Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 348 Winchester Bullet Test...6 bullets at high and low speed.

Hey 163 dm

The owner and founder of Alaska Bullet Works went to his reward a couple of years ago and his widow sold the equipment to a guy from Sitka and I have not heard of him offering bullets yet. Fortunately for me, I was able to stock up on the heavy jacketed 250 grain bonded bullets for my .348 Ackley Improved. It is a very useful and versatile round for a peep sighted lever gun in Alaska, where most shots are taken under 150 yards

If I could get my hands on a couple hundred of the 220 grain Barnes X .348 bullets I would grab them. I have been running Barnes X bullets of some flavor in my three bolt guns and have since the late 80's.

I'm reading mixed reviews on Hammer bullets. I loaded up some of the 203 grain Shock Hammers for our Mod. 94 Big Bore .356 Win. Hoped to poke a moose with one but did not happen yet. They are very long for their weight and the 223 grain version way to long for the little 94 action.

I'm still surprised Hornady stopped making them...I got all I need but at that price, I'd grab them....never know when a nice 348 may come across your way!




Same here, haven't' shot mine in a while and I want to run some RL17 in it.

That's what I use in mine. I have kinda stuck with the 200 Hornady's or 250 Woodys.. No idea what I'll use to replace the Woodys once my stash is gone. 17 is good though.

Beretz: I use Varget for the 200 Hornadys and H-4350 for the Woodleighs (thanks to Mule Deer) I was impressed with your results and RL-17 but my 71 did not like it. I'm going to try the loads on my jap 71s and see what happens.

Hard to beat any of the combo's you listed as well. I think when I started loading for the 348 I had a ton of 17, and everyone said H4350 worked, so on a hunch I figured I'd try 17.

I can't remember if I tried Varget with the 200s or not, I'll have to check my notes. Mines the Browning and it shoots well so hopefully it likes RL17.

Unless I'm missing something, looks like Huntington's still has some Woodleigh's:

https://www.huntingtons.com/store/product.php?productid=19954

Current .348 available/ currently made bullets in 2022: Hawk, Swift, Hammers and what you can find on dealer shelves. Best to stock up on
what you might find. May be dry for awhile

North Forks web site lists a 230 grain bonded .348 bullet that looks good to me. Also, a friend texted me a pic of a prototype 250 grain .348 bullet from Fury Custom Bullets. Said it has a .025 jacket, all I know and can't find it on their web site yet. Maybe if they hear from enough .348 users they will become available.

For Alaska and peep sight use I am mainly wanting a heavy jacketed bonded 250 grain bullet for my .348 Ackley Improved. That and 50 years of moose hunting has given me and average of 150 yards for the first shot at a moose.

Before he passed I had several conversations over the years with Karl Mielke, the owner of Alaska Bullet Works. He said he was only offering heavy jacketed versions of his bullets because it's what most Alaskan's, especially guides wanted. He said his bonded bullets started at .025 at the nose and tapered to .050 at the base. That ensured expansion as velocity dropped off and if bones were not hit. He also said the thick tapering jacket kept the bullet together up close on heavy bones and big animals. Think brown bear and moose.

I heard good things about the Woodleigh bullets, like Swift they are spendy and I just never needed them since I had Kodiak bullets and Partitions and Barnes X of some flavor. Since the Woodleigh factory burnt down the few remaining bullets ain't getting any cheaper.

It always comes down to the right bullet being put into the right place at sufficient impact velocity.

I'd like to try the 200 grain Swifts. I'd bet those at 2500 would be a sure thing.

After using some flavor of a Barnes X bullet on Alaskan game since the late 80's and having splendid results, I would love to have a big supply of 220 grain Barnes X bullets for the .348 Win. One of those out of my .348 Ackley Improved should give 2,600 fps mv or more. Plenty of good straight line penetration with a exit hole.

If I was living state side I would want a 200 grain bullet and the Hornady would deliver. But, I also would not pack the big and heavy Mod. 71 Winchester, instead I would use our .356 Winchester Big Bore and my modified 225 grain Nosler Partitions or the 203 grain Fury bullets. Instead of 9 lbs. loaded I would be under 7 lbs. even if I opted for the little Leupy 1.5-5 with the German #4 reticle.

So many guns and bullets and so little time on earth, woe is me!

I wish I'd have bought some 220 X bullets when I bought the 200s. I bet they penetrate as well as lead core 250s.

Why not use the Hammers M1? I mean I don’t see anything Barnes whooping a Hammer and they are available.

Never mind, they don’t make a 200+ grain option, yet.

I have a bunch of the 200 X, which shoots pretty well so I think I'm set there. I'd like to see Hammer make a heavier in the 215-230 range. I like how they do samplers too.

Might be worth asking for. No harm in that. I’d be in to try them myself if they made a 200+

True, maybe I'll email then and see what they say.