RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

[TexasShadow]

Hey fellas got a quick question.

I am gonna start reloading in 338LM.I have brand new Lapua brass.Do I need to Resize the brand new brass on the first reload or are the Lapua brass good to go right out of the box?

Also which primers do you fellas recommend.Thanks!

 

[psinclair]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

I load them without any prep.

Most guys use the Federal 215 Magnum Match.

 

[thanksgtw]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

Irecently found a momlithic .338 bullet that had a very high BC but can't relocate it. Anybody know is a 338 bullet this a very high BC

 

[VTi]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PGS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I load them without any prep.

Most guys use the Federal 215 Magnum Match. </div></div>

+1

Load them straight out of the box, they will perform just fine.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

I shoot lapua brass with no prep. Fgm215 m. 300 grain scenars. 93.2 retumbo 30 thousands off the lands. People will tell you to ALWAYS fl resize but I have shot 9 boxes of lapua brass out of my .308 and never resized virgin brass. They anneal them so well a little dent on the mouth isn't going to matter bc the bullet just slides in and straightens it. After the first shot I fl resize then trim to spec and usually don't have to trim for atleast 4 or 5 shots after that.

 

[George63]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

I am liking CCI 34 primers for the lapua - basically a standard primer with high pressure cup- I go by the theory of using the lightest primer that gives reliable ignition

for final load development I prefer fire formed brass (hoping to eliminate brass variation from the formula) - after that I will use new, full resized or fire formed batches without any noticeable differences

 

[George63]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tricobra1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Irecently found a momlithic .338 bullet that had a very high BC but can't relocate it. Anybody know is a 338 bullet this a very high BC </div></div>

if you look at the recent testing of 338 projectiles by hide members the solids had the greatest variance (lower of course) from the sellers claimed BC

you can spend considerably more than the 300 SMK but gain very little - IMO even the berger and lapua projectiles are not worth the extra $$ much less the solids

 

[TexasShadow]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

Thanks for the feeedback fellas

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

Mostly 215Ms, but a few WLR Magnums and plain-Jane 215s.

I remember that I was breaking out with the hives when I was down to my last 500 215Ms during the great '215M shortage' of '09-'10.


Chris

 

[jkonzal]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

I just got a 98b over this past weekend, and am wondering what to use powder wise for the 250 and 300 gr smk's. I got some RL25 with the gun, and both bullets. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Flintlock Shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just got a 98b over this past weekend, and am wondering what to use powder wise for the 250 and 300 gr smk's. I got some RL25 with the gun, and both bullets. Any input would be greatly appreciated. </div></div>

Powders: Retumbo, H-1000, H-4831sc, RL-25, VV-165, VV-170, VV-N560, VV-N570

Bullets: Berger 250/300, Lapua 250/300, SMK 250/300, Hornandy 250/285.

Primers: FGMM 215Ms

Brass: Lapua/Norma

Chris

 

[jkonzal]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

Thanks Chris. Sent you a PM.

 

[esromvre]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

I use the 300 Hybrids

My load may not work in your rifel and may be a hot load in your rifle. Do the work up.....

My load is
LM brass
84.5g RL25
Fed 215m

Think before you try someone elses load. again DO THE WORK UP.

 

[jkonzal]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

Thanks for your input. I will do the work up!!!

 

[p33shooter]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

resize your brass, reloading a about repeatability and consistency. If you dont resize the brass, load it, shoot it, then after you resize your brass then the accuracy may differ.
I always resize, why risk it not chambering..IMO

 

[oneshot.onehit]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Flintlock Shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just got a 98b over this past weekend, and am wondering what to use powder wise for the 250 and 300 gr smk's. I got some RL25 with the gun, and both bullets. Any input would be greatly appreciated. </div></div>

I'm running H1000, 300 gr Scenars 59ths. off the lands out of the 27" with a TBAC 338P-1 can. The Barrett shoots very well

 

[oneshot.onehit]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

I resize and do the full prep on new brass, only so my load development will be a little more repetitive to 2nd round brass

Lapua Brass
Federal 215 magnum primers
H1000
300 grain Scenars

Also noted is the Barrett preferred a tighter neck tension, even though runout was good on the lighter necks

 

[CrawDad338]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

I just neck size until my 4th firing with Lapua brass then I FL resize, when I load develop I make sure the case is FL resized regardless of how many time I fired the case.

My 2 loads are...

87gr RL-25 2662fps
92gr H1000 2735fps ES 5fps SD 2fps
26'', 9 twist, 3.70 COAL, 35ft above sea level

 

[Tactical]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

I would just load the new brass. Just make sure case mouths are round.

Use Fed215 primers

Bullets depend on twist

I run TRG4 with 1x10" twist with 300 Scenars
92.4 grains of N570 and could not be happier with performance

 

[DirtD]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aimsmall55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot lapua brass with no prep. Fgm215 m. 300 grain scenars. 93.2 retumbo 30 thousands off the lands.</div></div>

Quick question Aimsma, when you started your load work up did you initially have the bullet pressed into the rifling .010 then work it back? I was reading one of the articles on this form and it said to start with the bullet .010 into the rifling, which seems like it would create very high pressure in the chamber.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DirtD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aimsmall55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot lapua brass with no prep. Fgm215 m. 300 grain scenars. 93.2 retumbo 30 thousands off the lands.</div></div>

Quick question Aimsma, when you started your load work up did you initially have the bullet pressed into the rifling .010 then work it back? I was reading one of the articles on this form and it said to start with the bullet .010 into the rifling, which seems like it would create very high pressure in the chamber. </div></div>

Most of the 338 bullets can stand a jump, anyhow, so jamming the lands (at least in initial workups) isn't going to be necessary. VLDs...sure, you can jam them because they love to be jammed.

For initial workups, more than a few long range shooters like to 'start' 15-20 thous off the lands. There's an article over on 6mmBR.com, where the author asks a bunch of competitors where they seat their bullets and for some odd reason--.017" off the lands cropped up more than a couple of times!

You can pick a number...say .025" and keep that consistent, fiddle with your charge weights and then you can tweak stuff later on.

I got to test some of the new Berger 250gr Hybrids, albeit only at 100 yds, but I didnt't want to fiddle with charge weights, so I used my go-to charge of between 87gr-89gr of H-4831sc and figured I'd play with seating depth in the limited time I had and with the limited amount of bullets we had to fiddle with (100).

As you can see, even the hybrids like a decent jump. I figured that my lands were at 3.870"ish with those bullets and maglength is 3.730"isn:

Chris

 

[DirtD]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

Chris,
That makes sense, thanks for the info and nice groups!

 

[TheBroke1]

Re: RELOADING FOR 338 LAPUA MAGNUM

just a few questions for anyone shooting and reloading the HSM 230gr. T-50 338 bullets. I have a Sako TRG 1-10 twist and the factory ammo is giving me fits beyond 600yd mark. I bought a box of bullets to load for it but have been unsucsessful in finding any data on where to start on a powder load charge or finding anyone that might have a load for these machined solids. They look good on HMS's paper but my gun does not agree with there factory loads. So to anyone out there that is shooting HMS 230gr T-50 or has shot it in the past I am reaching out for help and advice!!! does someone have a load or do I start handing them out as paper weights to friends or just cut my loss on them $90 for 100. I tried contacting Nick at HMS he was right there when I placed the order and they messed it up but havn't heard nothing back on where to start to load these up to see if this gun will find a sweet spot for them. I know its not the gun or optics, its glass is a Nightforce 5.5-20x56 with a 35moa base and it will shoot sub .5 moa with Lapua factory 250 scenars at 1000yd mark. I realize I should work up an equivelent to the factory Lapua rounds and stick with it, but there is nothing like a good solid past the 1500yd mark for the penetration factor when it is needed. Also anyone else out there using the Nightforce Ballistic software? It run true with a few minor adjustments from the kestrel out to 1000yds but with the Lapua mag just a small dope card and its lights out, is their data running close from 1500-2000yds and beyond? I can be reached at [email protected]
Thanks to all and
Keep Your Powder Dry!!
TheBroke1