This is the load I use for western big game, like Elk (though I have given up on those critters for now). It is a good load that packs a real whollop on the receiving end, yet does not punish a person's shoulder unduly. Indeed, I have shot .300 Mags that recoil worse than .338 Mag load. It pushes the 225 grain Barnes XLC (I have been a fan of Barnes since 1990) over 2600fps using 70 grains of IMR 4831 and magnum primers. Based on bench tests, this rifle (a Ruger Model 77) beat my Browning BBR delivering 0.7" groups at 100 yards.

Note: All velocities were measured using an Oehler model 33 Chronograph. Ballistics were calculated (and web files were generated) using Ballis-tec software.

.338 WINCHESTER MAG: 225GR. BARNES XLC

ICAO STANDARD ATMOSPHERE

DRAG FUNCTION: dragfunctions-spitzer.ini

Recoil for this round is 28.11 ft. lbs.

Condition Parameters

Muzzle Velocity BC Height of sights Angle of departure Atmosphere Rel. Density Temp(°F) Downrange Wind Vel. (mph) Crosswind (mph) Range of Zero Height at 'Zero'
2615 .482 1.5 6.319 .076474 59 0 0 200 0

Exterior Ballistics Table

Range(M) Height Deflection(in.) Velocity(fps) Time of travel(sec.) W1 FP
0 -1.5 0.0 2615 0.000 3.866 3422.418
50 1.4 0.0 2524 0.064 3.732 3188.209
100 2.7 0.0 2434 0.130 3.599 2964.744
150 2.3 0.0 2345 0.199 3.467 2751.751
200 0.0 0.0 2256 0.270 3.335 2546.702
250 -4.5 0.0 2169 0.344 3.207 2353.938
300 -11.5 0.0 2082 0.421 3.078 2168.765
350 -21.2 0.0 1997 0.502 2.953 1995.179
400 -33.9 0.0 1914 0.586 2.830 1832.668
450 -50.2 0.0 1831 0.673 2.707 1677.064
500 -70.4 0.0 1749 0.765 2.586 1530.117

Maximum range of projectile in a vaccuum (space) : 12500.28 M

Retardation of projectile in air : 845.3490 fs/sec

Pressure (or resistance) on the meplat : 26.2857 lbs.

Calculated Effective Ballistic coefficient : 0.568

Terminal Ballistics

Optimum Game Weight (OGW): 1358 lbs.

Reported sectional density: 0.281

Calculated effective sectional density: 0.281

Forward Momentum rating (FM) : 2.61

Ballistic Efficiency Index of this round out to 500M = 20.16