338 WM

[skeeter]

Just couldn't resist so I now have a 338wm to get shooting :lol: ! The gun is a NIB Abolt SS Stalker (LH) 26" barrel & leupold DD rings/bases. I plan to put my Zeiss conquest 3x9x40 with Rapid Z600 reticle. Main use will be moose and elk, however I won't rule out using it on deer sized just for S&G's. Luck would have it this winter I picked up various reloading components from at an estate sale, so I have 100 never fired 338wm Win brass, RCBS dies, 82 225gr AB's and 25 210 TSX BT's. As far as powders I have IMR & H4350 & 4831, IMR 7828 and RL22. I am awaiting RL19 & 25, been a supply problem for the past few years for alliant in my area :evil: . Primers I have 215GMM and WLR ( 210 GMM's haven't been around for well over a year and still nothing!). BTW I live and hunt in Saskatchewan Canada ( extreme temps would be 70's to -30).

I have little to no experience with the 338wm in reloading terms. I have an idea of what to look for and expect but would love some input. So given the above info any thing I need to add or what you think? Loads?? Game performance??

Really anything is much appreciated. I am picking up the rifle next saturday as the retailer is have a sale with min 10% off everything. :grin:

Thanks

 

[REDGREEN]

I have had excellent success with the 200 grain Hornady, and IMR 4831. I found a light load that would shoot a ragged hole all day long. As I increased the charge, the groups opened up considerably, until I got it good and hot. The 250 grain would also shoot one ragged hole when loaded hot. Same powder. I also loaded the Speer 275 grain, and it would shoot 1" with a heavy load. I could keep the partitions in about 1 1/4 " at 100 yards, as well.

 

[R Flowers]

Congratulations on the new rifle, the .338 Win Mag is certainly a good cartridge to have. I am on my second one.

In regard to the components you listed, you have a fine selection of powders except that I think you will find IMR 7828 and RL 25 to be too slow burning to be of much use in the .338 Win Mag.

I have had excellant results with RL 19, IMR 4350, H 4350, and IMR 4831.

I currently shoot a max load of H 4350 behind a 225 Partition most of the time. For wild hogs here in CA I sometimes use the 200 Ballistic Tip over a max load of IMR 4831. (That bullet is discontinued, but they make a 200 grain AccuBond.)

I have had mixed results with the AccuBond in .338 caliber. When the 225 AccuBond first came out I shot them in 5 different .338 caliber rifles
(.338 Win Mag and .340 Weatherby), all of them shot them very poorly, indeed. I complained to Nosler and they said they were getting very good reports. I finally tried the 225 AccuBond in a friend's .338 RUM and it shot them into little tiny groups under a 1/2 inch (several times).

I am currently trying the 185 TSX in my .338 Win Mag due to the stupid lead bullet ban in this part of CA. So far, I have had pretty dismal success with that combination. But, I am finding that with the TSX you sometimes have to keep trying things. My 7-08 Remington did not shoot the 120 TSX worth a damn at first. But, I kept trying different powders and went to a Fed 210M primer and now they are shooting well under an inch. You just have to mess with them some times.

Enjoy the new rifle, RF

 

[JD338]

skeeter

Congratulations on the 338 WM and welcome to the 1/3" bore club.

You have a good selection to start with for sure. Don't overlook the 210 gr PT, its a fantastic bullet for your 338 WM. The 225 gr PT and AB will take care of just about anything you want to hunt. The 250 gr PT and soon to be released 250 gr AB will turn your rifle into a long range hammer.

RL19, IMR4831, H4831SC, IMR4350 and H4350 are all excellent powder choices. Keep us posted on your load development.

JD338

 

[Dufur]

Rem 700 ss 24" bbl. I use Win case, 225 hdy sp, 75.3 gr RL19, Fed 210 and OAL is out a bit so I am 30 thou off the lands. It is a little more than standard oal of 3.340. Real accurate and consistant. Velocity is 2860 Ave chronoed. I changed primers once to win wlr's and the groups opened WAY up. This load is plenty warm although maybe not max. Start lower and work up for proper level for your gun.,

 

[FOTIS]

Congrats...........try RL22...........

 

[Greg Nolan]

I agree with pop. RL22 and IMR 4350 works good with most any bullet. I am also under the Governators thumb on lead in Monterey/ SLO and San Benito counties. I'm trying to work up a load with Barnes TX bullets. They have always been pretty accurate except they take up too much space in the case. I have whined to Nosler and they say they will have a E-Bullet out before too long. The 338wm I have (Savage) has never been a tack driver but pretty consistant 2" groups.
Good luck on your loads.

Good Hunting
Elkhunt :grin:

 

[skeeter]

Thanks all.

210 vs 215's? I admit to being a little leary about 210's when the temp falls well below zero. My rule of thumb has been once you get around 70gr in the case mag primers are used for hunting. I live in western canada (Province of Saskatchewan), often below freezing and have been hunting when the mercury didn't break -30 Celsius. Just curious.

I am looking forward to playing with the new iron. :mrgreen:

 

[GooseHunter Jr]

I have had the best sucess from my 338 with the RL-19. I

 

[JD338]

I know some have used the 210 primers but I would recommend the 215.

JD338

 

[OU812]

I had great results with 71.5 grains of
H-4831sc useing a 250 grain NP, COL of 3.330, Fed 215 primer. Load data is from Nosler #5 and is book max, work up to it as normal watching for over pressure.

 

[skeeter]

Looks like I'll have to start things off without RL19, my source said it was BO again :roll: . I have several #'s of a proven RL22 lot at my disposal though. I am wondering what type of velocity your seeing, under what charge with RL22(I will work it up properly, just curious).

Been thinking IMR4350 and ??? to start things off under the 225gr AB.

I'll be running 215GMM's, had nothing but good results so that's where I'll begin any way.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[jmad_81]

I played aroung with the 225 NAB for a long time with IMR 4350 and RL 19 and could never get them to shoot. Switched to 225 gr, tsx with RL 19 and it consistently shoots five into an inch. Getting right about 2900 fps with low spreads using Fed. 215 primers and a 26" tube. You won't be sorry you picked up a .338 WM. LOVE MINE!!!

 

[Alaska]

With Nosler 225 AB I have had great results with RL 19 @ 75.1 and WLR primers in FC Cases........in the 338 Win.




Win 70

 

[TBASTIAN]

I would have to second the response from jmad_81...after countless loads for the 210 PT, 225 PT, 250 PT and 225 AB, 1.5" for a 3 shot group at 100 yards was about the best I could get. I'm shooting a Browning A-Bolt SS with a 26" barrel. The test loads were with H-4350, IMR 4350, RL 19, RL 22, IMR 4831 and H-4831.

After picking up a box of Barnes TSX's in 225 grain, my groups shrunk to sub-MOA. I can always shoot 3 shot groups at 100 yards right around 3/4" with the following load: 72.0 Grains RL 19 pushing the bullet at over 2,825 FPS. Three dead Roosevelt's Elk with three shots and I'm a believer!
-TB

 

[FOTIS]

Nice work with the 3 elk!

 

[huntingmandan]

TBASTIAN and Skeeter-
You guys have PM's

Dan

 

[skeeter]

Intial on my new browning 338wm. First off out of the box I measured the trigger pull hair under 4lbs...my last stalker came in the 5's. Pleasantly suprised. :shock:

My ship came in for RL19, 25 wasn't there but I could careless as i have 338 on the bean right now. A shooting friend also offered me some 225gr Hornady SP for intial sight in and break in. Which i burned through a few tonight. 5 to get the scope set up and - 3shot groups at 100. Being new I waited between shots so never had the time to shoot more then 1 group but loaded to book COL under 69.5gr of RL 19. My first group measured in at 2.5" at 100. I plan to burn through the remianing hornady's to complete the getting to know yeah phase and then get to work on development in the coming week.

All in all so far so good. The only thing I'm not sure about is the scope I put on it, a Conquest 3x9x40 with Rapid Z600 reticle. It came in a few weeks ago was unmounted at the time so though what the heck. Like the scope and reticle just not sure I'm getting value on this rig. :? We'll see I guess once i get further into load development and stretching the range out some.


Thanks for the info so far i'm sure i'll be asking more in the coming days :grin:

 

[Hank Hunter]

Skeeter, I have the 3x9x40 conquest on my 338 and really like it. The constant eye relief is nice and glass is very good for the price.I have been using 225 AccuBond with Rl19 but also prints well with H4831sc

 

[Jeff Olsen]

I use RL19 and 225 Accubonds in my 338 wm. Extremely accurate, makes speed, love the combo!

I put a 3.5x10 Conquest on it a few months ago with the Rapid-Z reticle. That reticle matches the 225 AB ballistics perfectly! First 3 shots at 600 yards were hits on my vitals-sized steel plate. That's after sighting it in at 200 yards. Amazing.

I've since missed that plate as much as I've hit it (winds are diabolical up where I am set up) but that's just how that goes. The reticle works great.

I can't wait for the 250 AB, though the step up in recoil will be noticable no doubt.

-jeff