Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles I Want a Fast 338 Win Mag Loads????

I am looking for a 338 winnie load that has more velocity than my current load. Right now I have an extremely accurate load of 70 grains IMR4831 with cci250 primers, but it is only 2623fps out of my 24" and my hunting patners 24" barrel. So does anyone have any suggestions? I am thinking of starting with IMR4350 or RL19. I would really like to get up around 2850fps. My rifle seems to like any load I put in it so I am not worried about accuracy at this point. I want to find speed and then tweak accuracy if neccesary.

Thanks Guys.

What bullet?

Sorry.
I forgot to mention the bullet I am using is 225 grain accubond.

H4350 or RL22 will do that. Get a high BC bullet like Sierra215 or Nosler AB 225.

I had the best luck in my 338 & 225 grain bullets with RL22.

Ruger 338 Win Mag
24"
IMR 4350 71.0gr
Nosler 225gr Partition
Fed 215
WW Brass
2820fps

In the early 80's, loaded 225 gr Hornady's SP using Lyman 45th Edition data. This was BC - Before Chronograph. So don't know how fast it was. They were hot. Lyman's starting charge of 67gr is right at Hornady's Max of 67.7gr in their 4th Edition.

If you really want more velocity, than go down to the 200 grain Accubond and use the RL-19 powder or W760 powder. Max loads with either powder gives 3000fps and 2985 respectively. You can find the load in Nosler's 6th edition reloading manual.

The 200 grain will do just as good a job on elk as the 225 grain does and flys faster and more accurate out of my model 70 .338 Win mag.

I get 2860fps out of my .338 rifle using IMR-4350 powder at 71 grains of powder...MAX LOAD!!! Best you start 12 percent lower and work up SLOWLY understand.

RL-22 with most 215-225-230 will pretty much mute 200gr bullet speeds.

The lastest Sierra load with such and their 215 is a grand vision to the combo. Alliant data with pressure/charge also shows a lot of room with RL-22 for speed.

I ran the Sierra 215 at 2,980-85 (E.S.) and nearly 1/2 in 5 shot groups with trouble free loads.

Agreed. If extreme cold isn't in picture RL22 is the tops and my "go to" in about a dozen 338's. For cold H4831 "almost" duplicates RL22, H4350 very slightly slower as is N160.

Back in the bad old days,nothing touched H205 for speed in a 338 WM;today I have a hunch RL17 seems very similar...I'd do some careful experiments along those lines.

After h205 was gone, best I've used in the 338 was RL 19 with the 225 a bit over 2900.

If speed were the only criteria, 160 TTSX's.....

It's hard to guess what your idea of fast is-I'm using 65.5grs of R-15 and 210gr TSX's and getting great accuracy and 2990fps. I don't see many R-15 loads mentioned but the case capacity/bore ratio pretty much mirrors a .308win and it is a premier powder for that cartridge. By most standards, anything close to 3000fps is fast, or at least fast enough.

I think all the powders listed above will get you more than 2600 fps with a 225gr bullet. With a max load of IMR 4350 I get 2850.
I also used Re-17 quite a bit this summer. Although I don't think I quite went up to a max load, I still got just over 2800. My rifle likes both powders, but Re-17 was just a little more accurate for me.

I have a Sako with a long mag box and a long throat that allows me to seat the 225 AB out a bit. Using RL19 I have a load safely does a bit better than that over a chronograph. Best thing is that it shoot 5/8" groups at 100 yds.

I guess I should clarify that I want to shoot 225 grain accubonds as fast as I can. I don't want to drop down in bullet weight to gain speed.

That's an easy question to answer. I get 2800 fps. at the chrono with 73 grs. of Rldr-22 and a 225 gr. NorthFork. Not sure offhand but I think my load is several grains below max. Try the Northforks. They're more expensive but more accurate than Partitions IME and you don't pop off a box of them at the range every day. If you want to do that, use some inexpensine Hornady's. Believe me, the NF's are a terror on moose.
Just my experiences. Bear in Fairbanks

What rifle do you have?If it's a M70 you could pull the magazine block,change out the action to H&H length,and maybe rechamber to 340 Weatherby.That'll give you an honest 3100 fps with a 225 and this may be a better option than leaning on a 338.You can do the same with a Rem 700 even easier.....the Rem action is already H&H length.

I get 3000 FPS out of 210 Noslers; 2700 out of 250 N0slers,in both cases with RL-22.

Fast enough for me.

MM

Then get your hands on a .338 RUM or Lapua.. (shrug)