.338 cal rifle boolit

[mstarling]

Guys,

Been reviewing the chamberings I cast for, and realized that I do make boolits for everything I have 30 cal and larger ... except .338.

I have a nice pre-64 M70 in 338 Win Mag and I really don't expect to shoot cast projectiles in it. But I do have a 22" working rifle in 338-06 built in a commercial FN Mauser action that might well be used in the field w cast boolits.

Anyone have experience with a good .338 hunting boolit design?

Thanks!

Mike

[quilbilly]

You should try cast boolits in your 338 Winmag. I have an older Thompson Center single shot in 338 winmag and it loves cast boolits at an Mv of about 1700 fps. I am using the Lee 338 boolit mold and special ordered the 338 sizer die to size plus seat the gas checks. I haven't done a "wet phonebook" terminal ballistics test on it yet but with a softer alloy, I wouldn't hesitate to use it on elk out to 150 yards given my experience with muzzleloaders.

[mstarling]

Was not impressed with the nose shape of the Lee mold. Would think a flat point would be a better hunting boolit.

Why the need for a specialized .338 sizer? Are you using a lee sizer? Shouldn't need a special one for a Lyman, RCBS, or Saeco sizer.

[scb]

I just got this one and haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. 310 gr. Makes a great looking boolit.


http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr236/scb2008/341310a.jpg


They're also trying to get a group buy started here: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=108788

[quilbilly]

Having mic'd the boolits from the Lee mold, I could probably use them as is but the Lee sizer does make it easy to seat the gas checks. My experience with other Rn boolits indicates that they expand quite nicely when the right alloy is used. In my case this is moot because I usually hunt elk and deer with a muzzleloader so the 338 is primarily for fun and those Lee boolits shoot very well in that rifle.

[mstarling]

Seems the group buy interest is for pointy projectiles for the long range rifles. Pointy cast bullets do not make good hunting bullets in my experience.

The .338 WM shoots 225 gr Barnes X bullets and 250 gr Woodleigh PPs extremely well. On days I can shoot it generally get 2" at 300 yards. I tend to reserve that rifle for the real deal.

The .336-06 has a standard magazine length and (while I've not calculated it yet) I suspect something like the 310 isn't gonna fit. Would probably just use the 1909 Argie in .376 Steyr I'm finishing with the 285 gr Lyman bullet sized to 0.377". That may make most sense anyway.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I don`t have the E address of NOE, I do know he often has over runs of mold builds. I seem to recall seeing flat nosed .338 molds of some kind there. A shame Bruce closed BRP molds, he had more than a few flat nosed .338 molds listed. I was lucky enough to get a 230 gr. .340 dia mold from him. You might try other mold makers like Mountain molds or Accurate molds for their .338 designs.Robert

[TCLouis]

Lee C338-220 cast kinda hard in FRONT of, 39.0 grains of 3031 WLR.

Have fiddled a little with the RCBS 200 and have yet to ft it as accurate, but it has the meplat I want to hunt with it.

338 Mag is a planned winter/spring project along with cast 30-06s.

[mellonhead]

How about the RD bullet for the 338 Marlin Express?


http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_5_29&products_id=26

Toby

[Mk42gunner]

Do a few searches on BruceB's posts. I know he posted a few years ago about using the Lee boolit in a .338.

As for the round nose, you could always cast up ten or twenty softnose booits to use hunting and standard WW for targets.

Robert

[scb]

The .336-06 has a standard magazine length and (while I've not calculated it yet) I suspect something like the 310 isn't gonna fit. Would probably just use the 1909 Argie in .376 Steyr I'm finishing with the 285 gr Lyman bullet sized to 0.377". That may make most sense anyway.

Accurate also makes a good looking 240 gr.
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=34-240B-D.png

[mstarling]

scb,

The Accurate mold looks very much like my idea of a good rifle boolit for hunting! I can't quickly determine what the cost of their molds are! Where do I look?

Thanks!

Ahhh ... figured out the costing of a mold. For that kinda money I'd hope these folks make nice molds!

[scb]

scb,
Ahhh ... figured out the costing of a mold. For that kinda money I'd hope these folks make nice molds!

I've got Hoch, CBE, and Mountain moulds. The one I just got from Accurate (which was my first one) is as good as any of them and far better than most of the production moulds I own. I had it in hand 3 days after I ordered it.

[mstarling]

I have original H&G, Ballisti-cast, Miha, NEI, NOE, Lyman, and Lee molds (and maybe a couple I didn't remember). Would be happy with things in the Miha, NEI quality range.

Damn that's fast delivery! Have to work out what's in the piggie bank I think.

Wish I knew if these would feed in my Mauser!

[frnkeore]

Scb, I like the looks of that mold and the weight. can you tell us how long it is and the bore riding nose diameter?

Frank

[rockrat]

IIRC, the Accurate boolit is about 245gr and the nose is .330". I use it in my Remington, with sub 1" groups @2200fps IIRC.
Shoots well in my 338 ME too

[scb]

Scb, I like the looks of that mold and the weight. can you tell us how long it is and the bore riding nose diameter?

Frank

Frank it's 1.365" long, .330" nose dia. I believe you can specify the nose dia. you want when you order the mould.
Steve