Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .338WM....

I just acquired an older Model 70 in 338wm. I've shot a few factory rounds through it.

I just bought some nosler e tips and partitions to load for
it.

I'm curious to hear about other's experiences with this caliber.

Are there any "known good" loads?

Thanks!

69gn of IMR 4350 with 250gn Partition for just under 2700fps. A do anything load.

74gn of 760 with 185gn Barnes TTSX for around 3160fps. A do everything load.

73gn of H4350 with 225gn Hornady for 2850fps

67gn Rel 17 with Barnes 265 TTSX/LRX for 2620fps and everything under ele, buff and hippo.

Mine adores RL-19 with 225 grain bullets

We’ve been running Barnes 225 grain bullets through my wife’s .338 WM, since the mid-‘90’s. First with the original “X” Bullet, then the TTSX when it was introduced. We’re using Federal Premium (nickel plated) cases, Federal 215 primers, with Reloader 22. We’re getting 2950 fps from her Win. Model 70 SS with 24” barrel!
It’s been very effective for her on, antelope, deer, elk, moose, and bear......darn good “all around” cartridge and load! memtb

RL22 with 250gr will get you over 2700fps and bug hole groups.

I killed a lot of big game a long time ago with the .338 Win Mag loaded with 73 gr/IMR 4350, Fed 215 primers, 210 gr Nosler Partitions, Federal brass. My only indication of effect was animals dropping relatively quickly, as none of them, including elk, stopped the bullets.

This was in that time of our blissful ignorance before we knew about temperature sensitivity, so maybe not so valid these days.

So many good loads. Not enough time in the day to list them all. Ive never owned a poor shooting 338wm.

200gr Accubond with RL15

Y'all have me excited to get some rounds loaded up and hit the range!!

Thanks for all the info so far

My experience also, and with several different rifles. I stayed with RL22 mostly but found N160 to be quite temperature stable. Accuracy about the same. Not acquainted with the newer propellants the last 10 years but I'd expect them to be good also.

160 TTSX work great for the puny Whitetail and pigs I shoot.

I load a 225 gr Accubond over 71.4 gr H4350 lit by a 215M primer for 2860 FPS. Excellent accuracy.

+1.

Looks like I have plenty of options.....I like options!

I'm currently trying to buy brass to load...which headstamps are good and which should be avoided?

Thanks!!

Here's another classic option,

200 grain Nosler Accubonds, and H4831 or H4350 to 3K with a 26" barrel.

Or the 225 AB with the same powders to around 2850.

Ive found that 2,850 is a sweet spot for just about any 225gr pill in the 338wm. 3,000 fps for the 210 partitions and mild loads with the 250's. Those velocities are kept down around 2600fps with the sierra gk and up to 2700/2750 for a partition. As for the ops question about brass. Most brass is great, but my preference has been the old WW, W Super from the 60's to 80's, 90's R-P bested WW in those days. WW is garbage now days. Ive had good luck with nickel plated R-P, but have burned up a few trimmers on that chidt. If the op doesnt find what he wants in the classifieds, I can spare 100 WW from the 70's. Primed a few years ago with CCI 250's. Its very good brass. Price would be fair.

+2

225 grain Nosler Accubond
75.5 grains Superformance
Hornady brass
Fed #215
MV = 2939fps
5 shot group = one ragged hole a 100 yards

Used this load to kill a big bull elk in October (complete pass through on broad side shot; elk dropped in his tracks)

This is not a MAX load in my rifle, but you should reduce the load and work up for your rifle if you use it.

I found a sweet spot with IMR4350/RL19 at just over 3,000fps with 210 Partitions and 200 BT. The BT would regularly shoot one whole groups (I’d expect AB to do the same). I killed a bunch of deer and elk with the 210s and performance was outstanding. The BT of the day were way soft for anything but deer, even at long range. I’d guess either the 210 or 200AB would be great for an all around the load. Personally, I never found the need for anything heavier than 210s for elk. I can only recall a couple of instances where they didn’t exit, even out 450yds. I also never had an instance when an elk was not visibly rocked at impact. Only thing I think is more effective is a 340wby shooting 210s at 3250:)

I started out using 250 partitions with old surplus 4831. Then shot 180 BT then AB for lighter game. Several years ago I just went with 210TSX for everything. 210 TSX kills with authority! I use H 4350 and CCI mag primers.

Ben