.338 Federal Load Work Part II

[pbcaster45]

It's been almost a year since I did any serious work with my stash of Nosler 180 gr. Ballistic Tips so last week I got started again. I've already got a good hog/deer load for my rifle using the Hornady 200 gr. SP Interlock but the Ballistic Tip should be pretty good too. Here's how the Ballistic Tip was working last year.

[img width=366 height=450]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/Nosler180grBT100yards.jpg[/img]

This load used reformed .308 Remington brass. I've got a good supply of unprimed .338 Federal brass now so I decided to stick with those. Hodgdon H4895 has always work great in my Model 11 but I decided to work up some loads with Accurate 2230-C just to see how ball powder would do. I'm a little leery about using ball powder during the cold deer/rifle season so I'll probably stay with H4895 when hunting.

Here are the chronograph results with the above load (but using Federal cases this time). Barrel is a PAC-NOR, 24 inch, 1 in 10 twist, 3-groove.

Bullet: Nosler 180 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: Hodgdon H4895 46.0 grs.
Primer: CCI-200
Case: Federal
LOAL: 2.895 (2.250 base to ogive with Stoney Point)
Avg. Velocity: 2674.02 fps
Spread: 39.97
Std Dev: 15.81
Comments: Seated to fit the magazine, 0.043 jump to lands. Five shots group at 100 yards measured one inch.

And my initial load using Accurate 2230-C.

Bullet: Nosler 180 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: Accurate 2230-C 45.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 215
Case: Federal
LOAL: 2.895 (2.250 base to ogive with Stoney Point)
Avg. Velocity: 2629.39 fps
Spread: 23.45
Std Dev: 10.19

And here is the second ball powder load tested today (96° F - Ugh!)

Bullet: Nosler 180 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: Accurate 2230-C 46.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 215
Case: Federal
LOAL: 2.895 (2.250 base to ogive with Stoney Point)
Avg. Velocity: 2692.53 fps
Spread: 21.54
Std Dev: 10.81

I forgot to measure the 100 yard group but here's a picture (4 shots).

[img width=600 height=398]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/180grBallisticTipsat100yards.jpg[/img]

Pressure signs looks normal on all loads. More to come...

Hope I didn't put anybody to sleep! ;D

[1Shot]

..What was the 1 at 6:00 from..???..If you didn't pull it..More powder..lol..

[pbcaster45]

1 Shot,

Well... they were factory seconds! ::) Affirmative, I will be using more powder!

Yep, that's the ticket!

[1Shot]

Well... they were factory seconds! ::) Affirmative, I will be using more powder!

Yep, that's the ticket!

...Not much on factory seconds, but I'ld still bump it a 1/2 grain... .5 tenths... ;D

[1Shot]

..drum roll..and....

[pbcaster45]

1Shot,

I gotcha! Maybe this weekend if its not crazy HOT! :P

[pbcaster45]

I made it to the range today but it was not much fun... just too hot! :P I upped the charge with Accurate 2230-C but I was too conservative - no improvement in accuracy and less velocity! Less velocity? I don't know why!

Bullet: Nosler 180 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: Accurate 2230-C 46.4 grs.
Primer: Federal 215
Case: Federal
LOAL: 2.895 (2.250 base to ogive with Stoney Point)
Avg. Velocity: 2680.18 fps
Spread: 42.08
Std Dev: 15.84

[pbcaster45]

Now that the heat wave is over and fall is almost here I've been working on a new .338 Federal hunting load again. Accurate 2230-C has been shooting great (five shot, 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards) but I just don't like using ball powders in cold hunting conditions. I've been using 8208 XBR and it looks like a great powder if you want velocity. We were letting some teens try out our rifles today so I didn't get to shoot for groups - but I did get the chronograph results. IMPRESSIVE! Even 1Shot should be happy! Normal extraction, rounded primers - I could probably push it some more (don't want to!)

Bullet: Nosler 180 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: IMR 8208 XBR 48.0 grs
Primer: CCI-BR2
Case: Federal
LOAL: 2.895 (2.250 base to ogive with Stoney Point)
Avg. Velocity: 2768.83 fps
Spread: 20.29
Std Dev: 6.63

The entire string.
#01 2780.83 fps
#02 2763.06 fps
#03 2766.85 fps
#04 2762.43 fps
#05 2774.46 fps
#06 2760.54 fps
#07 2775.73 fps
#08 2763.69 fps
#09 2768.11 fps
#10 2764.95 fps

[1Shot]

...A 180 grainer at 2700 is more than enough..lol...

[Sharpshooter_308]

I've had good luck with 8208 and 185 TTSX. Don't remember my load (not at home right now$ but was getting 2690 out of a 20 inch barrel with 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups. Now, just need to shoot something with it and see how it does.

[pbcaster45]

Hopefully I'll be able to shoot some groups this weekend with the 8208 load and see what the accuracy is. I am so ready to go deer hunting! Didn't get anything last year so I'm really feeling the pressure! I'm shooting better than ever with my bow, the muzzle loader is ready, still need to do a little work with my .260 Remington and the .338 Federal.

[pbcaster45]

Got out for a little practice today - not one of my better days. Don't really see the need to tinker much more with this load. I think I'll start varying the charge of IMR 8208 XBR from 47.5 to 48.0 to see if I can hit an accuracy node but I know this is already good enough for whitetail/hog hunting.

[img width=600 height=397]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/SavageRobar338Federal.jpg[/img]

Five shots at 100 yards with 8208 XBR and the Nosler 180 gr. Ballistic Tip

[img width=600 height=421]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/pbcaster45/Nosler180grBTGroup.jpg[/img]

[1Shot]

...How hot was the bbl. on that group.. ???...Two groups mean more powder to me..lol..

[pbcaster45]

Yep, the barrel was getting pretty warm - spent too much time jawing with the guys and got in a rush toward the end!