Post by: eburkett on September 22, 2012, 06:56:48 PM
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 22, 2012, 07:26:02 PM
Post by: Huntbear on September 22, 2012, 07:28:39 PM
As for the other things...like the press, dies and stuff, you can either buy it piece meal as you find them, and it might take a bit, or go buy an RCBS starter kit and the .338 WM dies, a couple of good manuals, and go for it.
Post by: hillbilli on September 22, 2012, 08:21:20 PM
Post by: SquirrelHunter on September 22, 2012, 08:24:39 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 22, 2012, 08:31:29 PM
Post by: Jim the Plumber on September 22, 2012, 10:21:51 PM
Post by: beagledog on September 22, 2012, 10:29:04 PM
I'm really going to have to rethink using the 204 ruger this year on them
Post by: bobcat on September 22, 2012, 10:32:10 PM
Post by: mebco09 on September 22, 2012, 10:34:49 PM
Post by: eburkett on September 23, 2012, 09:17:40 AM
Post by: Curly on September 23, 2012, 09:26:51 AM
Post by: doublenasty on September 23, 2012, 09:30:55 AM
Sent by my diesel power awesomeness!!!!
Post by: yorketransport on September 23, 2012, 09:32:31 AM
If you want to just run one bullet for both deer and yotes I'd look at the 200 gr CT ballistic silver tip. They don't make the Nosler BT any more, but this is the same bullet. It's a great bullet and it's reasonably priced. The 200gr Speer HotCor is a great bullet as well and would work perfectly for deer and coyotes.
If you want to run the premium bullets, I like the 225 TTSX, partitions, and accubonds. I hit a deer a few years ago with the 225 partition out of a 338-06. Worked perfectly. Small entrance with little meat damage, massive internal damage, and a small exit. The deer just rolled over and never even twitched.
Reloading is absolutely the way to go. It will only cost a couple cents more to reload the 338 than it would a 30-06 with comparable components. Your setup doesn't need to be expensive or fancy. I'm still running the same Lee Anniversary kit which I bought 13 years and more than 14,000 rounds ago. The only parts of the kit which I've replaced are the scale (went to a Lyman after the Lee scale broke during a move) and I bought an RCBS case trimmer. You can be ready to load your first 100 rounds for less than $300.
Andrew
Post by: eburkett on September 23, 2012, 09:33:41 AM
Post by: waterdoctor on September 23, 2012, 09:49:50 AM
Post by: copasj on September 23, 2012, 10:39:33 AM
I want .338 because I plan to visit my dad in GA and actually hunt feral hog. Gotta have a bigger gun than his 30-06 lol
Definitely bigger, but I wouldn't call it cheap. .338 Win reloads are going to be kicking at the heels of .308 or 30-06 factory core-lokts as far as price is concerned.
I was tossing cases after 3 or so reloads of my .300 Win Mag. Case life was pretty short in my experience.
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Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 23, 2012, 10:40:51 AM
Post by: huntnphool on September 23, 2012, 10:42:46 AM
I'm looking to buy a Savage Hog Hunter in .338 win. Looking for any info from someone who owns either this model or any .338 win. I would be using this gun as a coyote exterminator/ deer gun. I understand .338 may be considered overkill for these but it is what I've got in mind. Also, I'm looking to start reloading since modern ammo is a lot more expensive than the old mil surplus for my mosin. Need a good starting point on a kit or a cheap way to assemble an effective kit for .338. Thanks for any help!I've got a nice .338 for sale. http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,105784.msg1379382.html#msg1379382 (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,105784.msg1379382.html#msg1379382)
Post by: yorketransport on September 23, 2012, 11:20:08 AM
Definitely bigger, but I wouldn't call it cheap. .338 Win reloads are going to be kicking at the heels of .308 or 30-06 factory core-lokts as far as price is concerned.
I was tossing cases after 3 or so reloads of my .300 Win Mag. Case life was pretty short in my experience.
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I don't think that a 338 is that much more expensive when you look at similar quality components. The brass will be the most significant investment and that's about $35 per 50. I averaged 5 loads per case on my last 338 Win. I doubt that this rifle is going to be shot a whole lot anyways. Probably less than 100 times per year. So figure 50 pieces of brass will last two, maybe three years. Add bullets at 30-50 cents each, primers at about 4 cents each, and then about 25 cents for powder. I would say you can load up ammo for less than $.90 a shot. More or less depending on components. Seems pretty reasonable to me.
Andrew
Post by: Maligator on September 23, 2012, 11:31:00 AM
Good luck to you in this new adventure...be warned that many people find it becomes a new "hobby" ;)
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 23, 2012, 11:32:17 AM
Would the LEE 50th anniv. Kit be a good start? $119 at local Cabelas. I'm looking at picking it up and practicing before I even get my rifle. Good brands of powder to start with?
I bought the Hornady Lock-N-Laod, look those up online. $300ish
Post by: eburkett on September 23, 2012, 05:31:14 PM
Post by: Huntbear on September 23, 2012, 05:49:47 PM
And what load data did you use? What COL did you load to? I have never used Ramshot Hunter for a .338, seems like it would be a bit fast burning.
CCI primers? Magnum Primers?
Seems you want to toss money down the toilet so to speak, go for it, but I wonder why post you were wanting help with reloading if you are not going to even bother looking up and writing down the powders, and bullets recommended by the guys who reload for this caliber religously??
Be very careful with new loads... especially since this is the first time you have done this... I have seen a couple of guys go to the hospital for shooting over or under pressured loads.
Post by: SquirrelHunter on September 23, 2012, 06:32:41 PM
Post by: eburkett on September 23, 2012, 06:36:43 PM
Yes cart before horse.
I used the load data that came in my Lee kit book. Said max was load was 70gr powder so I went 63, COL is supposed to be 3.280. The slight blunt tipped rounds I used measured at 3.255 consistently. I don't plan on using the Hunter except for the first loads, just wanted to practice with all the supplies. And yes I should have waited till this afternoon when I wasn't rushed so I could pull up this thread and get those recommendations for powder and all. The CCI primers are for magnum rifle cartridges. I understand the dangers of randomly experimenting with explosive components and that is why even though I have already made 10 rounds I came back to ask if they would be considered terrible and need to be discarded. I did flush some money today by not being patient but I wanted to get some hands on practice before I got the rifle. I know myself and would be even more impatient if I had a way to test rounds therefore I would like to understand how the reloading process works and then take the suggestions I have received and tailor my cartridges to the rifle I purchase. Hope none of this comes off as being an ass. Thanks for the help.
Post by: eburkett on September 23, 2012, 06:39:16 PM
Post by: SquirrelHunter on September 23, 2012, 06:47:42 PM
Id recommend getting a good book if you haven't already.
Any questions just PM me, if you want help with the whole process shoot me a pm later this week.
Post by: yorketransport on September 23, 2012, 07:09:13 PM
Now go buy the gun so you can start shooting! :chuckle:
Andrew
Post by: eburkett on September 23, 2012, 07:30:20 PM
Post by: copasj on September 24, 2012, 08:53:26 AM
Definitely bigger, but I wouldn't call it cheap. .338 Win reloads are going to be kicking at the heels of .308 or 30-06 factory core-lokts as far as price is concerned.
I was tossing cases after 3 or so reloads of my .300 Win Mag. Case life was pretty short in my experience.
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I don't think that a 338 is that much more expensive when you look at similar quality components. The brass will be the most significant investment and that's about $35 per 50. I averaged 5 loads per case on my last 338 Win. I doubt that this rifle is going to be shot a whole lot anyways. Probably less than 100 times per year. So figure 50 pieces of brass will last two, maybe three years. Add bullets at 30-50 cents each, primers at about 4 cents each, and then about 25 cents for powder. I would say you can load up ammo for less than $.90 a shot. More or less depending on components. Seems pretty reasonable to me.
Andrew
Expensive is relative in the end :P.
I don't know anyone that uses Ramshot powders, but I've seen them mentioned favorably in the gun rags. If it works stick with it. I believe they are fairly temp stable, if it's true that's a good thing though.
I prefer the Hodgdon's stick powders myself, and H-4895 is one of my favorites. Even with big cases it has always done me well. Once I've gotten near top end loads it's given me consistent velocities, just not top end velocities. Plus it is endorsed by Hodgdon for reduced loads as well if you want to go that route for practice.
I'm using it with 120 barnes bullets in the wifes 7mm-08, 175 interloks in my 7mm Mauser, 69 SMK's in 223 and 168 AMAX's in 308 Win as well. I used it with 165's in the 300 WM also.
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Post by: eburkett on October 06, 2012, 10:05:20 PM
Post by: wraithen on October 06, 2012, 10:11:33 PM
Yorke, you're about to have a pm.
Post by: eburkett on October 06, 2012, 10:13:31 PM
Post by: wraithen on October 06, 2012, 10:20:45 PM
Post by: eburkett on October 06, 2012, 10:21:50 PM
Post by: wraithen on October 06, 2012, 10:27:42 PM
Post by: eburkett on October 06, 2012, 10:28:33 PM
Post by: wraithen on October 06, 2012, 10:29:51 PM
Post by: Skinnyman on October 11, 2012, 01:08:33 PM
Post by: eburkett on October 11, 2012, 06:54:19 PM