338 Win mag - Barnes XXX

[RDA 226sig]

I have been using 225 grain Hornady Interbond bullets over IMR 4350 powder and am very happy with the range performance but am considering working up some 225 grain Barnes Triple Shocks in preparation for an Elk Hunt.

Has anyone done any comparisons between the two bullets mentioned above? Does anyone have a powder that they just love to use with the Barnes out of a 338 Win mag?

(Firearm is a 26" barreled Browning Abolt II)

 

[BruceB]

I use Hornady 225s only for load work-up and pre-hunt practice.

When I did the first trial of the 225 TSX bullet in my Savage 116, I loaded three rounds each with 71.0, 72.0, and 73.0 grains of Reloder 19. The three-round trials were mostly due to bullet cost, although I was also concerned with using up a limited supply of the TSX bullets.

Not to worry! BOTH the 71.0 and 72.0 loads went UNDER 1/2" for three rounds at 100 yards, and the 73.0 load was 0.70". With such a limited number of rounds tested, these results could easily change around....but suffice it to say that if the three groups were super-imposed, I had NINE rounds under 3/4".

Without further worry, I adopted the 72.0/RE-19 as my elk load. The velocity from my 24" barrel is 2850 fps. Now, if I can just find an elk who's willing to co-operate....

 

[RDA 226sig]

Thanks Bruce. Burning through a bunch of triple shocks doesn't sound like a good plan so I am trying to shorten the learning curve.

Good luck on getting the Elk to cooperate.