield.
Skip the high velocity you don't need it!

Albert,

Sorry I thought you were from Wisconsin, but that is Waxman below you. Believe me, there is not a deer in Alabama that a 180 grain out of any caliber will not take down with proper shot placement. Deer are a lot bigger in Wisconsin than Alabama.

As far as for Washington Hunter, if he is hunting deer with a 338/06 in Washington, they are no bigger than Blacktails here in Oregon.
These deer weigh about as much as a doberman or a Lab. Heck a kid that is good with a sling shot can take down one of these deer.

I took one that weighed 135lbs after being gutted and had the head taken off to mount the rack and head. That is like shooting a 300 lb deer in Alabama. I shot this one, after I had put up my deer rifle, so I whipped out a Marlin 22 Mag and head shot him at 100 yds. He went down like a ton of bricks.

Your 338/06 with any bullet is just fine in your neighborhood.