Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 338 Federal loads

Anyone have any experience with Hawk bullets? Looking at their website they offer a 200 gr round tip. Their website indicates they get 2x or greater expansion and 80-90% weight retention. They will also make custom bullets (eg. jacket thickness, profile, etc). Webite is http://hawkbullets.com/index.html

WM5L Which Sako do you own. I had some struggles with my 85 stainless synthetic. 8208 was the first powder I tried that really looked good with heavies Leverlution looks good as PRM stated. The 160 ttsx and 185 tsx shoot equally well for me 2230 is great as has been discussed in the thread. I tried RL15 and Varget accuracy was mediocre.

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

Any thoughts on the new 230 ELD-X? It has a BC of .616. If it can be launched at 2450 FPS, it would still be going 1800+fos out to 500 yards.

I just don’t know what powder I’d use given the space the bullet is going to take up. It’s a longer bullet than even a 225 AB.

That is a really good point considering almost everything in the 338 Federal is already compressed.

LVR maybe ? It's a pretty compact powder, but I have no idea where to start the charges at.

My Lee number 2 shows a 225gr bullet and the top velocity are with the usual suspects.

H-LVR 44-48gr 2293-2518 fps
W-748 41-46gr 2199-2453 fps
H4895 40-45.3 2167-2445 fps
R EXT 38.8-43.1 2197-2436 fps
AA 2230 38.3-42.5 2261-2427 fps

LVR, 748 and H4895 were at a COAL of 2.750 while EXT and 2230 were at 2.814

Pretty short for a long bullet I would imagine a 230 at 2500 would be a serious hammer

According to my targets I loaded a 225 HIB to 2.94 without touching the LANS accuracy was about 2" at 100yds. My best performance with heavy bullets after trying the 225 HIB, 215 SGK and 210 swift was with the 210 swift all at 47gr HLVR.

Since obtaining such great with TSX/TTSX I have not gone back.

Be sure and post results

Good luck and shoot straight all

Hi folks, new to the forums but have been reloading for about 10 years. Loads of great info on this 338 Federal thread.

I have a Sako 85 Hunter in 338 Federal. I also had a 338 Fed Encore barrel, but I just sent it off to be rechambered to 338 WM.

I love the idea of a 338 Federal. I also have several 308s, a 243 and a 7mm-08. I'd have a 260 Rem also, but I have a 6.5x55 already that I really enjoy.

My 338 Federal Encore barrel wouldn't shoot at all for me. Tried a couple Federal factory loads - the 200g TBT and the 200g Fusions. Nothing better than 2" and was getting bent fore end screws and all kinds of other issues. I'm pretty sure those TBT loads are hot - no flattened primers but the recoil and report were noticeably different than the 200g Fusions.

Still, I loved the idea of the 338 Fed and I had all the reloading kit, so I found a great deal on the Sako. The Sako also came with 6 boxes of factory ammo, much of which isn't available today. I tried it all and wasn't impressed. The closest to acceptable accuracy was the Federal 185g TSX. So, I bought a box of 185g TSXs and started monkeying around with loads. Here's what I tried:

Federal once fired nickel 338 Fed cases, trimmed to 2.005" and using CCI LR primers:
50.0g CFE 223 @ 2.82"
46.0g XBR8208 @ 2.82"
46.0g XBR8208 @ 2.78"
46.0g RL15 @ 2.82"

I wasn't all that worried about the speed, I was just looking for a load that shot close to MOA and figured I could really dial it in with seating. The CFE223 load shot just under 1", so all good. I loaded up some more and took it out to chrony, it came in right around 2550 with a std dev of about 20fps, which I found acceptable. The CFE does seem really dirty however - carbon fouling, not copper. I sent a note to Hodgdon and they said it sounded like the powder was thoroughly burning, but my speed was exactly what they would have guessed with my loads. I shot an 85 lb hog about a month ago with this load - she was facing me. Hit her just above the ear, exited behind the shoulder, re-entered in front of the ham and re-exited behind the ham. Apparently she wasn't standing straight. All at about 110 yards. Those TSXs are very tough bullets.

Now I have some TAC and I'm going to try that with the 185g TTSXs and some 200g Accubonds. I see that the Western manual lists Fed 215 primers - I think someone on here said that Western told them it was a typo. I sent a note to Western and they said it was accurate - use magnum primers. So I suppose I'll try both.

After all this, I'm wondering if the 338 Federal isn't much more finicky than other calibers? It's certainly taken the most time and effort for me to get something dialed in than any of the other dozen calibers I load for.

I ran a few factory loads through the chrono as some have asked how the velocity compares to factory. These were through my Kimber 20" barrel with the chrono 10' from the muzzle.

Federal 210 Partition - 2548 fps; 3027 ft lbs - advertised velocity is 2630 fps
Federal 200 Fusion - 2684 fps; 3200 ft lbs. - advertised velocity is 2700 fps

I don't recall reading about any penetration tests with the fusion bullet. Anyone have relevant experience with the fusion 200?

That doesn't sound too bad for a 20" barrel. I imagine that the test barrels probably are around 24"

My experience is different. I've found it easy to get MOA or better with most loads I've tried. Sometimes much better. My rifle really likes 180 Ballistic Tips/Accubonds with TAC. The load below is good for 2700 fps.

Correcting for barrel length, those velocities by Federal are accurate, if not understated for the 200 Fusion. FWIW, the 200 Fusions I've chrono’d did equally well.

So, yeah, it's not a handload , but it may give y'all some penetration reference. The Federal 200 Fusion and the 210 Partition jug test on Y-Tube.

200: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qdumOj9W6Q

210: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8bhaxDx51g

Update on my load development, based on range session yesterday.

Sako 85 Hunter in 338 Fed, Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x50. 22+ inch barrel (570mm as I recall).

Loads tested and results, five shot groups. 55-60F and mostly overcast, light winds (+/-7mph). Federal once fired nickel plated brass, trimmed to 2.005". All loaded to 2.127 to 2.129 to the ogive, using my Hornady LnL Comparator. About 2.825" COAL as I recall. Every load tested below is a compressed load.

185g TTSX, 47.0g Ramshot TAC, CCI LR primer = Avg 2557fps, spread 43fps, std dev 23fps, 2.8" group w vertical stringing
185g TTSX, 48.0g Ramshot TAC, Fed 9.5 Mag primer = Avg 2609fps, spread 29 fps, std dev 12fps, 0.9" group
200g Accubond, 48.0g Ramshot TAC, Fed 9.5 Mag primer = Avg 2597fps, spread 18fps, std dev 9fps, 1.3" group
185g TTSX, 50.0 CFE 223, Fed 9.5 Mag primer = Avg 2597fps, spread 61 fps, std dev 25fps, 1.1" group (only a 3 shot group, since the first two were just off my target)
200g Accubond, 46.0g RL15, CCI LR primer = 2473fps, spread 17 fps, std dev 7 fps, 2.2" group (quite a compressed load)

No signs of pressure at all with any of the loads. Primers all nice and round, easy to eject, etc. I'm happy with the velocity, now I just need to dial in the accuracy.

I'd really like to shoot the 200g Accubonds given my experience with these bullets at this sort of velocity - I think ~2600 is a little slow for the TTSXs. Appears I'll be doing more testing with the 200 AB/48.0g TAC combo - with magnum primers and regular primers and varying the seating depth. I think I can get the accuracy where I want it by varying the seating depth. Which reminds me, I need to get these two fired cases off to Hornady to use with my OAL gauge.

Given these results along with my previous results, I'm even more convinced the Federal factory loads with the 200g TBTs are loaded hot.

If you want more velocity try AA2230 for the lighter bullets or Leverevolution with the heavier.

Your speeds seem a little slow from what I’d expect. You’re also a little below book max in most cases. Putting those two together tells me you have a little room to play, but you’ll know better than I.

What are you planning to hunt?

This rifle will be used largely for pigs and whitetails, and may take it to Africa with me for plains game. After my first trip to Africa last year, I'm a firm believer in heavy for caliber bullets. Out to the hunting distances I shoot (all sub 300 yards) the difference in trajectory of heavier bullets is negligible and easily accommodated. The effects on game seem more pronounced with heavy bullets - and a number of African PHs with more on-game experience in a year than I'll likely have in a lifetime prefer heavy for caliber bullets.

As mentioned I'm not disappointed in the speed - 2600fps with a 200 grainer seems a good combo to me. I'm reticent to push the envelope for another 50 fps, especially with already compressed loads. If I can vary the seating depths for the 200 Accubond and get sub-moa, that will be my go-to for this rifle/cartridge combo.

If I want a fast 338, I can always load up my 338 WM (when my Encore barrel arrives).

I do have some Leverevolution I could try. We'll see after I do some seating depth and primer tests first.

I'll bet the 200 will work great.

If you get bored, and want to try other bullets, I found the 180 woodleighs to be a very robust bullet. They have a 200gn too. Just throwing it out there. I think you're set with what you have. If I could get consistent accuracy with the 200AB I would have it as a go-to load.

Deep, deep SE Georgia. I just got invited to do a fall hunt with a long time MC buddy, I think I'll take that invitation instead of taking my chances out west this year, Whitetails and pigs. I have 180AB, 200AB, and 210 PT's.


At swamp/semi-tropic conditions and ranges I don't see max velocity as an issue.


What are your thoughts?

Back too puttering around with the 338 Federal. Loaded up 180 Accubonds over 48 grains of XBR 8208 which is .5 under max. COL was 2.82 which is a little deeper than I load the 180 Ballistic Tips. I was using Starline brass. Crony read 2710 FPS and accuracy was outstanding at .75". No pressure signs or sticky bolts which is great because I'm going on a Axis doe hunt next weekend and it will be over a 100 degrees.

Well I am going to try a Browning BLR in 338 Federal. Just sent one off to the Gunsmith. The BBL is only 18" and I am guessing its gonna be a little slow in the FPS. I ran numbers and it should be good out to 250yds maybe 300 if I get 2550Fps at the muzzle. Hopefully it will shoot better than the Sako I have. Should be a handy truck gun for <200yds or so