View Full Version : 338 federal & lee 220 gr. Cast: Seeking load advice
michiganmike
08-26-2015, 08:08 PM
Good Evening:
Last week I purchased a Savage Model 11 chambered for the .338 Federal. Goal: white deer hunting in Michigan. In 2016 I hope to take it on an elk hunt.
In anticipation I bought the Lee 220 gr. mould and cast about 150 bullets out of COWW. They weigh 217 gr. +/1 1 gr. They are sized to .339, gas checked and have two coats of BLL. As an experiment I tried Accurate's reduced load of 24 gr. of 5744, which their chart says has a velocity of 1675 fps.
I have on hand the following powders that the manufacturers suggest for this bullet and weight:
H BL-C(2)
H 335
H 4895
IMR 4895
A 5744
A2230
If you have any experience with the .338 Federal, please give me your best advice regarding powder.
Thank you,
MichiganMike
Tatume
08-27-2015, 02:52 PM
There are data for this cartridge and H4895 with a 225 grain jacketed bullet on:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com
Also, you can reduce loads using H4895 using information found here:
https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Hodgdon%20H4895%20reduced%20rifle%20load.pdf
Between these two tidbits, you can work out just about any load appropriate to your new Savage rifle.
Morton
08-27-2015, 10:03 PM
Good Evening:
Last week I purchased a Savage Model 11 chambered for the .338 Federal. Goal: white deer hunting in Michigan. In 2016 I hope to take it on an elk hunt.
In anticipation I bought the Lee 220 gr. mould and cast about 150 bullets out of COWW. They weigh 217 gr. +/1 1 gr. They are sized to .339, gas checked and have two coats of BLL. As an experiment I tried Accurate's reduced load of 24 gr. of 5744, which their chart says has a velocity of 1675 fps.
I have on hand the following powders that the manufacturers suggest for this bullet and weight:
H BL-C(2)
H 335
H 4895
IMR 4895
A 5744
A2230
If you have any experience with the .338 Federal, please give me your best advice regarding powder.
Thank you,
MichiganMike
I have shot a 230 gr with IMR 4227 pretty good
quilbilly
08-27-2015, 10:48 PM
I will bet it likes a similar load of 5744 in my 338WM, 28 gr. The 24 gr of 5744 mentioned above wouldn't stabilize that boolit in my rifle but might work in yours.
michiganmike
08-28-2015, 10:56 PM
There are data for this cartridge and H4895 with a 225 grain jacketed bullet on:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com
Also, you can reduce loads using H4895 using information found here:
https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Hodgdon%20H4895%20reduced%20rifle%20load.pdf
Between these two tidbits, you can work out just about any load appropriate to your new Savage rifle.
Thank you.
GooseGestapo
09-09-2015, 06:02 AM
I have two Marlin .338ME. One is a dedicated cast boolit gun (MX). I use the Lee 220gr RNGC @.339" with Hornady gc's and SPG lube. 50/50 Wheelweight with 2% lead free solder added (95/5 tin-antimony).
40.0gr RL15 is my favorite, but any powder to get ~2,000fps works.
Ditto, the .338/06. Also uses 40.0gr RL15.
for hunting loads, I drill hollow points with 3/16" bit 3/8" deep. Kills deer splendidly.
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