Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 200gr NBT and the 338-06

Would anyone have the min/max load info along with OCL for a 338-06 using 200gr Nosler ballistic tips and RL-15? I believe the new Nosler manual doesn't show the 200 BT. Or could I use the current load data for the 200gr Accubond without any problems?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Heeler,

You CAN use the same data for the accubond, BT, and Partition 210 gr. I'm not sure if the ogive is in the same place so you would have to measure for run out.

CLB

You can use NAB info for the NBT... here it is on their site:

Powder: RL-15
Charge Weight (in grains) Muzzle Velocity (fps) Load Density
53.5 2668 fps 85%
51.5 2563 fps 82%
49.5* 2458 fps 79%


ps- I've gotten great results from relatively mild loads of RL-15 and 200 gr bullets in the 338-06, however H-380 has performed nicely in both the velocity and accuracy departments w/ the 200 gr Ballistic Silver Tip (which is nothing more than a coated ballistic tip).

IMR4320 gave me 2909, in a Hart 23", 58gr comes to mind IIRC, but look up loads and work up, but I believe that was my load, safe in my gun, and in WW cases.

Hope that helps. OH, 1/2" at 100 yds all day every day w/6x42.

65BR, That's alot more like I expect to see from the great 338-06. 2700fps area with 200s is for 338Feds.
Not that 2500fps/200gr won't kill stuff plenty. Just that it makes no sense to carry a big enough gun to house a 338WM and load it to 338Fed specs.
What ret. in your 6X42?

I'll have to get a chrono and see what the RL-15 load will do. I've got some IMR-4064 that I can try also.
My 338-06 is a 15" barreled Encore handgun so I hope I can get somewhere in the 2300-2400 fps range.

Thanks again for the help.

338F- that was as std. duplex I had in that M8. 4064 is one that needs to be tried right there w/4320, both well suited IMHO for 200s.

Different loads for different purposes.

I personally have no problem whatsoever loading my '06 to Fed velocities if it yeilds spectacular accuracy like this:



That is a killer deer load if I've ever seen one, as you say 2500 fps (though I haven't bothered to chrono it cuz I don't care) will kill the heck outta stuff and all I need to see been dun saw...

Am getting about 2700 fps from the 215 Sierra Game King, and near 2900 fps w/ 200 gr BSTs and H-380. This from a 22" barrel, but I gotta believe that last load (which is over listed max and definately warm) is pretty hard on brass.

If I were to go out West on a combo hunt that'd be a killer cartridge/bullet combo: 338-06 and 200 gr something-or-other at approx 2900 fps. NBTs, NABs, BSTs, whatever would do well on the prairie after pronghorn, on the mountain side for mulies, or in the dark timber for elk. In that instance, the need for performance would over ride my hatred of annealing brass .

and near 2900 fps w/ 200 gr BSTs and H-380... as quote from efw..

I also have found H 380 to be a sleeper of a powder in the 338/06 as far as load data being available..

my load is getting higher velocity than this..
but then that is not out of a book anywhere... I just worked up from the end load using a 250 grain bullet from Nosler's manual..

and even tho a mag primer is often recommended with H 380, I get by just fine with a regular large rifle primer..

Actually, you're the one who turned me onto it. Thanks!

Sorry... that group pictured above is a 200 gr Speer Hot Cor over 53 gr of RL-15 in RP 270 WCF cases sparked by CCI-200s. I have shown that group off extensively around here, but that rifle and load perform to that level regularly.

I spark my H380 w/ CCI-250s cuz I hunt in cold weather, the loads I'm running are VERY compressed, and I happen to have way more of those than the 200s and very few other reasons to run through them .

The other sleeper powder in that cartridge is BLC-(2) which has yeilded incredible accruacy and speed through my rifle w/out signs of excessive pressure. IMR-4320, as other have stated, is well worth the effort, as is IMR-4064 though I have yet to try it.

Just got some SR-4759 to put under some 225 gr cast bullets I happened into for that rifle. Should be deadly 'yote medicine!