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338 Norma Mag Load Data

Range report:

Yesterday I went and shot 3-shot charges from 88,6-91,0 grains Norma 217 with 300gr Berger hybrids through my Stiller Tac 338 NM, 28" Lilja Barrel 10 twist. It yielded the following data measured with a Magnetospeed V2. Everything is shot at 100m:

88,6gn:
1: 2723.
2: 2724.
3: 2726.
Avg: 2724.
SD: 1.
20140830_075653[1].jpg

88,9gn:
1: 2739.
2: 2745.
3: 2723.
Avg: 2735.
SD: 11.

20140830_080215[1].jpg

89,2gn:
1: 2754.
2: 2736.
3: 2753.
Avg: 2747.
SD: 10.

20140830_080351[1].jpg

89,5gn:

1: 2770.
2: 2768.
3: 2762.
Avg: 2766.
SD: 4.

20140830_080524[1].jpg

89,8gn:

1: 2788.
2: 2773.
3: 2788.
Avg: 2782.
SD: 7.

20140830_080710[1].jpg

To be continued.......
 
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90,1gn:

1: 2783.
2: 2799.
3: 2783.
Avg: 2792.
SD: 8.

20140830_080827[1].jpg

90,4gn:

1: 2813.
2: 2790.
3: 22808.
Avg: 22803.
SD: 12.

20140830_081119[1].jpg

90,7gn:

1: 2831.
2: 2834.
3: 2837.
Avg: 2834.
SD: 3.

20140830_081343[1].jpg

91,0gn:

1: 2837.
2: 2818.
3: 2840.
Avg: 2831.
SD: 11.

20140830_081538[1].jpg

For me it seems I need to try again from 89,5-90,7. Granted groups 89,8 and 90,1 looks like they are grouping the best, but my shooting may also have something to do with groups being more open in the other charges.

Velocities are rather nice and the rifle feels smoother at lower charges.

Maybe the load development part should be moved to a more appropriate section? I'll post the finished load here, once I have it.
 
338 norma

338 Norma Mag
Norma Brass
300grn Berger OTM .060 off the lands
H1000 88.7grns - 2735fps
Federal 215M

26" Barrel. 1-9.5 Twist.

xdeano

If anyone wants a table of loads that i've gathered, just pm me your email and i'll be happy to send it over. I've given it to a few people. It's just a starting point and you'll have to work your own loads, but it'll get you in the ball park.

Would appreciate your load data. Many thanks. Kenny
 
338 Norma Magnum – Load Data
-Case length (min) -2.492” (max) -2.502”
-COAL -3.602 w/300grn bullet
Powder Powder Weight Bullet Weight FPS Notes
H1000 89grn 300grn SMK 2830fps Benchmark 27” 5grove
H1000 88grn 300grn OTM 2750fps .005 off lands
H1000 88grn 300grn OTM 2805-2825fps
H1000 88.7grn 300grn OTM 2735fps Benchmark 26” 9.5T .060 off lands

Retumbo 85 – 92.5grns
Retumbo 87.0grn 300grn OTM 2720fps 26” Tube
Retumbo 89.0grn 300grn
Retumbo 91.4grn 300grn
Retumbo 91.5-93.0 285grn
Retumbo 87.5 grn 300grn OTM 2725-2750 .005 off
Retumbo 92.5grn 300grn Scenar 2860fps
Retumbo 93.5grn 300grn 2740fps 26” barrel

VV N570 87 – 91.0grns
87grn-2591fps 88grn-2652fps 89grn-2716fps 90grn-2736fps 91.0grn-2802fps
VV N570 89.0grn 300grn Starting load
VV N570 90.5grn 300grn OTM 2750fps Skinney_7
VV N570 91.0grn 300grn SMK
VV N570 92.0grn 300grn
VV N570 94.0grn 300grn 2790fps 26” tube

Ramshot Mag 91.0 – 93.5grn
90.5grn-2776fp 91.0grn-2778fps 91.5grn-2786fps 92.0grn-2787fps 92.5grn-2824fps
Ramshot Mag 91.0-92.0grn 300grn 2775-2800fps WLRMP/26” bbl
Ramshot Mag 93.0grn 300grn 2800fps 26” Tube
Ramshot Mag 91.5grn 285grn 2823fps 92grn = 2790fps
Ramshot Mag 92.5grn 300grn 2825fps 26”bbl, 3.602”

RL-22 83.5 – 85.0grn 300grn
RL-22 82.5grn 300grn 2649fps 8200’asl/28”bbl
RL-22 84.0grn 300grn 2775fps 26” Tube
RL-22 84.2grn 300grn 2785gps Into lands .003
RL-22 84.5grn 300grn 2780fps (review)
RL-22 86.0grn 300grn OTM 2850fps 3.634” COAL
RL-22 90.0grn 250grn 3150fps

US869 90.0 – 101.3 300grn 100.0grn ~2710fps

Hope this helps guys.

Deano
 
Today I went back and shot some 4 shot groups of 89,7-90,7 of Norma 217 behind a 300grain Berger hybrid at 300m. CBTO.2,8285.

Stiller tac 338 and 28" Lilja.

Granted my shooting was rather lousy today, and as such I would like some guidance or interpretation on whether I should proceed based on SD alone or on grouping? My groupings weren't very good, so having that top go on isn't very reassuring.

In some of the last groups, the first shot is markedly higher than the following 3.

89,7 grains:

Min: 2757.
Max: 2790.
Avg: 2774.
SD: 15.

8069a04da613475484a34dc6b74f5328.jpg

89,9 grains:

Min: 2770.
Max: 2813.
Avg: 2794.
SD: 17.

a81f7826b149b25f60e91bb3f83f8b7f.jpg

90,1 grains:

Min: 2794.
Max: 2826.
Avg: 2813.
SD: 13.

c6586f6e691034add913e3e5d18dbaa6.jpg

90,3 grains:

Min: 2804.
Max: 2816.
Avg: 2811.
SD: 5.

4e115bf914ee1cd28721167e20577e1d.jpg

90,5 grains:

Min: 2815.
Max: 2821.
Avg: 2818.
SD: 3.

e142711ce274e610928e07b6fb36b503.jpg


90,7 grains:

Min: 2813.
Max: 2829.
Avg: 2821.
SD: 8.

da6d7d1a179a6293e27f774c95cce30e.jpg
 
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Some days a guy just can't get his head on straight with these big magnums. If you're having an off day it will show in your groups. I'd say try and do another batch of the low ES charges just to see if it's you or the load. I'd look at the 2818fps as a node and work around it a little.

Deano
 
I would push your shooting out to 1K and figure it out. 100m isn't very far and I've had horrible groups at 100yds that showed no promise besides having a low ES/SD until i pushed them out and they stabilize nice and group incredible.

xdeano
 
I would love that, but all we have at those ranges are falling targets.
I can do it at 300m with Electronic reading, but thats about it.
Best groups/stats were at 90,3, 90, 5 and 90, 7. Best overall was 90,7.
 
I would push your shooting out to 1K and figure it out. 100m isn't very far and I've had horrible groups at 100yds that showed no promise besides having a low ES/SD until i pushed them out and they stabilize nice and group incredible.

xdeano
My brother and I have the same experience, with my 308 and with my Norma. I posted that and I got made fun of by everyone even Lowlight. Saying that it's total BS... glad to hear that a professional as yourself Deano has experienced the same thing