Here We Go 1Shot/.338 Federal Hunting Load (Hunting Results)

[pbcaster45]

Well I finally got off my butt and sent in a 338 Federal case to Hornady (for my Stoney Point LOAL gage) - lets see if 1Shots advise about seating out pays off! Using reformed Remington brass (more room for powder) and seating out should give me a few more fps and hopefully, tighter groups. Now if it would just quit raining...

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/338FederalModifiedCase.jpg

[1Shot]

...Now your talking..lol... ;D This 200gr puppy is sitting on top of 46.8grs of H4895 & it's still not compressed.. ;)..comp.is 2.265...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/sqek/338fed.jpg

[1Shot]

...Have you checked for lands yet..???..lol...

[pbcaster45]

1Shot,

I just finished reforming a bag of new Remington .308 Winchester brass and I'll be checking the bullet jump in the next few days. I've got a stash of CT Ballistic Silvertips and Hornady Interlock Bullets that need testing. The 180 Nosler AccuBond shot so well I pretty much ignored the 200 gr bullets. I think seating out nearer the lands will allow the heavier bullets to finally equal the accuracy of the AccuBonds (in my rifle). It looks like I can seat all the way to the lands and still have plenty of room for magazine fit (thanks to a sensible throat length from PAC-NOR). Really would like to go to a cheaper bullet for hunting pigs and reserve the AccuBonds for something bigger like elk or mule deer.

PB

[1Shot]

...The saga continues..lol..Now that you have the primer game over...It's time to hit that .338... ;D...Mine will be tasteing deer this Nov... ;)...

[pbcaster45]

Yep! ;D

[pbcaster45]

Getting the .338 Federal test loads ready for this weekend. Now where are those 200 gr Noslers...

Test load #1

Bullet: Hornady 200 gr. SP Interlock
Powder: Hodgdon H4895 46.5 grs.
Primer: CCI-BR2
Case: Remington .308 Winchester Reformed
LOAL: 2.900 (2.233 base to ogive with Stoney Point)
Comments: Jam length is 2.251 with this bullet (base to ogive with Stoney Point Gage). This LOAL used for 0.018 bullet jump.

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/Hornady200gr338Fed.jpg

[pbcaster45]

I can't win for losin'... I got sick on Saturday and it was beautiful outside! Oh, well - I'll just go on Sunday (I'm thinking). OF COURSE IT RAINED ALL DAY! Crap! >:(

[1Shot]

I can't win for losin'... I got sick on Saturday and it was beautiful outside! Oh, well - I'll just go on Sunday (I'm thinking). OF COURSE IT RAINED ALL DAY! Crap! >:(


...Tell me about it..!!!...Missed 2-days of work & have been sick all week...I feel like I'm going through detox...I think I'm going to have to go in the gun room & open a can of powder so maybe I can shake it off...lol...I don't know what kind of bug it is but it's spreading faster than a bad rumer...

[1Shot]

...Well since MikeCTX is closing in on his bug hole..What's up with this .338...lol.. ;)...

I got to smell burned gun powder Sat. Still sick but what else is new here lately...Wifey cought me before I was heading to bed & said there were some crows out in a field down behind the house...She grabbed the range finder to get a reading...217yds. The field was open with no wind...She said well..You gonna throw 1 at them or not..I said why not...Went & grabbed the old .223 with a 50gr. Nosler load..Slid the table chair around for a rest, put a hand towel down on the top to keep from scratching things up...Slid the patio door open alittle & tried to hold her steady...Kinda a fat chance on that 1...Kinda bouncing around alittle...Thought well if nothing else click it off on the bounce...Sure enough..Lit that puppy off & seperated the crows head from his body..lol...He had his back to me..Even had time to see the hit...Conned wifey into walking down to confirm the hit...Told her I'ld take her out to eat.. :)...Hit it in the neck body junction..Perfect..lol...Patted myself on the back..lol..Got dressed & headed to town for some Crown Royal to celibrate.. ;)...I had a nice drink on the rocks...Kicked back in the recliner & took me a little nap...End of a perfect day.. ;D...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/sqek/TN.jpg

[358Hammer]

That is a good woman!
Nice shooting in keeping with the 1shot moniker!

Hope things are getting better for you.

Neal

[pbcaster45]

No shooting for me this weekend, I went bow hunting for deer! It was miserable, wet and cold but I loved it! Saw one buck worth shooting but he didn't come close enough for a clean shot (50 yards for me). Of course he would have been an easy shot with a rifle (an old story I'm sure...)

P.S. After seeing the size of that buck I'm starting to rethink the idea that the .338 Federal might be too much for whitetail! Now I think it might be just right! The 30-06 just took the #2 spot (backup rifle)

[1Shot]

..Yep..It's been rainy, windy & in the 40's lately...I know the feeling...The .338 with 200gr. Nos. CT's will get first bid... ;D...Then it's the Win. .243's turn with 85gr Sie HPBT Gamekings....Everybody say's they're the cats meow...We'll see...I know the Nos 90gr. BT's will knock the sauce out of em...lol... ;)...That's the only 1 that gets loaned out to the kin folk, so it needs to do the job...Hope you get a big 1..Be safe...

[pbcaster45]

Almost didn't go shooting this weekend because of the wind - but I'm glad I did. Did see improvement from seating closer to the lands! All five shot groups fired at 100 yards.

My fireforming load:

#1
Bullet: Nosler 180 gr. AccuBond
Powder: Hodgdon H4895 46.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Remington .308 Winchester Reformed
LOAL: 2.810
Groups Size: 0.896

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/180grAccuBondFireformingHuntingLoad.jpg

#2
Bullet: Nosler 180 gr. AccuBond
Powder: Hodgdon H4895 47.0 grs.
Primer: CCI-200
Case: Remington .308 Winchester Reformed
LOAL: 2.886 (2.239 base to ogive with Stoney Point)/0.020 Bullet Jump
Groups Size: 0.722

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/Nosler180grAccuBond.jpg

#3
Bullet: Hornady 200 gr. SP Interlock
Powder: Hodgdon H4895 47.0 grs.
Primer: CCI-200
Case: Remington .308 Winchester Reformed
LOAL: 2.900 (2.233 base to ogive with Stoney Point) 0.018 Bullet Jump
Group Size: 1.065

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/Hornady200grSP.jpg

#4
Bullet: Nosler 200 gr. Ballistic Silvertip
Powder: Hodgdon H4895 46.0 grs.
Primer: CCI-200
Case: Remington .308 Winchester Reformed
LOAL: 2.960 (2.254 base to ogive with Stoney Point) 0.018 Bullet Jump
Group Size: 0.800

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/Nosler200grBallisticSilvertip.jpg

Much as I like the 180 gr AccuBonds I'm probably going to switch to the Hornady 200 gr Spitzer to cut down on costs...

[1Shot]

...Take that 200gr. Nosler load to .015 off the lands & bump that powder to 46.4grs of H4895... ;)

[pbcaster45]

1Shot,

I will, just being conservative! Hey! If anyone from Nosler is reading this stuff how's about bringing back the .338 Cal 180 gr Ballistic Tip! I loved the AccuBond but my wallet doesn't!! ;D

[1Shot]

..Yup.. Nosler is soo proud of them on price they should'nt run out... >:(..

[pbcaster45]

It's getting too close to deer/rifle season now - got to back off on the experimenting and sight-in for business. It's a toss up between the Nosler 180 gr AccuBond and the Hornady 200 gr SP. I'll probably go with the Nosler and chronograph the load/sight-in this weekend. Wish I had more time, Hodgdon/IMR is quoting some really interesting velocities with IMR 8208 XBR. That's a powder I'm not familiar with - has anybody else used it in a .308 Winchester family cartridge?

PB

P.S. Well, I guess IMR 8208 XBR isn't available yet - Dang!

[1Shot]

It's getting too close to deer/rifle season now - got to back off on the experimenting...


..I know what you mean..Just traded for a 25-06...I'll play with it after deer season...Going to make it my groundhog-yote pounder with 75gr V-Max or Nosler 85gr BT's...3700-3800fps should get the job done...lol...I know alot of guy's that liked the old 8082 in their 6ppc's...

[pbcaster45]

I did a little fine tuning with the Hornady 200 gr InterLock and decided the small accuracy advantage with the Nosler 180 gr. AccuBond wasn't worth worrying about. I still need to chronograph the load - I'm hoping to get at least 2500 fps. No signs of excess pressure and the powder is not compressed. I'm at little over Hornady's recommended maximum charge but the Remington cases have a little more capacity than Federals and I'm seating out for 0.023 bullet jump. The blind magazine measures about 2.900 - 2.904 and this gives me a little bit of room for function. I think this will be good medicine for any whitetail deer worth taking.

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/Hornady200grSP100yards.jpg

Bullet: Hornady 200 gr. SP Interlock
Powder: Hodgdon H4895 47.5 grs.
Primer: CCI-200
Case: Remington .308 Winchester Reformed
LOAL: 2.895 (2.228 base to ogive with Stoney Point)
Comments: Jam length is 2.251 with this bullet (base to ogive with Stoney Point Gage). This LOAL used for magazine fit, 0.023 bullet jump. Five shot group at 100 yards measured 0.842.