Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting .338 Win mag & .375H&H cast bullet data.....

Anyone out there have any loads they would like to share? I have the 220 grain LEE RNGC bullet for the .338; don't have any molds yet for the .375.
I'm looking for something that I can use for target shooting/deer hunting. I have a few loads using pistol powder, but I would prefer to use a rifle powder, if possible.
Thanks....................

I wouldn't dismiss the pistol powder(s) if the accuracy is good. Years ago one of the gun writers had an article on hunting elk with ~225 gr cast bullets in his 35 whelen. He found his best accuracy using Varget, but at ~2000 fps.

I used his data and scaled it up slightly for my 350 Rigby using a 280 gr cast bullet. As I recall I started at 50 gr and worked up. I did get moa accuracy at some point, (need to check my notes) but when I reshot the groups I got hang fires, and I was using CCI 200's. So I loaded up more of the loads with the CCI 200's, also tried CCI 250's, Fed 210's and Fed 215's. The CCI 200's still gave hang fires, but all the other primers no hang fires. Unfortunately all the other primers resulted in 2-3" groups.

Long way of saying, rifle powders may have some issues when used in large cases that are operating at velocities well under what you'll get with jacketed bullets.

You should be able to get good accuracy with 2400 and ~1800 fps. I've fired 100's of those loads in my 350 with 200 gr cast.

My 338 load consists of 40grs. VARGET or 38grs. H4895, 6 grs. weighed Dacron and the 225 LBT LFN gas checked heat treated wheelweights for2,450 fps.

The 375 HH load uses 61grs. VARGET, 3grs weighed Dacron and a heat treated 270 LBT LFN gas checked for 2,450 from a 20" barrel.

Accuracy for both loads hover around an inch for five shots in fall twmps.

Have you looked at the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook?

I have loaded cast bullets in the .338WWM and am about to start on the .375-06 RCBS. My powder of choice is AA-5744 for cast bullets in rifle cartridges.

Go over to http://castboolits.gunloads.com and so a search on your cartridges. The folks over there are very helpful.

Ed

I have an older Lyman manual; it doesn't have any rifle powders listed for either caliber, and it's old data, so a lot of the powders listed don't exist anymore! I looked at at a newer manual, and they only have but two or three loads listed,and none are with rifle powders.

Hawk;
I have H4895, so I will try that load......looks like I might have to invest in some Varget.

Looking for some personal experience....do you think that slugs in this caliber going 1300-1500 fps are lethal enough to take game such as wild pig and whitetails cleanly and ethically?
Thanks.....................

Yes, a 250gr - 270gr lead bullet at those speeds will kill a deer or a hog.

If a .38-55 can do it, you shouldn't have any problems with those speeds and bullet weights.

For a 270gr .375 bullet in the H&H cartridge try 35.0 gr - 45.0 gr of Accurate 5744. That should get you from ~1,800fps - ~2,200fps.

IMR-3031, Reloder-7, and especially H-4895 are all good ones to try, depending on bullet weight and velocity desired.

Ed

The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook is a different book that Lyman's standard loading manuals. I have one in the basement if you'd like me to get you the data for your two cartridges.