Re: Barrett 98B .338 Lapua help
Humbodlt,
Many good suggestions. It would be worth the time and money to go and shoot (learn) with someone who is used to shooting 1000 yards. They can teach you invaluable lessons about reading wind, mirage, tracking the bullet, etc. You also really need to connect with someone whose done a lot of handloading. It doesn't need to be big stuff like the .338L, but someone that's done a lot of handloads for a lot of different guns. He's learned about different primers, variations in powder lots, cases, etc. He knows how to watch for pressure signs, runout, how to set up seating death for the right bullet jump, etc.
Don't get too carried away with decided on one particular bullet or powder, even if someone else's 98 shoots it great. As any handloading gun-nut will tell you, every gun is different. Buy a box or two of 4 different bullets: Try the Lapuas, try the SMK, and whatever. Work up your loads with increasing powder increments, seating them the bullets the same for bullet jump. (Most rifles your increments are going to be .5 to 1 gr., but in the 338L it might be 1 to 2 gr. increments). 300 yards will be a fine "work-up-a-load" distance. See which load is showing promise, but don't get in a hurry.
If none are, try a different powder. When you find one that hints at potential, "tweek" is a bit with varying powder charge .5 grns at a time up & down. Or trying bullet jump slightly more or less .010-.020 at a time and see if you can find your rifles "sweet spot." KEEP A LOG BOOK FOR YOUR HANDLOADS. Only when you find the load that really wants to shoot .5 MOA, do you stock up on powder & bullets.
Till then your in the experimentation stage, but it can a a lot of fun if your patient. I'd rather be shooting, but I really enjoy working up loads to see if I can get the perfect combination (especially in the dead of winter when it's too cold and not much happening). I've not only done it for my own guns over the years, but also for family and friends (.204, .223, 22-250, .257AI, .260, .270,.280,7mmRM,7mmL&L .300WM, .338x300, .335 OTTR, 45-70). There's a certain satisfaction when you see a load you've worked up shoot the lights out. I'd love to have a rig like yours to play with and make it sing!
PS: I hate California too, if you can make the move to NV, do it!
