Loads development in my 338-06
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Re: Loads a 338-06
I have never used the ..338-06 but good friend of mine used the .338-06A.I. He used the Nosler 210gr Partition. It slaughtered deer, feral hogs and Texas "exotics"... He never had to take more than 1 shot and it knocked fire out of whatever it hit... I don't remember the load, however, I believe he used 4350 powder (I don't know if it was IMR or H persuasion).. What his load was, I don't know.. What I do know is, is that it was a very quick killer on any animal that got in the way of that 210 Partition...
I have never used the ..338-06 but good friend of mine used the .338-06A.I. He used the Nosler 210gr Partition. It slaughtered deer, feral hogs and Texas "exotics"... He never had to take more than 1 shot and it knocked fire out of whatever it hit... I don't remember the load, however, I believe he used 4350 powder (I don't know if it was IMR or H persuasion).. What his load was, I don't know.. What I do know is, is that it was a very quick killer on any animal that got in the way of that 210 Partition...
Re: Loads a 338-06
338 06. Designed around a nosler 210 partition and you have the real deal in a med heavy caliber. 4064 worked for me. I loaded 56.5 gr of imr 4064 way back in 1985 from what info was available at the time but from all info in any manual today .....DO NOT use that load. I assume that 4064 has changed in composition since then. 50 gr of 4064 seems to be max in most reloading manuals today. Anyway, could not get 4320 to shoot that well. It is a fantastic caliber. Killed a 6x7 elk and a 6'2 black bear in British Columbia, one shot and dead. Going to Africa in June, guess what I will be using? My rifle was on a sako 61 action with a Douglas air guage and it was better than a .5 in three shot at 100 yes. Custom on a Bastogne stock weighing at 8.5 lbs with a leupy compact. Used a 3 contour barrel at 24 in. Perfect balance with hardly any noticeable recoil for the caliber. Those light 338 bullets are for a 338 federal IMHO
A friend has a cooper and loves the 215 barnes ttx
338 06. Designed around a nosler 210 partition and you have the real deal in a med heavy caliber. 4064 worked for me. I loaded 56.5 gr of imr 4064 way back in 1985 from what info was available at the time but from all info in any manual today .....DO NOT use that load. I assume that 4064 has changed in composition since then. 50 gr of 4064 seems to be max in most reloading manuals today. Anyway, could not get 4320 to shoot that well. It is a fantastic caliber. Killed a 6x7 elk and a 6'2 black bear in British Columbia, one shot and dead. Going to Africa in June, guess what I will be using? My rifle was on a sako 61 action with a Douglas air guage and it was better than a .5 in three shot at 100 yes. Custom on a Bastogne stock weighing at 8.5 lbs with a leupy compact. Used a 3 contour barrel at 24 in. Perfect balance with hardly any noticeable recoil for the caliber. Those light 338 bullets are for a 338 federal IMHO
A friend has a cooper and loves the 215 barnes ttx
Re: Loads a 338-06
I have a 338-06AI under construction on a VZ-24 action with a 26" #3 Shilen barrel. My plan is to load Barnes 185 grain TTSX/Hornady 185 grain GMX or Cutting Edge 225 grain MTH bullets over H4350 or RL-17 for hunting. I plan to also play with some 250g Match type bullets just for fun.
I have a 338-06AI under construction on a VZ-24 action with a 26" #3 Shilen barrel. My plan is to load Barnes 185 grain TTSX/Hornady 185 grain GMX or Cutting Edge 225 grain MTH bullets over H4350 or RL-17 for hunting. I plan to also play with some 250g Match type bullets just for fun.
Re: Loads a 338-06
I have a Douglas barreled 338-06 and have worked up some good loads using TSX's and RE15. I have been using CCI 200's and necked up LC brass.
I have a Douglas barreled 338-06 and have worked up some good loads using TSX's and RE15. I have been using CCI 200's and necked up LC brass.
Re: Loads a 338-06
Seems to me like you shoulda had a V-8!
Remember those ads? Well, you should reconsider your plan and look at the .30-06. Prolly got one in the closet...
Not exciting or what the cool-guys are shooting, but a lot better with the bullet weights you mention.
Maybe bump your threshold up to 215gr and shoot them Sierra btsp? That is a good mix for the .338-06. 225 or 230gr even better. Maybe just want the thrill of paying for premium bullets with low BC & SD numbers, don't matter to me. I own one of these puppies and nice as it is, it's kind of a tweener, odd-man-out at my house. Loaded with 230gr Failsafe Nosler it is capable of ejecting a bear from the doorway; but not first choice for that duty. Then again, ain't been many bears close to the house in past couple years...
If you just ordered your barrel, maybe not too late to reconsider and look at the .338/284? Gives you same, identical performance as the 06 case necked up, but shorter case so you get more bullet seating flexibility. Be nice to shoot those VLD bullets with high BC numbers w/o putting 2/3s their length into case body.
Most .338 barrels these days are 1:10 twist. Might find it's not optimum for the light bullets. Not like they will blow-up on you though, being so heavily constructed. Then there's the matter of throating. Was your reamer ground for those light bullets? Their ogive is typically pretty far in terms of set-back from bullet nose and a standard .338-06 reamer will be ground for 250gr roundnose designs, Unless you ordered special... There are implications there for what you can expect from your handloads in the way of performance.
Not to rain on the parade, but the realities might be different than you expect.
Seems to me like you shoulda had a V-8!
Remember those ads? Well, you should reconsider your plan and look at the .30-06. Prolly got one in the closet...
Not exciting or what the cool-guys are shooting, but a lot better with the bullet weights you mention.
Maybe bump your threshold up to 215gr and shoot them Sierra btsp? That is a good mix for the .338-06. 225 or 230gr even better. Maybe just want the thrill of paying for premium bullets with low BC & SD numbers, don't matter to me. I own one of these puppies and nice as it is, it's kind of a tweener, odd-man-out at my house. Loaded with 230gr Failsafe Nosler it is capable of ejecting a bear from the doorway; but not first choice for that duty. Then again, ain't been many bears close to the house in past couple years...
If you just ordered your barrel, maybe not too late to reconsider and look at the .338/284? Gives you same, identical performance as the 06 case necked up, but shorter case so you get more bullet seating flexibility. Be nice to shoot those VLD bullets with high BC numbers w/o putting 2/3s their length into case body.
Most .338 barrels these days are 1:10 twist. Might find it's not optimum for the light bullets. Not like they will blow-up on you though, being so heavily constructed. Then there's the matter of throating. Was your reamer ground for those light bullets? Their ogive is typically pretty far in terms of set-back from bullet nose and a standard .338-06 reamer will be ground for 250gr roundnose designs, Unless you ordered special... There are implications there for what you can expect from your handloads in the way of performance.
Not to rain on the parade, but the realities might be different than you expect.
Re: Loads a 338-06
I got my rifle put together now time to start playing with loads. I picked up a Box of 200g Nosler e-tip and a bottle of IMR-4320 to start with. Plan to try some accubonds and partitions when I find some available to order up. Rifle came out like i wanted 8lbs with scope. Should make it nice for carrying around.
Shilen DGR action
Shilen hinged floor plate
Jewell trigger
B@C Alaskan II stock in red/black
Fluted PAC-Nor 22" barrel.
Scope on it now is just a Nikon omega i had sitting around. Leaning towards a Leupold CDS but haven't made a final decision.
I got my rifle put together now time to start playing with loads. I picked up a Box of 200g Nosler e-tip and a bottle of IMR-4320 to start with. Plan to try some accubonds and partitions when I find some available to order up. Rifle came out like i wanted 8lbs with scope. Should make it nice for carrying around.
Shilen DGR action
Shilen hinged floor plate
Jewell trigger
B@C Alaskan II stock in red/black
Fluted PAC-Nor 22" barrel.
Scope on it now is just a Nikon omega i had sitting around. Leaning towards a Leupold CDS but haven't made a final decision.
Re: Loads a 338-06
My 338-06 using 200gr Hornaday and Speer bullets loved IMR 4064. My rifle has a long throat so I can load a heavier powder charge than the books show. I did use some AA 4064 and it did just fine but required more powder than the IMR 4064. I never got a good load with IMR 4320. My rifle has taken 2 bull elk and a moose as well as deer and several cow elk. 225 gr bullets like 760 and 250's like N204.
My 338-06 using 200gr Hornaday and Speer bullets loved IMR 4064. My rifle has a long throat so I can load a heavier powder charge than the books show. I did use some AA 4064 and it did just fine but required more powder than the IMR 4064. I never got a good load with IMR 4320. My rifle has taken 2 bull elk and a moose as well as deer and several cow elk. 225 gr bullets like 760 and 250's like N204.
Went out today with loads from 48 to 51.5 in .5 grain increments. Found a node down low and started to see another forming. Going to have to load up a 52 and maybe 52.5 and get back out there. Worst groups were around 1.25 and a few groups around .5. Think this is going to end up being a good accurate rifle for me.
I would never choose a 210, when I can gain bc/sd and only 1-2" drop diff at 400 using 200 zero.
Energy gain, penetration potentially better, a 225 PT will do ANYTHING you need, not that a 210 won't, but WHY give up sd/bc for such little diff in trajectory?
4320, 225/2670 mv, hammer and 1/2 MOA.
Energy gain, penetration potentially better, a 225 PT will do ANYTHING you need, not that a 210 won't, but WHY give up sd/bc for such little diff in trajectory?
4320, 225/2670 mv, hammer and 1/2 MOA.
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