Win mod 70 338 win mag loads

[jarv442]

I have a Winchester model 70 with the BOSS system and am just starting to build up a load. I have a box of Hornady 225 grain Spire Point and have 2 powders on hand for working this up. IMR 4831 and IMR 4320. Between the two, to me, it would seem that the 4831 would be the better of the two as I can get 2805 fps with the max of 73.5 grains (compressed) vs 2642 fps with 59 grains max with the 4320, according to the books. Not that I would use the max on either. The barrel is 24 inches then the BOSS starts. I hope to use these on my Moose hunt in October. I also have a box of 180 grain Spitzer Ballistic tip that I am going to load for Deer. Any one have any Pet loads for these. Any suggestions? I would rather use the cans of powder I have but if you can convince me to get another can so be it. I have been shooting mostly federal factory loads and the gun can shoot way better than I can make it shoot. Thanks for any help.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  442, The last .338 I had I used reloader 19, but I think one would be just as well off with IMR 4831. If you can locate some of Hagel's stuff, he gave lots of loads for the .338. When he said a load was max. approach with caution, he meant it. I used the .338 on several deer, antelope, and one elk. It was a killer for sure, but I didn't like the excessive drop with the 250's. Anything it could do with 180's or 200's I could easily do with a .30 cal. I think I would use IMR 4831 and the 225's. Those bullets really pack a punch when they hit.

[Autorim]

I would use the 225's and 4831. Mine likes the 225 Nosler Partition and IMR 4350. I tend to shoot heavy for caliber bullets in all calibers. To me the 200 - 250's are ideal for the .338.

[jarv442]

 Just had a chance to post results of the first batch of reloads. Not happy so far with the results from the imr 4831. The first thing I had noticed was the max loads range from 69.8 - 78.0 gr,which brought the starting load according to one source almost at the max load according to another. My heads - 225gr SP IL. I started off with 5 rounds for each load with cci and Winchester primers (wanted to use some Federal, still looking). I wanted to have a starting goal so I brought a box of federal factory loads with the same head to compare. They had an average speed of 2,737 fps at 4' from the muzzle. I loaded 64,65,66, and 67 grains in each and speeds ranged from 2235 average for 64 grains to 2299 average for 67 grains with no noticeable difference in speed between the primers. No deformation of the brass also.One of the sources state that their max is 73.5 gr compressed so the next loads I don't think I should go beyond 73 gr for this powder. The next loads I will try for this powder will be 69,70,71 and 72 gr. all while watching for any indication of overpressure.The other powder I have to try is imr 4320. I am still looking for some imr 4350. I was looking to at least match the factory loads, we will see what happens. Any one have any other suggestions?

[huntducks]

My Suggestion is

RL-19 210gr Nosler Part. W/215GM primer if you can't find the FC primers try Rem 9.5M

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  The load ducks suggested is the one I found best with my last .338. I have the old notes somewhere on this caliber.  As I remember, to get speeds close to what the fact. claimed, one had to load very heavy.  Several folks her found their favorite load for the 250's were moving out around 2500 fps rather than 2700.  I finally had one .338 changed to a long throat. That helped some. The 26 inch barreled one helped even more.

[johk01]

I'll concur with huntducks on the R-19 and the Nosler 210 Partition. That's what I use in my Sako

[jarv442]

Got results from my second round at the range and I am happy with the results. I didn't want to change the powder, IMR 4831, untill I tried it some more. What I came up with is as follows. All are average speeds and the spread between all shots for each round were around 25 fps which is way better than the factory spread of 85 fps. 69 gr - 2636 fps. 70 gr - 2676 fps. 71 gr 2740 fps. 72 gr - 2803 fps. 72.5 gr - 2813. With all of these I still used cci and winchester primers but with this batch of shots there was a noticeable difference between the two with the winchester primers giving an average of 17.8 fps faster speed not much but the rest of my reloading will be with the winchesters. All shots were at 100 yards and by the time I was finished 90 percent of the shots could have been covered by two quarters. My next round I will start to fine tune for accuracy now that I have gotten to and past the factory speed of 2737 fps avg. I think I am going to load 71.6, 72 and 72.4 and see which gives the best group and go with that. Thanks for all your help. I will post results after my next round.

[jarv442]

Just got back from my Moose hunt and I am glad to say I was success-full  on the opening day with a 560 lb. dressed, 30" rack bull. We busted brush till about 1:30 and took a break at the truck to have a little something to eat. While sitting there here come this, it looked like a giant woolly mammoth to me, bull stopping just off the edge of the woods looking at us. I jumped out of the truck, grabbed a few rounds and get one in the chamber, getting to the edge of the road asking Giby, my uncles brother in law who was guiding me, if it looked like a shooter and he said it looked good and if I was going to shoot do it now before another car came up the road and it took off back the way it came. The location of it made my decision for me so I took the shot, he was quartering towards me so I got the shot as close to the shoulder as I could. He just walked out like nothing happened. The next one he was crossing directly across and the I put the  shot right thru both lungs, he shuttered a little and walked away. I put another one in the same spot and he just walked into the woods like nothing happened. All this happened in 20-30 seconds max. Going back to the truck we decide to wait a little prior to going after him. My father in law went up to where he went into the woods and said we don't have to wait he was right there. 100 feet into the woods exactly, that is the length of the cable on the winch we used to get him out. Here are a few Pics.

[watkibe]

Good Job ! Like they say, the best place to shoot a moose is next to the truck !

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Great Job. Love shooting those moose.  Is this a Maine bull???