Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 338 Federal - Need your best loads

I have a Tikka T3 in 338 federal and I am having some serious issues getting this thing to shoot decently right now my best groups are right in the 2" range. I have tried 160 grain barnes and 200 sst bullets with 6 different powders and I am not having any luck. I have played with seating depths, charge weights, primers, factory federal brass and reformed lapua 308 brass and right now i am having no luck.

So if you could post some of your favorite accurate loads that would be great.

Thanks

Barnes 185 TTSX and Speer 200 over I8208 were consistently MOA or better in my Sako 85 Bavarian Carbine.

Forgot to mention the 200 gr Nosler Accubond over 8208 was also accurate, but the TTSX was the best of the bunch. Terry

My loves Hodgdon Benchmark. A close second and third are AR Comp and 8208. My load is a 210 Partition over Benchmark. Slightly better than sub moa for 5 shots.

The 160 TTSX over Varget is about the best grouping load in my 338-06 and at 3K fps or better.

No blood yet, but it has a good rep for for terminal performance.

DF

Beaudry I tried quite a few powder bullet combos and the most accurate was the 160 TTSX with AA2230 with BR2 primers and Federal 338F brass. 160 TTSX and 185 TTSX/TSX with 8208 was good as well. HLVR with 200 +grain bullets as well.

I tried Varget, RL15, H335, HLVR, Benchmark IMR 8208 and AA2230 210M and BR2 primers. BR2's seem a bit better. AA 2230 is temperature sensitive 8208 not as much. Keep that in mind if you shoot in higher temps. The link below has a lot of great info.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/3634927/all/Good_338_Federal_loads

Good and shoot straight Y'all

My T3 338 Fed also likes 210 grain partitions with Benchmark and CCI 200 primers.

I have been experimenting with what I have on hand with 160 Barnes and 200 Speer. The Speers are cheap and will be good on whitetails, though the 160 Barnes is a SUPER bullet on game. I am just no sure that I need to use such an expensive bullet considering that I like to shoot a couple hundred rounds a year.

Powders used were H335, IMR 4064, H4895, Re7, AA2495, AA2015

With the 160 Barnes, H335 and Re7 were great. Not a lot of load data for this bullet and the powders that I have on hand.
My initial effort with 200 Speer and H335 and Re 7 was not good. 2" groups compared to 1" with these powders and the 160 Barnes.

H4895 and IMR4064 gave me groups at 1" depending upon the charge. AA2495 did well also but AA2015 gave me stiff case extraction and signs of pressure.
I generally start at 1/2" grain below max and work up.

The gentleman that sold me the rifle suggested TAC, but I have not tried to find any yet.
I remember seeing that someone had developed a load for the 200 grain and LVR, but I could not find such in a manual.

Seeing what all you’ve tried, I’d consider looking elsewhere for the problem. Take it apart, put back together torqued to spec, swap the scope, etc. For shooting, ensure the forend is held.

My two most accurate bullets are the 160 and 185 TTSX over 8208 XBR. Don’t be afraid to let them jump. Some of my most accurate TTSX loads jump significantly.

Over time I have loaded with different bullets. Accuracy is my T3 is very good. My last loads were with 210 gr. Swift bullet and 43 grains of H4895. I'd not use this bullet however the accuracy was excellent. I was working up loads, That load is not a max charge. I also got very good accuracy with Varget using a 200 Hornady bullet. My cases were formed from Federal cases. My T3 is a keeper.

210 grain Partition over 44.2 grains of H4895 is the go to load in my Ruger Hawkeye.

I have not experimented much with mine yet but a 200 gr Accubond and H4895 got me 2600fps and good accuracy from a 22" Kimber.

The load I plan to use this fall for elk is the 200gn North Fork with 47.2 8208, 2.79" and BR2. It has shot well below MOA and runs ~2655fps. For the distances I shoot, this ought to be a great combination.

I am a big fan of lever actions but bought my Ruger Hawkeye stainless because the caliber intrigued me.
I think the caliber is a sleeper. I had a Savage 99 in 358 Winchester and I find the 338 Fed recoil less than the 358 Win.
I keep thinking that I want to go back to levers, but the caliber has caused me to stay with the gun.

PRM, did you give up on your AA2230? Those velocities you posted on the 338F load thread were good. I saw you mention temperature sensitivity a few times in that thread. Did you have some bad experiences with temp sensitivity and AA2230?

My current 160TTSX load is with 8208, but another 100fps or so would be nice. Any idea how fast that projectile should be going with a starting velocity around 2750 at 300 and 400 yards?

For those of you use TTSX bullets, what C.O.L are you using for best accuracy?

I'm in the camp with OBIE they seem to like a lot of jump. I reload all T/TSX the same lightly crimped in the shortest channel for the first try. I have found this generally produces best accuracy and uses less bullets in development. If accuracy in the shortest channel is not good I may try them longer or just go to another bullet.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all