Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
338 EDGE. You may give Dallas Lane a call since he has lots of experience with this caliber with short barrel and copper bullets.
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338 help deciding
- Thread starter BEEMAN
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You gonna make me go load some 225s in my M70, 23" and try it outEasy and it has been doing what you want for over 60 years. No bling bling 30 word description. Three numbers and two words. 338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM
The challenge with the 250 SB2 (1.873") is it is extremely long for the .338 WM compared to 225 NAB (1.45"). Even with the .338 RUM/EDGE/Lapua, you will need a COAL in the 4.00+" range to take full advantage of what the 250 SB2 offers. This is one of the reasons I went with the NM over LM.
If you need a lead-free bullet, you might consider https://www.apex-outdoors.com/product-page/afterburner-338-200-gr. The 200 Apex (1.536") is designed for 1:11" twist barrels and is more forgiving when COAL is limited. Good luck!
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memtb
Well-Known Member
Beeman, for what it's worth. We're getting 2950 fps from my wife's .338 WM with Barnes 225 gr. TTSX's through a 24" barrel. The 225's have a pretty respectable BC. If you can get similar velocities……it should give you a pretty good 600 yard cartridge!
As a side note….I'm pretty sure that I could get a bit more velocity from it. However, the velocity gains would likely be negligible! memtb
What powder/primer are you using
That's a serious factor make sure components are available. Just securing primers like 215's makes available factory chamberings where you can get factory ammunition a deciding factor!!
memtb
Well-Known Member
Federal Safari Nickel plated brass, Federal 215 Magnum primers, RL 22 powder. memtb
Thanks. Got powder and primers, 100 225 SST andsome hornady and some norma brass. JUst need to load some and play with it
OOPS. I guess I loaded some and never shot them, wusing RL19, RL22 and IMR4350. Gotta hit the range.
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elkaholic
Well-Known Member
People are getting 2900+ with 250's out of the 338 MEGA at 3.2" coal in a mid action. If you want faster, I reached 3100 with a 250 in a 24" barrel 33 SM. The Max comes fully formed except for necking up and will run in the 2800's with a 23" barrel and 250 and has head stamped brass
Thanks rich. I sent you an email earlier today. You Can give me some more detailed advise if you have time tomorrow. I think either the Mega or 33 SM would do more than I need. Just want to pick the one that will comfortably get me my velocity goal of around 2900-3000 with either a hammer or bulldozer in that 230-250 gr range. A 250 at 3100 FPS out of a 24" barrel may be a good choice. I know I won't notice the difference with a 23" barrel. Just don't want to have to push on it to hard to get the velocity. Thanks again.
LongBomber
Well-Known Member
33N or 338-300wsm.
Go big tac has a stash of Peterson 33n brass, I picked up a few boxes. Haven't had a chance to load it yet, but the neck thickness looks pretty consistent.
Go big tac has a stash of Peterson 33n brass, I picked up a few boxes. Haven't had a chance to load it yet, but the neck thickness looks pretty consistent.
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
I've been running a 26" #1 in 338win with either 225 hdy or 225 AB's for around 20 years. 2900 fps on tap with either using 75gr. rl19 and a 215 in ww brass.
I can get the 250 Sierra to 2700 fps without trying using 70gr. rl19 in the same brass and primers.
I worked with the fed 338 brass but it must have brittled when it was nickle plated as most of it neck cracked just sitting around loaded.
I suspect Ramshot hunter would be a heck of a powder for the 338win; I just haven't bothered with it.
I have worked up a mild load with mil- surp I7383 that pushes a 185 blem to about 2700 fps. It's sub moa and a hoot to shoot as cheap as it is to load.
With a 23" barrel you are going to have to work at it a bit to get any real edge out of the bigger 338 chamberings. A 338win or 338 Patriot (338x300win) are plenty good unless you stretch the barrel past 26".
I can get the 250 Sierra to 2700 fps without trying using 70gr. rl19 in the same brass and primers.
I worked with the fed 338 brass but it must have brittled when it was nickle plated as most of it neck cracked just sitting around loaded.
I suspect Ramshot hunter would be a heck of a powder for the 338win; I just haven't bothered with it.
I have worked up a mild load with mil- surp I7383 that pushes a 185 blem to about 2700 fps. It's sub moa and a hoot to shoot as cheap as it is to load.
With a 23" barrel you are going to have to work at it a bit to get any real edge out of the bigger 338 chamberings. A 338win or 338 Patriot (338x300win) are plenty good unless you stretch the barrel past 26".
Yes my velocity goal may be a little optimistic. But I do see guys with the 338 mega and Sherman mag getting the speed I'm after. Especially the mega was impressive with only a 21.5" barrel on the Sherman load data page. Wanting to shoot a bullet with at least as high of a BC as the 215 Berger, and hopefully faster than my 300 win mag. Big one for me up here in Canada is availability. I'm sure the 33 nosler is great but not sure where I'd find a reamer to rent. Trying to make this build as easy as possible. So the one I choose will have reamer, dies and brass in stock. Problem is nothing is easy to find these days.
Thanks for the tip. But I won't be buying anything from there. What bullet do you load in your 33 nosler?
