Good day.

Assuming your rifle shoots both the 185gr ttsx at ~3150fps and the 225 accubond at ~2800fps, very accurately, and lets say I'd like to KISS and only use one bullet for whitetail, mule deer, moose and elk, which bullet would you use? Fps/ft lbs are pretty much the same at 600 yards (bout as far as this rig would be used for). 1900fps or so at 600 yards, what would expansion be like from both? Terminal results of shooting a swamp donkey at ~50 yards? Up the butt if has to be done?

I realize there are many many excellent bullets for the 338 but since I have eye surgery coming up I don't have a lot of time to fart around testing a bunch of different bullets. I need to test these two, as I believe they are excellent bullets, pick the one that shoots best and load up 40 bullets for September.

Thank you

EDIT: I am also open to suggestions of a different bullet if there is one out there for my needs.

Wish you well with your eye.

The 200 grain A/B would be a great bullet in your 338 Win.

This bullet will take care of all the game animals in the lower 48 and then some.

Or, you could use your 225 grain Nosler A/B.

I don't know about azz shots on moose...the better notion may be to break a hip or plant one at the root of the tail and I have seen the 210 Partition do that on elk.

I'd probably pick the 225 gr Nosler Partition loaded to about 2900 fps.I have seen that and the 210 used quite a bit and results were always good.

I have six crf rifles in .338WM and have owned about seven others, it is my longtime favourite round for BC hunting and bush working. I have tried quite a few bullets, but, I have hunted with and used for protection only the 250 Nosler Pt. for about 22 years.

I load this to 2725-2800 fps-mv in my rifles, over RE-22 or H-4350 and it is the most practical load for this superb round, IMHO. I see little point in loading a 200ish gr. bullet when it has inferiour BC and one can do better with this weight in a .300 Win., Norma or H&H,all of which I own(ed) and tested.

So, I like the 250 SGKs for practice and the NPs for field use, I also have some 250 Horn.IL and some 250 NABs, but, have not shot anything with the latter, yet, and may never try them as I have a lot of NPs loaded.

The .338WM is perhaps the "ideal" BC hunting round and one I have experienced superb accuracy from in most of my rifles so chambered,since my first bought in January, 1968. I prefer it to my .375H&H and .300Mag. rifles and only the 9.3x62-286 NP at 2500 suits me quite as well.

If, I was as practical about rifles and gear as about all other aspects of my life, I would simply own a matched pair of good .338WM rifles and call it "good"......ah,to have such self discipline.....not bloodly likely in we "rifleloonies"!!!!

I would opt for the 225 accubond which has been a good bullet here in Australia for me. I have a bunch of 210TTSX's that are yet to have a run. As far as a budget bullet goes, the 215grain SMK is a great bullet and pretty under-rated in the 338wm. They shoot nice and accurately too...as you would expect from Sierra.

I've used the 225 NAB a good bit and it is a good bullet. I've used TTSX bullets as well and they are fine bullets as well. Can't imagine worrying about which of them is better than the other. Pick one and call it good.

I'd go with the 250gr. Partition loaded to about 2700 fps for the big stuff. You can shoot them any way you want with that combination. You don't really need a lot of speed. 600 yards ia a long ways on a big game animal, hoping you can get A Lot closer than that.

Seems like the 225 AB loaded to around 2850 or so would do alot of things really well. It is a tough bullet and should have excellent trajectory, should you wanna really stretch it to 600. Good luck, the 338WM is a favorite for sure!

Gotta be the 210 Nosler Partition. I've shot moose, elk, grizzly, caribou, and even a couple whitetails with it. Being a Partition, the the front will open up well and the rear will penetrate deeply. And you can get 2900 fps pretty easily (some claim 3000 fps, but I think that may be pushing it a bit).

IMO, the .338 WM and the 210 NPT go together like PB&J.

If it were me, I'd be looking at the 210 Partition as well.

I have found the 210 gr Partition punches above its weight, deep penetration, flat trajectory, excellent accuracy in several .338 Win Mag rifles over 35 years. Stout load of IMR 4350 (H4350 may be even better these days) will do the trick.

I've been using the .338 both in North America and Africa since the late 1980's, and have tried a bunch of different bullets. Luckily, my rifle shoots bullets from 200-250 grains to the same basic point of impact at 100 yards, so it's easy to experiment. I've even taken different bullet weights on the same multi-species hunt, using them on different game animals.

Have never been all that impressed with 225-grain bullets. They sure work, and I've used a bunch of them on game from deer to moose and musk ox, but they don't penetrate much deeper than 200-210 grain bullets of the same design. The 200-210's kick noticeably less and also seem to kill quicker, on average, probably due to the higher velocity and rotation.
I would definitely opt for one of those rather than a 185 or 225 for most hunting, and the ever reliable 250 Partition for the very biggest game.

But if you're determined to stick to either the 185 TTSX or 225 AccuBond, I'd go with the 225 AB. Have seen light-for-caliber monometals do quirky things on bigger game, but the 225 AB is very reliable in the .338 Winchester, probably due to the moderate muzzle velocity.

I also use the 200g AB

Snake

Of the two that you listed, I would go with the 225 Accubond. A bullet that I would also consider for the range of game that you mentioned would be the 210gr Swift Scirocco II.

That's by far my favorite cartridge and caliber. I think it's the second most versatile cartridge for North American game.

I, like Kutenay, have owned many rifles, some chambered for cartridges other than Win Mag but in that caliber, and I've tried bunches of bullets. I ultimately ended up with the 225 Nosler Partition as my favorite. Seems like I had better penetration and from the very few I recovered (one a butt shot recovered in the brisket,) they did what I wanted them to do. I could never get the 210 Partitions to be as accurate. While there wasn't enough difference in accuracy to cause a major decision, the Accubonds were I tad more accurate from the bench than the Partitions, but not enough to change my mind. The also made a much bigger hole on game than I didn't quite like. I always thought the 225's were the perfect bullet for most everything in that caliber.

Many thanks for all the outstanding posts gentlemen. Some very good suggestions here. I ran the numbers on the 210 PT and it quickly gives up any velocity advantage it has over the 225 AB and has a good chunk less ft/lbs as well.

Mule Deer seeing as the 200-210's seem to kill quicker for you, is this all at <300 yards or further out there as well?

I honestly would rather go for a non mono because they make bigger wound channels and kill quicker. They don't penetrate as deep though. I guess I'm trying to find the bullet that will kill quick and penetrate enough to get the job done.

The 210 PT sounds like a good one but the .400 BC is a bummer. The 185 ttsx has a BC of .432 and starts ~250fps faster.

225 AB BC is outstanding at .550 but it will kick more for sure and this being a ~7 1/4lbs rifle, it won't be fun. None of the choices will be but some less nasty than others.

I've looked at the 200 etip as well but doesn't stand out. 185gr GMX is pretty much the same as the TTSX.

People don't seem to talk about Interbonds at all. I recall reading they really flatten out and don't penetrate deep as a result.

The ttsx would recoil the least and shoots about the same as the 225 accubond but I've shot several critters with tsx/ttsx/gmx and was never impressed with wound channels, penetration was outstanding.

Just trying to figure this out.

The 225gr Accubond would be my choice of those listed. Particularly since you speak of 600 yard shots.

As for Texas heart shots on moose I would recommend you try to bust the spine at the root of the tail, break a ham or darn near anything rather than a keister shot.

There are a whole lot of good bullets for the .338. Among those already mentioned the 210 Nosler is amazing. I am extremely fond of the Trophy Bonded bullets but thir low BC probably makes them unattractive to you.

Of the two you mentioned without a doubt I'd be all over the 225 Accu.

Aside from that my bullet of choice in the 33's from big to small is the 200 NBT. If not that bullet then I'd go 200 Partition and or Accu.

Best of luck to you.

Dober

In the .338 my fav. was the 210 nosler Part..Haven't owned one of those since the 90's...now my 33 is a 340..so far I have used 200 grain AC, 210 grain Part. and 225 AC...I think right now I have 225 AC loaded and some 210 Nosler Part...those two are my Favorites..the 210 Nosler was Hagel/s favorite elk bullet out of the .33's,BUT the high quality 225's were not produced during his lifetime....

Tough to beat a 225 for an all around boolit

It's like a fn pringles comercial...."you can't just stop at one".....My 338's have loved these bullets:

1. 210 gr. nosler partition
2. 225 gr. hornady interlock
3. 250 gr. Sierra gameking....

Take your pick as they all work ...

Well I've decided to go with 225gr accubonds for hunting and 225gr sst's for practice. I do the same in my 7mm rem mag. 160gr accubonds for hunting and 162gr ssts for practice.

Thanks for all the advice.

210 or 225 gr Partition if limited to one type bullet in the 338. The Elk i have taken with my 338-06 Ack have all been with the Swift 210 Scirocco and Rel 15

Glad you got that sorted out, where are you going and where's your elk hunt at?

Dober

No elk this year. Next year, lord willing. This year I am hunting moose in Manitoba, Canada.

That's gonna be a great hunt, I'm thinking Ontario in 2013 for Marvin the Moose for me.

Who are you going with?

I'm gonna go with Mattice Lake Lodge in Ontario.

Dober

This makes NO sense to me as they dont have the same POI (at least in my rifles).
Guess I have a different POV in 338 bullet's.....The 300grSMK has never let me down

Hey, Mark, I'm still willing to partner on an Ontario moose run!

That 210 gr Partition hits like Thor's hammer! The most impressive kills I ever saw was with them.

The thread asked "one" bullet and its a concept I buy into. I'd practice and hunt that "one".

I've never seen the 338 as picky or prone to wild POI's mixing different ogives and boat tails at 200 or 100 yds., but past 400 yards on targets or vermin, its going to hurt more than help. If shooting really far, I'd also want consistency on the Chrony; one load will get you more of that with a fee that's worth it.

Rock chuck,
Agreed. They shot differently in my rifle too, required different seating depths and when placed side by side, the two bullets are not even close on the same shape. If you are going to practice shooting at 600 yards I would think it might be preferable to shoot the same bullet for practice and the real deal.

Just my 0.02 worth ;-)

I have shot several hundred of those 225 Accubonds, out to 650 yards, from a .338. They are an extremely accurate and consistent bullet in my experience. They are what I load my .338 with for elk. I have not yet killed one with that particular Accubond.

I don't know anything about that TSX.

I am routinely humbled by wind at long range, and since you mention shooting to 600 yards, I'd add that I will choose a bullet for best wind-bucking as long as I think the terminal performance will be satisfactory. To that end, I made you this chart.

Jeff am I reading that chart correctly, that there is about a 4" difference in drift between the two bullets at 600 yards?

Ten at 900.

oops, sorry Bob.

I believe you are correct on the chart reading!

Yup...guess I am reading it right. Thanks Hawk.

I've only used a 338 once on a critter past 400 yards, nowhere close to 600, with a 250 Party. I think turrets would help immensely, but at that time I used subtension and a holdover; throwing in a different pill with a slight POI diff and a certain velocity diff is one too many pins to juggle.

Yes Bob, that'd be about right. I see now that the chart doesn't say, but that's a 10 mph wind at full value.

That 4" extra drift has more negative bearing than might be immediately obvious. When you consider that winds are usually variable, and can be hard to judge for a numbnuts like me anyways, it can be said to increase the "cone of uncertainty" (which sounds absurd) but basically the difference between the two is the difference in area between two circles-- so its not linear. The Accubond being the smaller circle in this case.

I think.

If I just did my pi are squared's right the the area the a 225 AB could be moved around by a 0-10 mph wind is ~75% the size of the area of the TTSX.

Whereas 25" is roughly 90% of 29".

Ouch. That hurt.

JB, I'm on the road a bit tomorrow I'll give you a call and we can cuss and discuss a trip for Marvin.

Dober

I shoot 250 grain nosler partitions in my .338 win mag.I have shot many deer, elk, and many african animals from Eland down to steenbuck. To me the 250 grain nosler partition is the best bullet made. It has never failed me. But I have never shot over 400 yds.

I should have been more precise with that I said, but sometimes typing on the iphone isn't ideal.

By practice I just mean spending time in the field, shooting from different positions and spending time with the rifle. I am fully aware that the two bullets in question won't shoot to the same poi that does not make practice any less valid however. If I know the clicks for both bullets, what is odd about shooting lots with a cheap one and less/hunting with the more expensive one?

If you know the trajectories of both bullets I honestly can't see anything wrong with that.

Personally, I'd stuff 225 Partitions, and perhaps Accubonds.

I have nothing bad to say about 210s, just myself, will take the extra FPE at long range and click one or two more, as only 1-2" drop diff at 400 yds...

That said, I respect anything JB has to say and wondered what he meant by 'Quirky' results w/light mono's - thinking he means weird inconsistent results, but perhaps he meant extraordinary...

I see little reason to go real light for cal even in mono when using a round w/lots of capacity. Lower BC will negate the MV diff IMHO, at longer ranges.