RCBS 338 , 200 gr. HP

[Ben]

My cousin shoots a 338 Federal and a 338 / 06.
He wanted a nice cast bullet that he could hunt white-tailed deer with here in AL.

We chose the the RCBS 200 gr. with a nice sized meplat on the end. We shot some as a solid and decided to have the mold HP'd by Erik.

This one reminds me of the 31141 on " steroids ".

Here are the results :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0014.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0016.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0018.jpg

[James C. Snodgrass]

Looks like pure death on deer . I'm jealous I've toyed with casting for the 338 . James[smilie=1:

[Ben]

It seems to be just as accurate as any .30 cal. rifle bullet, so far, in our testing.

Ben

[NHlever]

That is interesting! I have a .35 Remington, and have been thinking about getting a .358 Win., but the .338 Federal, and the new 338 Marlin look pretty interesting. Just this morning I was looking at load data for the .338 Federal, and I have looked to see what molds were available. Looks like that is the path things are taking, away from the 35's that I like, and towards the .338 bullet size. It makes sense if there is the right variety of bullets, and boolit molds available. What velocities are you shooting those at?

[GLynn41]

LOOOOOOKs good I see dead deer-- in your future I have been -- toying with the idea of this for my two .358 wins--now to find the mold

[fredj338]

Well, now go load some up & let us know how they shoot & expand. About 18" of wet phone books should do it.

[NHlever]

LOOOOOOKs good I see dead deer-- in your future I have been -- toying with the idea of this for my two .358 wins--now to find the mold


The RCBS 35-200 has worked great for me in my .35 Rem, and I expect that it would in your .358 as well.

[Ben]

NHlever :

Right now these loads are being shot at about 1,600 fps.
Here is a blurry photo of a 5 shot group shot at 70 yards with the 338 Fed in a Ruger # 1, that has been rebored by JES in Oregon. It has a 3 groove barrel with .005 tall lands. The load was 25.0 grs. of IMR - 4895 with the RCBS bullet in its solid format weighing 212 grs.
The mold is now HP'd causing a shift of the center of gravity back to the rear of the base of the bullet . The bullet has lost 12 grs. of weight from the nose section of the bullet now, this should make this bullet even more accurate.
The barrel is super slick and mirror bright after Jesse's reboring work. The rifle was originally chambered in .308 Win. prior to being sent to Jesse for the reboring :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/DSCI0002.jpg

Here is a 2nd 338 cal. mold . The bullet from this one, lubed, sized and g/c'd ready to load weighs 262 grs. This mold is an old NEI mold. We have about 100 of them cast, lubed, and sized with the g/c on them, and will test them soon also :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/PICT0003.jpg

[Ben]

GLynn41:

We were unable to find a vendor selling the RCBS mold, had to go directly to RCBS for the mold. Big $$$ Bucks $$$ ( $120 for this one ) and then the additional cost of the HP'ing by Erik.

If it does what we want on game animals and he uses it for the next 35 - 40 years , it will end up being a great investment !

Ben

[NHlever]

Midwayusa is listing the RCBS mold now, but it is a special order I think, and is priced over $100 through them too. Still, nice to see it available.

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Ben, thanks for sharing , I'm thinking I must have the RCBS and have it HP'd :mrgreen:, am looking forward to hearing how the larger NEI shoots,

Do you know if the 200 will work in a lever ????

[Ben]

Slow Elk 45/70 :

My guess is that the 200 gr. would work just fine in a lever.

The 262 gr. NEI on the other hand......., I'd think would end up with an OAL that most likely wouldn't even come close to working. It is LONG ! !

I'd think that the RCBS , 338, 200 gr. would be just about the ideal cast bullet for lever guns. Just my opinion.

Ben

[Glen]

Very nice! Doesn't Erik do nice work? Cast HPs work very well in the .338 caliber. I shot a hog a few years ago with a somewhat heavier cast HP in my .338 Contender, and was very pleased with the results:

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell338GEF.htm

What twist do your rifles have? A very common twist rate for .338 is 1 in 10", in which case you will probably find best accuracy at about 1600 fps, which is an excellent velocity for cast HPs. Your 204 grain RCBS HP will do a dandy job on Alabama whitetail at 1600 fps!

[GLynn41]

Midway and one other Midsouth? list the RCBS 200 358 mold currently -- I have one HP mold coming back from Buckshot now for my .41 a 410459 - so when I get this back I will look at the 35 cal for rifles

[Ben]

Glen :

I read your article on your 338 loads and the hog kill , VERY IMPRESSIVE ! !

Thanks,
Ben

[72coupe]

Where do you get the 338 gas checks?

I need some for my 8X56mm Hungarian.

[Ben]

All you want here :

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000037090

[redneckdan]

NHlever :


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/338%20HP/DSCI0002.jpg



Nice pin hole camera:Fire: (the background is in focus)

[Hardcast416taylor]

Ben. I am interested in the use in a .338/06. Since you hollow pointed only 1 cavity I assume you`ll be using full weight boolits also. What loads have you come up with for the .338/06 with these boolits? Have you tried the LEE .338 mould with any loads or luck? What action is the .338/06 made on? :castmine:Robert

[Ben]

Ben. I am interested in the use in a .338/06. Since you hollow pointed only 1 cavity I assume you`ll be using full weight boolits also. What loads have you come up with for the .338/06 with these boolits? Have you tried the LEE .338 mould with any loads or luck? What action is the .338/06 made on? :castmine:Robert

Robert:

The action is a Weatherby Mark V. Rifle is extrememly accurate with J words. We have not tested these Hp bullets in the 338 - 06 yet. Focusing on the 338 Federal Ruger # 1 right now.

When we get some test results with the 338 -06, I'll try and remember to post some pics of the test targets here.

Thanks,
Ben

[72coupe]

Thanks Ben. I appreciate that.

[camotruck]

4 years later Have you worked any load data on that 338/06 and the 200 Gr RCBS mold. That HP is sweet. I may want to do that to mine.

Camo

[Ben]

My cousin lives 80 miles from me. He is the one with the Mark V , 338-06.
I'm shooting a Tikka 338 Federal now.

The Tikka 338 Fed. is a death machine.

See # 4 in the link below :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?190467-Mold-for-338-Federal

Ben