Does anyone have any pet loads for a 348 Winchester?

[Bigboar]

Does anyone have any pet loads for a 348 Winchester?  I am thinking of using Hawk bullets in 200 grain or less.  250 grain loads would be appreciated but more than I need for now.

Thanks,

bigboar

[Savage]

http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=348&Weight=200&type=rifle&Order=Powder&Source=


http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=348&Weight=All&type=rifle&Order=Velocity&Source=


Check the powder manufacturer's sites for more load data.
Savage

[Dand]

I'll try to look some up tomorrow - too late tonight.

But I'd suggest staying with 200 gr or greater bullets - depending on what you plan to hunt.  Hawk bullets are good but I wasn't very impressed with the 180 gr Hawks on a caribou at 60 yds.  It could have been my load - it may have been too light but neither of 2 shots totally penetrated and it took 2 shots to put it down.  It was an average or slightly below avg bull.  Temps were cold, maybe 10F below zero or so and like I say the load might have been on the light side.  Still, at 60 yds I'd expect a bullet to exit.  Both bullets went thru at least 1 shoulder blade and stopped against the skin.  Jackets separated on both.

I think a 200 to 220 might carry better.

The Hawks are accurate in all weights I've tried.  Lately I have concentrated on cast loads in 240 to 250 gr range.  Would love to take a moose or caribou with a cast bullet.  Have to agree, the 250's are bone jarring to work with.  For jacketed I have been accumulating Barnes bullets.  Be careful with Barnes, quite some years ago they changed the nose profile or cannelure placement on the 250 and I had to fiddle with seating depth from the older (early 90's)  design vs late 90's. The Hornady is a decent bullet and since they are the most readily available I use them for practice or with a new powder.  Would prefer the 230+ jacketed for large animals though.

I have been mostly using 4350 and the 4831's  (H, IMR, AA 3100) with good results.  Haven't had as good results with 4320 or 3031.  The load I used on the caribou featured  Rx7 if I recall.  A friend from BC who might chime in here had great luck with Reloader 19.  I finally got my hooks on that powder but haven't tried it yet - come to think of it he was concentrating on cast bullets.

Dang, I have 20 cases sitting on the bench for 9 months waiting for powder and bullets.  Just haven't gotten to it.  Time to start, hunting season approaches. 

Good luck with a good old odd-ball caliber.

[Dand]

to follow up my post from last night:

First off - all loads listed worked in my gun but should be approached with caution in other guns.  I make no claims for safety.

for the 180 gr Hawk I have used 44 to 45 gr of Rx 7, CCI 200 primer, WW brass to get about 2500 fps but there was a 126 fps range from hi to lo in a 5 shot string - maybe not enough crimp.  No record on accuracy.

180 Hawk, 52 to 52.5 gr IMR 4895, CCI 200, WW brass gave about 2400 fps and good accuracy.

Some folks have warned that the soft jackets of Hawk bullets require one to approach max loads with caution so I have been cautious.

for 200 gr Hornady

I tried H and IMR 4831 but got low velocities and went to:

200 Hornady,  59.5 IMR 4350,  CCI 200 or Win large Rifle, WW brass for 2300 to 2400 fps and fair to good accuracy.

200 Gr Hornady, 52 to 53 gr IMR 4895, CCI 200, WW brass, for 2400 to 2450 fps and good accuracy - mild shooting.

200 Gr Hornady,  61 gr H450, CCI 200, WW brass, no chrono but noted better accuracy than 60.5 gr of H 450.

200 Horn 43gr  Rx7 Fed 210, WW brass, chrono 2343 accurate at 50 yds

New (1991) Factory Win ammo, 200 gr silvertip chrono 5 rounds at 30F  2281-2365 avg 2324, accurate, from 24 inch bbl, original mod 71 dlx. (same rifle used for all data here).

220 gr bullets - I think this is a great bullet wt in this cartridge.

220 Speer (old stock I found) 54.5 gr IMR 4350, CCI 200, WW brass - mild and accurate, no chrono work.I'm hoarding these bullets until I find a good load for 220 Barnes then will try the speers.

220 Barnes Original, 56.5 IMR 4350, CCI 200, WW brass 4 rounds chrono 2207-2267 avg 2237 I noted that I might try a little more powder.

220 Barnes O, 63 gr AA 3100, CCI 200, WW brass chrono avg 2326 and good accuracy for me (2.5 in at 75 yds iron sites)

250 gr bullets _ Jacketed

250 Barnes originals 53-54 gr of IMR 4350, CCI 200, WW brass, gets about 2150 fps and good accuracy (2.5 " at 75 yd).

250 Hawk 57- 58.5 gr H 4831, CCI 200,  Rem or WW cases chrono at 1919 to 2120 fps with ok accuracy - like 58.5 gr and WW cases better. Rem cases were real old but unfired.

250 Barnes O (old style) 45.5 to 46 gr of H 4895, CCI 200, WW cases chrono 2170 and good accuracy - I note to add .5 gr to the 46 gr load as it seemed mild.  Also noted to be careful with case trimming, overall cart length and bullet seating depth.

250 Barnes O, 59 gr AA3100, CCI 200, WW brass chrono 2161 for 6 shots  no accuracy notes.

CAST bullets

250 g  cast CG Doudna cast NEI mould 59.5 g H 4831, CCI 200, WW brass,  chrono 2021 to 2061 at 35 F good accuracy at 2 inches at 75-80 yds.

250 gr cast GC (2 different moulds, Doudna and unknown), 57.5 to 59.2 AA 3100,  CCI 200, Rem cases chrono avg 2018 to 2116 best accuracy at 59 gr. (1.5 " at 75 yds).

Favorit cast 250 load
250 gr gc (Doudna cast) 58.5 IMR 4831, CCI 200, WW brass, chrono at 2138 fps and 2.5"at 75 to 100 yds.

OTHER LOADS

From my BC Canada buddy:

250-260 gr cast (NEI mould) 56 gr R19, 8 gr PSB filler,  Rem 9.5, WW brass- chrono 2150- Barry is sold on the PSB filler.  I haven't tried it yet.
or
250-260  gr cast,  60 gr R19, 6 gr PSB filler, - no primer mentioned - probably Rem 9.5, and WW brass.

He says to be sure there is no air space in  the cartridge when using the filler.

In all loads with the 348 watch for case stretching and keep overall cart length so that bullets don't jam on the rifling. Especially with cast loads that you might not fire.  I once had a bullet stick in the barrel when I ejected the unfired case - a mess of powder in the gun and potentally dangerous if I'd tried to lever in another load and fired - probably would have had a jam before firing but one must be careful.

HTH

Dan