What speeds and energy are we talking about with the 185 TSX in 338 Win Mag?

Now for starters, the .338 Win mag was made for big heavy game animals and meant to shoot bigger bullets simply put. You are working against the grain, when going after animals the size of elk and want to shoot 185 grain bullets.

I have used a 210 grain Nosler Partition bullet out of my .338 caliber rifles but that is the very lightest I will go in my .338/06 and the .338 Win mag gets the 225 grn bullet most of the time. In the real heavy stuff I will go to the 275 grn Swift A Frames.

I shoot the 338RUM and it loves the 185s and it is what I shoot mainly. It does recoil less than the 210s and hasn't bounced off any critter to date. I would definately not be afraid of that combo for elk. HAPPY HUNTING

Here's a 185 gr TSX recovered from a bull taken at 280 yards. With the bull slightly quartering away the bullet entered just behind the near shoulder and centered the off one stopping just under the hide (I am always amazed how the hide can just take that last bit of "wind" out of a slug). Clearly the bullet got pounded but the bull did drop immediately so no complaints here. Muzzle velocity was a click over 2900 fps. The bullet now weighs 122 grs. Given this small bit of experience I would choose a 210 gr bullet as minimum in the Mag. I have taken a few bulls with the 210 gr Partition in the same rifle at ~2800 fps and the results were similar except the bullet blew on through at much higher impact velocities. Just my two bits.

I've got a 338 Win mag on order. I bought it for elk hunting. I've had excellent experience with TSX's, in 30, and 25 calibers. However I haven't had to shoot long range with them. My elk outfitter asks that I show up with my rifle zero'ed at 300 yards. With a TSX starting at 2800 fps I don't know if it will still open at say 350 yards which is my limit. I want to default to the Nosler Partition in either 210/225 but have heard they are not all that accurate at extended range. I've kicked around the idea of having Superior ammo load some 225 grain MRX's,(which is desgined to open at extended range) but 82.00 a box makes me want to cry for my mommy. I've nevered ordered from them, but I'm sure there is a minimum order and that will get expensive quickly.Any ideas?

Lee are you looking for factory ammo or ammo to load yourself? (sorry if I missed it)

Dober

Factory ammo, afraid I'd blow myself up if I reloaded.

Take a look at the Federal 210 partition load, it's as good as it gets. I think they may even make a high energy load in it?

Dober

Thanks, and I apologize to the OP for the hijack. Lee

"The 185 TSX BT has a BC of .352 and a SD of .231"

Let me gack a bit here...

.352 is a very low BC. It's getting into the realm where it actually DOES start to matter for practical purposes! With that low a BC, the bullet is really going to move around in the wind. Allow me to illustrate.

-in a 10 mph crosswind, a (let's say) 225-gn Accubond started at 2875 fps will drift about 10" at 400 yards.

-the 185 TSX, started at 3100 fps, will DOUBLE that and drift about 20" at 400 yards.

In my experience shooting low-BC bullets at longer ranges, when you get down as low as as .352 BC, you are into the realm of wind movement that actually matters- compared to what you could have- and into a realm of wind movement that actually matters, and WILL cost you hits on a vitals-sized target.

In addition to that, Utah708 failed to get an exit on a bull elk with (2) 210-gn TSX's from a .338. Broadside. So... Barnes bullets are not some sort of miracle pill that penetrates all the way every time regardless of bullet weight.

I'll pimp my favorite bullet for .338. Give the 225 Accubond a try (RL19 works great). It shoots great, it has such a high BC (.550) that it makes the .338 a bona-fide 600+ yard cartridge, and I've seen 2 elk killed with that exact load and it exited both times, with the animal DRT. Granted, they were all 200+ yards.

Just my opinion, but a 185 TSX would be a poor choice for a .338. You can do better.