New AI AXMC .338 Lapua - Some Set Up Questions

[Monk Medic]

Getting my new rifle set up, and loving it so far.

System - AI AXMC .338 Lapua, Nightforce 7-35 ATACR F1, and Spuhr mount.

A few questions:

1) Ammo Choice - I started out with the factory Lapua Scenar 300 gr rounds, thinking that I'd like to do some long distance in the near future, and might as well gather data for the data book based on that round. Is there any advantage to shooting the 250 gr for close in work, or just stick to one round? When when getting the 300 yard zero, all my rounds where in essence in the same hole (admittedly a larger hole), once I shifted the windage right.

2) Barrel Life - What's a reasonable expectation of barrel life for the AI .338 LM barrels?

3) Spent Brass - I'm not a reloader, sure there is a market for the Lapua brass I'm generating, what is the best way to recoup some $ selling the brass?

4) Armorer's Manual - I'm a SIG armorer on pretty much all pistols and rifles, and enjoy the technical and trivia detail associated with the armorer's manual. Is there a place where I can buy, or download the manual for this weapon?

Thanks!

 

[deersniper]

Cant help with your questions but at least throw a rifle pic up so we can drool.

 

[Monk Medic]

Cant help with your questions but at least throw a rifle pic up so we can drool.

How about this?

 

[Dave62677]

1, just stick to one factory Ammo and collect the data.

2, high velocity kills barrel life. You might get 2500 round for the 2700fps scenar 300 pills if you don’t rapid fire.

3, just post the FS thread on hide for the brass, most of us will buy it for 2dollars each

4, there some pdf files available on AI website.

 

[deersniper]

Sweet rifle Wish I had the room to utilize one.

 

[Shawd43]

Just to add to what Dave said, the AI website has info, their informational brochures and specifications are broken down by chassis systems and are downloadable.

 

[Monk Medic]

Agree AI website is nice.
But no armorers manuals up there.
As a SIG armorer for many platforms, I find the armorers manuals helpful to fully understand and appreciate the weapons system.

I’d even buy or take the class, but looks like it’s closed, LE and mil only.

 

[Dave62677]

not too much info outside of AI website. Even Youtube only have few short video of the AXMC. Miles High have the AI class, i think is open to civilian.

 

[Jeffd]

Getting my new rifle set up, and loving it so far.

System - AI AXMC .338 Lapua, Nightforce 7-35 ATACR F1, and Spuhr mount.

A few questions:

1) Ammo Choice - I started out with the factory Lapua Scenar 300 gr rounds, thinking that I'd like to do some long distance in the near future, and might as well gather data for the data book based on that round. Is there any advantage to shooting the 250 gr for close in work, or just stick to one round? When when getting the 300 yard zero, all my rounds where in essence in the same hole (admittedly a larger hole), once I shifted the windage right.

2) Barrel Life - What's a reasonable expectation of barrel life for the AI .338 LM barrels?

3) Spent Brass - I'm not a reloader, sure there is a market for the Lapua brass I'm generating, what is the best way to recoup some $ selling the brass?

4) Armorer's Manual - I'm a SIG armorer on pretty much all pistols and rifles, and enjoy the technical and trivia detail associated with the armorer's manual. Is there a place where I can buy, or download the manual for this weapon?

Thanks!

For what's worth. I have the same rig and I have found the Lapua 250 Grains to shoot the best.

 

[Jrb572]

Yes the AI class is open to the public at Mile High. Maybe not ever class. I’ve been to the course. It was worth the money to me.

 

[Shawd43]

Are you just looking for specifications and tolerances?

 

[Monk Medic]

Jeffd - “Better” in terms of? Stability, predictably, mv?

Shawd43 - More like the complete systems manual. Thanks.

 

[Jrb572]

Normally you only get access to the manuals if you attend the AI course.

 

[Jeffd]

Jeffd - “Better” in terms of? Stability, predictably, mv?

Shawd43 - More like the complete systems manual. Thanks.

Just better all around. I have tried other ammunition and my AI loves the 250'S.

 

[Dave62677]

I'm working on the load of 250 with 4831SC powder, i will share the load data once available

 

[brianf]

in my mc i found that the hornady 250 and 285 shoots tighter groups then the scenar. theyre usually much cheaper to boot.

if you can find RWS match it out shoots them all in factory guns from what i have found, but that is lapua price ammo.
even though you dont reload and guys might get pissy... the RWS brass is tougher then lapua, i get more reloads in that brass then any other.

if you are using factory loads the lapua scenar 250 is a better round then the 300. factory stuff doesnt push it fast enough to really get the benefit of the 300 bullet. the 250 has less recoil as well.

just my observations, YMMV

 

[Dave62677]

where you can locate the rws brass?

 

[brianf]

I always shoot factory match when I buy a new rifle or a new barrel.
Just gives me confidence that my gear is good.
So I'll buy the ammo with the brass I want for that round.
For 300 wm and 338 I picked up rws match elite ammo.
Rung is under the same parent company, and sometimes their ammo is cheaper.
I'm usually just search and shop etc.
last time I bought rws ammo was from 10x bullets in Texas.

 

[Shawd43]

Jeffd - “Better” in terms of? Stability, predictably, mv?

Shawd43 - More like the complete systems manual. Thanks.

Not sure if you have this yet

 

[Monk Medic]

Yes sir, have that with my rifle and in the digital form, thanks for sending it over!

 

[TripleBull]

My 338LM is a Masterpiece Arms and the only factory ammo I've run through it is the Scenar 250 and 300. Both have given a muzzle velocity standard deviation of about 16 or 17 fps and an extreme spread on the order of 40-60 fps. I typically shoot at an elevation of 5000', so the 250 grain Scenar (MV ~3050 fps) is going transonic a little before one mile. The 300 grain Scenar has a muzzle velocity of about 2775 and it travels about an additional 100 yards or so before going transonic.

Handloads with the same projectiles can run ~25 fps faster with no pressure problems and the muzzle velocity standard deviations drop quite a bit. I have more data for the 250s handloaded, where I see standard deviations typically in the 5 to 8 fps range and extreme spreads in the 15 to 25 fps range.

The Scenars behave well down into transonic in my limited experience. I'm in the process of switching over to Berger Hybrid 300 OTMs and expect to get another ~200 yards of supersonic travel due to the higher BC. After optimizing the Bergers I'll probably give the Werner Flatlines a try. I only use this gun for shooting ELR and have shot is very little at short range except to get a zero and work up a load.

It's probably worth your time to try the factory Hornady ELD-M (285gr) and also the Prime 300 OTM. Look around here on the Hide and get the discount code for the Prime. You'll probably need to shoot 20 or more rounds of a new ammo before you get a clear indication of how it works in your rifle. As others have stated, the recoil of the 300s is heftier than the 250s but with a good brake it's tolerable.

 

[Monk Medic]

Thanks for sharing that info on the 250 vs 300gr, esp muzzle velocities.

In the past, I've tended to stick with one brand, in this case Lapua, for consistency and because my data book is set up that way.
But you bring up some excellent points, which I apprecaite and think I need to look into.

The weather here in Maine is just breaking, so I'll head back out to the range in two weeks for a class down at the SIG Sauer Academy, will be able to get data work ups from 100-1,000 yards. I think I'll collect data on the 250 and 300 at those distances as well.

My 338LM is a Masterpiece Arms and the only factory ammo I've run through it is the Scenar 250 and 300. Both have given a muzzle velocity standard deviation of about 16 or 17 fps and an extreme spread on the order of 40-60 fps. I typically shoot at an elevation of 5000', so the 250 grain Scenar (MV ~3050 fps) is going transonic a little before one mile. The 300 grain Scenar has a muzzle velocity of about 2775 and it travels about an additional 100 yards or so before going transonic.

Handloads with the same projectiles can run ~25 fps faster with no pressure problems and the muzzle velocity standard deviations drop quite a bit. I have more data for the 250s handloaded, where I see standard deviations typically in the 5 to 8 fps range and extreme spreads in the 15 to 25 fps range.

The Scenars behave well down into transonic in my limited experience. I'm in the process of switching over to Berger Hybrid 300 OTMs and expect to get another ~200 yards of supersonic travel due to the higher BC. After optimizing the Bergers I'll probably give the Werner Flatlines a try. I only use this gun for shooting ELR and have shot is very little at short range except to get a zero and work up a load.

It's probably worth your time to try the factory Hornady ELD-M (285gr) and also the Prime 300 OTM. Look around here on the Hide and get the discount code for the Prime. You'll probably need to shoot 20 or more rounds of a new ammo before you get a clear indication of how it works in your rifle. As others have stated, the recoil of the 300s is heftier than the 250s but with a good brake it's tolerable.

 

[TripleBull]

In the past, I've tended to stick with one brand, in this case Lapua, for consistency and because my data book is set up that way.

I hear you one that. I am careful to limit changes in variables to one at a time as much as possible, so starting off with factory Scenars helped me build a stock of good brass while I got my reloading bench together. I don't have as much time available to handload as I'd like but I'm enjoying the benefits. I'd like to wring the 338LM out as far as possible so I'm going to have to try other projectiles.

Your AI pictures are tempting me to sell my MPA and get an AX/MC...