338-06 bullet selection

[tim629]

I've had my 338-06ai for about a year now, worked up an ok load with the 200grain AccuBond but wanting to sit down and put a bit more time into finding a better load for deer & bear

I know a lot of people here like the 225 & 250 grain bullets for their 338-06's but has anyone tried lighter bullets?

I have some Hornady's: 200 FTX (meant for the Marlin Express, but makes a cheap fireforming bullet, they say good to 3000fps) as well as some 225 SST's


has anyone tried the Barnes 160grain TTSX? or any of the other hornady bullets on deer/bear?

 

[JD338]

Go with the 210 gr PT and don't look back.

JD338

 

[tim629]

I've been waiting for a while on Nosler to get back to their 338's, hoping to pick up a bunch of the 210PT's or the 200 combined technology's on SPS but also looking for other options since the Nosler shortage doesn't seem to be letting up (good for the company... not good for us reloaders)

 

[SJB358]

I really like the 200 AB and 210 PT. The 210 PT is a monster killer in any 338 rifle. It'll open fast and I don't believe anything in North America would need more. The heavier 338 bullets offer more BC but none of them are going to significantly beat the 210 on game. I think the 200 AB is just about the same and in my bullet tests have gone the same distance. Both shoot real well in my 338 Win Mag. I like to try other stuff but honestly I could hunt from here on out with the 200's/210's and never find them lacking. If I was hunting some like brown bear on the coast I may push to a 250 PT, 275 Swift or similar but I think it might be more in my head than actual gains.

If the 210 or 200 shoot well in your rifle you've picked the right bullet. Check out the bullet tests. A ton of great info there.

 

[Horsethief]

Swift makes a 210gn Scirocco II (bonded) bullet that has a higher BC than the Partition and will hold together as it mushrooms since it has an all-copper jacket.

 

[preacher]

I've shot the 185 XLC in a 338 Win Mag and the 180 AB in a 338 Rum, plus the 160 TTSX in the 338 Federal. All were great in accuracy. I've killed cow elk with the 185 XLC, a huge Aoudad around 250 with the 180AB in the RUM. Personally, I think the lighter bullets perform better in any 338 here in the Lower 48. Now, nothing wrong with the heavies, but for overall, the lighters have speed for shock, flat trajectory and the frontal area for crush factor/big wound cavities.

 

[BobT]

Once I tried the 210 Partition in my .338/06 I never bothered to try another bullet, great accuracy and outstanding performance. I used IMR 4350 and WLR primers in Winchester .30/06 brass.