338 Alaskan Elk Load

[SJB358]

I have kinda played around a little with the 210 PT's in the 338. Nothing really exciting from them using RL19 or IMR4350. I do get pretty decent groups with 200 AB's almost everytime, so I think that is what I am going to roll with this year for the elk hunt.

I know the rifle will shoot better, but I just don't have the time to devote to it right now to really tune the heck out of it.

Those run out at 3000FPS and seem to hold pretty steady groups.

I did reshoot my wife's 25-06 as well. 61.5 grains of RL25 and the 115 BT run about 3250 and seem to be fairly consistent. Should be good for her deer hunting this Fall.

It is another rifle I will play with later, after the hunting season is over. For now I am going to load up a bunch of them and let her get some practice.

I also reshot the 7WSM and it is back in it's groove. Runs 3100 with RL22 and accuracy seems good at 100 and holds out to 600, so I have my back up rifle for Idaho this Fall. Should be fun, I wouldn't be too hurt with smoking an elk with the 7WSM!

 

[DrMike]

Scotty,

That is minute of elk. FWIW, the 7WSM would be more than enough to harvest an elk for you, and your wife's 25-06 is looking good for deer. When are you leaving for Idaho?

 

[Oldtrader3]

Scotty, it is often a challenge of "holding your mouth just right" when adjusting the action and barrel screws for that Model 70 to get the best accuracy. You certainly have Minute of Elk accuracy now with a terrific bullet. It is getting pretty late in the game to have to do a perfect load development at this point. I would go with what you have.

Great luck on your hunt, BTW!
Charlie

 

[onesonek]

I think that would do as well as needed Scotty, but then I agree with Mike on the 7WSM also.
My son took his last Elk with the 7RM and 160 AB at 3075fps. That one was taken at 70 yds, shot behind the last rib and exited between the shoulder and neck. Even as alerted the animal was, the combination put it down within 10yds. Granted, no bone was hit, but I thought the AB stood up and penetrated really well under that short range high terminal velocity.

Although, I have to say, the .338 of any chambering is hard to beat for an Elk round!
Have you tried the 225AB's?,,,,be my first choice, and really you are only going to give up less than 10yds of PBR going a tad heavier. Both having a PBR just a tad long of 300 yds., and on the hair still at 400+, but the 225 will drift 25% less too. Not saying they will shoot sub moa, but I would give them a try if time permits. Just a passing thought.
Good Luck on the hunt regardless!

 

[Oldtrader3]

The 225 gr PT, .338 is my favorite bullet for my .340 Bee, as you know. This bullet is a super perfomer on elk (in my history at least) and is absolutely right up there with the 250 PT which I use also. The 225 gr PT is and has been very accurate in all of my .338's (MOA or better at 300 yards) and .340's. Just a thought because you may not have time to switch before your hunt.
Charlie

 

[SJB358]

Yeah, I depart on the 10th of Oct, so I am pretty much done with load work. After the hunt, the trigger needs a little lightening for optimum group shooting, but on the range, it was pretty easy to keep hits on target out to 300 yards.

I imagine after the Fall season, I will try some 225/250 PT's as well. I know the rifle will shoot better, I just don't have the extra time to devote to it right now. I would rather just load up a bunch of 200's and practice for right now. Pretty sure it'll be a solid 400 yard killer and that is all I can hope for right now.

 

[Oldtrader3]

You go Scotty! You are "close enough certainly for government work" in this! Tell us about it later.

 

[onesonek]

Yeah, I depart on the 10th of Oct, so I am pretty much done with load work. After the hunt, the trigger needs a little lightening for optimum group shooting, but on the range, it was pretty easy to keep hits on target out to 300 yards.

I imagine after the Fall season, I will try some 225/250 PT's as well. I know the rifle will shoot better, I just don't have the extra time to devote to it right now. I would rather just load up a bunch of 200's and practice for right now. Pretty sure it'll be a solid 400 yard killer and that is all I can hope for right now.

That works Scotty!! 400 and then some by my parameter's and criteria. My thoughts, you are still on the hair at 450, pending wind of course. Still plenty within the velocity envelope, and more than enough energy for the .338's displacement.
I certainly understand the time issue's.

 

[JD338]

Scotty

You are good to go buddy.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Yeah, I think it'll be okay. Gotta build a few drop charts and verify them one more time, but everything seems pretty decent.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Scotty,
I'd say some Idaho elk are going to be in serious trouble.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Scotty, that .338 WM, 200 grain load will shoot just like a 165 PT, .30-06 at 2850 fps out to 300 yards. At least mine did!

 

[Huntbear]

I am actually surprised at the 210 accuracy. The loads I worked up for mine and my brother's guns using RL19 shot 1/2 moa all day long at 2950 fps. Dropped elk in their tracks to 410 yards.

We now shoot 225 gr. AB's again using RL19 and we are shooting 1/2-9/16 in. groups all day long. And will hold MOA out to 550 yards.

One is a custom rifle Sako action, Douglas match barrel, the other is a stock Sako TRGS

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I think you made the right choice considering your time element. Consistency wins and the 200 AB, and those loads, are certainly up to the challenge of an elk. Very cool that you were able to turn out some loads in a short time and get that rifle to the field this year.

 

[SJB358]

I am actually surprised at the 210 accuracy. The loads I worked up for mine and my brother's guns using RL19 shot 1/2 moa all day long at 2950 fps. Dropped elk in their tracks to 410 yards.

We now shoot 225 gr. AB's again using RL19 and we are shooting 1/2-9/16 in. groups all day long. And will hold MOA out to 550 yards.

One is a custom rifle Sako action, Douglas match barrel, the other is a stock Sako TRGS

I am pretty sure I could get them to shoot just fine, but being jammed up for time, I am going to stick with the 200 AB's for this Fall. I really did wanna shoot the 210 PT's, but oh well, I am sure there will be more hunts.

I think you made the right choice considering your time element. Consistency wins and the 200 AB, and those loads, are certainly up to the challenge of an elk. Very cool that you were able to turn out some loads in a short time and get that rifle to the field this year.

I wished I had the time to do a full load work up with the 210, but this 200 AB load is a leftover from my old 338 WM. It runs the 200's at 3000, so I am not too worried about the bullet doing what it is supposed to. Hopefully they haven't gotten tougher!

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have shot the 210 PT's in first a Browning Safari, a Model 70 Alaskan and now a .340 Alaskan Weatherby. I typically get 3/4 inch-4-shot groups plus a flyer to 1-1/4. But in the .338 Federal, this is being used as a brush gun and so what! In the .340 Bee, I use the 225 Nosler at 3100 fps at yield better than MOA at 300 yards.

I used the 210 in a .338WM for 30+ years as an elk rifle at 2900+ fps and killed elk with it-DRT. That 2900+ fps 210 PT load is a killer in the .338WM but Scotty does not have time now, before his hunt, to mess with that. Plus, the 200 AB is a superior bullet in many ways and will absolutely do what he is expecting.......

 

[jmad_81]

Looking goood Scotty! Go put the 338 smack down on a big bull!