338 WM bullet selection.

[jmad_81]

Ok, so I am getting really close with the 225 AB in my 338R. This will be my primary elk/bear gun. I still have my 338 WM, and would like to keep it as a back up elk/bear gun. I have had a hard time getting it to shoot the 225 AB very well. I have a load that does ok right now, but I don't want to have two guns both shooting the 225 AB (don't ask why :? ).

I'm looking for suggestions for bullets taht can take elk and black bears in the 200-215 ragne. I've been doing some reading on the 200 AB/ET, 210 PT, and the 215 GK. I have played with the 210 PT a little bit, and it didn't look so well. The 200 ET I got to shoot right around 1 MOA pretty regularly. I have never tried the 200 AB, or the 215 GK. I don't know much about the 215 GK, I know Jorey played with them in the 338 Edge for a while and liked them.

Max ranges that any of these would see is 600, but more than likely 500 as that is as far as my B&C reticle will work with bullets of this trajectory.

What say you?

 

[FOTIS]

My favorite is the 210 NP in the 338 win mag. Now if you go RUM Edge, 338-378 Then I would opt for the 250 AB or possibly the 300 AB.

 

[DrMike]

Jake,

I would imagine that any of those you named will work, and do so quite well. I'm growing enamored of the E-Tips. Those I've used have performed exceptionally well for me. I have no doubt that the lighter E-Tip in your 338R will slam game to the ground right smartly.

 

[JD338]

Jake

Give the 225 gr PT a try.

JD338

 

[jmad_81]

I played with the 200 ET for a while in this rifle. It did ok with RL-19. I never got them across the chrony. I might have to try it again, but play with some RL-17, Hunter, and 4350 this time. Like I said, RL-19 did ok, but maybe some of these others would do a bit better.

This gun seems to preffer the Monos a bit better. It shoots the 225 TSX very well, I just don't want to shoot them anymore.

I just didn't know how it would stack up against the 200 AB.

Jim, I have played with the 225 PT. I'm surte I could get them to shoot ok, but I'm really wanting to try something in that 200/210 range.

Anybody ever play with the Swift SciroccoII? They make a 210 gr .338 bullet. I really liked them in my first STW ten years ago.

 

[FOTIS]

That is one bullet I have limited experience with. The E-tip.

I would like to try the 338 200 in my 338 win mag.
I also have a box in 7mm 150 for my 7mm rum. I figure 3400 fps would scream

 

[DrMike]

I've shot a lot of Swift bullets, and I like them a lot. I used the "Trophy Copper" in the 338 Federal this past fall to drop the moose I took. The bullet performed quite well.

If it performed that well out of the 338 Federal, I'm pretty certain it will give you good, solid performance out of your 338R.

 

[Alaska]

Tried most bullets in the 338WM

So far the one that really stands out of the pack

Nosler 225gr AccuBond

Team that up with Reloader 19 @ 78.0 (MAX)
Win (WW) brass
Fed 215 GM primers

Makes a dandy load at 2940 FPS out of 24" barrel.
Very Accurate

Reloader 17 not bad very close in performance to IMR 4350 in the 338 WM.
RL17 is good but.......RL19 is still my favorite.

Sierra 215gr good long range bullet but closer shots tend to lose jacket/core. The 215gr would be excellent in the 338/06 at Max Vel.

210gr Nosler excellent with IMR 4350 or RL 17 but the BC is not that great. (good Elk bullet)

225gr TSX with 74.0 of RL 19 using same brass and primers excellent heavy game load.

250gr Speer GS pretty good bullet bad BC but hangs together in game.

250gr Nosler Part same as Grand Slam with slightly better BC and weight retention like all 250gr trejectory is not as flat as 225gr bullets.

230gr Fail Safe with 72.0 of IMR 4350 another excellent heavy game load (bad BC) similar performance on game as 225gr TSX.

I do not not suggest the 200gr bullets in the 338 WM. If you need to go to the 200gr bullets suggest the 300 WBY or 300 Win Mag,

 

[SJB358]

Jake, I did pretty well with the 200 AB in both of my 338 Win Mag's, the BC is a little better than the 210 PT, but nothing to write home about. If you haven't tried them, give them a whirl, it was very easy to get 3000 out of them with RL19, and they were pretty accurate for me. I ran them, this past Fall in my 338, but never came across an elk to try them on. I am sure, they would have worked fine though.

I have been messing with the 210 PT's, and while I think I have a good load, they don't seem to be as easy to get to shoot as the 200 AB's were. Anyhow, give them a whirl. You might like them.

That 210 Scirocco looks great too. Never tried any, but I should. The bullets I have seen recovered looked pretty awesome.

 

[JD338]

Jake,

I am certain you should be able to get the 210 gr PT to shoot. RL 19 and then IMR 4350 should get you where you want to be.

JD338

 

[str8meat]

210 sciroccos in my 338 wm. 73 gr. rl 19. gun shoots them very well. wife killed a black bear with it at 351 yards. both shots were pass thru's.

 

[SJB358]

210 sciroccos in my 338 wm. 73 gr. rl 19. gun shoots them very well. wife killed a black bear with it at 351 yards. both shots were pass thru's.

How do they shoot, kinda like an AB where they like a little jump, or do they like being right up on the rifling?

 

[FOTIS]

I used the scirocco 1 in my 300 rum many years ago. 1.5" at 200 yards at 3300 fps with the 180 gr. I did shoot a buck with them but man it just got consumed. I still have that bullet. Just the boattail is left. I understand the Scirocco 2 are an improvement.

 

[SJB358]

I used the scirocco 1 in my 300 rum many years ago. 1.5" at 200 yards at 3300 fps with the 180 gr. I did shoot a buck with them but man it just got consumed. I still have that bullet. Just the boattail is left. I understand the Scirocco 2 are an improvement.

Hmmmm, might have to check it out for the 338.. Always wanted to try it, but I just never ordered any...

 

[str8meat]

they have a lil jump not bad though and accuracy is superb.

 

[Oldtrader3]

In my .338 WM and my .340 Mark V, ran mostly Partiton 210's and 225 grains. I used to shoot Speer Hot Core bullets in my .338 WM but they were discontinued. For me, the 225 Partition is a little more accurate than the 210 Partition at 200 yards. I also weigh bullets and sort by .3 grain groups with .338 bullets.

All brands of .338 bullets that I have tested vary up to +/-1.5 grains in weight. Sampling weights is something to consider. I did some statistics on .338 bullets a few years ago. I was surprised at the variation that I found, compared to .308 bullets but then 9.3mm (.366) and .375 bullets varied just as much by weight. I weigh each larger than .308 bullets, and sort by weight groupings now.

 

[jmad_81]

I'll do a little playing around with it. I have a pile of the 225 AB sitting around, so I might just stick with them. So many choices.....

 

[MSgtEgress]

jmad, I have had a lot of success with the 200g Nosler BT w/ 73g H4350 set .020' off the lands in my M70 with a BOSS set at 3.4 Unfortunately the 200g was discontinued by Nosler and replaced with the 180g. I have about 100 of the 200g left after that I'm going to be looking at the Combined Technology 200g or the Speer 200g Flat Base soft point.

 

[jmad_81]

Thnaks. I have played with the 200 and 180 BT in this gun over 10 years ago. It was back when my reloading and record keeping skills were both pretty crappy. So I have no clue as to their true potential in my rifle. I have shot the above mentioned BTs, 185 XLC, 200 ET, 210 PT, 225 PT, 225 TSX/TTSX, and a ton (almost litteraly I think) of the 225 AB out of this rifle. While it is the least accurate rifle (and most frustrating) that I own, I can't bring myself to get rid of it as most of the game I have taken has been with it.

 

[SJB358]

While it is the least accurate rifle (and most frustrating) that I own, I can't bring myself to get rid of it as most of the game I have taken has been with it.

I know this guy that has a #4 contour Bartlein I bet you could get for a good price that would make that rifle shoot! :lol: