My First 338 Lapua Reloads

[mwurman]

Here's some of my first 338 Lapua Reloads for my Savage 110FCP Precision. Details: Lapua Brass, Remington 9.5 Magnum Primers, 100gr Retumbo powder, Hornady 200gr SST's. These will be the first rounds through the rifle. Also Have some Hornady Match 285gr bullets im going to try. I just need more powder now

Just for fun, comparison between the 338 Lapua and 300 RUM

 

[timelinex]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

Just wondering, is there a reason your going with 200gr bullets instead of 300gr that your savage can handle? Are those specialty huntin bullets or something?

 

[X50PLT]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

200 grain they must smoke out of the barrel. what is the muzzle vel?

 

[l115a3]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

Why not 250 - 300 gr?

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

200 grainers at 6800fps? All kidding aside, I would love to hear what you find and gleen frame the Hornady 285's. I just got a GAP 338Lm, and have an assortment or 300gr boolit selection. Saw the 285's at local shop and almost grabbed them.

 

[280nosler]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

You can shoot a 200 grain bullet from a 338 Lapua, but I am not sure why he is starting at the max load for Retumbo for his first reloads. 100 grains of retumbo should provide around 3300 FPS from a 26 inch barrel. Also, it looks like you have one hell of a roll crimp on that loaded 338 round, which will have a negative impact on accuracy.

 

[brokespur1]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

I'm shooting 200 gr. bullets in my TRG42. I'm using 101 gr. of retumbo with no cratering of the primer. They are extremely accurate an really good to use for fire forming the cases before you turn the necks...Those cases appear to be brand new and right out of the Lapua Brass box.....Might as well blow them out and turn the case necks before you load up something designed to follow the curvature of the earth....to each his own I guess....I'll be interested to hear the results of his load.....good luck with it

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

I have used one box of the Hornady 285gr Match 338LM loads. I used them as the first 20 rounds through my new 34" Lilja Barrel on my Rem 700P. The results were fantastic. I shot 10 rounds one Saturday at 100 yds, to get on paper with the sight-in. I didn't have time to do any more.
The second time at the range, again with limited time, I shot the second 10 at 300 yds. I don't know how to post pictures, but I took on of the target. I used a Walmart orange and green 100yd sight-in target with the one green bull and the four corner orange bulls with green rings. The first shot was about 6" low. I adjusted up, and had a four shot cluster centered on the 7 ring right, about 3:15, and of about 2.75" in size. I was still trying to dial in, remember, and I am not an expert marksman yet, either. Then, I got dialed in closer, shots 6 was six o'clock, mid 9 ring, shots 7 + 8 touch each other, in the 9 ring, about 1:30, and shots 9 + 10 touched each other, about 7:30, and in the bulls-eye. Shots 6-10 are extreme spread of less than 2.5" total. Very pleased for sight in and factory ammo. Want to get another box to compare later to my hand loads. I am concentrating on the 285gr and 300gr for now, as at long ranges, they keep speed better, and end up faster than the lighter ones above 12-1400 yards. Will post later with updates.
PS: Can anyone help me with how to post photos?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Will in Kenai</div><div class="ubbcode-body">200 grainers at 6800fps? All kidding aside, I would love to hear what you find and gleen frame the Hornady 285's. I just got a GAP 338Lm, and have an assortment or 300gr boolit selection. Saw the 285's at local shop and almost grabbed them. </div></div>

I made up 20 rounds with 185gr Nosler Ballistic Tips, but I never chronoed that box.

I'll have to look up my recipe. They didn't shoot that well in my 1:12" TRG, IIRC.

Chris

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

That's cause they are too short. You would need a faster twist to stabilize them, I believe.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperUncle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's cause they are too short. You would need a faster twist to stabilize them, I believe. </div></div>

I think you have it backwards.

My Sako is a 1:12 and should like the shorter bullets, like the 185s, 200s and 225s.

I'm sure that I can get them to work, but I don't want to spend the barrel life on doing so, considering their inferior BC, when compared to the 250s that I shoot.

Chris

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

Yeah, you're right, I was thinking backwards. I have a 1:10 twist, and it likes the longer ones better.
Just curious, why did you go with the 1:12 twist?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperUncle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yeah, you're right, I was thinking backwards. I have a 1:10 twist, and it likes the longer ones better.
Just curious, why did you go with the 1:12 twist? </div></div>

Back at this time in '06, Sako only offered the 1:12" twist for their 338LM.

Actually, the 250s fly flatter out to about 1500m, so the 300s aren't really worth the trouble.

Chris

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

Yes, it's true they are flatter, but, I did a couple calculations, which I will list below.
I have data for two loads, (this is not my data), one a 250gr @3226FPS muzzle velocity, one a 300gr @2810FPS muzzle velocity.
It is true that you need 5.2 MOA elevation more for the 300gr (54.2 v. 49.2).
But, somewhere around 980 yards, the 300gr bullet overtakes the 250gr one in terms of retained velocity, as at 1000 yards they are 1719FPS (300gr) v. 1717FPS (250gr).
The velocity/energy at 1500yd is as follows 1325FPS/1170ft-lb (300gr)v. 1231FPS/841ft-lb (250gr).
I guess it all depends on what you want to do with the round.

 

[dang472]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

This is the decision I've been going back and forth on. I have a build in progress right now with a Rock 1/9.3. I know the barrel will shoot the 300s great, but not sure if I'll realistically be able to take it beyond 1,400 many times in it's life to justify load development for the 300s. I think I've settled on the Hornady 285s and enjoy the butter zone between the 250s and 300s. Plus they are a little cheaper and hopefully easier to get.

 

[dang472]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperUncle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, it's true they are flatter, but, I did a couple calculations, which I will list below.
I have data for two loads, (this is not my data), one a 250gr @3226FPS muzzle velocity, one a 300gr @2810FPS muzzle velocity.
It is true that you need 5.2 MOA elevation more for the 300gr (54.2 v. 49.2).
But, somewhere around 980 yards, the 300gr bullet overtakes the 250gr one in terms of retained velocity, as at 1000 yards they are 1719FPS (300gr) v. 1717FPS (250gr).
The velocity/energy at 1500yd is as follows 1325FPS/1170ft-lb (300gr)v. 1231FPS/841ft-lb (250gr).
I guess it all depends on what you want to do with the round. </div></div>

Not seeing too many guys getting 3,226 with a 250gr bullet. Not saying it's not possible, but the brass life would probably be horrendous.

 

[lead ƒarmer]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

let us know how those hornady 285s shoot. I have been wanting to try them in my 110BA

 

[dang472]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

It will probably be 6 months or so, but I hope to have some good data on the 285s. My chamber will be match cut so I'll be able to run them to the lands and back and still keep mag length. Not sure about the Savage. I've heard they have a long throat so your results will vary.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

Yes, there aren't to many loads advertized at this velocity. I found one on Ammoguide.com This, however means that most of your loads for the 250gr won't even take as long to be surpassed in velocity as this one did. It also closes the gap in elevation needed to an extent.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

Spelunk, I have used one box of the Hornady 285gr factory rounds, and listed my results above. I think they are good enough that I would get some more and work with them more. My chamber is cut to exact SAMMI Spec.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

Bullet Wt.(gr) 250 Powder Type S385 Charge(gr) 85.0 MuzzleVel. (fps) 3226 K.E.(ft-lbs) 5780 Pressure 9880??? Barrel-Length 27.0 Overall Length (in) ???
Developed by Stalinx

This does seem a little fantastic, but that is what I'm reading.
The next highest Velocity Load was with Retumbo, at 3041FPS.

 

[dang472]

Re: My First 338 Lapua Reloads

My data from Shooter. 250gr Scenar at 3,000fps 13.5mils at 1,500
2.7mils right with 10mph wind. 300gr Scenar at 2,800fps 14.1mils at 1,500 and 2.4mils right with 10mph wind. So basically the 250 shoots flatter out to 1,500 yards but is slightly worse with the wind. This data was just entered as 50% humidity and sea level.