.338 Win Mag loads..help me decide!

[Houston Bill]

My Tikka in 338 WinMag likes the 250 and 275 grain Swift A Frames so that is what I shoot. I have used the 275 grain on Water buffalo in Australia.

But if I were to pick from one of your 6 I would go with the 230 grain ELD-X as it shoots the best. I seem to have more confidence when I shoot at game when I know my gun is very accurate. A friend of mine has used the ELD-X on many game animals all the way up to Eland with complete success. The ELD-X will certainly perform on all the animals on your list. If you are at all worried about penetration and killing capability of the ELD-X (I would not be) then go with the 225 Gr CX since you said they also shot accurately in your rifle.

 

[Capebuffalo]

Yeh, the ammo crisis the last couple of years forced us to look at alternatives that are more readily available. Of the options above the 225 grain CX is the more reliable in all conditions, because the 210 NP blew up on a few members of our forum while shooting short range. So it pretty much depends where are you going to hunt PG in Africa because the terrain varies quite a bit even in one country...However, I prefer 225 grain SAF in more open areas and 250-275 grain SAF in the bushveld. Since it is hardly impossible to get 225 grain SAF at this point I would strongly consider the 230 grain Norma Oryx. Another good option I heard some of our members use that become more available nowadays is the 250 grain Sako Hammerhead for closer distances. I will only consider the 210 grain NP when hunting in the more open areas of the eastern Cape, Kalahari, Free Sate or Namibia where shots tend to be longer. Although a good bullet for NA where shots can be over 500 yards, I don't think there is a place for the 230 grain EDL-X in Africa. Seems Woodleigh bullets become more available again as well, which is another great option from 200-300 grain. (This is from a NA point of view, because I know in SA there are some great options too).

 

[ftrovato]

I've been a big fan of the .338 Win Mag & 340 Weatherby for over 25 years. Taken wild boar with 160 Barnes Coppers. Caribou, Mule Deer, Antelope & Whitetail deer with 180 Barnes Coppers & Elk with 210 Nosler Partitions. I've loaded & shoot 225 Barnes & 275 Swift A-Frames but not had an opportunity to use them on game (Bear/Moose or in Africa) yet. What can I say the .338 is dynamite!

 

[shotgungibbs]

My .338 Win. load is the Nosler 210 grain Partitions, with IMR 4350 powder. They will go through a telephone pole (but don't ask me how I know), I "hear" things. It is a fine round, and will serve you well in Africa.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I started another thread here a while back after I purchased a new in the box (made in 1979) Ruger M77 in .338 Win Mag. for my next Africa hunt. Several members here helped me gather load data and components. Thankyou!!!

I have spent the last six weeks working up loads. The six below were consistent and very accurate from my rifle. I made a poll, I am very curious what everyone believes the best choice or choices would be, you can pick two if you like.

My original 225gr choice was a Barnes TTSX. I could not get that bullet to group for me so I acquired the 225 gr Hornady CX which performed great for me.

Other info to help you pick.

My wish list for the next hunt is: Mountain Zebra, Duiker, Mountain Reedbuck, Lechwe, Eland and Kudu. We are going back to where we hunted last year so I expect the same types of shots. I took nine animals, two with my bow and seven with a rifle. Of the rifle shots three were 300 plus yards, three were between 150 and 250 yards. Only one was under 100 yards.

I have it narrowed down to two in my mind. Looking forward to your opinions!

@Deepfork
I personally like the Hornady SST. It would be fine for most of your needs but as you have eland on the menu the 250gr would be the go for the penetration you desire.
I have never had an SST fail on the game have shot including sambar stag.
Just my humble opinion.
Bob

 

[ftrovato]

In the end we're splitting hairs here. Modern bullets are some much. better than anything we could buy 40 years ago. AND with a 338 simply place it where it 'should go' and all these bullets will do their job very well!

 

[Deepfork]

In the end we're splitting hairs here. Modern bullets are some much. better than anything we could buy 40 years ago. AND with a 338 simply place it where it 'should go' and all these bullets will do their job very well!

I agree 100%, I just can't help myself! To put things in perspective, between one of my sons and I on our Africa hunt last year we took 14 animals with a .308.

The load was a 165gr Fed Trophy Bonded Tip traveling 2640 fps.

We took 2 Blue Wildebeest, 1 Black Wildebeest, 1 Kudu, 1 Warthog, 2 Blesbok, 1 white Blesbok, 1 Waterbuck, 2 gazelle, 1 Springbok, 1 Gemsbok and 1 Zebra. These were all quick, one shot kills.

Most of these .338WM loads deliver more energy at 400 plus yards than the .308 does at the muzzle.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I agree 100%, I just can't help myself! To put things in perspective, between one of my sons and I on our Africa hunt last year we took 14 animals with a .308.

The load was a 165gr Fed Trophy Bonded Tip traveling 2640 fps.

We took 2 Blue Wildebeest, 1 Black Wildebeest, 1 Kudu, 1 Warthog, 2 Blesbok, 1 white Blesbok, 1 Waterbuck, 2 gazelle, 1 Springbok, 1 Gemsbok and 1 Zebra. These were all quick, one shot kills.

Most of these .338WM loads deliver more energy at 400 plus yards than the .308 does at the muzzle.

@Deepfork
I'm in the same boat.
My son took his 308 mainly loaded with 150gn accubonds. He took 8 animals, a couple took 2 shots. Second not really needed but I told him to keep shooting until they were down.
I took 5 with the Whelen all one shot.
In hindsight the 308 would have been enough for both of us but where's the fun in that.
Bob

 

[RLL]

If handloading, I would emplore you to look into non-conventional hammer bullets or cutting edge safari raptors for the .338 205 and 200gr respective offerings. These bullets provide more margin for error when shot placement is less than ideal with a conventional lead or mono bullet. And you get the best of both worlds with an expanding and solid bullet. Been there and I won’t go back except for plinking and rat killin.

 

[zephyr]

With out a doubt the 338 with any of the bullets mentioned will do what you want it to do... If I was to pick an all round North American Cartridge the 338 win mag would be it, from woodchucks to bears...
Sooo I'm a been a big fan of CEB Bullets...
Been shooting the CEB 176gr ER Raptors out of my 338 win mag at 3200fps shot a Cow Elk last year just over 100 yards she took 2 steps shivered for a while then tipped over backwards. When I got to her on the snow was a rope of blood for an easy 3 feet on the off side where the bullet exited..
Unlike other bullets CEB's are currently available

 

[ftrovato]

I agree 100%, I just can't help myself! To put things in perspective, between one of my sons and I on our Africa hunt last year we took 14 animals with a .308.

The load was a 165gr Fed Trophy Bonded Tip traveling 2640 fps.

We took 2 Blue Wildebeest, 1 Black Wildebeest, 1 Kudu, 1 Warthog, 2 Blesbok, 1 white Blesbok, 1 Waterbuck, 2 gazelle, 1 Springbok, 1 Gemsbok and 1 Zebra. These were all quick, one shot kills.

Most of these .338WM loads deliver more energy at 400 plus yards than the .308 does at the muzzle.

seems like we should be asking you for advice in many areas!

 

[meigsbucks]

I voted for the 250 gr GS. I took a couple of elk and and mule deer with that bullet. One caveat though: These were the second version, which had dual cores. I had experience with the first version (not in the .338), These had core slippage. When they added an internal ring similar to Hornady’s Interlock, it became a terrific bullet. I haven’t used the third version, which is the 2nd version, but with a single core. I would think it would perform like a heavy jacketed Hornady Interlock.
After using a 210gr Nosler, which had a reputation for great penetration, on an elk, I was disappointed. I now have settled on the 225 Barnes TTSX or some hoarded 2nd version 250gr Speer GS’s.

 

[Deepfork]

seems like we should be asking you for advice in many areas!

Go ahead and ask!!!

Just kidding! Full disclosure, I did not factor clean misses into my fast one shot kills. I shot over my Springbok on the first shot. Also one of my DRT shots, on my white blesbok was luck. I pulled it, hit was not close to where I was aiming.

 

[ftrovato]

Go ahead and ask!!!

Just kidding! Full disclosure, I did not factor clean misses into my fast one shot kills. I shot over my Springbok on the first shot. Also one of my DRT shots, on my white blesbok was luck. I pulled it, hit was not close to where I was aiming.

We all miss. My father used to say, ‘keep shooting til they’re dead. Bullets are cheap!’