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Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 792
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 792 |
Thanks for all the info. I just got my ruger m77 in 338 federal . Ive always shot 358 win in the past but was impressed with ballistics of the 338 fed. Its great to have lots of real experience and info to help and not waste time and powder. Heres to a great hunting season for all the Campfire crew!
Live by the CODE...…….Ride for the brand.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97 |
Thanks for all of the great info new here but not new to the shooting sports. I just built a 338 fed and had planned on using 8208 and 180 an bullets for whitetails in Wisconsin. I was curious about pressure issues. I started with the mid book load 44 gr but the test load was way hot. Backed down to 42 but it is still pretty hot and all are 2"" or more. Trying AA2495 today but thought I'd ask if anyone else has experienced this. I've not had these issues in the past to this degree. Gun is a Borden alpine action, Krieger 10 twist barrel 25", trigger tech, March 2.5-25, manners eh. Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748 |
Something fishy there. I’ve run 48+ 8208 with 180 Accubonds, 180 BTs, and 180 Woodleighs in multiple 338 FEDs with no issue. I run ~47 with a 200 NorthFork. Can you try some factory ammo to confirm there are no issues? Check powder scale? Bullets aren’t seated into the lands? Just tossing ideas out there. I have not tried 2495.
Edit: finding accuracy with the 180 AB has been unusually difficult for me. Finally found something that seems to work well using Benchmark. ~2775 FPS IIRC.
Last edited by prm; 11/19/20.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97 |
I even have a chamber gage made when chambering the barrel. So I insured that there was about .020" jump. Tried 43 gr if AA2495 today with 180 ab and that is also fairly warm but shot better. Just seeing these loads posted by so many made me wonder. Thanks for your response, I really appreciate it.
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 833
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 833 |
Thanks for all of the great info new here but not new to the shooting sports. I just built a 338 fed and had planned on using 8208 and 180 an bullets for whitetails in Wisconsin. I was curious about pressure issues. I started with the mid book load 44 gr but the test load was way hot. Backed down to 42 but it is still pretty hot and all are 2"" or more. Trying AA2495 today but thought I'd ask if anyone else has experienced this. I've not had these issues in the past to this degree. Gun is a Borden alpine action, Krieger 10 twist barrel 25", trigger tech, March 2.5-25, manners eh. Thanks in advance for any information you can provide. * Talon which brand of brass and primers are you using? I got to 48 with Federal 338 brass with 210M and BR2 primers and 180gr. 47grains with 185 TTSX as well no pressure signs at all. Good luck and shoot straight y'all
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 438
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 438 |
I have loaded the 180 accubond up to 48.5 of 8208 with no pressure. The 180 accubond is one of the more accurate bullets in my rifle.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97 |
New Starline. Now using reformed Lapua. Anyone had a hot lot of 8208? I have an 8# keg open but may have to buy a 1# to see if it is my keg.
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 833
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 833 |
I checked the weight of my FC 338 federal brass and it is heavier than my 308 Lapua brass 175 grains vs 172. That does not help explain your pressure issue .
How are you interpreting the pressure signs?
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 152,171 Likes: 35
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 152,171 Likes: 35 |
I find myself wanting a .338 Federal for some reason. I don’t know why.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 591
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 591 |
XP-100, 15" barrel, .338 Federal--great combination!
NRA Benefactor Life Member NAHC Life Member
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97 |
Primer flow and case stretch. I will be doing some more testing next week. Deer season where I live. Kinda bummed cause I missed this season.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 152,171 Likes: 35
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 152,171 Likes: 35 |
Camels and a .338.... Man that looks fun!!!
How did the fusions do pass threw, stay inside??
How much does a full grown camel weigh? They look to be as big as a Yukon moose. I’d like to shoot a camel!
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 63
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 63 |
New Starline. Now using reformed Lapua. Anyone had a hot lot of 8208? I have an 8# keg open but may have to buy a 1# to see if it is my keg. Talon 2, if sizing up from .308 brass, you could be getting "doughnuts" forming ( pulling brass from the shoulder up into the bottom of the neck). Had this problem myself when Fed stamped brass was unavailable. Not a problem with stubbier bullets like 200g Speer and Woodleighs, but longer 200g Accubonds etc. can certainly cause a pressure spike. Good luck with it. Jack.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 97 |
Thanks Jack I have an adjustable reamer set to remove anything as for the doughnut. I have not seen the pressure signs with the Norma or Lapua. I have looked at the Starline as well but do not see an issue on the new cases. Some with 42 gr of 8208 grew in length by .030" after a single foreign. I'm feeding them from a magazine and jumping .020" I'm puzzled by the loads posted all over but I'll figure it out. Hopefully whatever I find will help someone else if they run into trouble.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 891
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 891 |
It been a while since I've been part of this thread. I was wondering what is the largest game anyone has taken with their .338 Fed, what load they were using, and the performance. I'm trying to get added in to a Bison hunt this fall (one of my friends had to back out) and really want to take one of my .338 Feds but just not quite sure about it. I'll know this week if I'm going and the hunt is November so I'll have time to work on loads. Based on my own experience, the 160s are out. They dump a lot of energy on the entry side and as good as they are, can't see them penetrating through and through. This outfitter strongly suggests heart/lung shots so shooting behind the ear isn't an option. Typical range is 100-200 yds. If no actual experience on Bison, I think moose and larger plains game would be a decent comparison. Everyone else is taking their big bores ( and I will as well), but would love to drop one with the "tiny" Fed.. My son took his Bison with a 338 Federal 210 partition at 250 yards. No problem with penetration. It doesn't matter what gun you use, they don't drop right away so a couple shots are always encouraged.
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 433 Likes: 1
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 433 Likes: 1 |
Can't let a good reference thread die. With the 338 Federal trending elsewhere on the fire, I was inspired to go to the range and fire a few groups.
The rifle is an old Rem 722 with makeover, rebored and chambered in the 338 Fed by JES. The barrel length is now 22 inches. Velocities were recorded with a Labradar.
For hunting I use the (formerly) cheap Federal Fusion 200gr factory ammo. I haven’t yet found a load with the combined accuracy and velocity of that stuff.
Bullet: Fed Fusion 200gr SP Powder: Factory Primer: Factory Case: Fed Velocity: 2619 (ES 27.0, SD 10.4) Group(5): 1.08 in
Bullet: Speer 200gr SP Powder: 52.0 2000-MR Primer: F210 Case: Fed Velocity: 2512 (ES 13.0, SD 2.9) Group(5): 1.46 in
Bullet: Woodleigh 200gr PPSN Powder: 47.0 8208XBR Primer: F210 Case: Fed Velocity: 2568 (ES 13.0, SD 3.3) Group(5): .95 in
Bullet: Fed Fusion 200gr SP Powder: 48.0 TAC Primer: F215 Case: Fed Velocity: 2595 (ES 18.0, SD 8.2) Group(5): 2.25 in
Bullet: Fed Fusion 200gr SP Powder: 48.5 TAC Primer: F215 Case: Fed Velocity: 2606 (ES 46.0, SD 22.4) Group(5): 2.31 in
Bullet: Woodleigh 200gr PPSN Powder: 48.5 TAC Primer: WLR Case: Fed Velocity: 2586 (ES 6.0, SD 2.8) Group(5): 1.15 in
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 891
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 891 |
There is not a lot on this thread for the shorter barrels so I thought I would add my experience with a Barrett Fieldcraft with the 18" barrel and suppressed
Factory 200 fusion - 2555 fps 1.5 moa load Factory 210 partition - no vel recorded - 2 moa load Factory trophy copper - 2461, 2431, 2433 - 1 moa load
Barnes 160TTSX, AA2230, Fed210M, Fed Brass 43 degrees Grains - Velocity 50 - 2818 51 - 2863 51.5 - 2888, 2899, 2891, 2901 - 0.75 moa load 52.0 - 2928, 2941, 2921, 2938 - 1 moa load 52.5 - 2950, 2960, 2943 - stiffer bolt lift - stopped here
160TTSX, TAC, 210M 50 - 2741 51 - 2785 51.5 - 2807 52.0 - 2819 52.5 - 2855, 2850, 2842. no pressure
185TTSX , IMR 8208, 215M 47 0- 2645, 2624, 2575 47.4 - 2668, 2655, 2666, 2661 <1 moa load 47.7 - 2649, 2646, 2675 48.0 - 2699, 2685, 2697 sub moa load
Also tried some; 230 ELD-X in my Tikka that has a long bolt stop and magazine. I was hoping for a 500 yard plus rifle. COAL was 2.945 Alliant MR2000 ; Fed 210M 50.5 - 2450 51.1 - 2477 51.4 - 2479 groups were not impressive and ran short on ELD-Xs. I wonder if Leverevolution would be better? Also hope to play with the 210 SS2 in this rifle with the extended COAL possibility.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 109
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 109 |
Has anyone else worked up a load with the 185 grain SP on clearance at midway? I've tried on combo so far that is promising. Kimber Montana with 22" barrel
185 SP, 47.5 grains of TAC, 210 2,700 fps Needs more testing to confirm but accuracy was promising and ES were low for this and all charge weights above and below this.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 891
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 891 |
I’m doing that now as well. I’m using 8208 through an 18” barrel and hope to have results this weekend. I might load a couple with tac as well. I have tried that in the past with the Barnes 185 and had better accuracy with 8208.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1 |
It's winter and time to do some load development!
Read through most of this thread in the past couple days. My rifle really likes the 210 NPT and Benchmark.
But it is winter........
I'm looking for temperature insensitive powder loads for the 160 TTSX and 185 TTSX.
185 TTSX and 8208 about 47, 48 gr at 2700 ish seems like a good load. 160 TTSX and 8208 and H322 at 2950/2975 seems like a good possibility.
Other good temp insenestive powders to consider with these 2 bullets?
BTW: I did shoot a doe last year with the Fed. 210 gr Partition at 2575 from my 23" Kimber. She didn't like it much.... a blood trail a blind hippie could follow. Love the Lilja 84m mod taper at 23" on the Kimber. Still weighs less than 7 lbs with a 20 oz NF riding on top. To me the slight added weight points/holds better than the standard Montana taper.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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