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Author Topic: Reloading the 338 Federal  (Read 6722 times)

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Offline Birddog 1

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Reloading the 338 Federal
« on: June 14, 2008, 07:53:34 AM »
Was reading the post on the 338 Federal and the 338-06 and everyone was stating the velocity of the Federal round compared to the 338-06 { 1-12 barrel} as being real close to eachother but that is with Federals SPECIAL POWDER which I can't get so... any of you reloading for the Federal round and if so what is it and what is the fps are you getting compared to factory? I have a pro-hunter and I am looking into one of the 2 and I reload and have a lot of brass for both rounds.
I saw that Barnes make a 338-160 gr TS will the 160 gr do good with a 1/12 twist or is it too light?

TIA Nim
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Offline Birddog 1

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2008, 04:07:57 PM »
No One reloads for the 338 Federal ??????? And you all with 338/06 will the Barnes 160 gr bullet shoot in a 1/12 twist barrel ?   COME ON NOW I neeed t knooow........

                                                                      Nim
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Offline Lone Star

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2008, 05:19:32 PM »
The 180 Barnes shoots great in my 1:10" .338-06.  Realize that a 12" twist is not common in .338-06s, they are usually barreled to use the heavier bullets and a 9" or 10" is usual for that.   Hence you will not get a lot of responses to your querey....guess  you'll have to buy a box and try them.  Really, there is no such thing as an X bullet being too light for a certain twist rate, only too long/too heavy.  Off the top of my head - I think they will be fully stabilized in a 12" twist barrel.  Their accuracy will depend on more than just the twist rate though. 

.
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Offline SDS-GEN

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2008, 05:20:57 AM »
The factory 185 Barnes are very accurate in my ruger 338fed velocity was 80-100fps slower than published.  The 210gr TSX shoots very well over 44gr of RE15 but I'm still tweaking around with the load and haven't run any of them over a chrony yet.
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Offline Birddog 1

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2008, 07:32:36 AM »
I got my barrel twist rate out of the Midway book and it reads 1-12 and I called Midway after talking to TC and brought it to there attention that they had made a mistake in printing....... the barrel is a 1-10 twist so I still need some reloading data on the 338 Federal  compared to the factory rounds with there magic powder and maby the 338-06 PLEASE

Nim
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Offline Lone Star

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2008, 09:19:15 AM »
No one here can get you any "magic" load data, and it is very rare to be able to duplicate the Federal factory loads with the powders available to handloaders. 

.338 Federal factory 180-grain loads clock 2830 fps/3201 fpe
Hodgdon's fastest .338 Fed/180 load is 47.0 grains Benchmark for 2768 fps - a MAX load.  No one - shooter or game - will ever notice a difference of only 62 fps.  Buy some Benchmark, work up the load and shoot some game.  PLEASE.    8)


.
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Offline Pinkerton

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2008, 06:10:38 PM »
Aug. issue of handloader has data for the 160gr barnes, and Ramshot TAC was producing velocity rivaling the factory rounds.
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Offline Lawful Larry

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2008, 11:14:24 AM »
I don't much worry about what the factory bullets can do against my reloads.  I haven't tried any of the smaller bullet weights.  I have worked up loads for the 200, 210 and the 215 gr. bullets.  I have used the old staples, IMR4895, 4831, 3031 and 4350.  I am getting good results and no complaints.  I would like to try the 180 gr. bullet and see how they work in my gun.  I am shooting a Kimber 84m Classic.

As to velocities, I pretty much match the books and that is all I can ask for on my hunting loads.  I am easy  to  please.       ;)
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Offline Country Boy

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2008, 05:19:45 AM »
Get a copy of the August issure of Handloader. Then buy a can of Ramshot TAC. Your problems will be solved !
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Offline Lawful Larry

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2008, 01:17:50 AM »
Quote from: Country Boy on August 07, 2008, 05:19:45 AM
Get a copy of the August issure of Handloader. Then buy a can of Ramshot TAC. Your problems will be solved !

I didn't like that lousy article on the .338 Federal.  I thought the writer did a disservice to the caliber by just using only two powders for the new caliber.  The article sounded like a commercial for this new Tac powder.  I am getting to the point where I may not being renewing my sub to Handloader.  The mag is moving away from what they did best.  I want to know about reloading and don't really want to read articles on gun  reviews.  They  need to get back to their origins. 

Am I the only one seeing this with this mag?
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Offline tn_junk

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2008, 02:13:39 AM »
Quote from: Lawful Larry on August 08, 2008, 01:17:50 AM
Quote from: Country Boy on August 07, 2008, 05:19:45 AM
Get a copy of the August issure of Handloader. Then buy a can of Ramshot TAC. Your problems will be solved !

I didn't like that lousy article on the .338 Federal.  I thought the writer did a disservice to the caliber by just using only two powders for the new caliber.  The article sounded like a commercial for this new Tac powder.  I am getting to the point where I may not being renewing my sub to Handloader.  The mag is moving away from what they did best.  I want to know about reloading and don't really want to read articles on gun  reviews.  They  need to get back to their origins. 

Am I the only one seeing this with this mag?

I will be another who does not re-up. The last few issues have been pretty much just advertising fodder- Pretty useless.

alan
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Offline jumpsteady

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2008, 03:24:42 AM »
I have not found a magic load for my .338 federal ruger m77 hawkeye yet. although if it were me and i was shooting it out of an encore i would call barnes and nosler and ask them about it. you are going to want to use a fairly fast powder so it burns completely in the 15" barrel. jmho. right now i am working with 180 accu-bonds and IMR4895. I have heard of some good results using W748. Would you please keep me inform as to what you get figured out. as soon as i get my ruger figured out i a going to get an encore in .338 federal. thanks. 

jumpsteady
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Offline Birddog 1

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2008, 06:41:12 PM »
Thanks to all that responded I have decided to go with a 338-06 instead of the Federal for one the 06 case will hold more powder and not have to compress some of the powders with a 200+ gr bullet. More powder more velocity....
Thanks again will let you all know what happens at the range when the rifle is completed. Nim
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #13 on: September 06, 2008, 05:44:57 AM »
Quote from: Nim on June 15, 2008, 04:07:57 PM
No One reloads for the 338 Federal ??????? And you all with 338/06 will the Barnes 160 gr bullet shoot in a 1/12 twist barrel ?   COME ON NOW I neeed t knooow........

                                                                      Nim

  I've been shooting the .338-06 since the late 70's...  I consider it to be my DG gun, or at least for bigger animials than deer.  SO, there's no reason for me to try a bullet lighter than 200 grain, and even those didn't pass my test to be the one bullet for everything i may run into.

  Personally, i think using light bullets for bigger calibers is a mistake and will lead to more wounded game when folks try to use them for too big of animials.

  I shoot 165 grain bullets in my 30-06, not my .338-06.

  DM
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Offline AtlLaw

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #14 on: September 06, 2008, 06:14:07 AM »
Quote from: Drilling Man on September 06, 2008, 05:44:57 AM
I shoot 165 grain bullets in my 30-06, not my .338-06.

Normally I agree with you and have long preferred heavy for caliber bullets driven at what most people would consider modest velocities.  Hi-ebber (and day always be a hi-ebber! ) the deer load for my 338/06 uses a 180 gr. Nosler BT's (no longer made  :( ) at 27 - 2800 fps.  And this year I'm playing with 180 gr. Speers in my 35 Whelen, closing in at 3k fps, thanks to Tim (Quickdtoo)  ::)  Light bullets at high velocities in the larger bores is kinda like us old men and young wimmins... we don't need them and probably can't do them justice or take full advantage of their attributes,  :-[  but DURN!!  they are FUN to play with!    ;D
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Offline Birddog 1

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #15 on: September 07, 2008, 08:50:43 AM »
I am building this 338-06 on my old 03 action and am concerned with the box magazine cant be much over standard length to fit. My o6 is a Encore and it doesn't like anything over 150gr bullets. Now there is a place E of me in Shaky Town......well one day we saw 3 350+ hogs and I said wow thems some big pigs then we saw some movement on the top of the ridge and we saw those 3 hogs parents and the only way I can describe them is that Grandpas wavos were as big as tether balls no BS 700+ so having a Encore with one shot, with a 150gr bullet I do feel under gunned. Come on 338-06  ;D

Nim

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If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to.
This is the last stand on earth.
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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear armes is as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in goverment.
Thomas Jefferson

Offline Pinkerton

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Re: Reloading the 338 Federal
« Reply #16 on: September 08, 2008, 04:57:58 PM »
Good choice, I'm sure the 338-06 will serve you well, to get back to original question, I tried the Barnes 160gr in the 338 Federal Ruger Hawkeye with H335 and it went MOA. I'll use it for deer and antelope this year.
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