Anybody use Reloader 17 w/ a 338 Federal

[Teknys]

I looking for any info on Reloader 17 and the 338 Federal. I can find 308 Win and RL17 and try to compare but I know that can get a little sketchy. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[edh]

Based on the cartridges that RL17 appears to work well in, and what powders that I have found to work well in the 338 Federal, RL17 is too slow to work in the 338 Federal.

I found H4895 best with 200 grain and Varget best with 225 grain bullets. RL15 did not work for me. Velocities were 150-200 fps lower than the above powers, with a corresponding lower pressure. You can't get enough in the case to get the pressure and velocity up to "normal". That indicates that even RL15 is too slow for the 338 Federal.

Ed

 

[Teknys]

Your right! Shooting CT 200gn - RL-17 would only get me 2200-2250 fps. I loaded H322 from 2 gn below to 0.5gns above a max of 44.5gns. All shot very well, but the best was at 45gns / 2600fps (7fps max-min, 3shots), 3 shots - 2 holes. I'm going to give that load a work out this summer and hopefully it will be consistant. I like the velocity I got with it. :grin:

 

[todbartell]

Varget/RL15/IMR 4064 is about as slow burning as I would go in the 338F. In my Sako I preferred H4895 to anything, except Benchmark with the light 160gr Barnes TTSX. I mainly shot 210gr Barnes TSX & Sierra 215gr BTSP