Any 338 Win Mag Reloading Advice?

[Scotty 2 Hotty]

Howdy! Any one got a good recommendation for reloading some bullets for a 338 win mag? I use to hunt Whitetail Deer and occasional Black Bear. I chose the Barnes Triple Shock 225 Grain. Have already looked at several sites and several loading books, but was wondering if anyone had any data that they had and PERSONALLY tested collected themselves. I shoot a Remington BDL incase that is needed. Thanks for all the good advice in advance and God Bless You All!

Scotty 2 Hotty::banghead:

 

[BruceB]

Oh, yeah...love that 225 TSX

A couple years back I bought a slightly-used left-handed Savage 116 in .338 (stainless, synthetic, and muzzle-braked). We've owned several other .338s over the years, but all were right-handed actions. This rifle had fired a total of 12 factory rounds, and the gent was asking a low price.

With an Alberta deer/elk hunt coming up, I too selected the 225 Barnes Triple Shok bullet, and began loading it at 70 grains of Reloder 19.

With three slightly-increasing loads on hand for the first trial, (70, 71, and 72 grains) the first 3-shot groups of the three different loads went 0.70", 0.55", and 0.45" from 100 yards. All nine rounds, if fired at the same aiming point, would have grouped under 3/4" at a speed of just over 2800 fps. Scope is a Leupold VX-II 3-9x.

At that point, I said, "My load development for this rifle is OVER!!!!" The loads above worked safely in MY rifle, but do some searching before using my data to ensure that you stay safely "in bounds".

I was a very happy rifleman, seeing those results. The hunt was successful, too.

 

[bigcim]

I havnt tried the barnes becuase they're pretty expensive but from advice on this site I did try the seirra game king with imr 4350 they seem to work fine. I do plan on trying the hornadys sst. I would have bought them first but cabelas quit selling them. Im only shooting 250 grain becuase thats what was recommended to me by the guide I plan on going kodiak hunting with this october. Im shooting a browning stainless stalker with a boss

 

[dakotasin]

i'm a big fan of 225 hornadys in the 338 w/ rl-19.

 

[Scotty 2 Hotty]

Thanks so much for the advice so far. It has been very helpful. If anyone has anything else to add, I would love to hear it. I plan to go to Bass Pro Shop this weekend and buy some dove shells and hopefully look for the right powder there. I look forward to hearing from the rest of you and as always, God Bless You and God Bless America!

Saved by the Grace of God through Jesus Christ,
Scotty 2 Hotty

 

[BruceB]

Sierras?????

bigcim, sir;

Let me get this straight....you're going hunting big bear in Alaska, but you think Barnes bullets are "too expensive"?!?!

You're going after big bears, in thick country where shots might be measured in feet, against animals which are EASILY capable of killing the hunter, and you want to take SIERRAS because Barnes bullets are a bit pricier???

You're going to spend thousands of dollars on this hunt, but won't spend a lousy forty bucks for great, proven bullets which can be DEPENDED UPON to hold together, penetrate, and tear up a lot of bone and bear meat???

I can see using the Sierras for practice, and then re-zeroing with something better prior to the hunt, but to take the Sierras after Brownies when so many far-better bullets are available is just plain ridiculous.

 

[bigcim]

Yes this has been said before but with breaking in the barrel and all it seemed like a better choice. I was also going to try the hornadys but cabelas discontinued them at the time that I bought all my bulk supplies . The suggestion for sierras was made to me hear from a guy whose brother I think lived in Alaska and said he loved them and they preformed well during his hunts. I still have time to try others but didn't see a need to since they preformed well for other hunters and preformed well for me at the range. Thats why we ask the questions right, for experienced advice. I also took advice from the guide on the bullets which he said were fine. This caliber was recommended to me by him so thats why I purchased it.

 

[Bottom Gun]

My .338 Winchesters (Finnbear and BAR) seem to work best with slow burning powder.
The Nosler 210 gr Partition bullets with IMR4831 powder are accurate and perform well with elk. I have never had to shoot an elk more than once with these Partitions.
The 225 gr Partitions are a good choice as well.

 

[gipperdog]

I had a .338 Win Mag made up for me on a Win M70 action last year. I found that it really likes two bullets best & I get great velocity out of them - The Barnes 210 gr Triple Shock & the Hornady 225 gr spire point. I tried the polymer tipped ones but the rifle just didn't like them. The rifle I have liked Reloader 19 the best but IMR4350 ran a good second. You can go a bit lighter in the Barnes than a lead bullet cause their so tough. I'm getting 3025 fps from the Barnes across my chronograph. It's a top load from the Barnes book & sorry but I don't remember it off the top of my head. No pressure signs & the brass came out easily.
So, I think the Barnes Triple Shocks are great & any of the 225 grain lead bullets & on up will work great.