building a 338-06 with 24" barrel want to shoot 225 hornady interlocts. is 2800 fps or close possible?with what powder and how much?

That's what I'm building now too. My plan is to start with 225 Accubonds and 215 Gamekings. I suspect they'll work well, if not I'll try the Barnes 210 TTSX. Here are some of the loads I've run across while surfing the net:

Bullet wt Powder Velocity Notes
Partition 210 56 / IMR4064 2810 24�, CCI 200 (50.5 Max)
Partition 210 54 / IMR4320 2600 22�, 210GM (51 Max)
Partition 210 56 / IMR4064 2800 24� CCI 200 (50.5 Max)
Partition 210 55.5 / Varget 2725 23�, CCI BR-4 (53.9 Max)
Partition 210 62.5 / H4350 2740 22.5�, CCI BR2 (62 Max)
GK 215 62 / H4350 2750 24� (62 Max C)
GK 215 55.8 / N140 2750 24�
GK 215 64 / W760 2780 24�, 3.615, Win LR
Hornady SP 225 55 / IMR4064 2730 24� (50.5 Max)
Hornady SP 225 55 / IMR4064 2750 22�, Rem 9.5
Speer GS 225 53.5 / IMR4320 2690 23.5�
Partition 225 61 / IMR4350 2700 23�
Nosler AB 225 62 / H4350 2800 24� (59.5C Max)
Nosler 210 56 / IMR4064 2707 22� (50.5 Max)
Hornady 225 56 / IMR4064 2684 22� (50.5 Max)
GK 215 60.7 / H4350 2649 �(62 Max)

Some are quite a bit over the posted max so would take them with a grain of salt. I am looking for between 2600-2700 for the 225 AB.

Just curious, but what and why 2800?

The last one I worked with had a 23" Chanlynn on it and 2700 or so was about the end of it (H4350).

Dober

I can get 2,800 fps with 225 grain A-Frames in my .338 Win Mag with a 24" barrel, but 2,750 is a more comfortable maximum. In my .338-06 Ruger No. 1 with a 24" barrel, 2,600 fps is about all I can do with 225 AccuBonds without cratering primers. I think that your expectations are a bit optimistic...

dober, i get right at 3000 fps with my 338 win mag and 225s, just a questionable goal.

I think I get 2625 fps at about max. 338-06 225 grain SST. Varget or Rl 15, I can't remember right now.

I get 2800 fps with 200's all day long, but the best I can do with 225's is a little better than 2600. I'm shooting a 24" Shilen barrel. Best powder for the 200's has been N-550 with H4350 and H414 close behind. Reloder 15 has worked best with 225's. I can run 210 gr. TSX's a bit over 2750 with R-15 or N-550. Nosler or Sierra 250's will go 2550 with H-414 or N-550, but I've never gotten the velocity I might have expected with 225's. However, I did shoot a moose with a 225 Hornady @ 2600 and he did not go very far.

338RCM, with all due respect that is just plain nutso. I mean 3K is a way top end speed for the 210's...

What are you running for a load, what kind of a clock and have you cloced that load more than once? Also what kind of a barrel, a 36" with freebore...

Dober

With my .338 Win mag. I shoot 225 gr. Hornadys. My accuracy load is just at 2800 fps at about l grain under max. for the powder I am using.

In my opinion it is unrealistic to expect to get this kind of velocity from a 338/06 with 14 to 16 grains less powder. I certainly would not want to be shooting on the bench next to you when you are trying for those velocities.

Jim

Note - the foregoing comment is directed at the original poster, not Mark.

dober i load 78 grains of reloader 19 per speer loading manual. i have shot this load for years now. my chronograph isnt handy right now but i believe the brand is (chrony) rifle is a ss ruger with factory barrel. depending on temp. sometimes a little over 3000fps when its cooler outside just a little under.i have shot this load through 2 other chronos with the same results.another member had a post on here a while back stateing the load i shoot is the same load hornady uses fot their heavy mag load, which is just under 3000 fps.

dan

78 of R19 with a 225 in the 338 is way over the top.

Hornady max load is-73.3 for 2800
Barnes max load is 72 for 2838
Nozler max load is 72.5 for 2832

Somethings not quite right here, you sure you're not using 200 grain bullets? If not I'd not wanna be around when you drop the hammer with 78...

I hope it all stays together RCM

Dober

dober, check the speer loading manual. i have number 12 page 350 shows 338 win mag 225 grain bullets 2nd load shows a max load of 78 grains of r19 at 2944 fps.yes it is a compressed load. i have shot it over 10 years now. not one blown primer, no sticky bolt. never shown any pressure signs. if you read the 2nd post prm lists several loads for the 338-06 that approach 2800 fps

Let er rip if you wish, tis your choice. It be a crazy one no doubt but it is yours to make.

Dober

im sure speer wouldnt publish data if it wasnt safe

Like I said, you're the only one here that'g gotta be comfy. My experience has told me that 3K is way top end with a 210, and that 3K is way out there for a 225.

Let er buck if you're ok with it.

Dober

Mark R,
I have a Win Mod 70 Classic Stainless in 338WM and 26" barrel, I've been using 76gr of RE19 with 225gr Accubonds for years and I am able to get well over 3k with that load. In fact with a max load of 78gr, I was able to nudge 3150fps with no signs of excessive pressure, although head expansion ran at .0005", which is why I reduced to 76gr with no head expansion.

Getting back to the original thread, a good load in my 338-06 for 225gr bullets is 58gr of H4350 which delivers 2650fps.
I don't know where you've got the idea that you can run 2800fps with 225gr bullets in this cartridge, I don't think it's even possible with the Ackley version of the 338-06.
My 338-06 is very accurate with 210gr Partitions and 200gr Speer SP, I think you should give them a go if your hunting deer of any description, they also work well on moose size game with proper shot placement. (The Partitions that is.)
Good luck and good hunting.
Cheers.
MagnumManiac.

How is the recoil on the 58gn H4350 with a 225 bullet?

like i said before. i was questioning if it was possible to obtain 2800 fps in the 338-06 with 225. just looking for advice.there is a question mark after the 2800 fps in my original post.

i am quite comfortable with the load i shoot in the 338 win mag. shoots great with no pressure signs. i have loaded it over 10 years now.

3k with a 24"/225/338 WM????????????????????????????????

That's plainly nuts, and I don't care what ONE single book backs it up.

I've owned and loaded for FIVE different 338 WM's using most of what is considered the "best" 338 WM powders including RL19. 2,850-ish is the safe end of the game IMO/E. I've gotten one to 2,900 but I knew I was red-lining. 2,800 - 2,850 is generally where a sane person will be running the round.

My 22" bbl'd 338-06 could just get to 2,700 with the 225 Hdy, but I suspect I was pushing it a bit. 2,650 - 2,680 would be the sane max likely and that's where I ran it.

I know I sound a bit harsh, but people read these forums and a few go try to replicate what they read. The older I get, the less I want to have anything to do with red-lining rounds. There's just too much that can go wrong.

BTW, the gent that bought my 338-06 blew it up... fortunately he had shooting glasses on and he didn't lose any digits.

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.

Sorry, I know who sent you the PM and I don't buy it... the only 225's I've ever run in the five 338 WM's I've owned and the one 338-06 was the 225 Hornady... 2,850 was the end of the game in the 338 WM's, and 2,900 by going over max loads.

It's plainly stupid to live on the edge handloaing-wise...

BTW, yours isn't a beach worth dying on so please don't bother sending more PM's and I won't bother to bother you anymore on your thread... you've made up your mind 3K is a sane load and I say knock yourself out.

brad, please go find another place to play. if you dont be nice santas gona give you a lump of coal for christmas!!!


sorry my 338s faster than yours

RCM, my 23" Hart did 2670 with said bullet, but I loaded 2 bullets, 200 btip at 2909 mv and 225 partitions for 2670.

Deer-200gr

Elk-225s

Powder, always always always IMR 4320. 1/2MOA.

Good luck, load data buried under alot of 'stuff' so sorry...maybe 58/200 and 55/225 IIRC but look at manuals, used WW '06 brass, std. primer. Caveat, safe in my guns if my memory is good and I ain't trusting it!

My suggestion, with 24", don't push anything trying to go over 2600-2700 range or you may be too high on pressure IMHO.

I used that bullet with my 338-06.One of the magazines wired up a rifle,2650 is max.That's not so bad,I shot a moose kity-corner with that load.The moose quarters wieghted 637# at the butcher.

Powder of choice is faster than 4350 and slower than 4064/varget.

My three .338's all love 72.5g Rl 19 with the 225g Hornady. It is a scary accurate load in my rifles.

I was the gun writer that said 338rcm had a happy set of circumstances. There is a bunch of .338 data out there, but there's darn little that lists pressures.

The Alliant website does list 78.0 grains of RL-19 for 2944 fps. I have generally found their data pretty good, though their powders do vary from lot to lot more than occasionally.

The last "paper" Alliant data I have has the 225 Hornady with 75.3 RL-19 at 2865 fps--but at only 52,100 psi. When manuals state psi (rather than CUP) it means they have tested it with electronic equipment, which tends to be more accurate than copper-crushed equipment. And 52,100 is pretty darn low, not anywhere near the maximum average SAAMI pressure for the .338.

These data, both from Alliant, seem to me to be pretty compatible.

I have loaded for a few .338's, including two of my own, which have both had 22" barrels. I have found it pretty easy to get close to 2900 in a 22" barrel with the 225 Hornady and listed data from various manuals.

One thing I didn't mention in the PM's that went back and forth between me a 338rcm was that chronographs often vary somewhat, easily 50 fps. I have no idea whether he is really getting 3000 fps--or only 2944 as Alliant suggests. But that doesn't matter much.

He may very well have a lot of RL-19 that allows him to load a little more with no problem. I don't know about that either, but am guessing that might be the case

But I am not a hot-rodder, and have many posts on the Campfire against it. A flat 3000 may be a little warm with the 225 Hornady in some .338's, but from the evidence and my experience I believe 2950 isn't out of the question from a 24" barrel.

Now, if he were claiming 3200 fps (which one guy I met claimed he was getting with 225 A-Frames in a .338) then I'd believe he was nuts. The other guy definitely was.

I have also loaded for three .338-06's. A lot of data for that fine old round is a little low, because of older (and variable) rifles in that chambering. But my experience there also suggests that 2750 fps is safely possible with the 225 Hornady.

Brad I agree whole heartily! powdr

I agree that you might be able to nudge 2700 with a 225 in the 338-06 but that's about it. the 210 nosler may be the best all around choice if it shoots well in your rifle.

215s shot 2790 in my 23"/IMR 4320, 210s will/should break 2800 depending on bbl and load.

I own 2 338 Win mags at the present time one with a 24" barrel and the other with a 29" barrel and I have never ever gotten 2950 FPS with a 225 grain bullet

jwp,

It should be relatively easy to get 2950 out of your 29" barrel with at least some 225-grain bullets. In general just about any bottlenecked centerfire will gain (or lose) at LEAST 20 fps per inch of barrel, and usually it's more like 25-40 fps. Your 29" barrel should get at least 100 fps more than a 24" barrel.

Nosler's manual lists 2882 fps as the top velocity for a 225 from a 24" barrel. Add 100 fps and you're pushing 3000. Hodgdon's data for the 225 Spire Point lists 2832 fps with 72 grains of IMR4350. This might not get 2950 from your long barrel, but it would certainly come very close. Sierra lists 2900 for their 215-grain bullet from the .338--but in a 21-1/2" barrel. Surely some 225's would be able to get 2900 from a 24" barrel.

Nosler's data, by the way, is shot with their bullets, the 225 Partition and AccuBond, both of which develop more pressure than the 225 Hornady. If they can get 2882 fps, some loads with the Hornady could get somewhere in the 2900's.

Part of the problem with the .338 (and other cartridges) is that some manuals develop loads in the pressure barrels, but then shoot the loads for velocity in a sporting rifle. I dunno why they do this (maybe to save wear on expensive pressure barrels) but they do it, and Hornady's manual is one of them.

Generally factory rifles have both chambers and bores that are a little looser than those in SAAMI pressure barrels, so velocities are lower. Hornady lists a Model 70 Winchester for shooting velocities, and thus the 2800 fps they list as top velocity with the 225 is probably a little low.

Back in 1980, they also listed a 24" Model 70 as their .338 test rifle--but back then they listed one load (with H4831) getting 2900 fps. Is this the same Model 70 that they use today, but with a little more wear on the barrel? We don't know, though it's interesting that their latest data lists 73.5 grains H4831 getting only 2700 fps, while the 1980 manual lists 74.0 grains getting 2900. Basically the same powder charge, but 200 fps difference in muzzle velocity.

This is further complicated by the fact that Hornady (and Sierra) generally round their loads down to the next 100 fps. Thus Hornady may have shot some loads for their recent data that got close to 2900 fps. In fact they probably did--but they aren't listed due to the way the manual is set up.

Back when I was using the .338 a lot, one of my main loads was the 225 Partition and 75.0 grains of RL-19. This is a grain over maximum in the latest Nosler manual, but back when I started fooling with the 225 Nosler there wasn't any 225 data in their manual, since it was a new bullet.

So I used Alliant data for the 225 Hornady, and never had any indication that pressures were out of line. This load got around 2850 from a 22" barrel, so would get around 2900 in a 24"--and switching to the Hornady bullet would allow a little more powder and velocity. Certainly 78 grains wouldn't be out of line, all these factors considered--and it's right there in the Alliant manual, along with a muzzle velocity of 2944 fps FROM A 24" BARREL. Did their technician screw up? I doubt it,having visited some of their facilities and used a lot of their data over the years.

I mentioned earlier that much .338-06 data is kind of wimpy because of the many wildcat rifles in that chambering. Some manuals don't list 225 at over 2600 fps or so--but the same manuals sometimes list 220-grain bullets from the .30-06 at 2600. The Nosler manual, for instance, lists a maximum velocity of 2602 from the .30-06 with a 220--but only lists 2595 as a maximum for the 225 out of the .338-06.

The laws of internal ballistics tells us that when a case is necked up, it can push the same weight bullet faster when loaded to the same pressure. In the instance of the .30-06 and .338-06 the advantage should be about 5.1% more velocity in the .338-06, about 2735 fps, figured from their 220-grain .30-06 data. Obviously the Nosler .338-06 data isn't loaded to the same pressure the .30-06 data--and the maximum SAAMI pressure for the .30-06 is 60,000 psi, not all that warm in itself.

The Hornady manual list a bunch of loads that get 2700 out of the 225 in the .338-06, from a 23-1/2" barrel. Again, they round their data down to the nearest 100 fps, so obviously some of their loads got more than 2700. Maybe even 2750!

Actually the recoil of most loads with H4350 seems to 'sharper' than nearly all other powders!
I don't know why this is, but it seems so in all my rifles, especially those based on the 06 case.
Cheers.
MagnumManiac.

thanks for jumping in mule deer.
gettin kind of sick of the "you cant do that with a 338 thing" ive been shooting that load over 10 years in 3 different guns. always worked up slowly to max load in all three guns. 2 of my huntin buddies shoot the same thing.
if i get 2700 or 2750 or whatever out of the 338-06 ill be happy as long as it shoots desent. just ordered the shaw barrel on monday.have some time to study loads. i have a lot of h 4350 so ill give that a go first.

thanks dan

I just have to jump in on this thread.
Why do some of you people believe that a reloading GUIDE is gospel?
Why do you think that the pressures listed in those loading GUIDES are going to be the same in YOUR gun?
I work up all my loads with either my pressure sensor or by case head expansion, and have found a lot of loading GUIDES to be either hot or cold depending on the cartridge tested. I have been able to SAFELY increase powder charges as much as 5gr over published maximums in certain cartridges with complete confidence. Although I don't recommend any 'starting' handloader do this, I am completely confident in my equipment to do so.

The loading GUIDE publishers use pressure barrels of much tighter tolerances than sporting rifles, so their pressures will be higher with less powder than a sporting rifle, and a sporting rifle will have less pressure with the same powder loads due to larger tolerances in MOST cases.

I have pressure tested that load of RE19 78gr with the Nosler 225gr Accubond in my Win 70 26" barrel, and it ran very close to max SAAMI pressure, but was completely safe with head expansion of .0005" measured at the rear of the belt. I dropped the load to 76gr and I am getting an average of 2913 fps from it and no case head expansion.

The thought that there isn't a fast or slow barrel is simply untrue, I have had identical chamberings run at 200 fps difference with the same powder charge and bullet, and the slower barrel was showing higher PRESSURE than the faster barrel.
Just my 2c.
Cheers.
MagnumManiac.

MD, I agree with your reasoning, as that was my thinking when I put the 29" barrel on is to see how much extra velocity that I could get. I have not been able to get a significant amount over the 24" barreled Sako L-61 action. The 29" barrel is a Kreiger match barrel. It just goes to show that until you acctualy chrono them you are only guessing. There are so many variables at play other than barrel lenght and sometimes rifles refuse to play by the rules at least IME.

Yup....

Dang it, sounds like you have slow 29" barrel!

It has proven to be so, except with the Federal high energy loads, but that is another story. Maybe I just need to add more powder I may not be getting up to pressure with the book loads in that chamber

That is a possiblity, especially since some powders vary considerably from lot to lot.

prm
what brand of action are you going to use? what barrel? length? i am going with a 24" stainless shaw on a stainless model 70 classic action.

dan

RCM, I'm going with a Savage Long Action (w/Accutrigger), 24" McGowan SS barrel with a varmint taper, Duramaxx stock, 2-7x35 Burris FF II scope with Ballistic Plex reticle & Signature Zee rings. Action & barrel are on the way, I have the rest, including some Norma brass, 225 Accubonds and 215 Gamekings. I will see how the velocities work out, but if the 225s are ~2650 and/or the the 215s ~2730 they will match the Ballistic Plex reticle very closely. Those are approximately the Hodgdon book max using H4350, so think they will be reasonably comfortable to achieve. I'll work up shooting groups and obviously go with whatever shoots the best though. Plan is to start with the bullets .030 off and work up to roughly max. If I find one that shoots really well I'll call it good, if not I'll play with the seating depths, maybe going to .050 off next and working up again.

PRM
where did you find norma brass?

dan

My .338-06 topped out at 2690 with 225's out of it's 22 inch barrel. That's plenty for anything I'll likely go after.

It's available at Midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=1&tabId=1&categoryId=9131&categoryString=9315***652***670***9013***

Teeder, I almost wish I would have gone with a 22" vice 24". Can always change later I suppose. Have you tried any 215s or 210, and if so what speeds were you seeing?

That's enough for anything IMHO

I'm getting a bit of a chuckle out of this thread where so much concern is given about trying to get 2900 fps out of a 225 gr. bullet.When I first got my .338 I decided to work up one load to use for my hunting.� When I found an accurate load it gave 2800 fps with the 225 gr. bullets.� My previous principal big game caliber had been .270 Win. with a 150 gr. bullet for something like 30 plus years.� Since a 225 gr. bullet at 2800 fps obviously had so much more energy over the aforementioned .270 there didn't seem to be any reason to try for more.� Have been using the .338 for 5 or 6 years now and found my original assessment to be correct.Oh, and I might mention that the big game animal I hunt most often is moose.� Doing some math based on my recollections of the number of moose I have taken indicates that 73% were with the .270, 20% with the .338 and 7% with a 7mm Rem. mag.Since the .270 has been adequate for these big animals I see no reason why a .338-06 using a 225 at 2700 wouldn't be quite adequate without pushing velocities any higher.Just my random comments, Jim.

1OntarioJim, you're spot on about not needing the speed to be very effective on game. I witnessed a Gentleman take a Zebra with a 338 Federal with the 210 Grain TSX and was absolutely amazed at the amount of damage the little cartridge did, and the bullet exited.
No more speed is not needed, these are academic discussion only IMHO

I completely agree. I simply want a 338 bullet (fatter & heavier) flying at a speed that keeps the trajectory at a comfortable level. For me that turns out to be ~2650. I would NOT want to deal with the recoil of much more. In fact I just changed my barrel order to 22" from 24" because the extra speed (above what can be obtained with a 22") is not important to me. Light and easy to handle is.

1OntarioJim
no where in this thread has 2900 fps been a goal.i simply ask for advice on the 338-06 and if 2800 fps was possble.
i also load for the 338 win mag. the velocity i posted is what my 338 win mag achieves (like it or not)
as i said later in the threads if 2700fps or whatever the 338 -06 gets, ill be happy as long as ita accurate

[quote=jwp475]

1OntarioJim, you're spot on about not needing the speed to be very effective on game. I witnessed a Gentleman take a Zebra with a 338 Federal with the 210 Grain TSX and was absolutely amazed at the amount of damage the little cartridge did, and the bullet exited.
No more speed is not needed, these are academic discussion only IMHO

jwp475
if this is how you feel, why did you put a 29" barrel on a 338?

It's a 30" barrel on my 338 Lapau and it is used for LONG Range shooting with the 300 grain SMK and this give me 2791 FPS average velcotiy, not earth shattering by any means. The other reason for the longer tube is to get the muzzle blast caused by burning 92 grains of H-1000 farther away from the shooter(me).
I thought that we were talking about general hunting at normal hunting ranges and the ability to take game with said rifle and to that I don't think that another 100 FPS means much to the shooter or the animal being shot IMHO


Check out the damage caused by a 210 grain TSX from a 338 Federal on this Zebras heart at a range of about 100 yards



IMHO another 200 FPS or so would not have have made any difference or killed him any quicker or deader YMMV

A 338-06 at 2650 and 338WM at 2775 are going to have the roughly,certainly for hunting,the same drop as a 30-06 180 at 2740.K.I.S.S.

[quote=jwp475]

I own 2 338 Win mags at the present time one with a 24" barrel and the other with a 29" barrel and I have never ever gotten 2950 FPS with a 225 grain bullet jwp475 in your earlier post said 29"338 win mag

thats a lot of damage with a 210 grainer

I put that barrel on that rile as an experiment to see how much extra velocity the longer tube would get, but it didn't. I am planning on shortening it to whatever length that balances the best not sure what length that is going to be yet. I have built all types of things for Grins and I still think that 100 FPS one way or the other is academic for normal hunting or as Dober says "ballistic gack".
I had a ported brake put on my 300 win and another built and threaded but with no holes just to see what the difference in performance would be. No practical reason other than I wanted to know first hand if it would have a velocity difference and the answer was/is yes and no.

The damage done by the 338 Fed is indeed impressive. I suspect it would be effective against Elk out to very respectable distances (but not like a 338 Lapua). I was originally leaning towards a 338 Fed for a dedicated mountain elk and treestand deer rifle. If the 338-06 does not work out for whatever reason I may still give it a try. Or, maybe just get one anyway for Eastern deer hunting and use the 338-06 out West. Yea, that's enough justification for another rifle!

if i didnt have so many 225 grain hornady bullets, i think i would try those 215s.