Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 338 Federal loads

The Scirocco II always opens very wide. It should be a great bullet for putting big holes in game!

Paul, what powder and charge are you using to get 2600+ on the partitions?

That was 50gn of LVR. One was Fed Brass and the other Lapua brass. I was really surprised to see that 2647. I'm going to shoot a few more I have loaded up.

By the way, that 180 BT load of yours ought to be ideal for your Axis hunt. I was very impressed with the 180 BT and think it will be a better choice than the 'premium' bullets.

prm I still don't trust the SST and will not use them. I'll have to see a lot of game killed w/them before I buy any. Just a mental hang up probably but their 117 25cal and 139 7mm bullets were terrible and the wounds were horrible and very unethical in y opinion. powdr

Thanks Paul. Definitely using the 180 NBTs for Axis. Just trying to see if I can get 2600 with partitions. I'd like to use that combo for a Nilgai hunt eventually. Have a lot of partitions laying around.

That is some really good bullet information. Thanks for doing the work and sharing it with us.

Put my Fed to the test again Friday morning. Shot 280 Kg ( est.) sambar stag at about 70 meters with my 200g Woodleigh load. High shoulder shot angled about 30 degrees down from above. No ruined meat, no exit, a classic "bang-flop"( to use someone elses'apt description). A fist- hole-size hole through the spine. Would have had to do some serious surgery to locate the bullet, and had some heavy work ahead, so didn't bother.
150 kilos of excellent meat. Great performance!
Cheers,
John

Jack, I'd love to see some pictures.

I have a question for the 338 shooters. Does anyone believe the HOT-COR has a .448 BC? Looking ant it, it's hard to believe its better than the Accubond and almost as good as the SST.

I read somewhere that the Hot Cor was tested to be a .426 BC. That's what I plug into JBM. I still agree that seems high relative to the .414 for the 200 AB. I would thing the 200 AB should be better given the high published BC of the 225 AB. I do plan to shoot the 200 AB at long range to see what it really flies like.

I do find it interesting that in many tests the cheap old Hot Cor does so well. Very partition like performance with 66% weight retention and narrower expansion for penetration. Rathcombe study showed exactly the same weight retention at 2800 fps impact velocity. It out penetrated other heavier cup and core bullets which ruined the expected results on the sectional density test.

http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/ballistics/methods.html#338_caliber

Image post test.

Shooters Pro Shop has 180 & 200 Accubond seconds available.

I tried to order 4 bags of the 200s last night. Fiddled around with the military discount and they went out of stock before finishing the order.

Dang it! powdr

Shot a few loads today. Velocities were measured with a Magnetospeed. I shot groups with and without the chrono. Didn't seem to change POI much at all. Need to shoot it more to say that with confidence.

200 SST, 47gn 8208 XBR, 2660 Avg, 1.0" 3-shot group
180 BT, 48.5 8208 XBR, 2782 Avg, .9" 3-shot group
200 AB 46.8gn 8208 XBR, 2644 Avg, First two in .8" third pulled or way out (2~"). Yes, I should have done 5-shot groups....
180 AB, 48.5 8208 XBR, 2788 Avg, accuracy has potential. I screwed up a shot and ended up with 1.5". Was playing with a new rest no rear bag combo. Not sure I'm liking it. Plan to try the bipod and rear bag next trip out.

Since I had just a little bit of AA2230 left I played with it and the 180 BT. The Barnes data shows a max of 49gn for the 185 TTSX and 185 MRX and a velocity of 2798 (24" barrel).

48gn, 2803 FPS (one shot - I had previously shot up to 47.5)
48.5gn, 2829 Avg, big group
49gn, 2853 FPS. Didn't shoot the rest as I thought that was too fast even though there were no other indicators (no flat primer, no ejector mark, no stiff bolt).

Next step is to load up 5-shot groups of the 180 BT and AB with 48.5 8208 and confirm it really does shoot well. If I can ever find more AA2230 I'll use it with the 160 TTSX. for now I'm happy with the 2780+ of 8208 and the fact that it is very temp resistant.

I did a little shooting this weekend as well. I've rediscovered my 338 Federal again. I took it out along with my 6.5x55. The 6.5 gave me fits but the 338 was great.

Used the same 180 NBT load over 48.5 of TAC, this time with Lapua brass. Basically the same size group as posted earlier (three holes touching). Ran a few over the Magnetospeed and they averaged 2702 FPS. Sighted in 2" high at 100 yards.

I also shot a group with 200 Accubonds over 52 of MR2000 and they were dead center of the bulls eyes at 100 yards. Group was 3/4". I then attached the Magnetodseed and shot a few shots for velocity. Average as 2601 FPS.

I seem to be getting a little less speed than others with my barrel but it's shooting really well so I can't complain.

I don't think you're velocities are off much. 22" barrel? I've never got great velocities with 2000MR, and using Lapua brass will cost some velocity at the same powder load. But you can likely add more, and more than make up the difference. I got 2573 with a Hot Cor and 2642 with an SST with the 52 2000MR.

I thought the 180s would be a little faster based on what you were getting with the same load. It is a 22 inch barrel. At least with the magnetospeed I have more confidence I'm getting an accurate reading. I probably could work up a little because I'm not seeing excessive pressure signs. The accuracy is so good the extra velocity is probably not worth chasing. I still want play more with the 210 partition. Powder is my issue. I have TAC and MR2000 so can't do too much tinkering. I have use what I have and not seeing too much on the shelves in gun stores.

With Lapua brass and the 180 BT I'd definitely feel comfortable running more powder. JB ran 49gn TAC in one article and 50 in another with Fed brass. I've run 49 in Fed brass. Got a little sticky in 100deg temps and a REAL hot barrel/chamber.

At 2700+ and with the accuracy you're seeing, whatever you hit will be dead. Think how many things died from 180gn bullets out of a 30-06 at ~2700fps.

prm,
That 200 AB load looks to have some potential. I've become a bit of a believer in the "two in, one out - seat deeper" dictum. It seems to work for me, so maybe it's worth a try. It seems that you and Scott are kicking a few goals there. Good to read your posts.
Cheers,
John