Author Topic: What powder to load in 338 Federal?  (Read 540 times)

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Offline Tikker

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What powder to load in 338 Federal?
« on: May 21, 2010, 01:46:41 PM »
Hi folks,

Just picked up a Tikka T3 Lite SS online, been wanting one for the longest time and planned to rebarrel my rem 700. Well long story short got one for 380$ shipped and couldn't pass it up :) Now i'm in the process of pickin up components to develope loads for it. I've setteled on the Hornady SST's in 200gr and now i'm in the market for some powder.

I've found many options from IMR 3031, IMR 4064, IMR 4895, RL 15, Varget, W748, Exterminator, & Tac from my search's online.  First i had read of RL 15 working well so i thought i would check out Ramshot's Hunter since the burnrates are so close to each other. Only then did i find that Ramshots website lists faster powders for the gun like the Exterminator and Tac which both are used in 223's, 204's and low weight 308's.

So my qeustion to those who have experience with this round, what powders have you found to preform in it the best?

Offline Mckie Hollow

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Re: What powder to load in 338 Federal?
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2010, 12:06:27 AM »
Don't own a 338 Fed., But I've always had pretty good luck with what the manuals advise. I referance all of them, and decide where to start from there. Looks like You've got it covered.

Offline Tikker

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Re: What powder to load in 338 Federal?
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2010, 06:17:10 PM »
Just checked on Barnes website to view their load data, turns out most of the manufacturer's use faster powders.....they list at Barnes RL 7, AA 2230, IMR 4198, Benchmark, & X-Terminator.

I'll stick with what they have, my Hornady manual isn't up to date on the 338fed so i'll have to go off what i find and work my way up slowly.

Can anyone explain to me why for this round the factories are loading it with faster burn rate powder's, when other 308 based bullets use med to slow for heavier bullets? Like the 243, 7mm-08 & 308 will use med to slow.. Is it because the neck of the case mouth is wider so there wouldn't as much pressure on the brass??? Still doesn't make much sense to me but i'm sure the engineer's that write the data know what their doing. Just need a perspective to understand it better. Or how the barrel channel is wider so the slower powders can't burn as effectivly. So the faster powders would maximize the use of space to burn before the space is to great to fully ignite?.......lol, i could go over it in my head and visualize but their just educated guess's

Offline Mckie Hollow

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Re: What powder to load in 338 Federal?
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2010, 04:27:32 AM »
What's wrong with RL15? Works good in My 308's, 8x57, and 350 Rem Mag.