Load Work for Ruger MkII 338Win Mag

[358Win]

250gr Nosler Accubond

Started my load work with Nosler bullets today and only tried the 210gr Partition using three powders IMR4350, H4350, IMR7828. Best accuracy for the day was no better than 2 1/2" group and best velocity was 2936fps.

Will be adjusting OAL and also using some RL-19 that I have not used yet. If the RL-19 and adjusting OAL on the H4350 load does not improve accuracy of the 210gr I will be focusing on the other Nosler bullets I have.

I will be testing tomorrow the 200gr Accubond, 250gr Accubond and 250gr Partition. Have already completed the the load work with the 215gr Sierra SBT using Remington Brass, 215 Fed Primers, 73grs of H4350 with accuracy ranging between 1/2" and 7/8" at 100yds, moving at 2907fps.

 

[martyj]

I lost my reload data in the divorce but 4350 will load that up very well and my tang ruger shot like a dream with Nosler 210 partition. I was using 4831 and that is easier on the shoulder but velocity drops off a little.
I might yet have to pull a few reloads apart and see just how much is in them but I do know it was over 3000 fps.
I dont need it to go that fast just wanted it to coinside with my Sheperd scope range reticles.
Good rifle good cartridge
That last load looks like a good one to me with sierra brsp and 4350

 

[358Win]

Well, the process continues with some good new today and some not so good news.

First the 200gr Accubonds shot good and I got good velocities. Using only IMR4350 and H4350 today with the 200gr Accubond I had the following results.

200gr Accubond, Remington Brass, 215 Fed primers, IMR4350 (start at 71grs work up), .879" group moving at 3019fps on average.

200gr Accubond, Remington Brass, 215 Fed primers, H4350 (start at 70grs work up), 1 1/2" group moving at 2989fps on average.

250gr Accubonds were not accurate and velocity was only 2601fps and 250gr Partitions shot a little better and velocity was only 2606fps using for both bullets H4831sc.

I will have to wait for my new brass to get here to continue my work but I am going to use the 200gr Accubond on deer instead of the 215gr Sierra and using RL-19 and RL-17 (if I can get some 17) might increase velocities. If it does and accuracy stays the same or improves the 200gr Accubond is a player. Also, will continue to work with 210gr Partition using RL-19.

 

[358Win]

Back in business, my 50 pieces of new brass came into today. Will be trying RL-19 with the 210gr Partition and RL-22 with the 250gr Accubond and Partition. Also will be using Rem 9 1/2 Mag primers.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

No H4831??? It's all I use in a 338.

 

[358Win]

No H4831??? It's all I use in a 338.

I used it and did not get near the velocities that H4350, IMR4350, RL-19 and RL-22 give. It was not the most accurate I tested so far either.

 

[358Win]

Just a slight change in my approach than was planned.

Tomorrow morning I will be testing H4350, IMR4350, RL-19 with the 200gr Accubond and 210gr Partition using CCI250 primers. I believe I have corrected the COL for the 210gr Partition, should have better luck tomorrow with this bullet.

I will be testing RL-22 with the 250gr Accucbond using CCI250 primers. Also, have adjusted the COL of thie 250gr Accubond giving it just a little more of a jump than before.

Yes, tomorrow should be fun and interesting.

 

[358Win]

This morning was quit a revelation to say the least. I tried RL-19 and H4350 in a head to head battle in the lighter bullets 200gr Accubond, 210gr Partition and 215gr Sierra SBT.

First - the CCI250 primers using the above powders and Rem New Brass gave more velocity and better accuracy than the 215 Fed primers in my Ruger Mk II 338Win Mag with a 24" barrel using the same powders, bullets and brass.

Second - the two best preforming bullets in my Ruger were in this order - the 200gr Accubond with an COL of 3.407" giving a group size of .685" moving at 3047fps on average in front of H4350 using Remingtion New Brass and CCI250 primers. The 215gr Sierra SBT with an COL of 3.400" giving a group size of .789" moving at 2972fps on average in front of H4350 using Rem New Brass and CCI250 primers.

Third - with the 210gr Partition I did not get good accuracy and RL-19 with a compressed charge only gave me 2879fps where as H4350 gave me 2948fps with a compressed charge and neither powder gave an accurate group but the H4350 load was more accurate with the CCI250 primer than with the Fed 215 primer.

Fourth - the 250gr Accubond with a max charge of RL-22 only gave 2678fps and accuracy was not better with this bullet than the last time I tried it with H4831. The 250gr Partition is more accurate and gave similar velocities.

I need to try and will after my hunt in Missouri on white tail, the 225gr Accubond and Partition. The 200gr Accubond will be the bullet I will be using in Missouri. At 3047fps what ever it hits it will rock and shake it for sure.

After three days in a row of shooting the 338Win Mag I think I will give my shoulder a rest :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[martyj]

How many grains of powder in the 4350 load with the 215 grain sierra bt?

 

[358Win]

How many grains of powder in the 4350 load with the 215 grain sierra bt?

Start at 71 and work up grain at a time and you will find velocity and accuracy. I do not give out top loads I have developed for my rifle because all chambers are different and therefore so are pressures.

 

[martyj]

Nothing personal but wasnt about to try your top loads out in my rifle just wanted a relative starting point to where I was and thinking 71 gr with a 210 bullet is towards the bottom.

 

[martyj]

Cant help but think that bullet in a 220 swift should be pushing at least 3600. I shoot 60 in mine just because I have them on hand at 3800 all day long at prarie dogs.
Its less than 1 moa group too

 

[358Win]

Nothing personal but wasnt about to try your top loads out in my rifle just wanted a relative starting point to where I was and thinking 71 gr with a 210 bullet is towards the bottom.

It is right in the middle of pressures so I felt it was a good starting point. If you pm me I will give you the exact load now that I know you will work up.

 

[ligonierbill]

I'm glad you're doing all the work for us. I will be interested to see how you do with the 225 Accubonds, which was going to be my choice for elk. You have confirmed my decision to go with the .338--very versatile caliber. Good luck with the deer.

 

[358Win]

I have been at the bench 4 straight days now with the 338Win Mag and my shoulder is beginning to notice the 338Win Mag that is banging on it

Something was nagging me concerning the 210gr Partition and not being able to find a combination that would work in my rifle. Now my rifle is a Ruger Mk II out of the box, no bedding or trigger work, not a bench gun for sure, so I was not expecting much but did want hunting accuracy. It is very picky when it comes to the 210gr Partition but I just could not stop until I at least knew it was hopeless and had tried every option I could imagine.

So I went back to an old Lyman load book and notice they were getting accuracy with Rem 9 1/2M primers and with the lighter bullets it was the 4350 class. So I loaded up IMR4350 using 74.5grs and H4350 with 73.5grs (these need to be worked up to). IMR4350 gave 2972fps which was outstanding but accuracy was not there just like before. So I though great, here I am and it is not getting any better.

But with H4350 I had a 7/8" group (might have been tighter but recoil was a factor being the last group after four days of abuse ) and it was moving at 2936fps which also good velocity. Yes, I finally have a hunting load with the bullet I wanted to use. Here is a picture of the group, chrony and the brass.

Three shot group 210gr Par, Rem brass, Rem 9 1/2M primer, 73.5grs H4350

 

[martyj]

we were showing a guy out at the range what a rifle would do compared to 16 inch barrel contender and shot those bullets through a oak 4x4.

 

[358Win]

we were showing a guy out at the range what a rifle would do compared to 16 inch barrel contender and shot those bullets through a oak 4x4.

Go into a little more detail if you would. I don't understand. Are you using the 210gr Patition? What was he shooting? What were you all shooting the bullet that went through an oak 4x4? Thanks

 

[martyj]

we were shooting 210 Nosler partition through an oak 4x4 that was well seasoned out of a 338 mag. and they did pass through. I found that rather amusing.
The guy with the contender didn't want to try it after spending $400 on a custom made 300 win mag barrel.
Nosler makes a good bullet and don't think you will have to worry about penetration or the jacket shedding on them.

 

[358Win]

we were shooting 210 Nosler partition through an oak 4x4 that was well seasoned out of a 338 mag. and they did pass through. I found that rather amusing.
The guy with the contender didn't want to try it after spending $400 on a custom made 300 win mag barrel.
Nosler makes a good bullet and don't think you will have to worry about penetration or the jacket shedding on them.

Thanks for clearing it up for me. Yes, I agree, I won't have to worry about the 210gr Partition.