I'm new to reloading so i'm looking for some different opinions. First of all i'm shooting .338 win. mag, Ruger 77 MII in stainless. I had a quality muzzle brake installed as well a Boyds laminated stock. The barrel was free floated and the action was bedded. I also had a Simms recoil pad installed along with a timney trigger set to 3#. I started with 200 gr. nosler ct ballistic tips (moly coated) and imr 4350 powder. This gun was shooting a terrible group(flinging everywhere). I switch to 225gr accubonds and immediately seen my groups tighten to around 3"-4", nothing to get excited about but much better than before. i then switched to imr 4831 and saw a little better improvement(2"-3" groups). I then tried R19 w/ the 225gr Accubonds and shot a 1 1 /8" group. I have not had a chance to try to repeat this set up but i'm hoping it wasn't a fluke. I'm using a sandbag to shoot all of the rounds(the type that is about 14" long and the gun sits in a "v"). anyone have a recipe that they have found for this caliber? I know every gun is different but i was just trying to get an idea if i'm in the right ball park. Anyone else have trouble with a lighter bullet in this large caliber?

I sold my 338 years ago but a lead shot 1/2 - 2/3 full and sewed shut can be put between the pad and your shoulder ( no shot between pad and shoulder) to help with the reciol / flintch ,this will "add"10-15 lb to the gun during group testing and I have found no inpact shift with out it . I sold my 338 due to a flinch.

Flinch doesn't seem to be a problem due to the muzzle brake, better designed stock and good recoil pad. Recoil is no worse than my .300 win mag now. Thanks for the info!!!

The flinch may not allwas be from recoil ,alot of muzzel brakes are loud that can cause a flinch also .I use plugs and electronic muffs . I looked it up I shot Fed cases with 69.0 gr H4350 Hornady 250gr dullet Fed 215 primer and got 1.25" groups.

allcamo.

Here is a load that works great in my 338 Win. mag.
I am shooting a Winchester Mod. 70 with a 24 inch barrel.

Horn. 225 gr. Inter. bullets
78 gr. of RL22
Win. brass
CCI primers
And they are running 2985 over my Chrono.

I am getting about a .75 group out of them.

Hope it helps.

hunter338

Try some good old 225 gr. Hornady Interlock bullets they will run you about $21.00 for 100. Use RL-19 since it's giving you the best accuracy. Good luck.

Thanks for the input. I do shoot with good ear protection and the brake doesn't seem too loud to me(the guys beside ma beg to differ) so i believe i just need to keep trying different loads. Thanks again....

Like i said, i'm new to reloading and i have been using the current Nosler manual. 78 grains seems relatively high compared to data in the manual. Any adverse effects? Just asking because i'm trying to be a sponge..........

hi, allcamo
here is a load that gives me 3/4 inch groups at 100 meters in my tikka new generation m65 338 cal.
74 grains imr 4350
225 grs nosler partition
federal large rifle primers

i notice your are shooting a non premium bullet, i use to do that until i had blow up on animals as small as a mule deer. imo the 338 cal is one of the best all around calibre, but the foot pounds impact is to much for standard bullets

allcamo.

I have shot this load in my 338 for about two years now. I have some brass that I have reloaded four or five times so far. Still show no signs of pressure stress.

If you think that it is to hot. Drop it down 1 or two grains and start from there. It took me about three weeks of working with different grain weights to get my rifle load to where I liked it. But I am satisfied with it.

I am now working on loads for my 338 Rum. Trying different bullets and powders. Haveing a whole lot of fun doing it too.

hunter338