Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: MountainWalk on July 08, 2009, 01:31:32 PM

Title: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: MountainWalk on July 08, 2009, 01:31:32 PM: Have just gotten into reloading. Anyone who shoots a 338 win mag care to share a few things about your fave powders or primers and such? Any help would do. Thanks
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: mazama on July 08, 2009, 09:18:06 PM: Norma MRP was best in my guns, Ruger77 and SAKO, the more powder you use up to max the groups keep shrinking,but it hard to find now so i use H4831sc in my 338rum.
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: Huntbear on July 08, 2009, 10:50:40 PM: We are using Reloader 19 with excellent results in our .338 WM with 210 Nosler Partitions. 3 shot groups clover leafed.
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: bod on July 09, 2009, 07:28:13 AM: Second the R19 and IMR4350.
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: demontang on July 09, 2009, 08:57:39 AM: I like the 4350 IMR, great groups/velocity's an it burns clean. :twocents:
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on July 09, 2009, 10:50:56 AM: That short fat case lends itself very well to IMR4350 for lighter bullets. For heavier bullets, Reloader 19 would be an excellent choice. H4831 or IMR4831 also for heavier bullets. I do know some people that use IMR4064 with lighter bullets for .338winmag quite successfully. Both 4350 and 4064 are popular choices for 30-06, so if you're reloading for that venerable cartridge, you might try either in your .338win just to know how that performs for you. Every rifle barrel is different.

Regarding primers... I like CCI for just about everything. I do use Federal Bench Rest Magnum primers for my wild cat that uses the .338win case. I do not use Win or Rem primers for reloading Win/Rem/Fed .338 WinMag cases. I've never had a problem, but those cases either have a slightly larger primer cup or those primers are small. CCI primers seem to fit tighter.

While I don't shoot the .338winmag, a friend of mine swears by the BarnesX. Tack drivers through his Browning. Nosler partitions, Hornady, Speer or Sierra are also excellent chioces. You can get Remington CoreLokt bullets in bulk bag (Cabella's), for some cheaper reloading/shooting until you figure out what's best for your gun. (CoreLokts are good hunting bullets too.)

No matter how trivial, reloading safety standards are there for a reason.

Be safe, Keep'm in the X-ring.

-Steve
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: 6x6in6 on July 09, 2009, 11:06:38 AM: IMR 4350
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: Skinnyman on July 09, 2009, 12:53:20 PM: Great results with IMR4350 with a Barnes TTSX 225 gr (best combo yet, probably .5 to .6 MOA @ 100yds if I can do my part). Also had good results with Accurate 3100 and Nosler 200gr Ballistic Silvertips (I only use these for target practice as they are A LOT cheaper than the Barnes, like half the price). Found out today that both loads/bullets hit the paper at very close to the same place at 100 yds, couldn't tell I switched rounds.

My .338 WM is a Savage model 116, dont know if that helps.
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: Rob on July 09, 2009, 01:49:20 PM: I'm new into loading myself. I have been playing iwth H 4831SC and H 4350.

Keeping in mind I am not a fantastic shot, here are the results from my shot groups over the past couple trips to the range with Tori (my .338 WM Weatherby Vangaurd).
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: Rob on July 09, 2009, 01:54:06 PM: Another view of the same data
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: MountainWalk on July 09, 2009, 02:28:18 PM: Thanks for all the good info. I intend on printing it so to get a better look at it. I plan on loading 300 grain woodleigh weldcores. Think I will stick with cci 250 primers. I'm shooting a Ruger 77II. As far as magazine room goes , does it have plenty of room?
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: WA Redneck on July 09, 2009, 02:43:21 PM: Dan,

Since your new to reloading just be sure you don't mix your powders. Example if your loading IMR 4350 don't get it mixed it up with H4350. Good luck and have fun! Willy
Title: Re: Good 338 win mag powders?
Post by: Rob on July 09, 2009, 04:38:24 PM: If you want the excel data behind the pivots I sent, PM me an email address and I'll send it to you.

My Dad loaded up the 225 and 250 gr Barnes Bullets with the H 4350. When looking at the website for Barnes, I don't see H 4350 listed in their technical data for TSX bullets. As I recall, when he wanted to load the Barns TSX bullets, there was no data available in the Barnes book. Based on feedback from Barnes he used a recipe with H 4350, but I would recommend you use only the data Barnes provides via their books or websites.