Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 338-06 225 grain hornady load help

ok for everyone that says this cant be done (has anyone checked alliant powders websight for data?) they list 78 grains of r19 as a max load at 2944 with 225 grain bullets. speer and alliant both list this as a max load! please check this out for yourselves. http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...ight=225&shellid=93&bulletid=149

as my original post said i am looking for a 338-06 load

Knock yourself out dude... Alliant's irresponsible posting that load and I'd bet it's a misprint.

My Hodgdon book WITH PUBLISHED PRESSURE DATA puts 73.0 gr's RL19 as max with a 225 for 49,000 CUP... that's a bit weak as 53K would be the max to run the 338 WM at.

The worst and most irresponsible data book of all time is the Barnes Number One manual... even those hotrodders give 76.0 gr's RL19 and a 225 as max for 2,863 fps from a 26" bbl.

I'd bet a mo's wages your near or over 60,000 CUP.

You're telling yourself a sweet lie by running at 3K...

It's funny how a guy will find ONE source for some crazy load and then run there, while the rest of the loading manuals and hunting fraternity tell him he's nuts... seen it too many times to count.

Any round can be MADE to do something, but when no other manual gives anything near 3K with a 225 from a 24" bbl., I question someone's intelligence for running there.

brad, the speer manual and reliant both list 78 grains as a max load. so its not just one source. i have shot this load in 3 different 338 rifles. a fiend of mine shoots the same load in his sako.i am sure we are not the only ones that use the speer or alliant data.both sources listed this as a max load when i started using it 10 years ago and still print it now. i am sure its not a misprint

Speer is another that also lists incredibly irresponsible loads with no pressure data included... one of my favorite "Speer Loads" (as I call them) is 49/0 gr's RL15 in the 308 Win under a 150 gr bullet... not even Alliant lists more than 47.0 gr's, as does no other manual. 49.0 RL15 with a 150 is NUTS! In my 308's that load would put a 150 well over 3K with a 22" bbl. Just becasue a source say a guy can do something doesn't mean it's intelligent.

Like I said, guys will pick and choose irresponsible data, when the bulk of the responsible collective data shows 225's at around 2,850 (with pressure data).

Knock yourself out... you're WAY over max.

brad
maybe you should call speer and alliant and question thier intelligence on the subject since you seem to know more than they do!

I'm pretty sure I know more about the 338 WM and what it can and can't do than you.

Would add, neither of your "sources" have pressure data... mine does.

I guarandamntee you you're approaching 60K CUP...

brad ,

i would like to thank you for your input on the subject of 338-06 loads you have been a great help. i am going to get rid of all of my reloading manuals. i will difinately consult you first when i need data from now on.



thanks for all your help
dan

brad
please consult speer manual .says the following "loads do not exceed 54000 cup pressure"

So, when NO manual shows that load as running at 3,000 fps in a 24" barrel and your rifle does, doesn't that spark a little something in the back of your head telling you that MAYBE, in your rifle, that load may be too hot even if it is published in a manual?????????????????????????????

Apparently not...

in the early 90's there were three of us shooting 78 grains of Hercules Reloader 15 and 225 Hornadys or Noslers.

I have no idea what the pressure was, but I shot hundreds of rounds of that load without a loose primer pocket or sticky bolt (i toss cases after 5-6 loadings). In a $99 chrony they went 2850-2900

I have noticed that newer manuals show the Alliant RL-19 with lower charges than 78 grains.

As far as a 338-06, I shot 61 grains of IMR-4350 and a 225 for around 2680 in a 22 inch barrel. I don;t beleive 2800 is possible even in a 24, but if I was bent on trying it, I would use Ramshot Big Game, based upon how it seems to outperform RL-15 in the 9.3x62 velocity-wise.

brad isnt 2944 running close to 3000? temp with effect it some. so will a fast or slow barrel. every gun is not going to get the same velocity.maybe my gun has a fast barrel.

did you have any 338-06 loads you would like to share?

There is no such thing as a "fast" barrel... pressure is what makes bullets go fast. If you're at 3K with a 225 you're over SAAMI pressures.

As to 338-06 loads, I have no interest in posting loads on what is essentially still a wildcat round.

My experience is what I posted... 2,660 to 2,680 in a 22" bbl with 225's.

2,800 is attainable but stupid.

thats a new one on me! so every gun in the same caliber with the same barrel length will get the same velocity. man you just made things so much easier.no more working up loads!!

ok so if anyone has 338-06 loads with 225 grain hornady bullets. i would appreciate any info.again 2800 fps was just a questionable goal. didnt mean to spark a debate over wheather or not "MY" 338 win mag load is to hot.

I respect Brad and his opinion...I've always thought it viable and spoken from experience. But I have a 338-06 w/a Pac-Nor 3 groove barrel that will not approach 2950fps w/180gr. bullets unless I go at least 3 grains over max w/RL15. I'm still not getting 2950fps but close w/60.5 of RL15.The manual says 57.5gr of RL15 should be going 2952fps but my gun only registers 2752fps.I have no pressure signs whatso ever and if VVN550 does not do better I'm leaving well enogh alone.You can cover 3 shots with a dime.Hell I can shoot the 200gr.Hornady bullet nearly 2750fps in my 358.I can get a little over 2700fps out of 225grainers but would not go any higher.I have 4 Ackley cartridges and get all I can out of them safely...but never red line them.Common sense is an awfully good thing to rely on when reloading. powdr

I load 60.0 grains of H4350 (compressed) or 53.5 grains of VV N-140 (max load) in my 388-06 with the 225 Interlock. Both are very accurate and generate 2650-2675 fps.

2750- maybe 2800 fps is for 200-210 grain bullets and an excellent choice in the 338-06.

as i have found with most of my guns the fuller i get the cases the better they shoot.another thing is most shoot better the hotter they are loaded. especially the magnums. i have tried down loading the 338 win mag and it just doesnt shoot as well. powder manufactures list a max load that is safe in most guns.believe me i worked up slowly to 78 grauns of r19. i didnt just go straight for the max load. if 2700 fps is tops with the 338-08 then so be it ill be happy!! 2800 fps was just a questionable goal anyhow

this is a reply to a pm i sent one of the magazine writers that shares his time with us at the campfire.


What you have is a happy set of circumstances.

The 225 Hornady is one of the 225-grain .338 bullets with the least amount of "bearing surface," that part of the bullet that actualy touches the bore. (In general Hornady Interlocks are known for this.) This it creates less pressure than just about any other 225 .338, except maybe the Speer boattail. So there is no reason it shouldn't get around 3000 fps in some rifles.

Most .338 shooters these days are addicted to various "premium" bullets, and these tend to have more bearing surface than the Hornady, for various reasons. They may also be made of pure copper, which is "draggier" than gilding metal, the standard jacket material. Both tend to create more pressure, which is why they can't safely reach the velocities your rifle does--and may barely be able to get 2800 fps.

You just might be able to get close to 2800 out of the 225 Hornady in the .338-06. Certainly 2750 would be reasonable.

Powdr, I respect you too, but I think you need to go back and read everything I said... if I'm understanding your post.

I think we're absolutely in agreement. 2,780 was as fast as I could go with a 210 in the 338-06. I got to 2,700 (barely) with 225's but wasn't comfortable that fast.

I was referring to running 225's at 2,950 in a 338 WIN MAG as being damn hot and 3,000 as being ridiculous.