I'm looking for favorite powders and charges for the 338 LM. I am shooting a Savage 110 FCP. I plan on having the OAL be magazine minus .020. I have Lapua brass, Berger 300 gr. Hybrids, F215gm primers. I am using Redding comp. dies and neck sizing. Any info on neck bushing would be helpful also. All load testing will be at 300 yards. I need to be as hot and accurate as possible as this is my primary weapon for our 1300 yard range. Also, elevation is 1200 ft. Thanks in advance.
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Powder Info for Savage 338 LM
- Thread starter The DL
- Start date
I have the same gun. I caution you to load hot however. Hot loads will cause hard bolt lift and stuck cases. My loads I would call warm. I try to maintain between 2700-2750 fps. I use Lapua brass, Berger 300gr OTM's, Federal GM215M primers, Retumbo powder, and Redding comp dies. I used to get good lot to lot consistency with Retumbo but the recent lot I had to change my load more than normal. I went from 2750fps average to 2800fps with this recent lot using 92gr's or powder. I now use 90.6gr's to achieve 2735fps average. Because of this I recommend you work your way up to a safe load that's consistent and accurate verses something that's hot and accurate. My loads down range performance is nearly identical to my previous load.
As far as neck sizing I use reddings .366 bushing and it provides good neck tension. I also full length re-size each time. May not be necessary but I have seen people with Savages have issues even with Lapua brass who did not re-size the previously fired brass. My COAL is 3.725 and I forget my length to ogive (I am at work) but to measure base to ogive I like the Hornady bullet comparator set. Only thing you might have to do is drill out the base of the comparator some. I thought I was having some run out issues but it turned out the berger 300gr OTM is just long enough it sometimes would bottom out in the comparator giving me a false reading. I would also suggest getting Reddings VLD bullet seater for your comp die.
Also not sure what optics you are using but I zero and test loads at 100 yards before taking it further. Longest shot taken has been 1535 yards and depending on weather that day I have to dial up 49 to 50 moa to get me on target with my loads.
As far as neck sizing I use reddings .366 bushing and it provides good neck tension. I also full length re-size each time. May not be necessary but I have seen people with Savages have issues even with Lapua brass who did not re-size the previously fired brass. My COAL is 3.725 and I forget my length to ogive (I am at work) but to measure base to ogive I like the Hornady bullet comparator set. Only thing you might have to do is drill out the base of the comparator some. I thought I was having some run out issues but it turned out the berger 300gr OTM is just long enough it sometimes would bottom out in the comparator giving me a false reading. I would also suggest getting Reddings VLD bullet seater for your comp die.
Also not sure what optics you are using but I zero and test loads at 100 yards before taking it further. Longest shot taken has been 1535 yards and depending on weather that day I have to dial up 49 to 50 moa to get me on target with my loads.
Retumbo at 89.3 grains with 300 grain Matchkings (or Bergers) ought to do the trick. I get 2700 fps from that recipe from my 110BA, in Lapua brass.
With the load tuned by depth to bring the cold, clean bore shot as closely as possible to group center, the gun shoots extremely well.
With the load tuned by depth to bring the cold, clean bore shot as closely as possible to group center, the gun shoots extremely well.
My Savage 110 FCP HS loves:
92gr RL33, 300gr scenars, lapua brass, FGMM 215m primers, 3.681 OAL.
That combo has consistently shot 1/2 moa 3 & 5 shot groups with new brass at 300 yards, and the last range trip out shot .27 moa at 300 yards with four shots using neck sized brass with a 365 bushing. We stopped at that and called it a day.
92gr RL33, 300gr scenars, lapua brass, FGMM 215m primers, 3.681 OAL.
That combo has consistently shot 1/2 moa 3 & 5 shot groups with new brass at 300 yards, and the last range trip out shot .27 moa at 300 yards with four shots using neck sized brass with a 365 bushing. We stopped at that and called it a day.
Also read this about the bergers. You will want to load them light in the 338 lapua.
http://www.bergerbullets.com/update-regarding-the-338-hybrids/
http://www.bergerbullets.com/update-regarding-the-338-hybrids/
I have a remington 700 338 LM and have been working loads for it. It doesn't seem to like the heavier bullets but shoots the 250 Hornady match bullets real well with 92.3 grains H1000 the 3 shot group to the right was 2.88" at 500 yards. The group to the left was 3.66" with 92.4 grains of H1000 also 500 Yards. Both of these loads are in the 2800fps range. They were seated 30 thousandths off the lands.
Attachments
H-1000, US 869, Retumbo, RL-25, RL-33, VV-170, VV-N570 and the magnum powders from AA, Ramshot and Winchester...all should be good with the 300s.
Chris
Chris
I'm shooting 250 Hornady Match over 84.5 R19 out of my Savage 110 FCP-HS. I'm getting about 2700 fps +/- and when I do my part, shooting 5-7" at 1000. I've not tried the heavier bullets. If accuracy becomes a problem, I might look at changing something up.
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