Ideal 338 Lapua Barrel Length?

TacBlade

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I’ve got a Remington 700 338 Lapua that has a factory barrel. What is the ideal barrel length to rebarrel with? It’s set in a Manners stock, but obviously that does not matter.
 
As has been said....what you doing with it?

I'd say 27".

A 20" barrel will have 308w type velocities and hence forth a bullet drop similar to 308w for reference. That'll give you an idea of how much velocity you could lose you start chopping it shorter.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
 
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Something I found interesting between the 338LM & 338NM. I have both 27” factory AI bbl for my AXMC. the 338nm bbl able to reach 2785 FPS 86.5gr H1000 without any ejector mark on brass unlike the 338lm. I need to load the 338lm with 89~90gr H1000 to reach 2785~2800fps + sticky bolt lift. The ES of 5shots 338nm was 5fps and the 338lm was 15fps. (3 mins break between shots *65F & 1k ft above sea level) Both loads were jump 0.020 with 277gr CE mtac and Peterson brand brass.
 
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Yes, out 1000 yards. I’ve got 83 steel targets of every kind out to 1000 on my range, just 100 yards over the hill from my new house. I can take the range out farther, as I’ve got 150,000 acres
 
I have a 300 UM (similar powder capacity) with a 26 inch barrel, and compared to other folks with 30 inch barrels, I've given away some velocity. When I rebarrel, I'll go for 30 inches.
 
Something I found interesting between the 338LM & 338NM. I have both 27” factory AI bbl for my AXMC. the 338nm bbl able to reach 2785 FPS 86.5gr H1000 without any ejector mark on brass unlike the 338lm. I need to load the 338lm with 89~90gr H1000 to reach 2785~2800fps + sticky bolt lift. The ES of 5shots 338nm was 5fps and the 338lm was 15fps. (3 mins break between shots *65F & 1k ft above sea level) Both loads were jump 0.020 with 277gr CE mtac and Peterson brand brass.

If you have a factory AXMC barrel, try seeing how it likes the 250gr ICBM2 solids from Badlands Precision
A lot of the Factory AXMC .338LM barrels seem to like lighter bullets.
 
If you have a factory AXMC barrel, try seeing how it likes the 250gr ICBM2 solids from Badlands Precision
A lot of the Factory AXMC .338LM barrels seem to like lighter bullets.
Which AXMC barrels?

We make them all 1-9.35 twist barrels for the 338's built here in the States. That twist is more than fast enough for conventional 300gr match bullets. I run a 1-9.5.

The solid bullets in the same given weight as a lead core bullet are usually longer in length. Hence forth you might need a faster twist. Bullet length dictates twist more than anything else.

Again up to a 300gr lead core match bullet....most will fly in a 1-10 twist. The 9.35 or 9.5 is plenty fast.

Some older 338 barrels the original spec. was either a 1-11 or 1-12 twist and with those twist rates your not going over a 250gr type lead core bullet.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
 
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Problems for me the 338lm factory bbl was the short throat + design for mag length ammunition. With 300gr projectiles I have to seat all the way in and compress the charge for 2750fps velocity. I have to jam to the land and sometime pressure spike lead to sticky bolt lift.
 
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How long is the badlands projectile lead time? They also have in stock?

Right now they are having material shortages so they will have a longer than normal lead time.
Back when I last did an order a couple months back, they shipped a day or two after I placed the order.

If they are going to be out for a bit & you want to try some, I could send you a 10 pack.