01-22-2007, 01:03 AM
Rileyfish,
I love my .338 also! When I first bought it, I used the 250 grain Nosler (Federal Premium off the shelf) and it was very accurate in that rifle (Ruger also by the way!). I liked the accuracy so much that I used it for smaller big game like deer and antelope, but found that the 250 grain slug was like a laser beam...it went right thru and never expanded...still seemed very deadly however, but I wanted something that expanded a little more. My current favorite load is the 185 Grain Barnes XLC which I reload myself. It is fast and very accurate and hits game with a big "THUMP". Sounds like a baseball hitting a giant catchers mitt!
I'll have to find a new pet load however, as Barnes recently discontinuted the XLC bullets. I've still got about 150 rounds loaded up, so that might last me a couple years, but I'll be working up a new load soon!
Randy
[signature]
I love my .338 also! When I first bought it, I used the 250 grain Nosler (Federal Premium off the shelf) and it was very accurate in that rifle (Ruger also by the way!). I liked the accuracy so much that I used it for smaller big game like deer and antelope, but found that the 250 grain slug was like a laser beam...it went right thru and never expanded...still seemed very deadly however, but I wanted something that expanded a little more. My current favorite load is the 185 Grain Barnes XLC which I reload myself. It is fast and very accurate and hits game with a big "THUMP". Sounds like a baseball hitting a giant catchers mitt!
I'll have to find a new pet load however, as Barnes recently discontinuted the XLC bullets. I've still got about 150 rounds loaded up, so that might last me a couple years, but I'll be working up a new load soon!
Randy
[signature]
I used to N.ot have E.nough T.ime O.ff to go fishing. Then I retired. Now I have less time than I had before. Sheesh.