Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 338 Winchester 210’s...

Thats a nice bull Brad!!

Thanks.

I started in the dark at -15*F, spotted this bull with two lesser bulls at daybreak 1.5 miles away headed up a mountain to bed, and did a death march that brought me to the ridge they were bedded on. I carefully hunted down to where I thought they might be bedded and shot the biggest standing in his bed. It never got above 5*F that day. One for remembrance around a warm fire on a cold winter day.

Yep that’s a good bull and story. Guess I’ll have to take you up on that brewski to see your face!!! Haha

I always felt for elk and deer, the 210 NP was the perfect combination of velocity and penetration in both the 338 and 340wby for a true all around load for NA. Would it be perfect for the largest bears, no, but I wouldn’t want to rely on a 375 for long range deer or antelope. It would readily expand on deer ribs at 500+ yards and penetrate deeply on elk at the same distances. In something like 3 dozen elk, I’ve only recovered 2 bullets. I think Bob Hagel did extensive penetration testing comparing the 210 and 250 NPs in home brewed wet sawdust mix.. As, I recall, the 210s penetrated within an inch or two of the 250s while having a the added benefits of higher velocity.

I think, like others, the 210 grain Nosler Partition is one heck of a great bullet.
I know they shoot great in my 338-06. They bring on dirt naps"

The 225 grain, Nosler Partitions work great too. (in my 338-06)

Take care

What powders do you have on hand? If looking to purchase some powder for the 210's. I would look at RL 17 & Hunter.

The load I’ve used for 40 years in six .338s and has accounted for quite a pile of game is:

73 gr/IMR 4350, Federal 215, Federal or Winchester case, 210 gr Nosler Partition. I have gotten just over 2900 fps with outstanding accuracy. I’m playing with RL19 just for grins and it looks promising.

I have found the .338 to be very easy to load for, and those I have had exhibited terrific accuracy. Logic says we probably don’t need this round as much as we did before such an array of good bullets have come out for lesser calibers, but I just like it.

^ this, start low and work up.

I have been using the 210 Scirocco in my 338-06 at over 2800 fps. Have had excellent results on caribou, moose, girzzly and brown bears. Have only recovered 2 bullets. One retained roughly 88% when I shot a moose head on through both sides of the skull and deep into the neck at less than 10 yards. The other went long ways through a 10' brown bear this spring at less than 100 yards. It weighed 196.6 grains (over 93% retention) and expanded to over .750".

Pretty impressive and will keep using them given the performance and the application of that rifle. If I still had a 338WM I would no doubt switch over from the 225 NABs it was shooting at over 2900 fps to the 210 Sirocco.

Bullet recovered from the brown bear this spring:

That is an impressive endorsement! I was going to go the 210 Barnes TTSX as a one bullet solution for my .338 Win Mag but I am going to have to look hard at the Scirocco® II as well. I guess the rifles accuracy will pick which one I end up using.

Sciroccos are great bullets. I've shot big a big bull elk and bull moose using them. My results were the same as Alaska lanche. The three I recovered all weighed 195-196gr. These bullets left the barrel at 2865fps and the shots were all under 100yds. Biggest mushroom is .817in. Both critters went less than 60yds. Shots were in the lung and neck area.
The gun is a 338-06AI.
The 210gr Scirocco has a BC of .507. The Nosler 225 AB is .550. Both are quite high.

I have had good accuracy from 210 Nosler Partitions using RL16. I also had used IMR 4350
until I ran out.

BTW, I have no idea what the Nosler 210 gr. Partitions looked after doing their work, as I have never had an animal stop one. That includes a bullet that went through both shoulders of a bull elk.

My first dead elk experience ( many years ago), my hunting buddy killed a decent 6x6, shot at close range ( under100), with a 210 Partition, from a .338 WM, pushed hard ( his brass were only good for a few reloads)..... bullet recovered, forward jacket folded tightly against the base. The recovered bullet only weighed approximately 60 to 65% of original weight and less than .40 cal. A very “sick” elk, after the shot, but it required a follow-up shot!

I think that it’s a good bullet....but “not” the best! MHO It does however, “play hell” with a poorly placed shot, on a pine grouse ( bullet “not” recovered )...... nothing left for the pot! memtb

memtb- was with a friend when he shot a turkey with his 7mm STW/160NP around 35 yds...one big hole with some legs and wings 'around the edges of it", ha.

Jim, I did enough squirrel hunting with a scope, many at “very” close range.....so quickly learned that the bore is 1 1/2” to 2” below the crosshairs. Having “only” western big game experience.....he ruined a few grouse before catching on! That didn’t stop me from getting a good laugh, at his expense! memtb

Always loved SS'2's, thanks for the feedback gents....

I use the Mule Deer recommended "low recoil" load of 65gr R15 with the 210gr Partition or 200gr BT. Should be about 2900-2950fps, but don't know as I've never clocked it. I've used it on doe pronghorn to cow bison and bull elk.

Clocked my RL16 loads for .338WM today after I fixed my Labradar. Got 2953fps with 71gr
of RL16 SD was 13.0 Win cases and 215M primers 3.260OAL using 210gr Partitions

Next shot 72gr of RL16 got 2983fps with that SD was 13.2, 5 shots all bullets touching.
This load was probably to hot, but most accurate load of the day including shooting
44 rounds of 7mm Mag. OAL was 3.300 going to cut back to 3.280 and use 71.5gr. Win cases

76.5gr of H4831 got 2848 poor accuracy.

78gr of IMR 7828SSC 210 partition win cases WLRM primers 3.300 OAL
Average was 2971fps SD of 15.4 not accurate. Don,t increase.

Might try RL26 or Norma MRP, Quickload says they give fastest speed.
If my shoulder holds up. Anyway I,m going to load the 71.5gr of RL16.

When I had my last .338 Re19 and a 210 Nosler was a super combination..