Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game What's Your Favorite 338 Winnie Bullet?

Great thread,I've enjoyed the different perspectives. I've had my M70 XTR since 1981.Shot a few 250's in it but the recoil was pretty rough, so I started shooting some loads with 200 gr Horn SP's and 200 Speers. Loaded to 2900+ they are hard on the deer I've shot with them so now I only load them to 2700-2800fps. Still kill the deer just fine. I've stashed some 250's and some old 275 gr Speer's in case I need to use the heavy bullets. You guys from the north country atleast get to use your 338's for what they were designed for, can't imagine using one for pronghorns. Magnum Man

Magnum Man, It works real well on Prong Horn, and gives the Hunter an excellent tune-up for the soon to come elk season! Nothing like real, live-fire practice!!!!! memtb

There has been some discussion about barrel lengths, bullet weights, velocities and loads since I posted this. My rifle is a 23" Winchester Model 70, cut down from 26".

Factory loads;
210 Nosler Partitions 2830+-.
225 TBBC 2640+-.
225 TBBC HE 2780+-.

Hand loads-These have given me the best consistency and accuracy.;
225 TBBC, I/L, NPT 2740+-. 76 gr RE-22.
About 20 fps variation depending on bullet.
210 NPT 2850+-. 74 gr RE-19.
I've also used 180 NBT's, 200gr Speer and 200 gr NBT's. I wouldn't use them on elk though.

I was a little disappointed with the velocities at first. I used to read Bob Hagel's stuff on the .338 so I hope that is easy to understand. As Brad says,a .338 is a lot like an '06 in terms of velocities with bullets of comparable SD's.

Well, you could very well use a .338WM for pronghorn hunting at extended range. Just load some of the numerous 180-grain bullets. Federal used to load some 180 grainers that shot out of the .338 with similar ballistics as the ones for the .300WM with 180-grain NOS Partition, or something like minus 1-1/2" under the .30 bullet at 500 yards. I don't know if Federal still loads it, but it was there about a year ago. I just don't have any use for any .338 loads with any bullet weight under 225 grains.

Ray, I think that if you look at the BC difference between the "lightweight" .338's and the heavier(excluding roundnose) bullets,you'll find that the heavier offer much higher BC's. At ranges beyond 400 yards, they offer flatter trajectories,less wind drift,higher velocities, and higher energy. So,they should be a better performer on all game at extended(400+ yards)ranges. A 225 grain TTSX(with a BC of .514),from my wife's rifle at 2950+,gives some pretty good down range performance!!! memtb

340 wby 210 NP at 3175 fps with H4350 just under MOA.

My late '70's MK V deluxe with original WBY premier scope. Bought the package last year!

I used that combo (210 gr NP's and H-4350) in my .340 Wby,but was "only" getting 3075 fps in it. The cow elk I killed with didn't notice the lack of 100 fps.

Then you did not kill her enough! LOL

225 Interbond. Taken bear and elk. Never recovered one, but animals shot were DRT.

Barnes 225 TTSX

That bear looks pretty darn dead to me.

There is always a balance point with every cartridge case and the 225gn or thereabouts is close to ideal for the .338 in relation to the animals most likely to be hunted using that cartridge.

What you select will likely have more to do with you next down the list general hunting cartridge.
John

memtb and Ray I take your point.I have to many cf's in 22-6.5 cals that need use on antelope so I'm good with using them for that. Probably should try some of those lwt plastic tipped bullets in my 338 for the fun of it though. Magnum Man

Federal Premium 225 gr Nosler Accubonds, I've take multiple elk, moose, black bears, coyotes, wolves, mule deer, white tailed deer and a few targets. They shoot quite well out as far as 430 yds through my Ruger M77 with the shortened barrel.

I bought a box of Sierra 215 Gamekings that i'm going to give a go in the future. Mostly going to be used on deer and elk, maybe a black bear. Seems to be a good balance of weight and speed for what I want out if this cartridge.
Seems not to many fans of the Gameking around here but I've had nothing but stellar performance with them out of 300 WSM, 300 WBY, and 350 Rem mag. I think they will fit the bill quite nicely.

I've used the Game kings a few times and they can be effective. In .338 I've only used the 250 weight bullet and it has worked both times I fired them into moose. At just over 200 yards the moose stopped one without broken bones. At twice that distance the bullet made it through the meaty parts of both shoulders and exited.



This bullet was taken from the bull it killed at the shorter distance. It appeared to be intact when I found it, but it came apart as I scrubbed the tissues off it. The core had been 'feeding out' as it penetrated and expanded. In the case of the longer shot, I found a hole in the snow beyond the animal. The jacket was just below the surface. The core had apparently been loose at the time of exit as it had continued into the drift.

They work, but there are better bullets; I would be concerned about what might happen if a big bone was hit.

swede, I wasn't going to go "negative" on your Game Kings, but I had worse experiances than Klikitarik, only with 300's from a .375 H&H.Three animals shot, two animals recovered. One a small Mule Deer with no exit, didn't locate bullet. The other a decent Black Bear at 80 yrds., no bones hit(entered between ribs)only found an empty jacket inside off-side lung. Yes, these animals were killed, but I expected more from a 300 grain bullet at H&H velocities. Soon went to Hornady's,then to Barnes' around '90 or '91, when I got my AI. I hope whatever you choose works well for you!! memtb

I'll just have to wait and see. Signing papers on a new house next week, so might be a long while before I get a spot to reload set up.
Thanks for the heads up though.

Can't believe there is not more love for the 250 gr Swift A Frame on this thread, it's a great bullet fellas.