Retumbo for a 338 Win Mag.

[Jeff Olsen]

I have never had a problem in high temps either.I'm more concerned with a load thats made in 70* temps @ sea level,& then sits around for a few months,& then brought to 7000',& fired when its -5*.I have heard thet the MV can drop a few hundred fps.That would be enough to make a wounded elk,& a verry long day tracking.I had to hit my last bull @ a little over 500yds.I'm not afraid of useing another powder,just want to research the contingents before I switch.

For what it's worth, my .338 WM with RL19 and 225 Accubonds prints in the same place at 100 yards at 6000 feet in butt-ass cold temps... compared to where I make the loads and do the sight-in, which is at about 500 feet in a mild coastal climate in Oregon.

But I do hear you-use what works for you! If H4350 gave me the speed and accuracy I get from RL19, I'd prefer to use it, too.

-jeff

 

[Bigwheels]

Thanks,Jeff.Thats what I need to hear.I've never used anything other than Extreem powders,so I have no experience with anything else.I could only go with what I read.If you haven't seen any difference with POI when traveling.Thats great.I guess I'll give it a try.

 

[Alaska]

Just loaded up some rounds

338 Win

225gr AB
Reloader 19 @ 76.0
WW brass with 215GM
78.0 of RL 19 with 225gr NP (HE Load)


I think the temp senstive powders is just a sell gimmick. Temps are going to effect all powders burn rate. Some maybe more or less than others.

 

[JD338]

Retumbo is too slow.
RL 19 and IMR 4350 are excellent powders for the 338 Win Mag.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Jeff, can't help you much with the 200 ET, but I do have a good load using 200 AB's, running 3000 out of my 25" barreled Model 70. I am using 76.5 grains of RL19, CCI250's, and WW cases. It was a quick workup with the rifle, just to get it out hunting. It was plenty accurate enough though. Wished I had the chance to smoke something with it though. Pretty sure it would have been good.

300 yards

I tried 72.5 grains of IMR4350 and the 210 PT. While it ran about 3075 out of my rifle, it didn't hold up accuracy wise. I will retry it later this Fall if I have the time.

Pretty sure the 200 ET will take a lesser shot of IMR4350 to get up to speed, but maybe not in your rifle.

Why the 200 ET? Don't you have a smoking 225 load? Just wondering. I tend to tinker a bit as well.

Oh, this is an old post, but RL19 is THE powder for the 338WM. It has worked really well, from 200's to 275's.

 

[jmad_81]

I shot the 200 ET out of my 338 WM for a while. 74.5 RL-19 was what I used. Never put them over the chrony. Shot well enough that I could hit a 12" steel disk off shooting sticks out to 450 yards 9 out of 10 times. Took one deer with them, then went back to the 225 AB. Just like the heavier bullet a bit better.

 

[Alaska]

IMR 4350 is a very good powder for both the 300 Win and 338 Win.

IMR 4350
338 Win with 225gr Swift A frame 71.0

Excellent Load

 

[Alaska]

Rlph
I use 73.5 IMR4350 on my Howa 338 Win Mag using 200 grain Ballistic Tip. You can start with that on your 180 AccuBond.

I suggest the AccuBond for better weight retention at 338 Win velocities.

 

[Alaska]

I also loved my Gams Kings,& used them for several years.But I discovered that I had a Magazine Deformation problem that would affect the accuracy of the rounds in the box.Some bad enough that I couldn't hit a 3'X3' target @ 500yds. with the last 2 in the box.That was unacceptable to me,so I switched to the 225 AB's.They are as accurate as the GK's,& deal with the deformation issues I had.I was just a little dissapointed with the velocitys I was getting.Don't get me wrong.They are more potent than I actually need.But I would love to get one in a 250gr.

The only GameKing I used was a 165gr GK in 30-06 and 308 win ……..actually because the Federal Premium with 165GK load shot so good in my rifles I tried to duplicate it by reloading. I think I got pretty close with IMR 4064 in the 308 Win and IMR 4350 in the O6 both with FC Prem brass and Fed 210M primers. Those 165GK sure would dump whitetail / Muledeer and caribou with ease.

 

[Alaska]

You should try some RL19. It's the shiznit for 338 WM and 225's.

-jeff

Yes RL 19 @ 76.0 with 225gr AB

 

[Alaska]

Hey Alaska.What M/V are you reaching? I'm @ 2750,& maxed out with H4350.Should I try some RL 19.Or maybe some H4831SC?I'm still waiting for a 250gr.AB! I can push that in a Game King to the same M/V as the 225 I'm now useing.Go Figure.Less powder too.

2832 fps with RL 19..........very accurate with 225 AB or Part.
I like my case capacity in the upper 90% range filled. Unless I plan a trip down to the coast for big bear, the 225 AB fits my bill perfect here in the 338 Win. I have good results with RL19 and IMR 4350.
76.0 of RL 19 with 225 AB
You can go up to 78.0 of RL 19 in WW cases with 225 Nosler Part to duplicate the Fed High Energy load . That’s a max load I used it for few years on moose then went back down to 76.0 grains. 78.0 is upper Node load max. Highly suggest WW brass when using this load. I would try WLR primer vs WLRM primer first. I prefer the 76.0 of RL19 with 225 AB load but both are accurate.
I find the 250’s to heavy in recoil in 338 Win and 338 Rum. Sierra anything in Magnums is a no go bullet to soft !

 

[7mmstw]

I am only guessing, as I have not tried it, but I would think Retumbo would be too slow burning for good use in a .338 Win Mag.

Like you, I currently use H 4350 in my .338 Win Mag. However, I have had good luck with IMR 4350, IMR 4831, and RL 19. I have had ok results using RL 22.

I am shooting H 4350 with the 225 Partition. My rifle does not shoot the 225 Accubonds well at all! Funny thing about the 225 AccuBond in .338. I tried it in a couple of 338 WIn Mags, a couple of 340 Wby Mags, all with POOR results. Then I tried it in a .338 RUM and it shot groups well under a half inch! Go figure!

As a reference, the Hodgdon 2006 Annual Manual shows no loads using Retumbo in the .338 Win Mag cartridge.

Retumbo is very very slow
used to burn imr 4831 with 225s but dropped down to
Reloader 19 & Hodgdon 4350 & they are spectacular with 200s
I have loaded for it since mid 70s 225s we’re the standard
but 200 grain AccuBond is MY go to bullet can’t imagine
any bull needing 2 of them ….absolutely smashes anything !
one went through a vine maple sapling right in front of a 5 pt
still stacked home where he stood
it coined the phrase “ hooves in the scope”

 

[Alaska]

anyone ever try imr-4350 to load 180 grain accubonds in the 338? no imr-4350 data listed... Any helps would be greatly appreciated.

Don’t like anything lighter than 210gr and 225gr in .338 Win or RUM.

 

[Alaska]

anyone ever try imr-4350 to load 180 grain accubonds in the 338? no imr-4350 data listed... Any helps would be greatly appreciated.

Not enough of weight for 338
I would not go less than 200gr in .338

 

[Alaska]

Hey Alaska.What M/V are you reaching? I'm @ 2750,& maxed out with H4350.Should I try some RL 19.Or maybe some H4831SC?I'm still waiting for a 250gr.AB! I can push that in a Game King to the same M/V as the 225 I'm now useing.Go Figure.Less powder too.

If you use a flat base bullet
225gr Nosler Part
78.0 of Reloader 19 (HE load Duplication)
WW Brass a must because of good case capcity
Fed 215GM primer
This load duplicates Fed High Energy load in 338 Win Mag
I guess it works very well for 2023 moose season.

 

[slickrem]

I was just wondering if anyone had experimented wit Retumbo in a 338 Win Mag.I love it in my 300.I currently use H4350 with a 225GR.AB.

Which 300 ? I bought a pound for my 300 Weatherby

 

[FOTIS]

like ALREADY STATED. burning RATE AROUND RL-19 IS OPTIMAL.

 

[Dr. Vette]

like ALREADY STATED. burning RATE AROUND RL-19 IS OPTIMAL.

RL-19 and the 338 Win Mag are meant for each other

 

[SJB358]

RL-19 and the 338 Win Mag are meant for each other

I always used 19 in the past but switched to 17 for some reason and have had excellent results as well. My RL19 and 210 Partition loads accounted for a few bulls.

 

[JD338]

I always used 19 in the past but switched to 17 for some reason and have had excellent results as well. My RL19 and 210 Partition loads accounted for a few bulls.

A classic elk hunting load right there.

JD338