Working up a load for my "new" 1992 Browning Bar 338 Win Mag.

[BankWalker316]

I'll have my "new" Browning Bar 338 Win Mag this coming Monday 6/06/26.

ANY PET LOADS OR RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHERE TO START?

I have (100) new Peterson brass, WLRM as well as Magnum Remington primers. I'll be using the WLRM to start with. I have (100) 225 Nosler AccuBonds and (250) 210 NP. The NP have not been delivered yet but that's the load I'm gonna be shooting when all us said and done.

I've already worked up 3-shot test loads using the IMR4350, H4831, RL19, H380. I started somewhere around the middle of the low & high powder charges up to within 1½ grains of max on one particular powder. BUT then I read that Peterson brass had less case capacity and thus higher pressures and blah blah blah. So I'm gonna pull bullets and start lower.

I have IMR4350, SW4350, IMR4895, H1000, H4831SC, H380, Varget, RL 19 & 22, StaBall 6.5, and N-560. I have a minimum of 8 lbs each of IMR4350, H4831, and N-560 so those are my preferred choices for building this load. I'm deer hunting in Alabama so I don't need elk or bear loads.

I try to kill at least 1 deer a year with my 223, 22-250, 6.5 Grendel and CrippleMoore, 30-30, 270, 280, 7mm magnum, and 308. I completely understand that I have no need for a 338 to kill a deer. I've just wanted one for 35 years and I'm not getting any younger. I found one at a price that I couldn't refuse so I bought it.

One more thing. I paid over $160 for 100 Peterson brass. I have well over a thousand 7mm magnum brass with various head stamps. Can anyone tell me if I can properly and safely fire-form 338 brass from 7mm brass using a Browning Bar rifle to do so? Something like 15-20 grains of BD, some Cream of Wheat or grits to the bottom of the case neck, and then stob some candle wax in the remaining neck space??? I assume that will work even though it's an automatic?

I know this is a lot but I was trying to give all of the particulars to help avoid questions and useless comments explaining how I didn't need a 33 caliber cannon and a 210-225 grain bullet to kill a 180 thin-skinned deer. I'm neither a newby to reloading or hunting. Thanks in advance.

 

[JD338]

Bank
Welcome to the 338 Club. Not a bad place to be. FWIW, there’s no such thing as overkill. I use a custom 700 338 RUM as my main crop damage deer rifle. The 250 AB absolutely crushes those bean bandits.
The 210 PT at 2900-3000 fps is an excellent bullet that opens up well, even on deer and penetrates deep. You are able to hunt most anything in NA. Keep an eye out for the 200 gr AB and/or BT (Ballistic Silver Tip seconds).
The 210 PT and 200 BT/BST shot to the same POI in my 338 RUM.
RL19, IMR4350 and H4831SC would be good powders to start with. The 225 AB is another good option that won’t disappoint.
You shouldn’t have any issues sizing up 7mm Rem Mag cases to 338 but I would recommend annealing the cases first and neck up to .308 and than .338 to prevent splitting the necks.
I’m my experience the 338 hits hard and kills fast.

JD338

 

[RL338]

My 338 WM is in a Wby Vanguard and is a little stinker for consistent groups. H4350 is where I was focused on last year. The 210gr TTSX does soot well in this rifle.
As for brass I’m running 7mm RM Peterson. As JD mentioned , expand to 308 then 338 load and shoot.