Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 fed 185 tsx-not expanding!!

If you can get your hands on Handloader, #254, August 2008, John Barsness (Mule Deer here on the 'fire), has load data for the .338 Federal that I've yet to see surpassed.

No loads for the 185-grain TSX, however there are no less than five bullet/powder combinations that have the velocity, and energy to take critters out to 400-yards. That works.

As for your pics, theres a sticky on the photography forum explaining how to post them.

My take is certain chamberings just don't require a specialized, or "premium" bullet, and the .338 Federal is in that catagory. That's not a knock on the .338 -- I truly like 'em -- I'd happily hunt it with the Speer, or Hornady. [/quote]

That's pretty much my take, based on my limited experience. Shot a 700lbs(approx) bull moose at about 100y,(used truck odometer), right in the hump with a 358 win blr.
Was using 200 hdy Interlock at 2,485fps, moose just collapsed on the spot.
Butcher literally dug out a perfectly mushroomed bullet from one of the vertabrae- text book perfect and man, what a punch that little round packs! Had to see it for myself to believe everything I was reading about it from those that know.

Ingwe-will look into it...thanks
Mako25-appreciate the info..

+1

I see you hunt the .358 Win as well. That same Handloader article I mentioned earlier covered (actually compared) the .338 Federal, and .358 Win.

You'd benefit greatly, as there are loads for the Hornady 200-grain roundnose that'll be steamin' at 2,700 fps, but more importantly - the 225-grain Sierra Game King, at over 2,500 fps, which also makes the .358 Win a 400-yard game-taker.

That Game King load, and one for the 210-grain Speer Hotcore, are all I use in .358 right now. BIG whallop.

Oh, I'd swear by the 358 win after witnessing first hand what it can do. My largest moose, 36" at around 775-800lbs was shot with the same load and rifle,(using RL7 then), at an estimated 250y,(ranged 198y where he fell).
Hit him 3 times in the boiler room, first two were broadsides and third was in the chest head on. Would you believe one of the broadsides went right through?! Exit wound was'nt very large, maybe size of a nickel.
This with a plain jane cup & core bullet at a modest velocity, placement is everything I guess.
Does that article by John Barsness mention the use of Ramshot TAC?

Yes Sir, in fact, with the heavy bullets in both chamberings, it was the velocity king.

If you want the data from he article let me know. I can scan and e-mail it to you.


-Z

In response to the OP's photo posting question, here's how I do it.

1. Go to Photobucket and set up an account.

2. Download the Photobucket app for your smartphone. This app will automatically upload every photo you take to your Photobucket account online. Saves a lot of time, no need to tranfer photos to your computer and then upload.

3. To put the photo in your post, simply go to your Photobucket account and click on the photo you want to post. This enlarges the photo and gives you a list of options on the right side of the screen. The bottom option is IMG code. Click on this and it will say copied. Go back to your post, right click your mouse, in the drop down menu click on paste. Click on Preview Reply button beneath the reply box and it should show your photo in the post.

BTW, welcome to the Fire!

My best loads were with IMR 8208XBR, there is quite a bit of info in various threads if you do a search.

I have a Federale and tested the 160 and 185 TSX in water jugs and they expanded perfectly. If you are worried about the TSX expanding, use a traditional bullet. The 180 or 200 Ballistic Tip and the 200 hot core are great bullets for the Federal. The 210 Partition is about perfection if you want to go premium.

Hey everyone, I finally figured out how to post pics-I'm a little retarded with computers. Thanks to all for the help.
I got the tsx to expand-3rd time's a charm and no longer doubt its expansion on game as witnessed from pics.
This is what they look like from dry newsprint and penetration from last one was 14in.


Hers's last years moose with the 180 accbnd and inside entry hole



These are all 180 accbnds, 1st one came from dry newsprint box and next three were recovered from moose.
2nd bullet was first broasdside hit-clipped a rib going in and penetrated maybe 6-7in. last two were from chest hits.




Thats the kimber with my first attempt at painting the stock.

Zrack, thanks for the offer, I'll take you up on it.
How do we go about it...

Nice pics! There are lots of good loads in a thread dedicated to good 338 FED loads. For the 185 Barnes (TTSX in my case), TAC and 8208 XBR work very well. I'd give a very slight nod to TAC for less pressure signs at the same velocities.

I've heard good things about Ramshot X-terminator also. Have a pound of it, just didn't try it yet.

If you would use water soaked paper then the TSX bullet will expand. Barnes states that the bullet needs the hydraulics to expand

IMHO and experience dry paper is not a good medium wet pack is much better

John is correct on the hydraulics.

Well I've picked up some xbr8208 and TAC, and according to Hodgdon load data, xbr seems to be the fastest of the bunch- still looking for load data for TAC.
There seems to be some kind of confusion about what kind of primer gets the best results-large rifle or mag for TAC?
I realize I'm probably playing catch up here, can anyone jump in with any info?

I've always used TAC and mag primers 48.5 is where I found the sweet spot, but it is very close to max. As always work up. there is a very good thread here in the reloading forum search .338 fed in big game rifles.