Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 200 grain Accubonds

I'm trying to get these bullets to shoot in a new Weatherby Backcountry Ti in 338 RPM and so far everything I've tried prints patterns, 1 1/2-3" @ 100. I haven't exhausted the possibilities by any stretch but my optimism is waning. Is there something about this bullet I didn't get the memo on, or should I keep trying?

The plan is a 200 grain Accubond for longer shots, and a 160 Barnes ttsx for deer @ 338 Federal velocities. The idea is to get the long range load dialed first then regulate the deer load to a 100 yard usable poi so it can be hunted w/o changing the scope setting. But unfortunately I'm hung up on getting the Accubonds to shoot.

In my experience, an accurate rifle is easy to find a load for, worrying me this one may be a dog. Any thoughts?

I always gave them a jump in the 338WM. I use the similar 200 NBT in my 338/06, also with a bit of jump. I settled on Varget with a Magnum primer. Good luck to you Pard.

I do not know of any secrets for that particular bullet.

Have shot many 180 & 200gr NAB, along with 200gr Ballistic silvertips out of my 338-06's with no issues.

The secret is to go to Barnes TTSX. I think you will find the accuracy your looking for.

I have a 200 grain Accubond load for my .338 Win Mag M70. The bullets are about .1 inch off the lands and it shoots pretty well, about MOA in my rifle. It's a fairly mild load getting about 2850 fps with RL-15.

The copper aluminum tipped 200 gr Apex Afterburner bullet is the solution for shooting up close and at longer range, one bullet for both jobs, it's designed to open down to 1650 fps and has the highest bc of all 200 gr 338 cal bullets, G7 bc .269 & G1 bc .550, the 200 gr Accubond is listed at .414 by Nosler


Hodgdon load data is for the Federal 200 gr Fusion bullet, but it gives you an idea of where to start, typically the Apex Afterburner bullets are faster due to less bearing surface, and with the 338 Wby RPM you will see 3100 fps easily with safe pressures

Website link for 200 gr Apex Afterburner bullets

That's great about the Apex but the gentleman was asking for help with the Nosler Accubonds.

I suppose it's more a question of how much money and time you are willing to put into it. Lots of open secrets on this board and elsewhere to use as basis for a checklist of things to step through, I suppose. I'm still a greenhorn so not much "expertise" weight to back any of my suggestions; however, I notice that you have omitted listing what you have tried / verified thus far... and there are no descriptions of the groups. Perhaps doing that would help you acquire new ideas for consideration.

yeah ? and what did you contribute other that be a lil dick !

I was just talking about this bullet in 225 grains with a friend of mine. He wants to go elk hunting this fall in Wyoming and he just bought a new rifle in .338 Win mag. I hope this is a good sign.

kwg

Fireball2,

What is your definition of long range for this application?

I know it’s not the bullet you asked about, but I’ve had good success with the Hornady 200 gr Interlock and 210 Partition out to 450 yds out of a 338-06.

Your RPM should extend that range by a bit.

200gr Interlock is no more, would have to go the SST route.

The 225 grain will certainly work but not really required with the Barnes bullets. You will get more than enough penetration with the 200 grain bullet. I used to use 210 Noslers for everything including Elk and Grizzlies. The one bullet I recovered was under the skin on the off side hip. Chest shot. The Barnes will penetrate better and hold together.

I’ve caught more than one 338 225 TSX.

That’s a shame. Excellent bullet in my opinion. They seem to shoot flatter than they should, too. They’ve filled my freezer more than once.

Did the OP mention any loads that did work well in the rifle?

What qualifies as long range to the OP?

If anything, I’d take the 160 TTSX (as long as the rifle likes it) and push it as fast as you can. In the RPM I would think that would get you out to 500 yards or so without any trouble.

Thank you all, and Swamplord that's some good intel, thanks for that. I'll research your bullet.

Without going back and looking up what I've tried I couldn't list them. It's been a long weekend and it's getting along about bedtime so another time. Here's about the best group I've had so far, but that was with 160 Barnes. As mentioned in the OP, 1 1/2-3" for the Accubonds. At least it's consistent LOL.






For me, long range will be +/- 800 yards. I like to stay around 400 when possible. Across a canyon here will be 350 on up. The problem is, retrieving across the canyon is brutal in this country. It is steep and brushy. Best to limit the shot to what I can comfortably pack by myself.

Just spitballing, but perhaps this cartridge is close to 35 sambar or 325 wsm and would like similar treatment as to what works with them?

They have shot extremely well for me, and taken a few deer.

The SST's have shot very well also, but have not used them on any animals yet.