brasskeeper
Member
Anybody on here loading 338 win mag for elk? Let me know what your pet load is..
Thanks
Thanks
338 WinMag
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brasskeeper, sir;
Timely question!
I just "found" my elk load last week, when my "new" Savage M116 (the previous owner had fired just six rounds, and gave me the rest of the box) gave me some amazing results.
With a new rifle, some new-to-me .338 Barnes "Triple-Shock" 225-grain bullets (I hate those catchy cutesy names), and a powder I'd never tried before (Reloader 19), I hied meself to the range with a set of loads with increasing charges in each batch.
I fired three-round groups at each of 73.0, 74.0 and 75.0 grains, and ALL THREE of these loads grouped under one inch at 100 yards, with the 74 and 75 loads right at 1/2". The velocity for the 74 grain load is 2900 fps, and that is my elk load, over, done, finis, no problemo. In forty years of handloading for hunting, I've never arrived at "THE load" with such ease and so little fuss. Amazing.
Timely question!
I just "found" my elk load last week, when my "new" Savage M116 (the previous owner had fired just six rounds, and gave me the rest of the box) gave me some amazing results.
With a new rifle, some new-to-me .338 Barnes "Triple-Shock" 225-grain bullets (I hate those catchy cutesy names), and a powder I'd never tried before (Reloader 19), I hied meself to the range with a set of loads with increasing charges in each batch.
I fired three-round groups at each of 73.0, 74.0 and 75.0 grains, and ALL THREE of these loads grouped under one inch at 100 yards, with the 74 and 75 loads right at 1/2". The velocity for the 74 grain load is 2900 fps, and that is my elk load, over, done, finis, no problemo. In forty years of handloading for hunting, I've never arrived at "THE load" with such ease and so little fuss. Amazing.
Sharps Shooter
Member
Howdy Brasskeeper. Welcome to the board!
For elk (and mule deer too, for that matter) with my .338 I use a plain old Hornady 225 grain spire point over 72.6 grains of H4831. My manual says it should go better than 2800 fps, but I've never chronographed it. With my rifle, it's accurate enough though - 3 in an inch at 100 yards. And it's deadly on elk and mule deer. Of course it's your money, but I've never had a need for premium bullets for elk with my .338. If I took the gun to Alaska where I'd have the chance of crossing paths with a large carnivore, I'd probably reconcider by bullet options.
For elk (and mule deer too, for that matter) with my .338 I use a plain old Hornady 225 grain spire point over 72.6 grains of H4831. My manual says it should go better than 2800 fps, but I've never chronographed it. With my rifle, it's accurate enough though - 3 in an inch at 100 yards. And it's deadly on elk and mule deer. Of course it's your money, but I've never had a need for premium bullets for elk with my .338. If I took the gun to Alaska where I'd have the chance of crossing paths with a large carnivore, I'd probably reconcider by bullet options.
i just run hornady 225's thru mine. although i haven't had a crack at elk w/ it yet, i have busted deer w/ it at ranges under 25 yards. even at that close range, and 2950 f/s w/ a shoulder shot, the bullet held together and exited.
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