338 win mag powder choice

[crkckr]

Other than plinking ammo (I know I'm not the only one that plinks with a .338WM!) I only use 3 bullets: 210 and 250 gr Nosler Partitions and a Hornady 250 Steel Jacketed Solid. I've used IMR 4350, 4831 and 4064, WW760 and H414 for the 210, getting pretty good velocities although my Ruger 77 simply did not like 4064 or the H414. I've used the same powders plus 4895 and 4320 for the 250's but don't have any accuracy notes handy. 4831 gave the best velocity and again, without checking, I believe that's what I used for my hunting loads. Best accuracy was often WW760, which also gave the lowest velocities! Boo, hiss! My 210 gr hunting loads print an inch all day, every day while the 250 NP generally prints between an inch and a quarter and 1 1/2".

I use 4350 for all my plinking loads because I have a lot of it!

I could give numbers regarding how much of what but what is safe in my rifle might not be safe in yours, so always work up your loads in your rifle.

While I love my .338WM, if I were starting out today I'd get a .338 RUM instead. I don't own a RUM but load for a buddies 300 RUM and it's a spectacular round! And no stupid belt to deal with! It's also amazingly accurate! Contrary to popular belief, I get 15 or so max reloads from each case!
Cheers,
crkckr

 

[Hudge76]

I know this is an older thread, but I've used A4350, Varget, and Hybrid 100V, and IMR 4064. The A4350 was with 215 gr Barnes TTSX's, accurate, but slower then I wanted. Since I made this load during COVID shortages, I loaded it for spring bear I never went on. The IMR 4064 was used with 210 gr NOS Partitions. My best load is the Hybrid 100V with 225 gr. Barnes TTSX. The accurate was only tested in different 250 gr bullet weights. Once I shoot up all of the 210 and 215 gr loads, I'm only going to load the Hybrid and 225 gr. TTSX's. That load is very accurate in my rifle, and will handle grizzly and moose no problem.