338win

[Hank Hunter]

Hi new to the 338 and would like to load 225 ab as I love the AccuBond in my 270wsm, Like to know which powders seem to work best.
Thanks

 

[R Flowers]

I have always had the best success when loading for the 338 Win Mag by using either IMR or H 4350. Rl 19 was close behind with that powder sometimes being the best choice.

The 338 Win Mag is pretty flexible and any number of powders from the 4350's on up to the slower burners like H 4831 or RL 22 will work well.

I have a couple of friends who shoot H 4831 in their 338 Win Mags. They have been using that combination for years and years and would not consider changing.

My recommendation is to use magnum powders in the 338 Win Mag EXCEPT when loading RL 19. I found that it performs better with a standard large rifle primer.

 

[FOTIS]

I reloaded for a buddy a while back for his Rem 700. RL 19 and 22 worked very well.

 

[Alaska]

The IMR 4350 and Reloader 19 seem to work very well in Win 70-338 Mag

RL 19 @ 78.0
225grAB
Ww brass
Fed 215gm primer

2950 FPS in 26" Barrel
MAX Load upper OCW load

 

[Richracer1]

I too second the use of RL-19. I load 73gn of it for my 225AB loads. I also use Fed GM215M primers. I tried H4831SC, but got better results with RL-19. Good luck working up a load for your 338WM.

 

[Jeff Olsen]

Hi new to the 338 and would like to load 225 ab as I love the AccuBond in my 270wsm, Like to know which powders seem to work best.
Thanks

Whatever else you try, make sure you try some RL19. I love that stuff in my 338 with 225-AB's. I think I also had good luck with H4350 but the RL19 was clearly better with both accuracy and velocity, from my 26"-barreled M700 XCR.

-jeff

 

[Richracer1]

Whatever else you try, make sure you try some RL19. I love that stuff in my 338 with 225-AB's. I think I also had good luck with H4350 but the RL19 was clearly better with both accuracy and velocity, from my 26"-barreled M700 XCR.-jeff

What kind of velocity were you getting?

 

[Jeff Olsen]

Uh... can I get a mulligan on that one? I don't remember. It didn't matter; I'm not worried about 100 fps this way or that with a 338 WM. However, I do remember I was slightly exceeding the nominal "factory" spec for a 225 for a 338 Win mag, which if I'm remembering right is 2850 or so. I attribute this to my 26" barrel. I was shooting over a chrono and if it really matters I'll go look it up in my notes for you. Suffice it to say it was as fast as it was supposed to be; I got "book" speeds more or less.

I do remember it was a little faster than H4350 in my rifle.

-jeff

 

[Richracer1]

Just curious as I'm getting an 3 shot average velocity of 2784fps using 73gn of RL-19. Oh well, must be this crappy, smog filled CA air.

 

[Brian]

Just curious as I'm getting an 3 shot average velocity of 2784fps using 73gn of RL-19. Oh well, must be this crappy, smog filled CA air.

That's within a hair of what I get from my Ruger Mod 77 MKII using the same load (73 of Re 19, 225 gr.). (I get about 2825 fps, which is sub MOA.)

That's not a maximum load in my rifle (I'm up to 9 neck-sized reloads on my cases), but why would I want anything more than I've got?

 

[Alaska]

78.0 of RL19 with the 225 AB

It seems the more RL 19 you use the better the accuracy gets!

 

[Jeff Olsen]

74 grains of the stuff (RL19) for me. I probably could have used more but the accuracy is fantastic (best out of the box rifle I've ever had) and with a 338 I'm just not that interested in trying to eek every last fps out of it. It is what it is, and if what it is ain't enough gun then... holy crap, I'm in trouble!



-jeff

 

[Brian]

74 grains of the stuff (RL19) for me. I probably could have used more but the accuracy is fantastic (best out of the box rifle I've ever had) and with a 338 I'm just not that interested in trying to eek every last fps out of it. It is what it is, and if what it is ain't enough gun then... holy crap, I'm in trouble!

Exactly -- In fact, for me, the whole point of having a .338 is that I don't have to load it to the max in order to have a phenomenally potent round, something capable of taking anything in North America with ease.

 

[Hank Hunter]

Thanks guys, seems like rl19 is very popular. Will try it

 

[GooseHunter Jr]

I have been using the RL-19...with the 225 AB...real good groups......killed my elk at 355 yds with one this last season.

 

[Jeff Olsen]

74 grains of the stuff (RL19) for me. I probably could have used more but the accuracy is fantastic (best out of the box rifle I've ever had) and with a 338 I'm just not that interested in trying to eek every last fps out of it. It is what it is, and if what it is ain't enough gun then... holy crap, I'm in trouble!

Exactly -- In fact, for me, the whole point of having a .338 is that I don't have to load it to the max in order to have a phenomenally potent round, something capable of taking anything in North America with ease.

Haven't you heard? That's no longer true. Now you need a 338 ULTRA Magnum to do that. Sorry!

-jeff

 

[358WINMAN]

I'm with you, Jeff O.... 74.0 grains of Reloader 19 for superb accuracy with 200 grain bal tips.

I'm working up a load now for 225 grain TSX's to see what all the hype is about. Came from a show today and spoke with guys I know well and are for real when it comes to hunting...
Their experiences with the TSX in Africa on all types of game and in the US on elk and moose is very compelling to give this bullet a try!

 

[Jeff Olsen]

I've been messing around shooting steel plates at ranges out to 500 yards with my 338 WM, among others, and had to switch from my normal mess-around load (which is IDENTICAL to your 200-gn BT load BTW!) to my 225-gn AccuBond huntng load. The 200 was not working at all for me at longer ranges. Now I get more recoil, but I am hitting the plates much more regularly!

-jeff

 

[358WINMAN]

Glad to hear you had such success with the 225's. I've been doing alot of reading on the 338WM and the 225gr bullet. Seems that the 225 is the mainstay or bullet of choice when accuracy with energy is reviewed. The ballistsic coefficient is better on the 225 then the 200 or 210. Seems like the .338 and the 225gr are the best match overall! Hope it does well for you. I just received my 225TSX's from Midway and will be loading and shooting them real soon...
Good luck!!!

 

[Jeff Olsen]

Well, I've heard it said that the 338 Win Mag made it's reputation as a brutal penetrator with 250-gn bullets, and in fact a couple guys in my elk camp use 250's. I think with modern bullets the 225 is the best blend of penetration and velocity, personally. The 200 and 210-gn bullets seem a little "short" to me, at least for elk, but far be it from me to question whether a 210-gn Partition works because there's a lot of elk killed with that bullet every year!

All I know is that my 338 shoots 225-gn Accubonds into 3/4" at 100 yards at full velocity, so... I knew right then I'd found my load!

-jeff