AIAW SM reloading questions

[texasleftychef]

I thought about posting this in the reloading forum but thought that I might get more answers here. Also I have searched about as good as I know how but not found the answers that I am looking for - so sorry if this has already been mulled ad nausea.

I will soon have in my possession an AIAW SM .338. I didn't realize before I bought it about the "magazine length" problem. It appears to me from my research that the mag length is only around 3.60 inches and the barrel is only an 11 twist which should only work with ~250 grain bullets.

What are most of you guys shooting out of your .338 AIAW's? Are the 250 Scenars loaded to mag length going to work or are they too far off the lands and jumping too far? Any ideas on how far away the lands are on a 250 Scenar loaded to mag length? Or are any of you loading single shot with longer OAL and not using the magazine?

Please let me know what is working for everyone so I know what components to buy aside from Lapua brass.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mile High Shooting]

Re: AIAW SM reloading questions

Load some 250s with a good powder like H1000 or Retumbo. Find an accurate load with the velocity you are happy with that fits in the magazine and shoot the rifle. Unless you're pushing extreme distances past 1500 yards, I wouldn't worry too much about the 300gr vs 250gr argument.

After all, it was only a regular AW .338 Lapua shooting 250gr Lapuas that holds the current, known and verified longest distance kill.

If you need a faster twist barrel so you can shoot the 300s, you can always get another barrel. The nice thing about AI rifles is the ease of swapping barrels.

-Sean

 

[Black Majik]

Re: AIAW SM reloading questions

Good question OP and something I'm interested in hearing the answer to as well.

Im currently doing initial load development so far and had good success on paper at 100 with the 300gr Scenars and H1000. Is the 1:11" twist too slow for 300gr. bullets?

I have some 250gr Scenars coming in so it'll be exciting to see how well they perform. I load mine to 3.615" COAL, it still feeds fine from the magazine.

 

[71firebird400]

Re: AIAW SM reloading questions

Black Majik- 300gr typically require 1:10" or faster to truly stabilize, but if you're having good luck with them I'd recommend stretching them out and seeing if they shoot well.

I agree with Sean (Mile High); 250gr bullets are no slouch in 338LM and were what the cartridge was originally designed around. BC isn't everything, you should be able to get the 250 Scenars to do everything you need unless you were planning on going past 1500. Enjoy your new rifle!