Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 338 Federal loads

I added them, dropped it in a McMillan and had the trigger tuned. It's a Ruger Hawkeye.

Tried some AR COMP with the 185 TTSX today. Not too impressed with the velocity. With a max book load of 48 gn I was getting 2640. The closest book load is 48gn with a 180 Accubond for 2847. I understand they use a 24" barrel and it's a 185 vs. a 180. I am finding I can't ever match Alliant's loads. TAC or 8208 XBR are good for an easy low-mid 2700s out of a 22" barrel.

Well guys it might be a flash in the pan and might not last very long but I'm having one built. I haven't been this excited about a cartridge since my last Ackley. While some are dreaming of the new Nosler cartridge, at my age I'm more impressed w/a good bullet at moderate velocity. powdr

Saw this thread and thought I'd let you know, if you didn't already know but Palmetto State Armory has Federal American Eagle 185gr SP ammo for $17.99 a box.

It may be something to experiment with for the brass if nothing else.

I picked up five boxes a couple of weeks ago for when I get the Sako fired up

Geo

Just started fiddling around with reloading my Tikka T3 Lite in 338 Federal.

Calling this load 'good enuff for now', as hunting season is happening NOW, and I don't have time to piss around anymore.

185gr Barnes TSX, 46.6 gr of Benchmark (literally the ONLY powder I can find in my area suitable for loading it with), 2.81", WLRM primer. 2680fps, 1" groups at 100yds.

Gonna try for an elk in 3 days time......hopefully I post happy results.

Bump to see if anyone has any new input.


So far working up 160 TTSX loads I don't think you can put too much 8208 XBR in a Fed case! I'm up to 50 gr and it's not far below the mouth of the case. I almost have to tap it down to start a bullet. While working up all loads have shot equally well.

Will start on the 185 grainers next.

49.5 and 50gn of 8208 got me right at 2900 fps and was very accurate!

tag.

Got my gun coming one day next week. Ended up w/a Tikka instead of building. I am somewhat excited for my age. Have a can of 5year old Norma 201 and it looks promising in the 338F. This is the best 201 Norma ever made. They made 3 different versions. I'll let you guys know some chronograph readings w/the 180&200gr Noslers one day late next week or the following week. powdr

I'd like to personally thank prm for all of the chrono work. It will definitely cut down on the number of rounds I have to fire. The rest of the guys too. Lots of good info here on the 338F. powdr

Let us know what works in your rifle!

Finally got my hands on some TAC! Want to try it with 200gr Hornady interlocks. Also have some RL15 to try. Ive been getting high pressure signs using H4895 at just over 46gr. so maybe I can get a little more velocity out of TAC.

My Kimber Montana shoots 200 gr Woodleigh 338 Federal bullets at 2725 with 52 grns of 2000MR, consistent 1 MOA groups. Works great for elk.

Bump for any updates. I've settled on 50 gr 8028 behind the 160 ttsx because it's about the only compatible powder I can find locally.

Hi All,
Good thread!
My .338 Fed is a Ruger Hawkeye with 22" barrel. It shot factory 180gr A/B & 210 gr Ptn pretty well- 1.2" & 2.5" at 2839 & 2627'/sec respectively.
My handloads initially were 200 NAB in Fed cases with ADI 2206H (which is Hodgdon 4895H), 47gr ahead of Rem 9 1/2 M primers for 2730 f/sec ES 25 f/s. It was so compressed the case walls expanded and made them hard to chamber! Switched to same bullet with Benchmark 2, @ 44gr ( Hodgdon Benchmark), Rem 9 1/2 LR for 2693 f/s. This powder works well, and just nicely fills the case. This combo proved a real 'bone-crusher' on deer, and I have taken several Fallow Deer & a Sambar stag with it. I am currently using 200 gr Woodleigh instead of the AB's which can be hard to find lately.
210 gr Scirrocos with 43 grains of BM2 are the most accurate and shoot the flattest out beyond 300 yds, but I haven't shot any animals with them yet. They should be 'dynamite' on Sambar/Elk sized game though!
Cheers,
John

If you look at the Barnes reloading data on there web site for the 338 federal they are getting good results with the AA2230 powder so I found some and received 50 160gr TTSX bullet and will be testing them in my DPMS LR338 Federal as soon as the weather gets a little better.

So the 200ABs performed well it seems. Recover any? If I could find some I'd like to give them a try with TAC and 8208. Although it appears you saw great results with H4895.

G'day prm,
I do have a couple of recovered bullet pics, but I'll have to work-out how to up-load images! They retained 64-65 percent and did huge amounts of damage ( lots of bloodshot meat!) and gave heaps of penetration. One Fallow stag was shot front-on at 120yds above the brisket and the fully expanded bullet was found on the cheek of the arse against the skin. All one side of its body was a bloodshot mess. I'm keen to try some of those 160 gn TTSX's you blokes are finding so good. As for powders, I'll probably stay with BM-2 and Win 748 as they have good performance without being hugely compressed, and availability of powders like AA2230 over here is questionable.
One of the problems I have had in getting my Ruger to shoot has been largely to do with the crappy barrel. It metal-fouls really badly, particulary with the copper jacketed bullets ( Scirrocos)because of the tooling marks, and it's really hard to get properly clean. I thought I had it really clean one day at the range, but when we had a look with a bore-scope it was still caked for about 4 inches in front of the chamber.
John

You could run some Tubbs Final Finish through that barrel then apply Dyna Bore Coat. It will not foul near as bad after that, and in my experience on a couple rifles, probably shoot a bit better.

You might try the CFE powder from Hodgdon it is suppose to reduce copper fouling and there is loads for it but I haven't tried it. A friend of mine uses it in his 22/250 and likes it.