Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 338 Win Mag 250 Grain loads

Anyone use RE 26 in 338 with 250 grain bullets?

My old loads were 3100 powder, which is similar to the old H4831, I think. I just pulled the bullets on the last 20 that I had loaded. They shot very well in my old BDL and my push feed 70, not as well in the current model 70, besides, I do not have more 3100.

I have other powders on hand, but would like temperature insensitive powders most. Maximum velocity isn't a concern.

I am also looking for 225 grain bullet loads and 210 grain. I've viewed the different WEB sites, Gun Gack I, Handloader articles and different reloading manuals, but would like to hear testimony. Besides I have so far not found any information on RE 26 in the 338 with heavy bullets.

It will be an entertaining testing session after the snow melts and waters subside. I want maximum penetration with expansion. my hunting partner wants minimum recoil, not sure how or where we'll end up. He likes mono bullets, I like partitions.

My rifle is a Classic 70 with a 26" barrel.

Thanks.

A friend sent a QL for me. With 250 Partition;

R26 77.3gr 2800+ fps a tad over 61K pressure.

The 250 Accubond: R26 74.6 2797fps also at 61K

These are guidelines of course.

How dense is R26?

Looks a lot like H4831sc to me. I consider it on the dense side of things, anyhow.

It has been a long time since I loaded for my 338, but I don't think I'd like seating a long bullet like a 250 Accubond on top of 77 grains of powder.

What was Jim Carmichael's favorite 250PT load? Wasn't it 68gr of IMR 4350?

I believe something like 68 grains was my load with early, long grain H4350 when it was made in Scotland.

I believe it was. I've always used 67 grains and Federal 215 primer. After reading Elmer and Jim I had to have a 338.

That’s a little more velocity than I’ve found with other powders. I suspected it might be a good powder for heavy 338 loads.

I have some of Jim Carmichael’s writings. I’ll see if I can find what he said about that. Jim Carmichael was one of my favorite writers.

Thanks!

I will have to try R26, just not too sure if I even "want" to push it to 2800fps, ha. I "do" like the way the heavier bullets "thump" a big animal! ha Gives a "good feeling", That being said, the only 250gr bullet I ever killed anything with was the old Barnes 250X in a 35 Whelen AI that averaged 2550fps. It was a thumper indeed. But later, I shot some of the same animals with the 200X. It gave the same results! So, in 338WM I've only killed game with the 200 & 185 Barnes and the 210 Barnes in a .340W. I used a 180 NAB from a 338 RUM on a big aoudad. I can't find anything "wrong" with any 338 cal bullet, ha. Since I load more than I get to hunt anymore, I like to try different bullets and weights. I am one of those who "should have been born a Trust Fund baby" so I could enjoy loading/shooting/hunting all over the world! ha Oh well, I'm still having fun!

All the RL-22 that you are brave enough to stuff into the case never don't work, usually about 74 grains worth.

'26 might even be better, but I've got lots of '22 & loaded ammo & it's worked in all six 338's that I've had over the years with excellent accuracy at 2700-2725 FPS.

MM

Since you asked for 210 grain recipes, I’ve used 70 grains of reloader 17 and a 210 grain Barnes tipped triple shock for a little over 2900. Fairly accurate , but that rifle isn’t the most accurate rifle in my experience. I’ve only killed one animal, an antelope buck, not really a test of either bullet or cartridge, but it worked. I think I’d use that load on pretty much anything in North America.

Montanaman- did you notice any problems with that R22 in low temps? I picked up some R23, thinking it was just temp stable R22. Its not, close, but no cigar. I have looked around a lot and it seems "to me" the closest thing to R22 is still Norma MRP. I don't know if MRP is any more temp stable as R22. Now, when I say temp stable, I mean cold temps. I've been loading long enough to see more issues at high temps with many powders, so I just worked up my loads during the summertime. That's OK unless at 32 deg or less it loses a whole lot of speed, ha. I'm talking enough to affect a 400yd shot ( worse case scenario kind of shot) I like to hunt late season cow elk and, if you catch them lower, one can get a 300yd shot easily, "maybe" 400 in good country. Across the oak brush choked next ridgeline is NOT my cup of tea, ha. Even if I killed her "getting her out of that mess" would kill "me".

Most of my loads are worked up in temps between 50-60 degrees, & most of my hunting is done above 10-15 degrees, so there's probably some level of velocity loss, but I've not chrono'ed in the low temps so I can't say from direct knowledge.

But I've not seen any meaningful change in POI out to 400 yards with animals I've kilt with it. I'm sure that at lower temps the effect may be more dramatic but in general, I think a little common sense mitigates a fair amount of problems

As for Norma MRP, yes, IME, I can use loads for it & RL-22 interchangeably (with work-up verification) in 270, 280 & 338's; as to temp stability, I've read comments that say it is & it isn't, so I don't know & have not tested, but again, for my purposes, if it is, then it's not significant. MRP meters a little better than '22 does as well.

MM

I had several rifle loads with Re22 being some of the best for accuracy. I’m down to less than a pound of Re22 and have a life time supply of Re26. Of course life time means not so much at my age and with heavier loads.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had any MRP.
That’s a nice group MontanaMan.

Thanks MMan- I like the fact you actually took game at longer range with it with satisfaction.