I'm working up deer loads for my newly finished 338'06 A-Square and was wondering if anybody had suggestions?

The bullets I have currently (and intend to purchases ASAP) are the following:

200 gr- Interlock, Hot Cor, and Ballistic Silver Tip
215 gr- Sierra Game King

The powders I have to choose from are the following:

BL-C(2)
H-380
H-414
H-4895
IMR-4064
IMR-4320
IMR-4350
RL-15
RL-19

Thanks a lot y'all,

efw

200 grain Ballistic Tip over 54.0 grains of IMR 4064. Very accurate, works good on elk!

200 gr. bullets. Primarily the 200 Nos. BT.
56 gr. 4320
62 gr. W-W 760, 200 Hornady
55 gr. Varget, 200 Hornady
57 gr. RL15
210 Nos. Part.
63 gr. H414
58 gr. 4320
My rifle has never shot the Hot Core well.

200 grain Nosler Accubond or 210 grain Partition over 55 grains of Re 15. About 2750 fps out of a 24" bbl. Works very well on elk.

I use 4064 a lot.. but for velocity and accuracy together, I use H 380....

for 180 to 200 grain bullets I use a charge of 65 grains of H 380 with a large rifle primer, no magnum ones...

for a 215 and 225 grainer, I use a charge of 62.5 to 63 grains as max...

for the 250s I use a charge of 60 grains of H 380....

all with large rifle primers...

as always, a prudent reloader will work up to those points...

my 200 grainers are Nosler Ballistic tips or Hornady Sps
as are the 225 and 250s....

to go nostalgic; to duplicate the old 33 Winchester...

35 grains of SR 4759, with the old hornady 200 grain FN..
gives an MV of 2400 fps...

Model 70, 24 inch barrel...

Thanks Seafire... that would figure... I searched all over town for H-380 and found NONE!

Fortunately I had a partial canister lying around (my 257 AI loves it w/ 75 gr Vmaxes) so I have worked up some loads starting from the book's 58 gr going on up to the book max of 61. That is using mag primers though.

Many of the loads y'all are listing are well above max... do you guys know why that would be? Nosler lists a max load of RL15 with a 200 gr bullet at 53.5 gr... but they include the 210 Part w/ the 200 NAB, so maybe that makes a big difference?

Strange.

Even so, I'm working my way up slowly... this is too much fun to rush!

Thanks again,

efw

I looked at my load today. I was wrong, my load is 54 grains of Re 15, not 55 grains. No pressure signs, excellent accuracy.

Quite a difference between some of the manuals. For instance, some stop at 54gr. 4320 and Speer if I remember correctly goes to 57 gr. My 23" douglas barrel seems to favor the Speer version. With the 200 Hornady, I'm only getting 2650 with 54-4320 while I get 2750 with 56 gr.
With the 210 Partition I use either 54-RL-15 or 62 Big Game for about 2750

From you list this is what I have shot in the 338-06.
H-380
H-414
H-4895
RL-15

All have shot well for me and I would include Varget as a good performer. I shoot Varget in 225's and RL 15 in 200's.

i'm running 52.5 grains of rldr 15 under a hornady 250 grain roundnose for around 2450 fps.

200-225 gr: RE15

250 gr: H4350

Test for yourself to see where it shoots the best. Probably can't go wrong.

61.0 Big Game/225 Interloc/WLR/Federal case
60.0 N-550/210 Partion/WLR/Federal case
I would say both are close to maximium, but are under 2650. I use the Big Game load.

You're right. I was at the store last night and pulled the Hornady manual off the shelf to see what it says about RL15 w/ the 200 gr Interlock and it lists 57.3 as max for approx 2800 fps.

Given the longer bearing surface on the Hot Cor, Accubond, and Partition I suppose that makes sense.

Thanks again for the assistance guys. Keep 'em coming!

This is some data posted at the "FiringLineForums", supposedly from Ramshot. I was planning on verifying it before loading, be safe out there. The Hunter loads are up to 107% load density. No pressures are listed, but I'm sure these loads are for strong, modern actions.

From everything I know about them, including a fairly ringing endorsement from Mule Deer, the Ramshot powders are top notch. I've noticed Hunter is a top "accuracy powder" for various loads in several of the manuals, and both it and Big Game are temperature insensitive.

---original post starts here---

Caliber: .338-06 A-Square.
Case capacity: 4.480cc/69.0grains of water.
Barrel length: 26�

Powder: Ramshot � BIG GAME.
Bullet weight: 200 -215 grains.
Start load: 54.0grains (2500 - 2600 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 60.0 grains (2750 � 2850 Ft/p/sec). Full case/slightly compressed.

Bullet weight: 250 grains.
Start load: 50.0grains (2300 - 2400 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 56.0 grains (2500 � 2600 Ft/p/sec). Full case/slightly compressed.

Powder: Ramshot � HUNTER.(Loading densities at maximum will be ca 105 to 107%)
Bullet weight: 200-215 grains.
Start load: 58.0grains (2400 - 2500 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 64.0 grains (2750 � 2850 Ft/p/sec). Full case/compressed.

Bullet weight: 250 grains.
Start load: 54.0grains (2275 - 2375 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 59.0 grains (2500 � 2600 Ft/p/sec). Full case/compressed.

NOTES:
It� important to note that SAFETY is our prime concern therefore we strongly recommend.
� To always start at the recommended minimum �START� load.
� If at all possible, measure the velocity.
� Contact us again with the velocity data, so that we can verify, and correlate with our data.


Thanks for your interest in our powders.

We appreciate your business and interest!!

Regards

Johan Loubser
Ballistician
Ramshot/Accurate Powders
Tel: (406) 234 04 22 email: [email protected]
Western Powders Inc -- Miles City � Montana.

We would also appreciate if you give our cleaning line, Montana X-Treme your consideration. Montana X-treme is a premium line of gun care products. Our Bore Solvent and Copper Killer are the only effective copper removing solvents that are completely barrel safe. Available at Sportsman's Warehouse, Midway USA, Natchez, Graf and Sons and many fine sporting goods dealers. If you are tired of scrubbing for hours to get copper out of your barrel, be sure to give our Copper Killer a try.

Websites:
www.ramshot.com
www.accuratepowder.com
www.montanaxtreme.com

Western Powders Inc. disclaims all possible liability for damages including, actual, incidental and consequential, resulting from usage of the information or advice contained in this message.

Use the data and advice at your own risk, and with extreme caution.

We also request that you visit our websites www.accuratepowder.com www.ramshot.com or www.montanaextreme.com for more comprehensive information.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Allways begin loading from the minimum "START charge and carefully develop loads by increasing in small increments of 2% towards the Maximum load.

56.0 gr RE15 pushing a Barnes 185 gr TSX
COL at 3.369" (to fit in Cooper M52 clip)
Very accurate plus it immediately anchored a 6X6 bull Elk. DOA

I shoot 56 gr RE 15 and 200 gr Hornady Interlocks...It gives me 2835 average and very accurate...

Range report from today, sunny 70 degrees and breezy

All loads use CCI-200 large rifle primers except where noted, and R-P 270 WCF run through a Hornady New Dimension FL sizer and annealed to the shoulder.

200 gr Interlocks only:

H-380 59, 60, 61 grs gave nothing impressive. Didn't chronograph, but had no signs of excessive pressure whatsoever. Going to up these to 62, -3, -4, -5, & -6 next time just to see if increased load density helps. I did run only mag primers here.

H-4895 53 & 54 grs (latter is book max according to 09 Hodgdon manual) gave nothing impressive, either. Didn't chronograph, but while the max load shows signs of being somewhat warm it'll be worth checking out hotter ones as increased load density may be necessary for best results. I'll try increasing these but only by half-grains. (Is it just me, or does the smoke from this stuff smell funky?? Like electronics equipment or something??)

RL-15 53, 54, 55, 56, & 57 grs. 57.3 is the Hornady manual's listed max. 54 gr gave me a 1" group at 100 yards, and 55 gr was very close as well. While group sizes went up w/ 56 grains they weren't unacceptable by any stretch... 1.5" for 3 shots. I'm going to play w/ OAL on both 54 and 55 grains.

This means I'll have plenty of neck-sized once-fired brass to play with in tweaking those RL-15 loads next time. I'll also be playing w/ 200 gr BSTs & 215 GKs, the latter loaded w/ IMR-4350.

Thanks again for all of your input gentlemen. I genuinely appreciate it. I'm going to have to order up some of those Montana powders since reading MD's article and after hearing so many good reviews here. It isn't widely available where I'm at.

grace & peace,

efw

I loaded some 210 gr NP over 62gr of H4350, CCI 200 primer, re-sized Remington 35 whelen brass, .010 off the lands. Very accurate load, no chronograph yet.

I had to bed a pressure point on the forestock to get it to shoot, now it shoots great until it heats up. I guess it's good enough for hunting, but I have to be patient at the range. It shoots spot on the first few shots with a clean bore, so that's good news.

I'm going to try some 215gr sierra's this weekend

Here is one that works just great in my rifle.

Norma Case

57 grains of IMR 4064

200 grain Nosler A/B

Fed. 210 M primer

Velocity 2900 fps

My gun has a 23 inch barrel. This is a very accurate load for my gun. There is no psi signs in this load.

Have a Good Day

Shot 58.5gr of H414 (medium-hot load) with 225gr AB's and TTSX's in my 338-06AI to fireform the 338-06AS Weatherby brass. Impressive 0.5" groups so far breaking-in the barrle/fireforming brass. Now to up the powder.


I have several powders and was going to try H380, 4064, RL15, maybe WS780 - I use Federal 210M primers- not mag primers with my loads... Told didnt need it.

I can't get to 2900fps w/RL15 and 180gr bullet w/o loading 3 grains over max.Nosler #6 lists 57.5 as max going 2952fps.I know all guns are different but I don't buy into the fast vs. slow barrel theory.I am going to try Varget,I4064,and VVN550 to see what I can get.Hell I can get 2800fps out of an old Mauser 358 I have w/200gr.Hornady.Maybe a slow batch of RL 15...I don't know, but there's no reason a man shouldn't get 2950fps from a 23in. premium barrel w/180gr bullet in a 338-06. powdr

I've settled with 52 grns. of RL15 and 225NF@2501fps with .6" groups at 100yds with my Rem. 30 20"bbl and 53.5 grns of RL15 for both the Sierra GK 215 and Nosler Part. 210 in my other 338-06 Win.70 22"bbl. for right around 2660fps with either bullets.Both rifles do the intended job with a fair amount of zip....some posted loads are moving pretty fast here. As mentioned no 2 rifles will ever shoot or behave the same...always reload with common sense and safety.

Chandalar Jack,

Thanks for the comments on RL-15. It is a favorite powder of a couple of my other irons so I have a lot on hand.

I pulled this load w/ the 215 GK off of a loading site that I'm going to try to:

"215 Sierra SPBT
IMR4350
CCI 200
Wby. Brass st 56.5 max 60.7 2,649fps
Compressed, very accurate"

I'm going to try Hammerdown's load of 57.0 gr. of 4064 w/FED 210M but w/the 180 gr. bullet instead.Soumds like a good,safe load. powdr