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Several years ago, I read an article by John Barsness or John Haviland about light bullets in the 338. Many loads were listed. Now when I have a prairie elk hunt in September and want to try the 185gr TSX, I can't find the article. As I recall, RL 19 was a very good powder for the light bullets in the 338.
Unfortunately, I can't find RL19 in the Barnes manual #3 for this weight.
Does anyone remember this article?
I have RL19 on hand and H414 as well. Was hoping to use RL19 though.
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Campfire Regular
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We have 8,59 mm/.338" bullets available here in GE, down to 9,7 g/150 gr.
All of them are included in Quickload.
If you need any help please PM me.
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Based upon articles by Mule Deer and others concerning R15 I recently bought some to try out. My thoughts were mainly to use as light practice loads. This week I tried both 200 gr. Hornadys and 210 gr. Nosler Ptn's. Both styles shot very well and recoil was noticeably reduced.
I referred to the pet loads given in the Nosler manual and found them to be pretty much right on.
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I would choose H 4350 in the .338.
FYI, that load using the 185 TSX in the .338 is Connie Brooks standard load in the .338. I have already reported that she took 62 head of African game with as many shots. It works well.
I also like that bullet in the .340. Steps hard on the toes of the .300's when loaded to 3400fps and has the ability to use 300 grain bullets which challenges the .375.
AGW
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
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I use IMR4550 & 200 Gr Nosler BT loads right out of their book. I load to 2900F/s and the recoil is not much more than a 30-06.
Never shot an elk... but if you use Accubonds I bet it will work out
That which does not kill us makes us stronger
Friedrich Nietzsche
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I had OK results with slower powders and lighter bullets (200 and under) in the .338, but eventually tried RL15 and essentially matched the velocities of the slower powders but obtained better accuracy. It is definitely worth a try.
JB
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
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Mule Deer, You're saying the go to powder is RL15? Forget RL19 and H414? Only use them if the RL15 doesn't work?
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I am saying Reloder 15 should definitely be considered. In my experience it does just as well as slower burners with bullets up to 200 grains in the .338, and in some rifles better.
Somebody would have to seriously bribe me to use H414 in anything. It is dirty-burning, very temperature-sensitive, and touchy at maximum pressures.
JB
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
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I've done a bit of work with a couple of 338's and the flyweights and R15 is the powder I would gravitate to first.
On a side note of all the TSX brand bullets that pesky 185/338 slug is the only TSX that has given me fits in terms of making it perk.
I've run it in 338/06's, 338 WSM's, 338's and 340's and to date I've not found a load that rocked consistently.
I've a friend from Ennis that shoots bug holes with R15 and the 185's in his 338 and one other bud from Boze that does.
But, for me I've not had the luck and it isn't for lack of trying (I believe 6 opr 7 boxes worth).
As for Connie Brooks using a flyweight bullet you don't spose there was a marketing method to her madness do you...grins
Now the 210 TSX is a whole nuther deal and bug hole is every 33 I've shot it in has been my experience.
Am I saying don't try it, no I am not. I am saying don't be amazed if it doesn't challenge you a bit.
Dober
Last edited by Mark R Dobrenski; 08/03/07.
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
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Personally, I don't believe in light bullets for the 338 Winchester - nothing less than 210 gr. bullets. The really light projectiles start out faster, but they give up a lot of SD & BC, and I don't think they're as suitable for the sort of animals you'd hunt with a 338, not even (and especially not!) as as a one-gun, all-purpose, rifle-for-all-seasons proposition. I don't see any advantage (and plenty of DISadvantage!) in them except for less recoil. The 338 Winchester is a heavy-bullet cartridge in my estimate, and it should be used accordingly.
AD
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I've done a bit of work with a couple of 338's and the flyweights and R15 is the powder I would gravitate to first.
On a side note of all the TSX brand bullets that pesky 185/338 slug is the only TSX that has given me fits in terms of making it perk.
I've run it in 338/06's, 338 WSM's, 338's and 340's and to date I've not found a load that rocked consistently.
I've a friend from Ennis that shoots bug holes with R15 and the 185's in his 338 and one other bud from Boze that does.
But, for me I've not had the luck and it isn't for lack of trying (I believe 6 opr 7 boxes worth).
As for Connie Brooks using a flyweight bullet you don't spose there was a marketing method to her madness do you...grins
Now the 210 TSX is a whole nuther deal and bug hole is every 33 I've shot it in has been my experience.
Am I saying don't try it, no I am not. I am saying don't be amazed if it doesn't challenge you a bit.
Dober Mark, Just as an aside commment; I have seen the 185 and the obsolete 175 X shoot very well and also the 210 X shoot so bad that the match grade custom barrel was removed and the action canibalized for another project. I know we all say that rifles are individuals, but they really are, and in the course of doing rifle reviews for over 20 years. I found both horrible discrepancies and also unbelieveable consistencies. In all, I still load for each as if it were the very first of its breed and that way I am never dissappointed and sometimes, plesantly surprised. AGW
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
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While I guess I'm stuck with what I have, H414 and RL19 or RL22. I may have some IMR 4350 or 4831 laying around, but probably not much. I also have some IMR 4895 and Varget.
According to the stores here in Calgary, no powder has come into Canada for some time. They are short on ammunition and powders and primers. According to them, the only dangerous goods carrier that brings these items into Canada has not gotten around to transporting their orders for months.
Maybe Montana could just adopt Alberta?
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According to the stores here in Calgary, no powder has come into Canada for some time. They are short on ammunition and powders and primers. According to them, the only dangerous goods carrier that brings these items into Canada has not gotten around to transporting their orders for months.
Maybe Montana could just adopt Alberta?
Now there's an idea I've always been partial to. And just to not play favorites, BC, NWT and the Yukon would work. Might even go as far as Sask and Manitoba....but that's it. To get back on topic, I agree 210 grain is my lightest acceptable bullet and I shoot a lot more 250. But, with 210, I've had good results with 4350.
"Be sure you're right. Then go ahead." Fess Parker as Davy Crockett
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Campfire Kahuna
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We'll adopt Alberta as long as you Montanans buy bighorn tags.
I have had very good luck with .338 bullets under 210, notably the now defunct 200-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, which knocked the snot out of whatever I shot with it, in North America or Africa. The 180 BT was also a good one. These bullets were mostly jacket, sort of like the new E-Tip with a little sliver of lead inserted. Expanded violently but penetrated deeply.
JB
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
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I have been buying scads of .338 WW brass, 250 NPs and SGKs here in Vancouver, I think that Wholesale is in trouble and may be BSing about this.
I have been loading like crazy for almost 3 weeks now and have seen no shortage of conponents locally.
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Well, I did kill a couple of mountain goats with a 200gr Win PP and, like you said, well not exactly like you said, it did put the goats right down right there in each instance.
But for most .338 purposes now, I go 210 or 250. And I could go heavier for brown bear or such, if I do it again, depending. I guess I should say when, not if. Got to keep a positive attitude.
Last edited by toltecgriz; 08/08/07.
"Be sure you're right. Then go ahead." Fess Parker as Davy Crockett
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Just curious, what the point of light bullets in a .338 is unless you only have one rifle, seems like a .300 or even an 06 will do fine with 180's and 200's, I've used a .338 WM and also a .338-06 quite a bit mostly with .250 NP and they work very well on our Sitka Blacktails with little wasted meat.Like I said just curious. To each his own. --- Mel
toltecgriz , as an aside I've often thought BC, Yukon, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Alaska would make a mighty fine country. Just a thought
Last edited by olblue; 08/09/07. Reason: to add aside
The only thing I'm an expert at is my own opinion, and I have plenty of those!
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Here's that ol' familiar "apples v. oranges" bullet debate again where proponents of lightweight X-bullets are rebuted by proponents of heavier jacketed bullets. Once again, by all reports, those X-bullets with their near-100% weight retention and controlled (smaller) expansion characteristics really must be in a completely different performance class than any jacketed bullet. I am still in the slightly-heavy-for-caliber jacketed bullet camp, probably only because I haven't yet killed anything with the X-bullets. Man, I just GOTTA get around to tryin' those things! Okay: this year, d  mmit, I'm gonna load some 150 TSXs in my 308 and go smack somethin', and the 165 Hot-Cors are stay home (arrrgh!). _
Our God reigns.
Harrumph!!!
I often use quick reply. My posts are not directed toward any specific person unless I mention them by name.
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Okay: this year, d mmit, I'm gonna load some 150 TSXs in my 308 and go smack somethin', and the 165 Hot-Cors are stay home (arrrgh!). _ Maybe take a look at the 130 tsx and really smackum......grin
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No chance of BC, AB, NWT, YT leaving Canada and joining some coalition of disgruntled US states; the cultures are too different and Canada is far too stable a nation for such treason to ever happen....NOW, what about QUEBEC??????? Ya want maybe 10 million Frenchies....and even with their hydropower...????
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