Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 338 Federal loads

I'm also seeing 3015fps with the new AA2230 and 160ttsx at 52gn i don't really want to try anymore as that is max in my rife primers are starting to show signs of flatting.

Interesting on the 180AB and 48.5 of 8208 I started using hornady brass and got around 2770 with br2 and 2800 with fed 215M primers then tried lapua brass yesterday and was only getting 2745fps with the mag primers went into shop made 3 with Hornaday brass and shot all within 15 minutes just to make sure crono was accurate and got 2790 and shot great.

Thanks scottishkat. I "bit the bullet" and ordered a McMillan stock and hope to have it up and running for the Fallow deer rut next April.
It's interesting that so many others are finding such improvements in accuracy by a change of primers. I found that by switching from Rem 9 1/2
LR to Fed 210M my groups shrunk from 1.4" to 3/4 . . same everything else. With such a full case, the mag primers may have merit perhaps!

John

Found this elsewhere, thought I'd pass it on. QL results. Looks like 45.5 is at the edge at about 60K.

Code:
Cartridge : .338 Federal
Bullet : .338, 210, Nosler PART SP 16337
Useable Case Capaci: 48.541 grain H2O = 3.152 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.820 inch = 71.63 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : IMR 8208 XBR

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 81 36.24 2047 1954 31574 5634 92.0 1.472
-18.0 83 37.15 2095 2046 33606 5796 93.0 1.432
-16.0 85 38.05 2142 2139 35752 5953 93.9 1.394
-14.0 87 38.96 2189 2235 38035 6104 94.8 1.356
-12.0 89 39.86 2236 2332 40462 6249 95.6 1.318
-10.0 91 40.77 2283 2431 43043 6387 96.3 1.281
-08.0 93 41.68 2330 2532 45789 6519 97.0 1.246
-06.0 95 42.58 2377 2634 48712 6643 97.6 1.212
-04.0 97 43.49 2423 2738 51825 6759 98.1 1.180 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 99 44.39 2469 2844 55143 6866 98.6 1.148 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 101 45.30 2516 2951 58682 6965 99.0 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 103 46.21 2561 3059 62459 7055 99.4 1.089 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 105 47.11 2607 3169 66495 7135 99.6 1.061 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 107 48.02 2652 3281 70812 7205 99.8 1.033 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 109 48.92 2698 3393 75435 7264 99.9 1.007 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 111 49.83 2743 3507 80392 7313 100.0 0.981 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 101 45.30 2612 3181 69288 6732 100.0 1.047 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 101 45.30 2381 2643 48401 6886 94.3 1.212

Here's my 338 Fed Redneck put together with mostly scrounged campfire parts and a B and C Ti stock from Stockys. Currently running a full case 8208 and 160 TTXS's. Looking for some AA2230 to try out, not that I need any more velocity! Tungsten Cerakote almost matches the gunmetal gray VX-7 Leupold. Trigger pull was allover the place even after putting a Timney on it. Turned out the cocking piece had a big burr on it. 7lb 7oz as it sits, scoped.
\
SS 1:10 twist Lilja #3 22" .645 at the muzzle. The barrel is a hand me down from GaryU and Skilakjim

Nice looking rifle. It color-co-ordinates with your stove nicely!
What length barrel, and what twist did you go for?
Interested to hear how it shoots those 160's.

John

Was that reformed .308 brass? I've used Lapua brass and lost some velocity. In theory I should be able to add some powder as it has more capacity than Federal brass.

Yes it was all reformed 308 brass

Tag

New member here. I bought a (new to me) NULA in .338 Fed this summer and have been reading this thread ever since. The rifle came with a box and a half of DoubleTap 160ttsx ammo advertised at 2900 fps and chronographed on an 85 degree day this August at 2915fps. It shot reasonably well so I figured I would try it this fall before buying more 160s to load myself. I shot an average bodied PA buck and a rather large doe, both double lung (ribcage only) shots at 60 and 40 yards respectively. Both deer died within sight, so the bullets worked, but their terminal performance was not what I’ve seen with the 120ttsx from my 7mm-08 or the 140 from my 7mm SAUM. Both deer had massive near-side trauma with bruising and bloodshot meat extending well into the shoulder on the buck and covering the entire ribcage from back strap to belly on the doe. Internal damage looked more like an archery hit than the jellied mess I usually see with the ttsx. All internal organs were identifiable. The exit wound on the buck was more of a ragged slit between ribs. The doe was hit at a slight quartering-to angle. After putting a fairly clean hole through the near side lung and clipping the back of the offside lung the bullet tore the diaphragm, but did not exit. I assumed I would find it in the hide on the opposite side but it must have ended up in the gut pile because there was no evidence of damage to the far ribs and no bullet found during processing. It seems like, in my very limited sample, the 160 (at least at this short range) is dumping most of its energy right under the hide on the near side. Anybody else with similar experiences on game? Any shots involving a hit to bone or thick muscle with the 160? Thanks for this very informative thread, which is probably the best cartridge-specific reloading thread I’ve ever read.

I'm really surprised a whitetail caught a 160 TTSX. But, I'm not surprised about bloodshot meat. I have seen that, but it also included internals that were an equal mess. The only whitetail sized animal I've used it on is an Impala though. I can't say for certain, but I think most of mine hit bone, even if only ribs.

I tried a new combo today, the 185 TTSX and AA2230. Using the Barnes published max of 49gn I got over 2800. I had good accuracy at 48 and 48.5 with velocities of 2776 and 2796 so I'll stick to that.

I was surprised too, which is the main reason I posted. I'm not sure what powder DoubleTap uses. Temp on the day the doe was shot was about 20 degrees. Maybe the velocity wasn't there? In any case, there is a lot of energy being spent on the rib cage. Your 185 load looks interesting and this rifle seems to have a fast barrel.

Has anybody tried the 180 Woodleigh? I saw a load earlier in the thread for the 200.

Has anybody tried the 180 Woodleigh? I saw a load earlier in the thread for the 200. [/quote]

G'day John,
I load the 200g Woodleigh for my Fed exclusively now, and find it's terminal performance perfect for where and what I hunt. The neck of the woods where I mostly hunt has both Sambar and Fallow deer, and shots are typically within 200 yards. Sambar stags are big, heavily muscled, solid boned and thick skinned animals that can absorb a lot of punishment and stay on their feet. Hence the preference for the 200g. I opt for a minimum SD of .240 for sambar with lead-cored bullets, and the .338 200g has .251 . . plenty for penetration and bone smashing!
If smaller deer and pigs were only to be encountered I'm sure the 180g Woodleigh at 27 to 2800 f/sec would be well up to the task. Being a bonded bullet,the lower SD of .226 would be fine with the lighter bodied species. Why not give them a go and report back here to keep the thread going?
Good luck, John.

The 180 looks very interesting for my purposes. Similar SD and velocity to a .308 with 150's and those are proven deer and black bear killers in my neck of the woods. I think I'll order the 180s and see what I can do.

An excellent write up and description. Well done and welcome to the fire.

Thanks. My grandfather owned a butcher shop. I spent way too many hours skinning deer as a kid, and started doing deer "autopsies" as a way to pass the time while performing an otherwise boring job. Terminal performance has always interested me.

I will be picking up my kimber Montana 338 fed soon and have purchased the 175 MTH from cutting edge. I have a plethora of powders on hand including 4064, h4895, varget, H335, Imr 8208 xbr, aa2230, and others. I have researched the crap out of this round and feel starting with the 8208 and aa2230 will give me the best luck. I'll also maybe order some tac to try. If I can't get under 1" with any of these powders loaded to mag length (as suggested by cutting edge for this bullet) I'll likely give up and run the 160 or 185 ttsx. If they do work I'll then get some number and drops and calculate the BC. They list .535 G1 which personally I find impossible, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until I can prove otherwise via an actual experiment at 500-600 yards. If I can get 2900 with the 175 and under an inch at 100 yards I would be incredibly pleased. This bullet at 2900 fps basically turns this round into a 500+ yard elk killer. Which is about as comfortable as I'd ever be for hunting purposes (400-500 yards on deer/large hogs).

If anyone else has tested these bullets and got them to shoot well/fast please share you data and experience. Thanks!

Member PRM has already gotten those 175s going 2900 I believe in his 338 Fed. I have them flying just above 3K in my 21" barrel 338-06. No clue on the BC but I have to believe its a bit aggressive but I guess we shall see.

Do you know which powders/charges were used? What do you use in the /06. I'd imagine powders are similar across both.

PRM the 185 TSX has been stellar on these VA whitetails. 338 size going in and 1" exits every time. Blood trails that a blind man could follow and everything between the holes is mush.

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob