Trail Boss and a 338

[quilbilly]

A few weeks ago I acquired a Lee 338 mold (it drops boolits at .3375 measured on the bottom band) and a few days ago received a custom 338 lube/sizer die. Today was the first test with a Trail Boss load, not for accuracy, just the chronograph. To measure the powder I cut about 7/16 inch from a 45-70 case which is about an 80% load of Trail Boss in the 338. The MV was 1470 plus/minus 20 fps and it feels and sounds like a popgun compared to full house loads in the ported rifle.
I do not have gas checks yet but hope to eventually so the MV can be raiseed to my goal of 1800.
The next step is to head out to the range to see how accurate this new load is.

[shotman]

5574 would be better and "blammer" has checks

[quilbilly]

I am already using 5744 in my 30-30 and it is great. A couple months back a friend gave me a birthday gift of three bottles of Trail Boss so I am giving it a try. The 338 seemed just the thing to try it in. Part of the fun of casting and reloading I think so I thought I would pass the fun along.

[quilbilly]

After testing the 80% load of Trail Boss at 50 yards, it was quickly obvious that the rifling in my rifle will not stabilize that 220 gr CB at 1450-1500 fps. About half the boolits hit the target sideways. Next step is to increase the velocity about 350 fps as soon as I get a few gas checks.

[Three44s]

One thing about it ........

........ that Lee boolit going sideways may not fly real accurate ........

....... but is sure to leave a lasting impression on everything it hits!!

Three 44s

[BABore]

Your best bet is to get a mold/boolit that is bigger than your rifle's groove diameter. It's not the velocity, it's the diameter.

[NHlever]

A few weeks ago I acquired a Lee 338 mold (it drops boolits at .3375 measured on the bottom band) and a few days ago received a custom 338 lube/sizer die. Today was the first test with a Trail Boss load, not for accuracy, just the chronograph. To measure the powder I cut about 7/16 inch from a 45-70 case which is about an 80% load of Trail Boss in the 338. The MV was 1470 plus/minus 20 fps and it feels and sounds like a popgun compared to full house loads in the ported rifle.
I do not have gas checks yet but hope to eventually so the MV can be raiseed to my goal of 1800.
The next step is to head out to the range to see how accurate this new load is.

I expect that you are talking about the .338 Win mag, but there are more than a few .338's out there so it would be nice to know which one you are shooting. A .338 Federal is a different aniimal for sure as an example.

[Ben]

NHlever :

I agree, Kinda like saying , I'm loading for a " .30 cal. rifle "

Leaves a lot to interpretation.

? ? ?

[shotman]

a 338-06 with 30grs 5744 Lee boolit and gator check these are 5 shot groups from a lead slead first is 50yds 2nd is 100yds did change sights 2 clicks

[quilbilly]

Sorry about that. It is a 338 Winmag.

[Ben]

shotman :

That's some good shooting. Are you hearing anything about split stocks with the use of a lead sled ?

[DukeInFlorida]

I have been nursing a rotator cuff issue for over a year now, and do a LOT of shooting off of a Lead Sled. I never ever have any stock issues. I suspect that people who do have those issues have guns with splits to begin with.


shotman :

That's some good shooting. Are you hearing anything about split stocks with the use of a lead sled ?

[quilbilly]

Received the gas checks from Midsouth yesterday and proceeded to testing today with Trail Boss and 5744. Bumping up the Trail Boss load from 80% to 100% capacity only increased the velocity of the now gas checked boolits to a 1620 FPS average but the boolits are now stable at 50 yards. Against the Trail Boss I tested 5744 powder with a 29 gr charge which gave me a velocity of 1820 fps average. The increase in muzzle blast plus recoil was dramatic with the 5744 despite the modest velocity increase.
The problem now is that the open sights I now use in heavy cover are useless with cast boolits. Now I have a new project.:groner: