7 point Buck vs. 338 Federal

[Ben]

The buck lost.............

My friend Bryan killed this one yesterday afternoon.
The distance was 138 yards.

Bryan was using a load of 17.2 grs. of 2400 with an old mold designed by Walt Melander , NEI.

The bullet weighs 262 grs. is gas checked and sized .3395".
Bryan shoots a Tika , T-3 in 338 Federal.
He found the bullet just under the skin on the back side of the deer. The deer weighed about 140 lbs.

May have to step the velocity up on this load prior to next year's hunting season ? ? He said the deer dropped and didn't take a step.

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/unnamed%204_zpsqptxajtc.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/unnamed%204_zpsqptxajtc.jpg.html)

Here is the bullet that he found :

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/unnamed%205_zpsswmjtnf2.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/unnamed%205_zpsswmjtnf2.jpg.html)

The bullet started out at 262 grains :
http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/unnamed%203_zpssisyao70.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/unnamed%203_zpssisyao70.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/006-32_zps5gc73rel.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/006-32_zps5gc73rel.jpg.html)



http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/005-29_zpswtnrrw5z.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/005-29_zpswtnrrw5z.jpg.html)

[richhodg66]

If it were me, I'd probably not change a thing. Truthfully, I've never shot a deer that far away and most have been a third that distance or so.

I killed a deer with a .358 and cast this year. Hit at such an angle that the bullet went through almost lengthwise and didn't exit, though I never managed to find it. Was thinking of switching to a heavier bullet like yours, but I probably won't, the deer didn't go far and that's what matters.

How late does the deer season run down your way? Been over a while here.

[richhodg66]

By the way, great deer, great write up and great pictures. I love to see this kind of thread.

[Ben]

richhodg66

Today, 1-31 is the final day.

As to the bullet, I always like an exit hole, but the deer dropped like it had been hit by lightening. Like you've said, dead is dead.

Thanks,
Ben

[btroj]

Well done. He has come along nicely.

I too prefer an exit when possible. Mine this year with the 45 Colt Marlin didn't leave an exit. Next year it will be going a touch faster.

[fatnhappy]

Geez, I'd love to see the angle that he hit that deer. I just can't wrap my mind around a 140# deer stopping a 260 grain rifle boolit. Good shooting and well done for sure.

[Ben]

fatnhappy (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/member.php?363-fatnhappy)

I doubt the deer would have stopped it at 40 yards, but after adding another 100 yds, I'm certain the projectile had lost a good bit of velocity.

[Morton]

I stepped the distance off at 143 yards yesterday evening. Went back today with my rangefinder. It was actually 138 yards. Hit him almost perfectly broadside alittle high. As i was skinning the deer i saw a knot on the opposite side. It was the boolit pushing the hyde out. Another 1/2 grain of 2400 and i would have had an exit hole. A year ago i would have never thought i would have harvested a deer with a lead boolit. Thanks to all you guys for your comments and support. Especially thans to Ben for his time and patience.

[smoked turkey]

Awesome performance from any boolit or bullet too for that matter. I agree that a touch faster would have made an exit hole but really would have not changed a thing. As you said Ben dead is dead and a DRT cannot be beat. The range was much further than I usually take deer and may not be anywhere near that distance in the future. At any rate congradulations are certainly in order for both of you. Good hunting season for sure for you fellas.

[waksupi]

That looks like hollow point destruction of the bullet. That is why a solid is better. Guarantee a pass through with a solid. Was it a HP or solid?

[jmort]

Alloy?

[monge]

Great shot never considered a 338 tell us more about this wonderful cal.

[35 shooter]

I stepped the distance off at 143 yards yesterday evening. Went back today with my rangefinder. It was actually 138 yards. Hit him almost perfectly broadside alittle high. As i was skinning the deer i saw a knot on the opposite side. It was the boolit pushing the hyde out. Another 1/2 grain of 2400 and i would have had an exit hole. A year ago i would have never thought i would have harvested a deer with a lead boolit. Thanks to all you guys for your comments and support. Especially thans to Ben for his time and patience.
Morton congrats on a good shot and the drt. That's a nice buck for your first with cast! Yes i like exit holes in case they run a bit for a better blood trail, but sounds like your boolit and load dumped all the energy inside and he only went about 3 feet....straight down! I got the exits on my deer this year, but from the looks of the wound channels, i didn't get the expansion you did. One ran about 30 yds. and the other about 100 yds. Great blood trails but no drt. Think i need to try a bit softer alloy if accuracy will stay the same.
Great job on yours!!

[Ben]

Alloy?

50% AC WW's and 50% range scrap

[Ben]

That looks like hollow point destruction of the bullet. That is why a solid is better. Guarantee a pass through with a solid. Was it a HP or solid?

Solid

[Ben]

Great shot never considered a 338 tell us more about this wonderful cal.

May be more than you want to read, but here it is :

http://www.chuckhawks.com/338_federal_first_look.htm

[btroj]

Never lost a deer due to over penetration of a Boolit.

[pls1911]

All this boollit talk is good, but I just have to grin at a brother caster's simple success.
Cast bullets simply work...dead is dead.
Grins..
Nice job.

[TXGunNut]

I stepped the distance off at 143 yards yesterday evening. Went back today with my rangefinder. It was actually 138 yards. Hit him almost perfectly broadside alittle high. As i was skinning the deer i saw a knot on the opposite side. It was the boolit pushing the hyde out. Another 1/2 grain of 2400 and i would have had an exit hole. A year ago i would have never thought i would have harvested a deer with a lead boolit. Thanks to all you guys for your comments and support. Especially thans to Ben for his time and patience.

Good job, both of you! Exit holes come in handy when tracking, a DRT makes them a moot point. Nicely done.

[fatnhappy]

Never lost a deer due to over penetration of a Boolit.

Amen brother. I like two holes, if for no other reason: even perfectly shot deer rarely DRT. I like a blood trail a blind man can follow.

[Morton]

Actually 35 Shooter he didnt seem to drop 3 feet straight down. When the boolit hit him it appeared to knock him over. So maybe he went over 4 feet on his side. I was impressed when i saw the way he fell. It looked like he got hit by a linebacker!

[35 shooter]

Actually 35 Shooter he didnt seem to drop 3 feet straight down. When the boolit hit him it appeared to knock him over. So maybe he went over 4 feet on his side. I was impressed when i saw the way he fell. It looked like he got hit by a linebacker!
LOL, even better than i thought Morton! That's the way they go down to a 200 gr. hornady jacketed out of a 35 whelen for me. Love those drt's.....good job!
Btw.. i don't hunt with jacketed anymore.;)

[leftiye]

Firstly, nice kill, congrats!

Boolit is purty messed up. More velocity will only make that worse. High probability it wouldn't penetrate better. Maybe heat treat them, and anneal the noses. Nice long boolit would lend itself well to that.

[Good Cheer]

Thanks for info on mold design and results with the .338. Nice all around.

[Morton]

I normally wouldnt shoot at a deer with a cast boolit over a 100 yards. With one day left in deer season and him standing there broadside, i decided to shoot. Maybe i shouldnt have, i dont know. Had he been 100 yards or less i may have gotten an exit hole. I may try to speed things up alittle and see what happens, we'll see

[Good Cheer]

The recovered slug looks like it did what it was supposed to.
I once took a six point at a little over 120 yards with Lymans 375296 cast from COWW. The alloy is supposed by many to be too hard but shot placement and how fast it's still going when it gets there are everything.

[Chill Wills]

Great job and also, smart cartridge!
The 338-08 and 338-06 are two user friendly cases for cast.


The 338 Federal is the 308 Win with muscles. :p

Federal got it right but the market place doesn't score high points for smart.... most people are impressed by speed and fat cases.

Thanks for the write-up.

[Ben]

Great job and also, smart cartridge!
The 338-08 and 338-06 are two user friendly cases for cast.


The 338 Federal is the 308 Win with muscles. :p

Federal got it right but the market place doesn't score high points for smart.... most people are impressed by speed and fat cases.

Thanks for the write-up.

Well spoken,

Often people read something in a magazine article and it becomes the gospel. For me, not so.

I personally believe ( for my area of the country ) that the 338 Fed. , the 338-06 , the 35 Whelen & the 358 Win. are hard to beat, as was proven a few days ago with Bryan's lightening quick kill on his buck.

[taco650]

Nice to hear about one of the less popular cartridges with a CB getting the job done. Personally, I'd rather have a 358 Win but it and the 338 Federal fill the same niche-both are great short action big game slayers.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Good work!