338 win mag powder choice

[TC338]

Looking to revisit my 338 win mag. Looking to try the new 230g eldx. What powders should I look at? I have imr 4350, h4831, R-17, R-19, R-22,
R-26, and Varget. Any other suggestions are welcome as well.
24" Barrel.

 

[86alaskan]

RL 22 and RL 26 should do very good. I was using IMR 7828ssc when I ran 250gr in my 338WM. The IMR 4350 may work too, but a good slow magnum powder will work better with that 24" barrel.

 

[TC338]

RL 22 and RL 26 should do very good. I was using IMR 7828ssc when I ran 250gr in my 338WM. The IMR 4350 may work too, but a good slow magnum powder will work better with that 24" barrel.

I tried 4350 with 250 Bergers but didn't have much luck. I was wondering about the 26. Seems to be the new end all be all powder.

 

[257Tony]

Mine really likes rl19 and 225 sst. 3000 fps out of a 26" factory Browning Abolt.

 

[TC338]

Mine really likes rl19 and 225 sst. 3000 fps out of a 26" factory Browning Abolt.

I'm loading for a tc encore that has been throated long so I should be able to get about the same. What charge are you running?

 

[jacknifejc]

Mine loves H4831.

 

[tbrice23]

The one I had "liked" RL19. Only.

 

[257Tony]

I'm loading for a tc encore that has been throated long so I should be able to get about the same. What charge are you running?

77.5

 

[Mike 338]

I tried most of those powders listed. Even Varget and it was a tack driver... but velocity was crazy slow. Mine didn't really sing until I tried H-414.

Here's some friendly advice though. Find out where you bullet likes to be seated "first" before you begin dismissing powders.

Pick a bullet. Pick a powder. Find your max charge weight for that particular powder and load all your cases at about 2% under your max charge weight. Load/Test 5 shots each, at each seating depth of .010", .040", .070" and .100" off the lands. I'll even go to .130" off the lands if the bullet/powder will allow. Shoot for accuracy. Hope you still have a shoulder left! One of those groups will be noticeably better than the rest. Now you can start working up a load. You can even use that same seating depth as a general starting reference when testing other powders as long as your using the same bullet but of course you'll need to determine what the max charge weigh is for each particular powder that you test. As I recall, the Varget shot great with a big jump but was getting 2" groups close to the lands. You don't know till 'ya choot 'em!

 

[memtb]

Running RL 22 in my wife's .338 WM. 24" barrel, 225 TTSX's @ 2950. Decent, but not, great accuracy. Pretty consistent 1 to 1 1/4" groups at 100 yards. memtb

 

[Mike 338]

Anyway, I find the big problem with the 338 Win Mag is cramm'in enough powder in the case. For that reason, ball powders shouldn't be overlooked.

 

[86alaskan]

Agreed Mike338. it seemed that when I was using IMR4350 and barnes 225, I was crunching a bunch of powder just to fit with what seemed to be lower charges. Then I switched to a hornady 250gr, and it was actually shorter overall than the barnes, and IMR7828ssc. This 250gr load allowed me to raise the bar and get better velocity than the books, especially when seated to touch the lands.

 

[Mike 338]

Just working off memory here but a fella that used to frequent this site, LongTimeLongRanger, claimed that 225 gr. Cutting Edge bullets fueled by some H-414 would legitimately take him out to 1000 yards as a hunting rig. I swear he was using a stone stock factory Tikka and was getting some very respectable accuracy.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

rl19 and either a 225 hdy or 225 nosler ab does it for me in my 338... I'm at 2900 fps with 75 gr in ww brass with a 215...