338 Win Mag & 250 Nosler AB

[Engineering101]

A buddy wants me to load him up some 250 Nosler Accubonds for his 338 Win Mag which he plans to use on elk this Fall. Anybody got a favorite load for this bullet?

 

[Timber338]

A buddy wants me to load him up some 250 Nosler Accubonds for his 338 Win Mag which he plans to use on elk this Fall. Anybody got a favorite load for this bullet?

The 250 accubond is a bomb in the 338 win mag. H4350 has always gotten me the best accuracy within published velocities. Other powders like RL17 and RL19 can exceed published velocities but accuracy typically starts to decline.

I've always had good luck with the 250 accubond .015 - .020 away from the lands. I don't recall my max load but that wouldn't do you any good anyways. Just work up in 1 grain increments from a a starting charge and see where the gun shoots the best.

For what it's worth, I think the best all-around bullet for the 338 win mag is the 225 grain Accubond. Maybe not as perfect as the 250 in thick forest situations where you might have to bust through some bush, but the BC of the 225 is relatively high, at least compared to the 250, and your downrange energy and trajectory will be better off especially with a higher muzzle velocity. And recoil of the 225 is noticeably less than the 250. in a sporter weight rifle, a 250 grain bullet is a beast!

Good luck.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I'd look at rl19 or 4831 for 250's... I'd look at going with 225's and rl19 in your 338 winny though. I've got both 225 (hdy and ab's) and 250 sierra's loaded in my 338 and I'll field the 225's any day of the week and twice on Sunday. They are 200 fps faster and hit as hard as the 250's. The recoil isn't much different to me, but I'm using a #1 in 338 win so she's a bit light and will bite you a bit either way.

 

[Clark]

338WM BAR [dark stock 1990]24"
250 gr Nosler Gold Partition, moly 69 gr H4350, 3.34"
2645 fps
2599
2645

338WM BAR [light stock 1969] 24"
250 gr Nosler Gold Partition, moly 69 gr H4350, 3.34"
2594 fps
2578
2588
2583
2578

Looks like the newer rifle is a little faster

 

[martyj]

Clark has the right idea.
Both of mine like H4350 and shoot well with that powder and those bullets.

 

[tx338]

Here's another vote for H4350 with the 250gr Accubond...potent elk medicine!

 

[moosekiller99]

I've been using 71.0 grains RL-19 and getting 2600 fps and moa accuracy with the 250 AB. I can only get 3.340 OAL due to my magazine limitations but I intend to build some single loads seated closer to the lands. Never needed more than one shot with this caliber anyway.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I run the exact same load with either a 250gr Accubond or 250gr Partition. RE19 @ 73gr in Rem brass, fully prepped except for neck turning, WLRM Primer and I get 2770fps average of 10 shots in my 26" barrel.
I've tried several powders in my 338, none of 'em come close to matching the accuracy or velocity of RE19.

Cheers.
gun)

 

[MtEmilyhntr]

I have had very good success with RL17 powder and the 250 grain accubond in a Winchester model 70 extreme weather. I had started out with data from some previous posts stating that it was similar to Imr 4350 and worked my way up to 68 grains of RL17 in Winchester brass. This load was clocking at 2825 fps. I am now shooting Nosler brass and found that the Nosler brass required 69.5 grains of RL17 to match the same velocity. This load has proven to be very accurate in my rifle with groups under 1 inch at 200 yards on a regular basis....recently 3 shots all connected inside each other. This load has now been shot in 3 different rifles with no signs of pressure or excessive case wear. Velocity deviation is normally between 2815-2825 fps. This load should be considered as a max load based upon all load data I have seen. As an FYI......the Nosler brass was approximately 20 grains less in average weight than the Winchester brass and the case capacity difference required the additional charge to match velocity.

WLRM primers
26 inch barrel

 

[Mike 338]

I find the 338 WM to be finicky to load for. I have loaded for several of them and find the Berger seating depth testing recommendations to a major help in the beginning of load development. I've had some that just won't shoot with less than almost a quarter inch jump, assuming your using the magazine and not single shot. I've found the 225 gr. to be ideal with H-414.