Hunting Washington Forum
Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: carpsniperg2 on December 08, 2010, 08:56:46 PM
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Since i picked up my 338 win mag. I have not got a chance to handload for it yet. I have been bouncing back and fourth on what bullet weights. My hunting with it will be bear and boar. I am planning on using this as my bear calling gun. Also i am planning on taking it to new zealand for some boar hunting. My shots in both cases will be less then 200 yard 95% of the time. Both are big dense animals that can take a lot of punishment. There is 180-200-225-250 gr, i have been leaning towards the 225g bullets. But intrested to hear what people use and what they like. I am a big nosler fan, primarily partitions. But have been looking at the accubonds. I have loaded and shot the accubonds. But have not used them on big game myself. They always have some great reviews, and i am wondering how well they hold up on thick bone. I also have just bought some etips for my 300 win mag and might look into those as well.
Thanks in advance!
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we have a 338 that loves the 225gr accubonds
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250 gr nosler partition
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210 partitions work very well out of my brother's and my rifles. Our handloads are Chrono'd at 2950. Shoot 1/2 MOA at 400 yds off a bench.
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I always had good luck with 225 grain Core-Lokts out of my .338. That's what my hunting partner shoots out of his also.
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we have a 338 that loves the 225gr accubonds
:yeah:
Shoot those Carp.
Gadwall
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I've use the 225 Grain AccuBond and Loved the heck out of that bullet, sighted in at 200 yds with 1 1/2 in group off the bench. I'm sure the grouping would be better if I were to shoot of a sled. I just switched over to the 200 grain Barns TSX bullets and still working on a load. My last shooting session with that rifle shot a 2 inch group at 200 yards. Still working it, i'm sure I can get it down tighter? If not then I'll just have to go back to the AccuBond!
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If a Nosler Partition or Accubond I'd go with a 225, but I'd also try the 210 grain Barnes Tipped TSX.
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The 225 Trophy Bonded Bearclaws mushroom perfect every time - impressive - zero fragmentation or loss. Thats not the new plastic tip - I'm not a big fan of any plastic tipped bullets yet.
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If a Nosler Partition or Accubond I'd go with a 225, but I'd also try the 210 grain Barnes Tipped TSX.
So being confused and not knowing that Barns made a 210 Grain bullet, I went and checked my box. It is 210 grains I've started loading for the .338...its the .325 i'm using the 200 grain bullets for! Hope there wasn't any confusion.
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225 grn hornadys love them shoot well outta both mine and my dads gun
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Ive tried the 180, 200 and 225 accubonds and the 225 are by far the best of the three for heavy game. All three shot great but the performance on game is where its at. The 180 and 200 both did there job but the 225 seems to be a sweet spot. I shoulder shot a elk and the 225 did little meat damage and it exited the other side, on the bear I shot it punched though both sides and the second one traveled from the middle of the chest to just under the hide in the rear quarter. The drop in the three is very close so your not lossing in hold over for longer shots with the 225 over the 180. I would stay away from the BT for heavier game and I havent had any luck with the core loks. Ive looked into the barns but have shot any yet but they look to be a good bullet. I just cant get away from thet performance of the accubonds.
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i shoot 225 hornady's and am very pleased with them
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Go with the bigger Barnes, 225 grain TTSX... Great BC.. and will perform flawlessly on game!!! Just find a powder and charge that your barrel likes...
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In Ak I've shot my cousins 338wm he loads the 225gr swift A-frames and the bullets performs flawlessly. In my 325wsm I've shot 200gr Accubonds into 2 elk, 2 Moose, and several deer all with nothing short of excellent results.
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TSX (225 or 250gr), Trophy Bonded (factory loads only now, unfortunately), or Swift A-Frame (at least 225gr; 250 better). 225 grains should be minimum for large dangerous game. Your shots don't dictate considering trajectory. Accuracy shouldn't be much of a concern either. If you can't hit a bear at 200 yards with a gun that shoots 2 MOA, don't blame the gun.
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Thanks guys, the local bi mart has the 225 accubonds. So i will probably pick them up next time i get a chance. For dangerous game i like at least 180grains in a very solid bullet. i shot my boar with my 300 win mag last time in new zealand. He took 3 well placed shots from 50-90 yards to take him off of his feet. he was a huge boar and i could believe the hard shield plate over his vitals behind his shoulders :yike: found 2 of the bullets and both preformed perfectly! Thanks for all the feed back!
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For dangerous game i like at least 180grains in a very solid bullet. i shot my boar with my 300 win mag last time in new zealand.
180 grains in a 30 caliber or .338? A 180 in .338 is a very light bullet and definitely not good for any serious hunting. (with the possible exception of 100% copper bullets but in that case I'd go with the 210 as a minimum)
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I guess i should add i bought some factory Remington's with 225cl bullets. Just to shoot it and get it sighted in and get some brass. This gun in a flat out shooter! even with the factory loads it was shooting a little better then moa at 100. I am very impressed with this gun. Can't wait to get some good handloads and put them to work!
also here is a picture of me and my boar in new zealand, and my friend jonathan with him. just for kick, to show you what i want a tuff bullet for :chuckle:
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What rate of twist does your .338 have? you might figure out what it will likely shoot best first based on what the manufacatures recommend for that rate of twist. It might save you some time and money if the manufacturers recommend 200 & 225 over 250 due to that specific rate of twist?
You hand load far more than I do, so maybe you have already done this.
Yes in a .338 you will likely want to get into the longer bullets vs. the .300 to keep the accuracy and balistic coefficient up.
Out of curiousity, why .338 vs .300? You can still shoot some big ass chunks of lead out of the .300 to include everybit of .225? Why not .378 or larger for dangerous game as you illuded?
I am not trying to be a pain in the ass, just curious as to what your logic was on the selection.
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For dangerous game i like at least 180grains in a very solid bullet. i shot my boar with my 300 win mag last time in new zealand.
180 grains in a 30 caliber or .338? A 180 in .338 is a very light bullet and definitely not good for any serious hunting. (with the possible exception of 100% copper bullets but in that case I'd go with the 210 as a minimum)
180g grain in my 300wm, is the minimum on dangerous game for me.
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we have a 338 that loves the 225gr accubonds
Loves the accubond but if you are going for big bear the bigger the better
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no prob whacker. the reason i have went to the 338wm is because. I don't want to travel with my 300wm anymore. It is a priceless gun to me, handed down for 3 generations. That's the only reason, i just worry about something happening to it. Because it would devastate me, it has already been to new zealand with me. So i just want to take a different gun in its place. The next biggest cal i have, that i am willing to travel with is the 338wm. I love the 300 win mag. its my fave cal! so that is why i have made my decision. If you would like to donate a little green my way to pick up a 378 i would consider using it :chuckle:
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Maybe a .375 Ultra Mag for your next purchase?
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yes indeed :chuckle: i like the 458 lott if i am going to go bigger :chuckle:
I forgot to answer part of the question. The rifle in a ruger m77 manufactured in 1989. The twist rate is 1:10 and the manufactures recommends the 225g. that is all that i have shot in it and it loves them so far. I have only shot it about about 25 times getting it sighted in for bear season. The guy that i bought it from had only shot it 5 times since buying it new. So i did a little barrel break in with it when i got it and got it sighted in.
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Sounds like you know where you are going with it then.
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Here is a pic of the rifle, from when the guy sent me pictures of it. I fell in love with the stock, and have a real liking for this gun. I thought what the heck am i buying a 338 for when i have a 300. But i am glad i bought this gun! I got it for super cheap 2 :IBCOOL:
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Nosler makes a solid copper bullet that might be worth a look too. If we could meet up I could throw some accoubonds your way to load
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a few years ago a drew a moose tag in GMU 117...one shot with a 338 loaded with 250 gr nosler partitions put him down with a 50 yard shot to the scapula. upon skinning him out found the bullet just underneath the hide on the far side after going through both shoulder bones and about 3 1/2 feet of moose. still have the bullet and i've always shot partitions...love em cuz it don't matter the range i know how they will perform..my pet gun/load is a 7 mm mag with 160 gr partitions...shot a real nice 300 lb bear this fall quartering towards me with that load and the bullet went into the base of his neck and took out the opposite shoulder and lungs. he dropped like the rug was pulled out from underneath him...i love the partitions cuz i've found that it dont matter the range the bullet performs the same.. i've shot animals from bow range to over 400 yards with them.. not saying other premium bullets wouldn't work as I've never used them but I have the confidence in the partitions and know when i pull the trigger with them to get the knife and pack boards ready.
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Nosler makes a solid copper bullet that might be worth a look too. If we could meet up I could throw some accoubonds your way to load
I haven't had any luck getting the E -TIPs to fly in my 300 RUM. They are a long bullet to get the equivalent weight as lead, which makes for a lot of barrel friction and pressure and lots of recoil. A 180 grain felt like a 200 or 220 on the shoulder.
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My buddy's 338 absolutely loves 225gr hornady sst rounds, sub-moa all day
