.338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

[Texas_Republic]

I know just a little bit about reloading, but here it is.

I am purchasing a AR-30 .338 Lapua magnum rifle. I am planning on buying two boxes of ammunition for it, and then reload the brass 2-3 times before replacing the brass. Sound like a plan?

I am trying to decide on a bullet weight. I am going to use it for long distance hunting. Seems like the 300 grain bullet is primarily used for competition shooting. I am thinking the 250 grain boat tail hollow point would be the best candidate for a flatter trajectory and the use I am intending it for. Sound alright?

I am wanting to replicate a good brand of ammo that is already on the market and just stick to their makeup for reloading. I have heard that blackhills ammo makes a pretty good round. I have noticed that hornady also makes their own. This is my real dilemma here. Which round should I first purchase and stick to for reloading? I am wanting something that performs well, but is still moderately cheap to reload. I dont need all the bells and whistles. BTHP has always served me well with my 308. Just figured it would do the same here.

I appreciate any input yall guys may have. Gotta learn somehow I guess.

 

[Beale338]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

First off you should get more than 2-3 reloads out of your brass, more like 8-10 loads.
For a good hunting round I fined lapua makes a good bullet that is a 231g naturalist.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texas Republic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I know just a little bit about reloading, but here it is.

I am purchasing a AR-30 .338 Lapua magnum rifle. I am planning on buying two boxes of ammunition for it, and then reload the brass 2-3 times before replacing the brass. Sound like a plan?

I am trying to decide on a bullet weight. I am going to use it for long distance hunting. Seems like the 300 grain bullet is primarily used for competition shooting. I am thinking the 250 grain boat tail hollow point would be the best candidate for a flatter trajectory and the use I am intending it for. Sound alright?

I am wanting to replicate a good brand of ammo that is already on the market and just stick to their makeup for reloading. I have heard that blackhills ammo makes a pretty good round. I have noticed that hornady also makes their own. This is my real dilemma here. Which round should I first purchase and stick to for reloading? I am wanting something that performs well, but is still moderately cheap to reload. I dont need all the bells and whistles. BTHP has always served me well with my 308. Just figured it would do the same here.

I appreciate any input yall guys may have. Gotta learn somehow I guess.
</div></div>

Nosler makes the Ballistic tips in a few weights and the Accubond, IIRC. Hornady makes the Interlocks and the SSTs, as well as a 250gr SP bullet. Sierra makes a 250 GameKing SP bullet. Swift and Barnes both make 338s, as well as Speer I think.

I don't hunt, but me and my 338LM did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night.

Chris

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texas Republic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am going to use it for long distance hunting. </div></div>

The 338 LM is capable of dropping any creature that walks in North America at ranges out beyond 1200 yards with either bullet (given a good shot).

The difference between 250 and 300 gr bullets is the last 100-150 yards. That is: The distance at which accurate shots may be taken is 1550-1600 yards for the 250s, 1700 yards for the 300s.

Just how far are you expecting to shoot, and what are you hunting?

 

[Texas_Republic]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

I doubt many shots will be farther than 1200 yards. I would say most would be between 500-1200 yards. No specific type of species. Anything from aoudad, axis, hog, to elk perhaps. All of them.

So no consensus on which bullet would be the best?

 

[ALMAORFE]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

I know some guys using the 300SMK with very good results. The 250 may be flatter but the 300 is a bit better in wind and will carry more energy. Not that KE alone has much to do with killing power.

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

I don't hunt either, but I load a hell of alot of 338LM. Just go and buy LAPUA brass. You'll get over 15 loads per case. Fed 215 primers if you can find them. You'll find plenty of load data here.

An RCBS press and dies is all you need. Redding dies are the way to go for target loads. Powders like RL25(my choice), H1000, Retumbo,VV165,VV170,VV560,RL22 etc will work.

I own a AR-30,that has been rebarreled,but found the factory barrel is outstanding. MAtch bullets aren't recommended for hunting,but alot of guys have knocked the air out of alot of game anumals using them. There are numerous 338 hunting bullets available though like the Barnes Triple Shock.

You can drive a 225 or 250 grain at close to 3000fps. That will give you a muzzle energy around 4300 FT/lbs. You could have a 300 yard zero and have to dial about 23 moa to get to 1000yards.

Powder vally has Lapua factory ammo with 250gr. Scenars (HPBT) for $49 for 10 rounds. I have fired this ammo with success past 1500 yards. Is killing a game animal ethical at that range?

Something you have to decide.

 

[JParanee]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

For hunting bullets i am a big Barnes x and TSX fan

Here is a 210 grain x bullet load and 3 shot group

I would shoot any animal in North America or anywhere else for that matter with this load it is plenty fast and although I like the heavier bullets with this cartridge I wanted to see how these flew and they flew good

My other load and the one I shoot more often for target is the 300 MK

these also shoot well

 

[Texas_Republic]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

I really appreciate all of your advice guys. I will try throwing some numbers around and come back with questions if I have more.

 

[Mech45]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

I have a AR-30 but it is a 1-12 twist and doesn't like 300gr loads, I believe the new ones are 1-10. For hunting I like the Barnes TSX, MRX and they have a new TAC-X I haven't tried. The TSX and MRX are 225-250gr and the TAC-X is 285gr. Some people use them for hunting but I only use Sierra MK's for targets. Blackhill's make very accurate 250gr and 300gr MK loads for the 338. MK's are a lot cheaper to shoot then the Barnes.

Chris

 

[Texas_Republic]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

Thanks for the advice Chris. The more the better. Definitely looking to keep cost down as well.

 

[DaveV]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

I wouldn't waste the money on good factory ammo unless you are wanting to create a benchmark to try to duplicate. For the price, you can set yourself up with more rounds to work up into what will work for your barrel. Black Hills uses SMK's and is usually the best shooter in A/B tests.

+1 on the 300's for 1500 yard+ If you want to get into the 1 mile club, then that would be your round. However, hunting within the ranges you specify would be way overkill.

Sierra does not recommend using Match Kings for hunting. They want you to go with Game Kings. I don't know the performance differences between the two because I am a paper murderer.

Good choice on the AR30, but you will have to do some work on the cheek piece to make it work for your optics.

Good hunting

 

[paindoc]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

Not wanting to start another thread, I also am a beginner, and have very good results with Black Hills 250g boat tails. I would like to duplicate that load in my AIAW 338LM. Can anyone give me recommended load numbers to duplicate this factory ammo?

 

[rman]

Re: .338 Lapua Reloading question from a beginner

I also use the Lapua Naturalis 231 gr solid copper bullet for hunting. Longest shot on game was a medium moose at 470 m. My spotter said it looked like it had been hit with Thors hammer. Flipped it completely over with a solid boiler room shot. Also very accurate.