.338-06 and H-414

[Northwest Cajun]

Hi guys
I going to try some new loads soon with a new powder. I've been using Varget and got great results but a little too much pressure for the speed I want.
I know a few of you out there use H-414 in the .338-06. My question is,...
Is there a big difference in your groups/speed from summer to winter? How tempature stable is it? The Varget I've been using has no change hot or cold, Will I get the same result with the ball H-414?
I want to use 225gr bullets( Hornady SST,interbonds or the Nosler bonded)
The barrel on the custom P-17 is 25"
I have a friend with quick load and it states 59.6 is max but Hodgon has it around 61.5
I'll most likely start around 55 or 56 and work my way up.
Does that sound about right?


Cajun

 

[Art Eatman]

Offhand, yeah. I recently loaded some 180s in a regular .30-'06, using H414. Comparing it with my old standby 4064, it's slower burning. Starting out around 8% to 10% under book-max is the safest way to go with an unknown. I've never had any problem at 5% under, however.

Art

 

[Bob C]

I had good results with IMR 4350 and with RL-19 in my 338-06, using 225 grain Hornady Spire Points and Sierra 250 grain BTSP.

 

[ThreadKiller]

A very good resource for 338/06 aficianados is Accurate Reloading Forums

Do a search for "338-06" or "338/06" and you'll get more darn info than you could ever need.

The 33/06 is very highly thought of there.

Tim

 

[Matt G]

http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=70

Interesting. I've never shot a .338-'06, but I have a .35 Whelen, which is a similar concept. According to Barnes, the .338 gives similar ME/MV, but with supperior sectional density. Nice round, looking at it on paper.

I took part in a fair amount of testing with a .338 WinMag a few years back, and found that that Hornady 225g bullet was an excellent performer, which surprised us by giving better accuracy than the 215g Sierra Game Kings that we were also testing at the time.

With your long-ish barrel, slow powders seem the way to go. 4350 seems to be a classic for the .338/06, as is H-4064, and H-4350 appears to be slower-burning than 414. RL-19 would thus be pretty close, too, I would think. That said, I'd go with the load my rifle liked best. (Funny how much they'll vary.) I note that 414 is a ball powder, which probably meters like water, which is nice. All my rifles tend to prefer extruded type powders, so I've just gotten used to loading 'em.


By law (of physics) all loads should get a little "hotter" as the temperature increases. My .300 WinMag load picks up about 40 fps from cool winter to warm summer. I don't consider this to be of much concern. (I don't push the margin, to speak of.)

 

[Northwest Cajun]

I just made up 20 rds 5 @ 56gr,57gr,58gr & 59gr.
All with 225 gr Hornady's in Win Brass and CCI 200 primers
I'll take them out this weekend to see how they shoot.

Cajun

 

[Northwest Cajun]

Just got back from the range,
Loads with 57.0 went under an inch at 100yds and 2575fps
The 59 gr load went a little over an inch and 2600fps and just starting to show pressure signs.It looks like I may have found a new powder for the.338-06
I only put one round over the chrono for each load, I'll go back when I have more time to get a 5 shot average.

Cajun