338 federal & lee 220 gr. Cast: Seeking load advice

[michiganmike]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.