338 Win Mag 200 gr powder/loads

[Frankm]

Got a friend who drew a cow elk tag this fall and wants me to help him find a good 338 WM load.

I ve got powders from H4895, Varget, H380, H4350 and IMR4831 to R22 that might all be capable.

What is your accuracy load? May consider 225 gr bullets also but most likely not needed and will only provide more recoil.
Thx in advance.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I used H380 and 180 gr accubonds for my last elk, and probably the next tag I draw. I thought(felt) like the recoil was more tolerable than other powders I tried.

 

[Gb300wm]

I use IMR4350 at 70.0 gr with a cci 250 primer Barnes 210 TTSX. This load averages just over 2800 fps in my rifle, but shoots bugholes. I’ve shot this load all the way out to 600 yds and the accuracy in my rifle is exceptional.

 

[Frankm]

Both those combos sound like they d offer 200 gr bullet or even 215 gr ones good potential.

 

[martyj]

I always use H4350 and 210 partition, cci primer

 

[Darkside]

I have a couple Reduced Recoil loads.
1. 160 TTSX , IMR4955 , CCI250

2. 180 Accubond, Rl 19 , CCI250
Both I made for my dad before he passed away. 338 WM. Model 70
Very comfortable to shoot.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I tried the 200 gr accubond with h380, but my 300 yard test targets showed better groups(slightly) with the 180's. So I went 180, figured elk won't know the difference.

 

[wboggs]

Got a friend who drew a cow elk tag this fall and wants me to help him find a good 338 WM load.

I ve got powders from H4895, Varget, H380, H4350 and IMR4831 to R22 that might all be capable.

What is your accuracy load? May consider 225 gr bullets also but most likely not needed and will only provide more recoil.
Thx in advance.

If your fried is recoil sensitive he should install a break or change rifles. I'm not trying to be cynical but a .338 is probably the wrong caliber for him.

 

[Gb300wm]

I had to get the barrel threaded to install a brake on mine. I thought the recoil was going to detach the retina in my eye after shooting sessions of 20 rounds or so. I have a ss vanguard in a Bell & Carlson stock and a timney trigger. Not a heavy setup. 338’s are not for recoil sensitive shooters…

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

My 338 wm is a TC venture about 7.5 # without scope. I needed a brake or limit shooting to 5-6 rds in the summer in tee shirt. My brake was made by a gunsmith friend, ported to allow shooting prone off bipod and not get dusted. Quite tame now, actually fun to shoot.

 

[Frankm]

I ve shot, and so has he, lots of 338 s and 375 s. They are NOT for the occasional or new to shooting type of guy.

My 375 RUM with 1.5-5 Leupold and B&C stock weighed 7 3/4 lbs…. It would put a hurt on you every shot. Worse than 416 Rem Mag with 400 gr bullets in 9 1/2 lb setup.

With the 375 RUM I was good for a couple 3 shot groups from the bench and that was about all my concentration and body could handle in a day. 5744 powder made for some very nice reduced recoil loads though

 

[209jones]

I ran a 210 Partition for 25yrs on RL19 @ 2950, it did what was needed, Don't see any percentage in owning a 338 if you don't run at least a 210, and it hasn't got the greatest 4-500yd ballistics, the other load I had for it was a 250gr Partition @ 2750 with H4831. And it very much depends on what gun its in as to recoil. I had friends that shot mine w/250's and liked it better than 7RM w/160 or 300WM w/180. That was in a 700KS Mtn rifle, light gun, but had the right stock on it.

 

[Orr89rocz]

My stock 700 bdl 338 stung some. I changed recoil pad to a limbsaver and i dont mind it at all now.

Havent shot 200 gr stuff. I use powerpro 2000 for the barnes 160 and its lights out accurate and very comfortable on recoil. Probably abit too fast burning for 200’s but barnes does recommend for the 185’s.

Reloader 17 probably would work good. 19 i use in 225-250 grain stuff well. 22 may be too slow for 200 but might work for a slower velocity load in the 225-250’s. Re19 takes a case full in a 225-250 gr to get to decent velocity. 2800’s for the 225, 2600’s for the 250 in my gun