Re: 338 Federal Match Loads?
The 338 Fed is a good short range round (200-300 yards or less) for hunting. When you get to the match bullets, they start at 250 grains. In the average barrel length, you're looking about 2300-2400 fps for a 250 BTHP. Plus, the 250 BTHP might be too long and seat below the ogive at the case mouth. And the bullet will seat deep in the case taking up a lot of room for powder. Plus, you will need at least a 1:12 twist or faster for the 250 grain BTHP bullets. You can get a 225 grain bullet about 2450 fps, and a 200 grain about 2600 fps, but these are heavily compressed loads. The BC on the lighter bullets are not that good (.455 for a 200 grain Hornady SST), and the 225 bullets are only marginally better (.515 BC- Hornady 225 SST). The low BC and slow speeds are working against you. I've loaded a lot of the 160 grain Barnes TTSX in the 338 Fed, and it works very well. If you wanted the "best" option for long range, I would think the 225 grain bullets would be the best option for the higher BC and decent speed (for a 338 Fed, that is!). The Hornady SST bullets I like a lot and always shoot good, and would be a good choice.
