Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .338 Win Mag loads with H4350

Hello again, I am trying H4350 in my 338 and am looking for some guide lines. I am using Win brass, cci-250 primers and 225 grain SST's.
I have a Hornady manual that lists max at 71 grains with fps around 2700.
I was looking in a friends Speer #14 and it listed 71 as starting with a max at 75 compressed for 2890 fps.
That is quite a difference, don't you think?
In your experience, where will the accuracy and speed cross?
Thanks

In the 338 with 225 grain bullets I have always had good luck with accuracy in the 2800 to 2850fps range. YMMV

I have found 5 grains varience with different 225 grain bullets in different rifles. This is a tough one as 68 grains up tp 73 grains was needed to get the same 2860fps velocities from different rifles.

This idicated that H 4350 was a great powder for this cartridge, the best in my opinion over all bullet weights from 185 to 285gn, but you will need to find that top end load yourself. It cannot be recommended safely.

JW

I load 70 grains of H4350 behind both the 225 gn SST and Interbond in Rem brass, Fed primer for 2850 fps, accuracy is round the half inch mark for 3 rounds. Stopped fooling round at that point more than enough accuracy for hunting and give or take 50 fps isn't going to make any difference to game.
I load for a friend and in his 338, 74 grains of H4350 in Win brass, Fed primers and 225 grain Woodleights clocks 2900 fps sub half inch for 3 shot groups.
I doubt my 338 would safely take my friends higher charge.
No harm is starting load development at the lower end and working up with a chrony, all you risk is burning a bit extra powder and a few more projectiles.

Well I worked all the way up to 75 grains today. My best group was over 2 inches.
So far I have tried RE17 and now H4350. I had one good group at 70 grains RE17, but when I went back a couple days later it was over 1 1/2 inches.
I will try some different seating depths with that load and see If I can get it back under 1.

I am about ready to try a different bullet. I really want to use a 225 grain boattail, but I don't want to spend 75 cents or more for each one.
I am thinking of trying the 225 grain flat base Hornady.
Any suggestions?

Hi Backroads, have you considered using the IMR-4350? I've had good luck with this powder in my 30-06, 300 win mag, and 338 win mag. It produces some pretty tight groups and good velocity. I've used the 225 hornady interlock through my 338 and really like the bullet. It shoots very accurately with about 68 grains of powder, .020 off the lands, and a cci 250 primer. My pet load for my 338 is the 250gr. sierra gk on top of 67 grains of IMR 4350 (last 338 loved 70 grains, but oh well), my smallest group with that load was .425", but usually consistantly shoots into around 1 moa.

Backroads, thinking we met up @ Logan today didn't we?

Dober

Indeed we did. Nice to chat with someone as knowledgeable as yourself. Pretty good shot to boot.
As far as using The IMR version, I had thought to try it, but was really hoping to find a load with a temp stable powder.
My 270 shoots ragged hole groups with IMR4350, but I have to re-zero when it gets below 10 degrees. The POI moves more than an inch.
This 338 will be my elk rifle, and the last 2 elk I have taken were both on below zero days. My first elk was taken at -15.
I want to try RE19, but have heard that it is temp sensitive as well.

were I you I would get me some H4831 as well as H4350 and see which one perks.

Both are temp stable and both are great powders in the 338wm.

I think the next try will be with h4831.
Off to the range to see if the RE17 group will tighten up with different seating depth.
Thanks

let me know if you want that package I mentioned to you yesterday, it's waiting for your call

Dober

Thanks Dober.

Back from the range, pretty chilly this morning.
Well the seating depth affected the POI, but didn't affect the group size. Still over 2 inches.

I think I will try some 4831 next, will have to see what I can get my hands on.

In my .338 R22 was found to be the most accurate powder. I started with I4350, went to I4831, then H4831 and finally R22. It seemed the groups continued to tighten as the powder speed slowed. Whether the barrel was just breaking in or if the different powder made the difference I'm not sure. The R22 loads worked so well I've never gone back to try the other powders. The rifle now has 700 or 800 rounds through it.

Jim

I have found R19 to be the powder for my two 338's. 74 gr. and a 225 TSX give 2850 and less than an inch groups. R22 worked great for me with 250 partitions at 2750 fps. I never could get the 225 SST's to group worth a darn.

My friends 338 loved RE19 with the 225 hornady interlocks, but it seemed to kick harder for some reason. Maybe it was just me. His gun would consistantly shoot 3/4 inch groups.

Slower powder = heavier charges = heavier recoil.

JW

I'm used to my IMR4350 loads that run about the same velocity but don't kick as much.

The 4350's are excellent choices for the .338.

I could never get good accuracy with H4350 and a 225 out of any of several barrels. Right around 70 grains seemed to be max at about 2850 and below. H4350 worked great for me with 210's but never with 225's.

Best accuracy with 225's was always RL22 but the sensitivity to cold moved me away. Next best was H4831 where several barrels nearly equaled the accuracy with RL22. All used about 74-75 grains for between 2800-2890 fps.

I did have reasonable success also with N160 and 225's and though it's not sold as a temp tolerant propellant, the couple of times I checked it in extreme cold just south of you, it held up pretty well. I permanently settled on H4831 with that combo. I also gave the Ramshot powders a go but I couldn't get the accuracy with the velocity I was seeking. YMMV