.338 bullet for velocities of around 2000fps

[HHI 812]

Searching for bullets that would work around the 2000fps range. Most .338 bullets are made for higher velocities, so wondering what you .338 pistol shooters have had great luck with? Thanks for any info! Dennis

[Tapper]

HHI 812,

I do not have any experience w/ the performance that you seek. However, I am also considering a 338 cal single shot pistol for deer and bear. I am thinking the Nosler BT in 200 or 180 would do well. I also discussed some things with the folks at Hawk Custom Bullets, Salem, NJ. 856-299-2800. They have good information on their web sight @ hawkbullets.com. and were very helpful when I called. If they do not have the bullet you need in their standard line up, they will make a run of a few boxes for you. They can adjust the performance of their pure lead w/ pure copper jacket by using different jacket thicknesses.

So, if you don't get any 'hard evidence' feedback here, perhaps the folks at Hawk can help you get what you need.

Good luck, and good hunting,

Tapper

[HHI 812]

they said their X bullets, the lighter weights, needs 1400fps minimum for expansion. Well within what I was looking for. Still waiting word from Nosler, since their .30 125 and 150 BT worked great in my little .300 Whisper. My .338 contender barrel is a 10" stainless .338 Whisper barrel. I considered the bigger cased .338 chamberings, but I wanted a short 10" packable barrel, and the bigger chamberings require a longer barrel. The little barrels just feels better for me. Thanks for the tip on Hawk. Will check it out. Being a cast bullet nut too, I'm looking at having a bullet mold made also. Cheaper to shoot, and if cast right, will work like the X bullets! Thanks, Dennis

[Glen]

I did a T/C wildcat up about 10 years ago, based on the .356 Winchester case necked down to .338 and improved (.338 GEF).  From a 12" T/C the 200 are going 2100, 225s at 2000 and the 250s at 1900.  After taking about 10 head of big game and performing a variety of expansion tests with this gun the results seem to indicate that the Hornady 200 SP expands only slowly and penetrates quite deeply at this velocity (ran one lengthwise diagonally through a mulie).  The 200 Nosler BT is absolutely superb at this speed -- expands, penetrates and exits.  The 200 Speer also seems to expand pretty well (although I haven't been able to squeeze the same level of accuracy out of it that I've gotten from the Hornady and Nosler).  The 210 Nosler Partition is too hard and doesn't expand from this gun.  The 225 and 250 Partitions seem to do just fine, and are my preferred elk bullets for this gun.  I believe that the 250 Speer Grand Slam is also a good bullet at this speed, but I haven't shot anything with it yet.

Bottom line -- for this velocity range, my first choice for deer/antelope sized game would be the 200 Ballistic Tip, with the 200 Speer as a back-up.  For elk sized critters, I'd go with the 250 grain Partition.  For close range hunting, the 200 grain Hornady FP is excellent.

[HHI 812]

I have your article right in front of me, about when you developed that round, and felt that is one of the best articles I have ever read, on creating your wildcatt. Always wanted to get hold of you from way back then, when you wrote the article. You mind e-mailing me at dmadriaga@ascg.com Would like to learn some things from you. Really like all of your articles in Sixgunner! Thanks, Dennis