338WM day on the range

[SJB358]

Well, had a few hours to burn, so I took the 338WM and a few other rifles with me. I really wanted to see what the 250 AB would do in my rifle after the other day of it, being so promising. Well, I started off at 71.0gr RL19, Nosler Cases, and CCI250's.

Speeds were right at 2630 or so.. Not blazing or anything, but still decent.

After that, 71.5 (2660 FPS) opened up a little on me? Kinda thought I was loosing something.. The shots fealt good, but something wasn't clicking.

Then I pushed on to the final load of 72. These were running right at 2700 or so, and they seem to have alot of promise.

This is a 4 shot group, as I had a called shot, so I added a third into that little cluster. I was pretty impressed that I managed it actually! :shock:

So, I am getting mightly close to being about complete with the 250's. I am impressed with the 250 AB in my rifle. I am going to push up in .3gr increments to so what the rifle does, but I am looking for a solid 2700FPS load and I am DONE goofing around with the 250's and can put a load in the note book... I really like 250's in the 338, and the 250 AB really offers alot. Has a super slick BC of .575, carries energy really well and I would hope at 338WM speeds, it should penetrate like a drillpress...

I also through another set of loads at the rifle today. I have had some 200 AB's on the shelf for awhile. When Fotis mentioned his loads with the 210 PT and 200 AB, I just figured I would give them a whirl. I was happily surprised with the results.

WW cases, RL19, CCI250's 200 AB's

75gr RL19 (2915 FPS)

75.5 RL19 (2930 FPS)

76.0 RL19 (2960 FPS)

76.5 RL19 (2975 FPS)

So, again, the rifle was really digging those little 200's. I was pretty impressed with them, and may goof around a little more with them soon. They have the same POI at 100 as the 250's..

Then, I loaded 10 rounds for the 300 at 2.900". The last range session I went 2.915, 2.905, 2.895, 2.885 and 2.875. Well, my best groups were the 2.905 and 2.895, so I split the difference and ran the 2.900" load. Man, I think I have a winner. It runs at 3025 from my rifle and seems to be consistently tight. Here was the best group..

I know you can throw me under the bus, but that is 4 shots in there... I tossed the third shot in hopes of a true one holer. I pulled the 4th back in there....

 

[ROVERT]

Nice shooting, Scotty. There'll be no excuses with that rifle. Though I'm not sure I see you putting the Whelen down to actually hunt with it.

 

[DrMike]

3000+ fps/sub-MOA--what's not to like with that 300 WSM? The 200 grain AB for the 338 looks as if it could be a winner as well. Some fine shooting, Scotty.

 

[widgeon]

Nice to see the groups tighten up with increasing charges. Hope that translates to higher velocity for you. :mrgreen:

 

[Oldtrader3]

Looks like the 200 AB's will shoot in that rifle as well. Your .338 is grouping about as well as my Model 70 .338's ever did and you have a solid priairie load with the 200 AB and a bull elk load with the 250 AB. Nice going Scotty.

 

[gerry]

That's some fine shooting Scotty, your 338 WM in partitcular is amazingly accurate.

 

[FOTIS]

Told yah on the 200 gr!

 

[SJB358]

Told yah on the 200 gr!

Thats why I did it Fotis. Very happy with those 200's.. They are really something.. I am going to work a little more with them... Seem to be a really good thing. Don't even have to change the die settings from the 200's to the 250's. Both are shooting pretty well.. With RL19.. I gotta say, it has worked with EVERYTHING in this rifle, fast and accurate..

 

[JD338]

Scotty,

Nicely done! The 300 WSM is amazing. The 250 gr AB load at 2700 fps is a long range hammer!

JD338

 

[6mm Remington]

Two questions Scotty. What was the air temperature outside when you were doing this testing? Second question is was that the 180 AccuBond in the 300 WSM? That's pretty darn nice shooting!
David

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I see a lot of room for improvement here. Many of these groups are not centered in the frame. Sometimes it's difficult to center your shots using the viewfinder. I recommend using the LCD display on the back of the camera instead of the viewfinder. Especially with macro shots like these. :lol:

Otherwise, your shooting and loads are par none. Who would have thought that your first work-up with the 200ABs would be that tight? Same with your WSM, you accomplished a lot in a very short time with that rifle.

A very healthy stable of long guns you possess, Sir.

 

[Hegland]

Good work man! The more I work with the .338, the more I find just how versatile it really is and the more impressed I become with it.

And that's a pretty sassy group from your .300, too!

 

[SJB358]

Two questions Scotty. What was the air temperature outside when you were doing this testing? Second question is was that the 180 AccuBond in the 300 WSM? That's pretty darn nice shooting!
David

David, that was the 180 AB, 69.5 RL19, CCI250, 2.900" OAL, WW cases. Runs 3025 over the chrono pretty consistently. Took a little OAL tweaking, but I think I found the spot. I have a feeling I could do better with the trigger lightened some. Feels a little heavy.

The air temp was about 55* F here yesterday. Very nice range day.

The 338 and RL19 are a standard for me guys. From those 200 AB's to the 275 Speers, it has worked really well. I believe the 250's have a little more room for growth as well. I will say the 250 AB's seem to be a touch more accurate in the 338 than the 250 PT's, but not really enough to matter. Very impressed with the 338. Looking forward to a little more work out of the rifle. Gotta tumble some brass and get back at it. Getting pretty close.

The 300 is doing well David. When Nosler said RL19 was THE powder for the 300WSM, I have to say, they were right. It has been excellent for speed and accuracy across the board.

CC- I will work on my picture taking ability!

Hegland, you are right about the 338. A guy could get by with one for everything, and WAY better than any 30-06! 200's for the lighter end of stuff to include elk I imagine and then 250's for the rest! It makes a 30-06 look like a little old 6mm!

 

[jmad_81]

Nice work Scotty! I'm hoping to get some range time with my 338 this weekend. I'll get a chance to shoot the RL-19 load today at lunch, but I'll wait to play with the RL-17 stuff this weekend. If neathier of these pan out I'll look at 4831. After that I should be out of 225 ABs and time to move on to something else. Hope I can find results like you are getting.

 

[FOTIS]

Told yah on the 200 gr!

Thats why I did it Fotis. Very happy with those 200's.. They are really something.. I am going to work a little more with them... Seem to be a really good thing. Don't even have to change the die settings from the 200's to the 250's. Both are shooting pretty well.. With RL19.. I gotta say, it has worked with EVERYTHING in this rifle, fast and accurate..

YUP a 338 with 300 Win mag trajectory....

 

[SJB358]

Told yah on the 200 gr!

Thats why I did it Fotis. Very happy with those 200's.. They are really something.. I am going to work a little more with them... Seem to be a really good thing. Don't even have to change the die settings from the 200's to the 250's. Both are shooting pretty well.. With RL19.. I gotta say, it has worked with EVERYTHING in this rifle, fast and accurate..

YUP a 338 with 300 Win mag trajectory....

Yeah, you aren't kidding Fotis. I have plenty more of them, so I am going to work on them a little, but right now, I am pretty sure I could zero and load them and hunt elk pretty happily with them.. Might just do that. Still wanna finish up the 250 AB's and see what they have left in them. I love them big 250's, but know the 200's would work just fine and squash elk and bear. Plus, they would be a DYNAMITE kinda load for deer!

Jake, hope those loads help a little. I think if I wanted to mess with the 225's again, I could make them work this time around, but I don't see the point. I have the 200's and 250 pretty well covered. I know the 225's are good for everything, but I would buy a 30-06 if I wanted that!

 

[lhsako]

Ifind that the 200/210's tend to shoot tighter in the .338 WM as well. It's likely that they stabalize better w/ a stand. rate of twist. great shooting !!!!!!

 

[FOTIS]

For now I will use 210 PTs and 200 AB's (when I get some) for deer and elk. Heck I doubt that the 338 will see elk camp with all them bees waiting in line.

 

[SJB358]

For now I will use 210 PTs and 200 AB's (when I get some) for deer and elk. Heck I doubt that the 338 will see elk camp with all them bees waiting in line.

I can see that! You do have alot of great elk rifles on tap.