Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Low-Velocity Hunting Loads for the .338 Win Mag

When I lived in Alaska one of my favorite rifles was a Savage M116 in .338 Winchester Magnum. A stainless rifle with plastic stock and 22" barrel, it served me well hunting moose, bear and caribou in stinking wet weather. But now I live in Texas and this rifle is pretty over-powered for our little deer and even for hogs. It also has more recoil than I want - it weighs under 8 lbs with scope.

I decided to try a reduced load with 200-grain bullets and H4895: 57 grains gave 2600 fps and very fine accuracy - well under moa for 5 shots. But the recoil was still more than I wanted, and the velocity was more than needed too. I settled on 34.0 grains of BlueDot for 2400 fps and recoil more like a .300 Savage. (36.0 grains proved maximum in my rifle with the same expansion ring growth than I had with full-power loads.) The 34.0/BD load puts five Hornadys into 1.5 moa consistantly and has a flat enough trajectory for 200+ yards so I'm happy.

Happy enough to take the rifle hog hunting last week where it harvested a 150 lb sow. Not huge but still a decent test. The bullet seemed to have expanded well, the wound channel was good sized and the animal's reaction was fast enough. No bullet to recover though.

Just one experience but the load looks very promising. Who else has hunting experience with either the 200 Hornady SP or the 200 Speer SP at velocities between 2300 and 2500 fps (.338 Federal, etc.)? I'm curious how well the Speers work slowed down. Thanks.



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It is my understanding that SR 4759 is no longer being made.

It's an old thread but my question fits.

Have any of you tried the 160gnTTSX in 338WM?

I am thinking about such a load at 2600fps for kids 10-12 years old. the idea is for the round to take impala-sized gamed, up to hartebeest, probably at distances 150-250 yards.
(The rifle is a Tikka, 7.5pounds with a scope, on an LOP cut back to 12.5".)

Why in the world would you give a kid that age a 338 mag no matter what you fed it? Reduce loads are not an answer it my opinion. Saw some 300 mag reduced loads on Midway. Probably lower velocity and a 150 gr bullet! For wha reason would you reduce the 338 to that lever, shoot, a 300 Savage and 308 Win do well with 150 gr bullet's. You could drop down to a 260 with a 140gr bullet!

It's an old thread but my question fits.

Have any of you tried the 160gnTTSX in 338WM?

I am thinking about such a load at 2600fps for kids 10-12 years old. the idea is for the round to take impala-sized gamed, up to hartebeest, probably at distances 150-250 yards.
(The rifle is a Tikka, 7.5pounds with a scope, on an LOP cut back to 12.5".)

Been awhile...but where do you find these Lutz bullets or what id their website? Thanks, Jim

If you go to the 160 ttsx you will need to keep them moving pretty fast. A bunch of us have been experimenting with them in the .338 Fed and, like all Barnes, they need to be moving. We've been loading around 2900 fps or so in the Fed.

If you want something that will perform below 2500 fps look at the 200 FTX from Federal. It is designed for the .338 Marlin Express and expands violently even at .338 fed velocities. It was a little too soft for my liking even at full power .338 Fed velocities, but would be perfect for what you want to do.

The problem with small charges of fast powder in big cases is it is very easy to throw a double charge, especially when you are in the middle of a reloading task and go to fill up the coffee cup!

There is no way I would use that 34 grain load in my 338 Win Mag.

You also need to think about S.E.E with that light load. Under the right conditions it could occur.