Got the barreled action back from Montana Rifleman and got it setting in the stock this weekend. Went out today at lunch and picked up some Hornady 200 gr spire point Interlocks to start with. Would have liked to have tried some Interbond bullets but they are not available in this caliber and weight yet.

Been reading where IMR 4895 or Rel 15 are good powders to start with. Previously, I had gotten suggestions to try 46 gr of Rel 15 but I think that was in a AI case. And Ken Waters suggested 47 gr of Rel 15.

I'll take it slow and work up and let you know how it does.

My favorite calibers (.338-06) little brother! I would think the 210grNP & RL15 would be perfect for your new toy. Let us know how it turns out.

Look at what powders are good in the 358 win, and if they overlap with the 308.

I have found benchmark, rl15, and win748 to all be very good in 308 and 358

jeffe

I've been shooting a 338-08 for about 3 years now. (Rebored Model 88)
The bullets I've tried have been:

200gr. Combinded Technologies Ballistic Tips,(outstanding accuracy)
200gr. Hornady Flat Nose,
225gr. Nosler Partitions,
225 Hornady SP (cheap to shoot)

All have been loaded into new 308 Federal Match Brass and CCI 200 primers.

My first loads were IMR4895 ranging from 44-48gr. I settled on 47gr.
I then found Reloader 7 and really like the results I got.
Right now my favorite load is 36gr. of RL7, Federal Match Brass, 200CCI primers set to a 2.8"OAL using the Hornady 225gr. SP

I have some 210gr. Nosler Partition on order for my 338mag to use on elk this fall. I'm going to play around with them for my 338-08 also.

I love the round and the rilfe, falls right between my 308 and 358. I doubt. any critter would ever notice the difference between the three, but I wouldn't get rid of any of them.

[ 07-18-2003, 23:43: Message edited by: jbmi ]

Elkslayer:
I used the 200 Ballistic Tip, the 225 Partition, and the 200 Hornady Flat Nose.
The 200 Ballistic was a MOA bullet for me.

Any of you ever try the 180gr nosler BT in your 338-08? I know the 200gr BT works great in my downloaded 338 mag loads. What velocities do you guys get with the 200 gr bullets?

I used the 180 gr NBT last year deer hunting in my .338-08. It knocked 'em pretty good and was more than enough gun for WI whitetails. Both kills were broadside chest shots and the bullets completely penetrated leaving good size exit holes. Muzzle velocity for that load (45.5 gr N202)averaged 2,690 fps from the 22" barrel. I've gotten 2,700+ fps from H335 and H4895, and suppose I could do the same with the N202. I've driven the 200 gr NBT's close to 2,600 fps and am shooting for 2,500 fps w/the 210 gr Partition but am finding it difficult to break 2,450 fps.

What actions are your 338-08s built around? How much do they weigh? Would you run into max OAL problems in a Mod 7 action due to its short magazine box? If Kimber ever decides to sell the 84M action, I think that would make a dandy little 338-08 rifle.

I haven't measured any of the groups I have fired yet as I am not finished with load development and I am not fully ready to post a full report. Also I want to weigh my rifle but just haven't done so yet. Will get this all done in good time and report findings here but I wanted to answer Micmac's question.

Micmac -

My 338-08 is built on a Rem M7 using a 22" MRC #4 contour barrel and a 4X Weaver scope mounted in Leupold one piece bases and using Leupold rings.

I started out loading using the Hornady 200gr spire point, new Win brass, CCI primers and H4895. I am able to have a OAL of 2.90 with this case and bullet. The channelure is about a 32nd of an inch above (out of) the case mouth.

I loaded 10 rounds of 44gr, 5 rounds of 45, and 5 rounds of 46 grains all using H4895. I used the 44 grain load to get on paper, make sure the rifle functioned properly, and get the bullet 2" high at 100 yards (which took 2 of the 10 rounds I had allowed for). This bullet seated to a OAL of 2.90 just reaches to the base of the neck. My heaviest load (46gr of H4895) filled the case to just above the base of the neck ever so slightly compressing the powder.

I then put the next 5 rounds into a tight little group of about 1" with 3 of the rounds going into the same hole barely making a clover leaf.

The 45 grain loads were a disapointment and the 46 grain loads tightened up some but not to the nice group I got with 44gr.

I will tweek the loads a bit this weekend using H4895 (44.5, 45.5 and 46.5) then try some Rel 15.

But to answer your question about a Rem M7, yes, you can use that action for this cartridge. I am sure that it would not allow for seating 225 or 250 grain bullets without intruding on the powder below the neck but I believe this cartridge will work best with 180 to 215 grain bullets.

More to come.

If you can't kill it with a 210 gr partition or X bullet, then you probably shouldn't have been shooting at it