.338 Win 200 or 225gr

[wisconsinteacher]

I am paying off the rest of my rifle today and will get it by the end of the week. I will be ordering some reloading supplies and am wondering if I should order 200 or 225 gr bullets. I plan on using the rifle for deer and black bear. Thanks.

 

[Richracer1]

Either bullet will work great, assuming they will shoot from your rifle. Buy some of each and let your rifle decide.

 

[DrMike]

RR has given you good advice. Buy some of each and let your rifle decide. You will have the added advantage of additional bench time becoming used to the rifle as you test various combinations.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I was just wondering if there was a reason to start with one over the other. Is there a big difference in recoil going from the 200 to the 225? I am guessing not much. Also, what bullets or makers would you look at other than Nosler?

 

[jmad_81]

If your deer hunting I would go with the 200 AB. If your looking for one load for everything in NA I would go 225 AB or PT, or the 200 ET.

I have shot the 225 TSX and TTSX out of mine and they work great. But they are pretty spendy. I try to buy the Nosler seconds when I can, if I can't I have a box of 225 SSTs sitting on my bench. A friend of mine has had good luck with the 215, and 250 Game Kings as well.

Its really hard to beat the AB for an all around bullet IMO. I would recommend them, Nosler site or not.

 

[SJB358]

Check out the Shooters Pro Shop. They have 180 and 200gr AB's right now. Either of those would be awesome on bear or deer.

225's are the middle ground for the 338. They really seem to do everything well. I would start your shooting at the lighter end of the bullet weight spectrum. Just for getting used to the rifle. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Lighter bullets translate out to reduced recoil.

 

[JD338]

wisconsinteacher

I would start with the 200 gr loads. Look at the 200 gr AB, 200 gr BST (Ballistic Silver Tip) and the 210 gr PT, which is one of the best bullets available for the 338 Win Mag.
If you can't get these to shoot, then go up to the 225 gr AB or PT.

Recoil wise, starting loads with the 200 gr bullets will be just slightly more than heavy 30-06 loads.

JD338

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I'd load the 200's.
225's are a bit much for deer.

 

[257 Ackley]

I'd load the 200's.
225's are a bit much for deer.

There is no need for 225 grain bullets on any deer that I have met. I use the 210 Partition for moose in my 338-06 and that whacks them really well. If the Partition won't shoot, try the 200 grain AB.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Thanks for the info. I do not want to go lower than 200gr. I am thinking the AB would be a good bullet to look at. I think I am going to look at one other company's bullet also and try them. I don't want to get in trouble on the Nosler forum, but this bullet has done well for me in the past out of my 06. I might get those in 225gr just to try something else.

 

[JD338]

Here are some recovered 200 gr AB's shot into water jugs from my 338 RUM, MV 3200 fps.

You should be able to push this bullet to 3000 fps from the 338 WM.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

A buddy of mine did all of his .338 shooting & hunting with the 210 Nosler Partition. It never came up short in the field and was 400 yard accurate.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I am very intrigued by this 200 grain AccuBond as I have loaded many of the 210 grain Partitions in the 338 Win Mag for friends. It seems they like an mv of 2900 fps or there abouts and have yet to lose an elk. I think you would be in great shape going with the 200 grain AB or the 210 PT at about 2900 fps. This is a powerhouse of a load, and with bullets like Nosler's you wont have anything to worry about. The 225 grain and heavier bullets will retain more weight yet as has been pointed out, this is where recoil begins to be brutish in nature. The heavy weights are great bullets but unecessary for the lower 48 under most circumstances.

What kind of rifle and scope did you buy?

 

[SJB358]

I forgot about your expansion tests Jim. Almost makes me want to give the 200gr AB's a try in my 338WM. I may just try the 180gr BT/AB and see what they do also. So many good bullets in the 338 caliber it is hard to argue what the best is. Scotty

 

[257 Ackley]

Scotty - that is why you build a 338-06 instead of a 35 Whelen :lol:

 

[SJB358]

Ah, yeah, but I already have a decent woodchuck/varmint rifle with the 22-250, I don't need one of them 338-06's to shoot those little bullets! The Whelen is made for real bullets, with mass! Scotty

 

[257 Ackley]

Well...it worked ok for this woodchuck :mrgreen:

 

[BK]

Take this for what it's worth (probably not much) but from this non-.338 owner (well, not yet) I would first give the Partition 210 a try. Always figured that was a fantastic choice for a deer bullet in a .338 WinMag.

 

[SJB358]

Well...it worked ok for this woodchuck :mrgreen:

Thats a great picture buddy! Poor little woodchuck never stood a chance! Scotty