338Fed powders

[Gunner46]

A simple trick I came up with when stuffing 50gr of RL-19 into the 7mm/08 case. Load a block of cases 5-7 gr short of what you want. Turn on a vibrating sander and hold it on the bench right next to the load block. Vibrate for a couple of minutes. The powder will settle quite a bit and the last few grs will fall in slickety-clickety !

 

[Greg Nolan]

I've been loading for the 338 Fed in my Kimber 84 Montana and with the Minimal blind magazine I have case capacity issues also. I've found some loads that work well with my 22" barrel.
I worked up the 160 gr load today and I'm pretty jazzed about it. It is in the 7 mag realm for sure with a flatter trajectory.

160 gr. Barnes ttsx 52 gr TAC Oal 2.83 3041 fps 3287 fpe
The Barnes loads hold to about a half inch at 100 yds.
I developed the 160 gr for flatter trajectory and better expansion. All the loads are about the same energy wise at 300 yds.

 

[Oldtrader3]

If my 210 PT at 2575 won't get it done, I have a 9.3x74R that will get it done with 250 gr AB's at 2550 fps?

 

[Greg Nolan]

That would get it done for sure

 

[preacher]

I worked up the 160 gr load today and I'm pretty jazzed about it. It is in the 7 mag realm for sure with a flatter trajectory.

160 gr. Barnes ttsx 52 gr TAC Oal 2.83 3041 fps 3287 fpe
The Barnes loads hold to about a half inch at 100 yds.
I developed the 160 gr for flatter trajectory and better expansion. All the loads are about the same energy wise at 300 yds.[/quote]

My trial with Power pro 2000MR was a bust with the 160TTSX! I got great accuracy...at 2750fps! I am going to run down some TAC and try to reproduce your results. It only makes sense to me to use the 160TTSX as fast as one can get it. I have some Speer 200s for a mid range load. Thanks for the load workup report, it saved me some time & money!

 

[preacher]

Hey Greg-this load with TAC @52gr/Barnes 160- was it with a standard or a magnum primer?

 

[preacher]

Greg's PM said it was the standard. I like CCI BR2 and loaded up some trial loads with TAC and them and the Barnes 160 TTSX. I used a drop tube just to be sure and stopped at 52gr, which put the charge at the neck/shoulder junction with no compression. I need to add that I don't have a problem with compressed loads, I just use a LEE FCD and crimp good, stops "bullet crawl", ha. It also gives a good 'bullet pull" upon ignition which is really helpful, especially with mono metal bullets. I hope I get the velocity/accuracy Greg is getting!

 

[Oldtrader3]

When I do that, my case bulges and will not chamber in the .338 Fed.

 

[Gunner46]

A couple of questions. What OAL are you using and instead of a drop tube, have you tried to settle the powder at a slower rate by using a soft vibration? I've crammed a boat load of powder into a case, by slow settling, and never bulged a case. It seems to compact more than compress.

 

[Greg Nolan]

I'm using an OAL of 2.83 with the 160 gr. TTSX bullets. I haven't had a problem with bulging with either federal .338 Fed. brass or Win 308 resized to .338 Fed. I don't think I could get any more powder in the case though. I don't crimp the load and haven't had a problem with bullet creep (yet) but my magazine is maxed out at 2.83".

 

[preacher]

I can get 2.87 easily in this little Ruger Hawkeye. TAC flows so easy it was a non issue. I just use a drop tube when I get close to a full case. I tell you, I had a full, almost to the case mouth load with that Power pro 2000MR and no bulging. I just couldn't get enough in there to reach optimum velocity, although the 2750 load was very accurate. I'm supposed to be able to max at 52gr with Power pro and the Speer 200. I'm thinking there is enough resistance to get a good burn. Barnes bullets are slick as snot anayhow, ha, not much resistance. I had the same issue with the 185 XLC in the 338WM, just couldn't get enough powder in there for optimum velocity, though it was still fast and a cow elk killing poison pill!

 

[Greg Nolan]

I've had case bulge problems before but they were seating die adjustment problems. I had set the die for a roll crimp on another bullet and forgot to seat the die out a little farther, I had only adjusted the bullet seating out. That really sucked because I ran about 25 rounds before I caught it.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I cases where I have bulged the .338 Fed case. I have just run the loaded round through a .358 Win full length sizer die and solved the problem. Blasted Federal cases are too soft sometimes?

 

[orchemo]

I load for two 338 Federal rifles (third on the way - somewhat inadvertently)

Loads with the 185 Barnes TSX - TAC
Loads with 200 gr E-tip = Varget

 

[preacher]

What is your load with Varget/200 e-tip? That looks like a wicked bullet!

 

[orchemo]

Varget 42.5 gr with the 200 gr E-tip. Shoot well in my Sako and I have not pushed up the charge.

It is a great looking bullet. I shot a smaller black bear this spring and it was dead in it's tracks.

Eric

 

[preacher]

Hey Orchemo- that TAC was the berries for me in my 338 Fed/160 TTSX! I got a solid 3013 from my barrel but right at .60" for three shots. I am super impressed! Thanks a bunch.

 

[orchemo]

Glad it worked.

 

[Gunner46]

I'm really not trying to start any kind of argument here, but this is my 1st expolration with the Fed. I am seriously thinking that a 200gr cup & core bullet is going to be primo for this round, but a mono is hard to ignore. Remember, I'm not planning on setting myself up for anything beyond 200 yds, much more likely inside 75, so a high BC isn't a big factor.

Aside from teenie-tiny groups, what have y'all found that just seems to give a quicker STOP to game. Large Black Bear, Pigs, Elk. For deer sized game, I'll stick to my 7mm/08.

It seems that all the bullet mfgr's are centered toward Magnum volocity and I'm concerned about adequate expansion.

 

[preacher]

I have not taken game with the Federal myself. I was there when my SIL used it and the 185 TSX on a medium size muley. Another friend used his Tikka in 338 Fed with the 185 TSX on a nice bull elk. Bothe kills were quick. I have used the older 185 XLC in a 338 mag at 250yds on a big cow elk, but that isn't a fair comparison I admit. I'm thinking that 160 TTSX at the fast speeds will be a good killer too. If you could find some of them the 180gr AccuBond "might" open quicker than the Speer 200. I have a bunch of them to work up a load for. If you wanted to be sure with that Speer 200, just break them down with a shoulder shot or base of the neck shot. Get some bone. Of course, you could orfer some bullets from Hawk Precision made for the .33 Winchester ( its still 338 cal) that has a flat point and a .030 jacket and they have a 180gr too. I'm thinking it may be a quick killer. All my medium bore kills ( .338 mags, 35 Whelen AI) have been with Barnes or the 180 AccuBond in the 338 RUM. Good luck Pard.