Hornady 250g RN 338 bullets for Medium Game?

[usherj]

I have a couple boxes of these and was considering loading them to around 2300 fps for a nice brush country load in my 338WM for whitetails, but am concerned about expansion since hornady lists them for large game only in their application guide. Does anyone have any experience with this bullet at lower velocities for medium game? Thanks

[DJWright]

They work just fine. I like to shoot for the shoulder bone myself, and penetrate thru the off shoulder if possible. They don't ruin much meat and will punch on thru from about any angle. I use a .375 Ruger with handloaded 300 gr. Hornady's right at 2,300 for this sort of thing myself, and the .338s will perform the same.
Good huntin!

[Drilling Man]

  When ever "i" tried them, they were always too soft for the biggest big game, so maybe they will be just right for deer?    OR, perhaps they have toughened them up by now?

  DM

[usherj]

They are in old "vintage", pre-interlock boxes but carry the same #(3330). Maybe the newer interlock design is the toughening up you mentioned. Thanks for the replies.

[bigswede]

I loaded some of them up in my 338 a few years ago right at 2450 fps and they performed great on a whitetail buck I shot.  I hit him right behind the shoulder at about 35 yds, he ran maybe 30 feet spraying blood out both sides as he ran. It was pretty neat.  Load some up I think you'll be happy with the results.