225 gr. SST .338 Performance

[webbspinner]

Loaded up some SST 225's for elk season at around 2800fps, anybody have any experience with these at that velocity?  Hoping for good BC and decent penetration, so far seem to be grouping about 3/4" and not to terrible on the shoulder.    Read some reviews on the guys that were banging these out of their guns up around 3000fps and over and said they were fragile, but several said having good luck out of normal factory (2700-2800).  Appreciate the insights and thoughts, new to the 338 game but liking the thump so far.   

Also loaded some regular 225 interlocks, same load and seems to shoot pretty much same point of impact. which is pretty cool.  This will be my Elk and Black bear rifle mostly, looking for Bang-flop performance if I do my part..

[yooper77]

Are you loading them for a 338 Winchester Magnum?
 
If I were going after Elk, a Nosler Partition would be my only choice.
 
I have a 338-06 A-Square and will be working up some loads soon. I do love heavy moderate velocity bullets.
 
yooper77

[webbspinner]

It is in a 338 WM, I thought about partitions but had some hornadys from a friend, and thought I would try the SST's.  Trying to get going for this season, cant afford to by the factory stuff  and wanted a boattail round if possible.   

[Lloyd Smale]

I havent shot elk with a 338 but sure wouldnt worry about using a premium bullet to hunt them using a 338! Id bet any bullet youd stick in it would kill an elk. Thousands have been killed with 270s and 06s using cup and core bullets.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  A friend of mine and his son are using this bullet in a .338 Ultra, 338 win. and 338-06....They have had good success with it in all three rifles...in  my .338 when I had one I used Nosler Part. 210 and 250's...225 Noslers were not available then...in my 340 I have used the 210 Part., 200 grain Accubond, and 225 grain Accubond...all were excellent..compared to deer, elk are huge...one may only get a single chance during a season, as I am sure you know...personally, I want to stack the odds in my favor as much as possible...I lost one elk...it was because I did not want to try and drive a cup and core bullet though a shoulder...took what I thought was a good shot it wasn't...although we followed the elk it was lost...I switched pretty much to Nosler Accubonds, or Part. and have had great success...I guess I should add my Pal and his son pretty much hunt open country...so they can pick a shot though the lungs ...I will ask when they arrive later today, if they have had success driving this bullet though the shoulders..the bang/flop issue is also a matter of bullet placement...

[webbspinner]

Yes it certainly is, and I think so far this rifle has the ability with the current load to be very accurate, long as I do my part.  Hoping these will hold together well at 2800fps, don't care so much for the exit as long as they expend all that energy on the animal and hold together well enough to penetrate into the kill zone.  Your right you may only see 1 elk in Washington state during the season, and I would hate to be passing on a shot cause of bad angle, although I have never been a fan of a "texas heart shot" and wouldn't take that shot regardless of caliber or gun.  Was wondering about smooth bullets like accubonds (which I use in my 7mm, 270, and 300 wm.) needing crimped on a 338?  Was told that crimp was crucial but have not seen any evidence of slippage under recoil thus far.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   Web, I use the Accubonds in my .340 Wea. and 300 Wea...I have never crimped them in place and have had NO problems with slipping..best  of luck to you...If you plan on taking, due to conditions a raking shot, then I would definately have Partitions or Accubonds..Partitions would be my choice.....

[webbspinner]

I appreciate the real world experience, my goal is to have one load and bullet that I will be using in each one of my rifles, have you or do you feel there is any advantage (really) in shooting boat tails out of this rifle.  I have a hard time imagining a more than 3-4 hundred yard shot with this one, probably 200 or under is the most realistic.  I have a 7mm RM and a 300 WM as well as a 270 so I feel pretty covered from varmints thru deer at longer ranges for sure.  Thinking partitions might be the way to go for future loadings, went with 225's cause that was between the 200's and the 250's, thought that was a good compromise.  I appreciate the thoughts and experiences keep em coming.

[yooper77]

I never noticed a difference with flat based vs boat tailed bullets and I have shot Nosler Partitions at 300 yards with superb accuracy.
 
I have Nosler 210 &/or 225 grain Partitions on hand for my 338-06 A-Square if I ever get the chance to for Elk or Moose hunting and Nosler 250 grain Partitions for grizzly/brown bear.
 
I have used Nolser 200 grain Ballistic Tips for my 338-06 A-Square, but that's a deer bullet too me. I found a medium velocity load far from maximum with IMR-4320 that truly anchors white tailed deer.
 
yooper77

[webbspinner]

In the mixed bag of bullets and casings my buddy gave me there were a couple 200 gr BTs they are on my reloading bench still, everything else was the 225s.  Like I mentioned before this season was kinda trying to get up and running as cheaply as possible so I just used what was there (cause there was quite a bit) just needed powder and primers which I had.  I used IMR 4831 and stayed about 3 gr below max, and that was a compressed load.  Accuracy and pressure seem good and I think my 300 WM pre-limbsaver pad kicked alot harder w/180s.  Someday I hope to get to moose hunt, but WA state is lifetime lottery.  Still I buy my entry and build points, I think this 338 is gonna become a favorite.  Course all my rifles are favorites

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Web, the adv. of boat tail bullets is in extremely long range shooting..they drop less and the wind effects them less, and this is the chief adv...for most real world hunting, they are of little value to the average shooter...for the long range shooter be it varmits, target or game, they offer some advantages, but in a caliber like the .338 if you load toward the top end of powder charges you should easily take an elk to at least 350-400 yards with a top of the shoulder hold...it would depend on how high you are sighted in, but with most modern rifles with a sight in point of say 2.5-3" high at 100 yards you can hold on the top of and elks back and still score a leathal hit at 400...with the .338 it might be a bit less...If I were hunting open country for elk, I would be carrying your .300 win... with 180 grain Part...it will kick less an shoot flatter...regardless of what people say when sitting at a computer in a warm room, if you have put in 5-10 days hard hunting and an elk appears with in reasonable range,they are going to try it...whether they have a 308, 243 .300 ,or .338...time may be limited to estimate range, and it will probably be getting dark...this is were a bigger flat shooting rifle pays off..Having hunted elk for almost forty years, in most cases your shot will come late in the evening, and if you don't score a serious hit, it will be lost even though you killed it...you can't kill elk too dead..

[webbspinner]

  My thoughts also,  I think when I next reload I will look very hard at the partition or accubond,  the Barnes seem to be a love them or hate them deal,  was thinking the TTSX might be a good option cause of the tip hopefully initiating expansion.  Any thoughts on that?  It always really comes down to when the shot presents itself are you ready and prepared to capitalize on the opportunity.  Thank you for the reply,  I wish that the failsafe bullets were still available, I really like those, seem to be a very good bullet.  Does anyone know if the XP3 bullets are available for reloading?  Those might be worth a try.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Webb, The Barnes may work..I bought a box and never tried them..I KNOW Nosler Partitions work..they have for over 50 years...Just for the joy of experimenting one may try Barnes, but at this point from all the Pros and cons on Barnes bullets, I am not going to wear out my barrels shooting them...

[webbspinner]

Kinda one of those if it ain't broke don't fix it type of deals.  Makes sense.  That would make it a real one load, good to go pretty much regardless of what larger type critter I was currently pursuing.  I look at all the options and sometimes its the shiny things that distract me.    I gotta say the nickel cases and that little red tip bullet look awful pretty.     My wife calls em "sexy" bullets, too pretty to shoot.   

That's why I ask for opinions and points of view, otherwise I am afraid I would buy all kinds of stuff that might or might not work like I want it to.  I appreciate the thoughts and suggestions, Thanks.

[yooper77]

Too me it's impossible to outdo the Nolser Partition.
 
Barnes bullets are something I will never buy, since I don't live in the California condor range.
 
If I had to ever use lead free bullets for some crazy idea, then Nolser E-Tips would be my only choice.
 
yooper77