if you could only use one .338 bullet, what would it be?

[angus-5024]

I was just sitting at my reloading bench, went to do load development for my .338 RUM and realized I only have 21 primers. I have three bullets to try and two powders. what bullet should I use? I cannot get my hands on primers right know, so this may be all the ammo I can load for the first bit of hunting season (I'll have to limit my range of course). The powders are Retumbo and RL 25. The bullets are -300 grain SMK B.C -.768
-250 grain Barnes III Shock B.C-.521
-225 grain Hornandy interbond B.C-.430

thanks guys, Ill be waiting.

 

[Wookie316]

Get more primers

 

[338 bruce]

my go to bullet in my 338 rum was the hornady 250 sp, bc around .430 but down range to 800 yds used the same aiming point as the 250 accubond. the best thing was they only cost $35.00-$38.00 for 100 bullets. my load was 98 grains of RL 25 at 3050 fps. I used the 300 smk for shots beyond 800 yds. my 300 smk load was 91 grains of RL 25 at 2740 fps. I used the barnes 225 triple shock one year and the on game performance was second to none but the wind drift was horrable. my load for the barnes was 98 grains of RL 25 at 3285 fps.

 

[Lapua Hunter]

I use 300 SMKs in my .338 Lapua with RL 25.. been happy with the results...

 

[Topshot]

With the three bullets you have listed its a no brainer realy, if you are going to hunt deer.

Just load the Hornady 225 grain bullet. The BC is a bit higher than what you listed!!!!

When you have stocked up on other components, then you can play with the others.

If you want one bullet that will do it all. Get the 250 grain Hornady BTHP match projectile. Puts big holes in things.

 

[J E Custom]

I was just sitting at my reloading bench, went to do load development for my .338 RUM and realized I only have 21 primers. I have three bullets to try and two powders. what bullet should I use? I cannot get my hands on primers right know, so this may be all the ammo I can load for the first bit of hunting season (I'll have to limit my range of course). The powders are Retumbo and RL 25. The bullets are -300 grain SMK B.C -.768
-250 grain Barnes III Shock B.C-.521
-225 grain Hornandy interbond B.C-.430

thanks guys, Ill be waiting.

My preference is the 225 gr Accubond = BC .550
And the 250gr Accubond =BC .578

I like the Hornady Interbond but the Accubond seems to work the best for me.

J E CUSTOM

 

[royinidaho]

The long answer is to put the 300 SMKs up for auction. With the $ from that wind fall primers can be ordered from anyplace in the world and shipped express!

With the confidence that more primers are on the way you can start working up a load with the 225s. They will do the job for ya.

 

[RDM416]

You are in a tough spot with primers.....they are hard to come by these days. A buddy who does a lot of benchrest competition warned me the primer shortage was coming in time for me to stock up. I just hope I have enough to last.......

As for bullets, I know it was not on your list but I shoot 250 grain SMKs out of my 338 Kahn and 338 RUM. BC is .625 (I think). They have performed flawlessly on dozens of deer, as well as elk, coyotes and various other critters.

I had trouble with pencil hole pass throughs with 300 SMKs but have not had that problem with the 250s. In my opinion (though some will disagree) the 250 is better suited for the case capacity of the 338 RUM. The 300 is better for larger capacity cases such as the Kahn or other variants made from the 408 ct case.

 

[angus-5024]

I finally got my hands on some primers. It took awhile though. I worked up two loads already, one is with the 225 hornandy's and the other with the 300 SMK's. I think that the 300's are going a little slow, but I'll use them up anyway (they shoot really well). Thanks for the imput guys.

 

[trueblue]

Have you run ballistics on the 225's and the 300's and compared them?

 

[RDM416]

trueblue,

I have run the ballistics on both the 250SMK and 300SMK using X-Bal. It has been a while back but here is what I remember.

Looking strictly at drop, at the velocities I was getting with both, around 3340fps with the 250, and I don't remember for sure what I was getting with the 300s......around 3000fps (I think). Anyway, both were what I consider max loads in my rifle for each bullet.

With the same sight in, I have less drop with the 250 out to 1000 yards, at which point the 300 will impact about the same as the 250. At ranges longer than 1000, the 300 drops less than the 250.

Looking at X-Bal, I believe somewhere around 800 yards was where the velocities of the two bullets began to match up. Past 800 yards the 300 was now going faster than the 250, but it took another 200 out to 1000 for the drops to match up.

At the time 1000 yards was the max range I was trying to shoot so that was part of the reason I went ahead with the 250s. Obviously though the 300 has a higher bc so it is less effected by the wind.

Another consideration was the fact I had some pencil hole pass throughs on several deer with the 300s. That had never happened to me with the 250s. I had started uniforming meplats on the 300s which could have caused the problem as that partially closes the hollowpoint hole in the tip. I now uniform my 250s as well but I also go back and use a drill bit to open the hollowpoint back up. Don't know if that matters, but I do know every critter I shoot with the 250s have a BIG hole.

In the end, I am not saying I think the 250 is better than the 300.......the 250 is just what works for me right now.

 

[RDM416]

Trueblue and Angus,

Sorry about that last post, I kinda jumped the gun (pardon the pun). I miss-read Trueblue's question about the 225's, and thought you were asking about my previous post regarding 250SMKs and 300SMKs. I realized after I sent the post you were asking angus about the 225s vs the 300SMKs. I'll try to pay more attention next time

 

[Moosetracker]

Nosler Accubond 225grs or 250 grs.

 

[trueblue]

RDM416,
I think if you redrilled the hole in the 300's like you do with the 250's after meplating, you will find the same results. Personally, I tried the meplating thing, but found it wasn't worth my time to do it.