This is the load I used for western big game hunting, like Elk. It is a good load that should pack a real whollop on the receiving end, yet does not punish a person's shoulder unduly. Indeed, I have shot .300 Weatherby Mags that recoil worse than this .338 load. This load pushes the 225 grain Barnes XLC over 2600 fps using 70 grains of IMR 4831 and magnum primers (WLRM). Based on bench tests, this Ruger Model 77 is more accurate than my Browning BBR, delivering a 3-shot group of 0.7" at 100 yards.

Note: All velocities were measured using an Oehler model 33 Chronograph. Ballistics were calculated using Ballis-tec software.

Exterior Ballistics

Range(Y)	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) : 12,500.28 Y
Retardation of projectile in air : 845.35 fs/sec
Pressure (or resistance) on the meplat : 26.28 lbs.
Calculated Effective Ballistic coefficient : 0.568

Terminal Ballistics
Optimum Game Weight (OGW): 1358 lbs.
Reported sectional density: 0.281
Calculated effective sectional density: 0.28
Forward Momentum rating (FM) : 2.61
Ballistic Efficiency Index of this round out to 500Y = 20.16