Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Mule Deer: 200gr .338BT

Well, my first attempts with TAC were all under 200 Hornadys in the T3. Then after your article and a new Kimber, I swapped primers (used Fed 215's) and backed the charge way down (started around 42) and stayed with Hornady's. The thought that my lot was much different had entered my mind (what I had left of the 8 Lb jugs is probably 2000 vintage TAC, same lot I had issues with in the 308) so I went to the local gunstore and bought a pound of nice and fresh stuff. Same deal... I backed the load down quite a bit and started over with 200 Speers, and I was into a sticky bolt lift by 44.5 grains (with the Hornadies too) and not real stellar velocities compared to Benchmark and RL15. This was after the Kimber had chamber issues sorted out. I borrowed back the T3 (my brother still hasn't paid me for that rifle) and it had a slightly sticky bolt lift. Both rifles were in the 2520 FPS area. I get around 2550 with 46 grains of RL15 under both 200 grainers, and eveythings peachy. I have 20 sticks of brass thats had that load ran in it 8 times, primer pockets are nice and tight still. I feel as you do, the Hornady's could stand to go a little hotter, you can see the difference between them and the Speers if you line them up next to eachother. I'd say the 200 Speer and 210 Partition are almost identical.

I suspect that my Kimber, given the fact its not a sloppy factory chamber is the culprit. The T3 has a pretty tight chamber as well, considering its a factory gun. One thing that had occoured to me is that the Kimber might be short throated since it came home. All I can tell you is that both it, and the T3 you can seat a 200 Speer to 2.810 and have about a .020" jump to the leade. Fired cases tell me that the mouth is opening up plenty far upon firing (no issues there.) Your Kimber may have quite a bit more freebore??

But, I still want a 180 grain Cup-and-core bullet. I feel confident you could run it 2700 FPS and not have to push it too far pressure wise to make that happen. I think it would provide about the perfect load for any big game in Montana, and I wouldn't feel like I needed it to be a premium bullet at that speed and diameter. Just imagine how fast you could run it in your Kimber with TAC (I smell an article in there somewhere...)

DanAdair, Factory 180ABs gave me 2730fps from the Tikka. Shot them all up before I acquired the Kimber so never tried any yet in that gun. Accuracy was about 1.5" at best. Expensive, too!
I remember being upset with Federal that their loads in the only gun available at the time gave 100fps less than claimed. Why test stuff in 40" barrels if the public will never buy guns that way. Kind of an industry wide crock-o-baloney if you ask me.
Regardless, it still met 30-06/180 speeds. Not exactly chump change...

Agreed... But its the game they all play, reloading manuals too.

I don't have my notes in front of me right at the moment, but the 180 AB factory stuff I fired in both the T3 and Kimber was in the mid 2700's if I recall.

If you hadn't noticed, I still want a cheap 180 bullet to shoot in the 338 Midget

Let's buy one of them bullet press things and make our own... !

Dennis

I'll chip in 100 bucks and take it out in trade

I did notice. And I feel your (our) pain, man! Glad there is a 160 out there but the price is ouchy. Someone will be coming along with 180CCNCDBs.CheapCup-N-CoreDeerBullets