.338 Win Mag -Elk

[Garrett H.]

Looking for a good hunting bullet for my .338 Win Mag. I would like to reload. What's working well for you guys?

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I'm using either the 225 hornady spire point or 225 nosler ab over rl19 and a 215 primer. I also use the 250 grain sierra at times, but the 225 grain loads are pretty much as good as the 338win gets; in my rifle (a Ruger #1) they net me sub moa accuracy and 2900 fps.

 

[Gene R.]

I have a few go bullets that work in my 2 - 338 WM. My Ruger tang safety does well with 215 Sierras, and 210 partition pushed by RE19. I shot a B.C. moose w/210 part. @ 225yds on crease of shoulder he walked 10- 20yds fell over dead. Caliber hole in golf size out. I use 225 SST in Savage but it also shoots 250 Sierra's Btsp and Match. I have flattened PA whitetail and Blk Bear w/225 SST. Bullet performance visually is same as 210 Partition. Again, being pushed by RE19. I wouldn't hesitate to use 225 SST on elk. Even if they shed some weight the wound channels are immense.

Gene

 

[Laelkhunter]

225 Swift A-Frame. It is similar to the Nosler Partition, but it is bonded and retains more weight.

 

[RevJim]

I'm on the other end of the spectrum...I used the older Barnes 185XLC on a casefull of H4350 for elk. Last one was a really big cow, 250yds, nickel size in, same golf ball size hole out with jelly in between. DRT. I used the Barnes 210XBT in a 340W on big Zebra mare ( with that thick skin and solid muscles, heavy shoulder bones, she was very comparable to a big bull elk, maybe tougher!)) at 150yds, pt of near shoulder, stopped in hide opposite side. She was with the herd so when she hobbled a few steps I popped her in the head ( lots of money/time/travel was going with her, ha!) I also used a 180 NAB in 1 338 RUM on Aoudad. all good.

 

[RevJim]

I will add that if I did not want to shoot monobullets, I would also suggest the Nosler 210 Partition. The sierra 215sbt gets lots of good reviews too. No doubts a good 225 ( I don't call the SSTs an elk bullet, but hey, some do!) I can't see a 250gr unless you just want to go "Old School" and they are indeed a thumper up close in the dark timber! A lot depends on where/how you get a shot on them. I like the Monos as I have used them since '95 on my first Plains Game hunt, from a 35 Whelan AI, a 250X going 2550 ( very comparable to a 338Win with factory loaded 250s) I shot zebra, blue wildebeest, hartebeest, gemsbok and kudu with it, only recovered two lengthwise bullets , one each from the zebra/kudu. In the monos, I like the bigger caliber/yet fast speed of the lighter weights, than say, a 300Winmag with 180s. One thing is for very sure and certain...your 338 Winmag is a "Jim Dandy" elk round! Good luck to you, whatever you choose!

 

[mtbullet1]

what ever shoots best in your rifle

 

[bigngreen]

I've like what I've seen from a 250 Berger OTM.

 

[memtb]

Garret H. My wife is running a 225 TTSX(Barnes) @ 2950. We use a 300 yrd. zero. And all but one elk have been one shot kills, with a moose and a black bear and a few Prong Horns thrown in as well. We started with the Barnes Original ,then the TSX, and do several years now the TTSX. They've worked great for her since around '95. memtb