Thread: Reloading for 338federal

So, I'm about to start reloading for my 338 federal,

18 inch barrel, and have some cutting edge maximus 175gr for supersonic load, and 280gr peregrine for subsonic load.

I have on hand rl17, rl15, lilgun, n110, - has anyone loaded this cal here that has a good powder for around a 175gr projectile ? Was thinking the better powder would be 2206h or h332 ? Any real world experience ?

Would like to be round 2600-2700 for the 175gr super load - planning on shooting out to 400m.

And the subload I was obviously going to aim for 1050fps probably with the n110 powder out to 150ish metres.

And I have some federal 210 primers sitting here to use.

you are going to get one hell of drop at 150 mtr.
In my 358 win I run a 220 gr lead hp sub sonic but would not use them past 50 mtr due to the drop.
I then run a pistol 158 gr HP at 1650 fps and then my full loads 225gr at >2400 fps. I don't change my point of aim.

at 50mtr the subs are 4-6" low, the 158gr are at zero, and the 225gr are 2" high.
I used Trail-boss for the subs and pistol bullets, then Varget (2208) for the full power loads.

My experience is that the subsonic tends to just drill a hole and are not that great apart for use as a point blank finishing shoot.
Did drill a sika hind earlier this year with a sub sonic but I think the pistol bullets are more effective. (mostly used on goats)
Z

45gr of AR2219 behind the 180gr Accu-bond is my favorite load. 2600fps from 17" barrel.

That sounds pretty good, I was going to run 175 cutting edge as have heaps of them - get a normal super load going with these then when I can be bothered do a sub load. But 2219 seems to be good speeds with the 180gr.

Another good super load bullet is the 160gr TTSX.
With the subs i tried 315gr soft cast. While they didn't group too well they were acceptable but poi too sideways from super load.
The 300gr sierra mk would group 1" @ 100 and in line so just used ballistic reticle to lob them in. These would tumble inside like the wisper guys said but erratically often at 90deg off coarse. I hollowed them and got better kills but not by much.
The Lehigh controlled fractioning were the best i used. These would open up well, either cutting like a broadhead or breaking off the petals like buckshot.
1-9" twist barrel is needed for the subs unless you find a short bullet that groups.
Trailboss powder was easy to load but i got better results from the same weight of AR2205 and a dacron packer.
Probably the best advice for subs is neck tension. My loads really came good after annealing.
Hopefully i dont start a punch up with guys who don't agree with my results. Take from it what you want

Any real world results are awesome.to hear. I have about 100 peregrine subs still, 280gr. So I'll try them when it comes to a sub load. Would be great for bush stalking etc. Especially during the roar. Switch out to the sub load etc whe ready.

Originally Posted by Larskramer

Any real world results are awesome.to hear. I have about 100 peregrine subs still, 280gr. So I'll try them when it comes to a sub load. Would be great for bush stalking etc. Especially during the roar. Switch out to the sub load etc whe ready.

During the roar would be the worst time to use sub sonics

And why would that be ?

Originally Posted by Larskramer

And why would that be ?

Just don’t see the point, not targeting multiple animals in close proximity so silence doesn’t matter…

Stags are usually a bit harder to kill in roar so why limit yourself with subs?

I don’t have real world experience with a 338fed using subs but have used cast irons and subx in 308, certainly wouldn’t use them in the roar and risk losing a stag of a lifetime, if I wanted to make it more difficult on myself I would take the bow

actually taking the bow is VERY VERY relevant comparison...as an arrow and a subsonic projectile are just about identical in how they kill...next to no shock ,just a pathway cut through.....the bigger the pathway the faster the bleeding...subs in central nervous system are or course different kettle of fish but one would guess an arrow in same place would be too. using either,a slight miss of your mark will make a long messy tracking job or wounded animal getting away.