[MikeG]

Anybody got a good cast bullet load for the .338 Win Mag?  I've got a box of 250 gr. LFNGC's that need to be sent downrange.

I'd be especially appreciative if someone could come up with a load using Blue Dot, as it's one of the few pistol powders that I have which might be suitable.  I know Marshall has used Blue Dot with cast bullet loads in the '06 with success.

My Lyman cast bullet handbook shows loads with Green Dot.  If nothing else I may work from the Green Dot data.

 

[pourboy]

Hi Mike, I have used 15 gr. of Unique in my 338 Win. Mag. under a 250 gr. LBT with complete satisfaction. As I recall, it chronos about 1500 FPS. Accuracy was exceptional!! Please use this load with caution, it was extrapolated from 358 Norma Mag data, but should be okay up to 18-19 grains. Ain't it a pain to find good .338 cast bullet data??

 

[MikeG]

Thank you!

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Mike,

Interesting the Unique load posted above is one of my favorites, as is using the .339"-250g LFNGC over 17.0g Blue Dot, again around 1500 fps depending upon barrel length.  Too, 20.0g 2400 is a great load for these reduced velocity purposes in the .338 Win Mag.  Just make sure the bullets slightly engage the lands in the throat when a round is chambered, and they'll shoot very, very well!

I've popped Oregon Blacktail deer with these loads in the orchards doing some agricultural depredation work in days gone by, and they were quite effective when the noses were annealled.

Enjoy, and God Bless,

Marshall Stanton

 

[MtnGun]

Marshall,

Have you ever used full loads with that 250gr cast bullet?

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Yes,

In a Ruger KM77MKII, that I had specifically throated for the long forward driving band of the .339"-250g LFNGC bullet, so that the base of the bullet and gas check were flush with the bottom of the neck in the brass when loaded.

Once the throat was lengthened to accomodate this bullet, it would shoot sub MOA groups on demand using 74.0g IMR4831/WLRP/Win Brass.

A real sledgehammer on game out to 300+ yards!

The gun never did shoot this bullet well until the throat was altered however, as the bullet was seated too deeply into the case in order to chamber, and the bottom lube groove was exposed to the powder/hot expanding gasses on ignition.

This bullet also shot relatively well in a Sako Handi-Hunter model that was manufactured for a limited time, having an 18 1/2" barrel.  The throat in this gun was long enough for the bullet as it came from the factory.  Although not as predictable as the re-throated Ruger, it would still shoot into about 1 5/8" at 100 yards with monotonous regularity using the .339"-250g LFNGC.

Hope this helps!

God Bless,

Marshall