Savage 110BA 338LM

[mudpig]

I am brand new to the 338LM, but have been a Savage fan for 30+ yrs. You guys that have this rig....What's working for you?

Powder and Charge:
Seating distance from lands:
COAL:
What velocities are you getting?
What kind of accuracy are you getting?

I've read a good number of the 338LM threads here. I see that I'm getting the same case marking and bolt face smear as vh20 has posted and have read that this could be caused by a short chamber as well as the normal reasons. I literally only have 19 rounds throught the barrel to sight in and start barrel break in with factory Doubletap ammo w/ 300gr SMK. Their loaded length was 3.650. I pulled 5 rounds apart to find approx. 94.6gr of what looks like Retumbo (seems a bit much). When reseating the bullet, I loaded them to 3.703 (.015 off lands). With the exception of 2 rounds being way outside the norm for velocity all others were less than 10fps max spread. The 3.650 were 2830'ish and the 3.703 loads were 2910'ish. Accuracy was .5 to .6 inch at 100yds for the 3.650 rounds during my shoot-one/clean/shoot break in. The 3.703 loads went into .4 with the exception of the one round that was outside the velocity norm (it went 1" high) during the same shoot-one/clean schedule.

I've got:
100 virgin Lapua cases (trimmed, primer pockets uniformed, necks turned to .0145) in adition to the 20 Lapua cases with the Doubletap loads
FGGM 215 Primers
300 SMK and 285 HPBT Hornady's
Retumbo and WC872

What loads are working good for you guys with the Savage 110BA 338LM?? and does the info for the Doubletap ammo sound about right?
Do the components I've got to start with sound like I'm on the right track??

Any info would be appreciated and thanks in advance from the FNG

Chris

 

[jfields]

I would get some magnum primers instead of those 215s.. I have not tried WC872, but I have burned several pounds of Retumbo through mine. I have run from 88 to 96 grains. I settled on 93 grains of Retumbo under the 300 berger Hybrid. OAL is 3.710. They are running 2805 and accuracy is .3" @ 100 yards, and around .5 MOA vertical @ 1760 yards.

Hope this helps.

-Shaky

 

[pmuniz10920]

Get some 215m... I know it's hard now though...

I decided to stick with:

300 grain SMK
90.0 grains Retumbo
Federal 215m
3.710"
2700fps
Average day 3/4"
Good day 1/2"

Gun shoots better than I can...

Best of luck!

 

[mudpig]

Thanks for the info fellas. I miss-typed. The 215's I've got are Magnum Primers so no worries there. The COAL I will start with is identicle to what you both stated (3.710"). My initial ladder loads that I just put together last night are 90-96gr Retumbo and 99-103gr of WC872 over the Hornaday 285. Have either of you had any issues with sticky bolt lift or sticky cases or pressure signs as some members have stated? How many rounds did it take to get the barrel broken in and settled down? How much did you guys play with seating depth? Seating at 3.710 how much bullet jump are you getting? Any other helpful hints are appreciated.

Thanks Chris

 

[P7id10t]

Through my 110BA i have had Hornady, Lapua, BH and S&B brass. Only had one "sticky" Hornady case, and only after firing. Extracted fine though. No other problems and would not expect any.

 

[pmuniz10920]

No issues with sticky bolt or bad pressure signs, I only use lapua brass. Played with seating from 3.580-3.710. If I can remember correct it measured 3.721 (+/-.002)

 

[mudpig]

Thanks for all of the feedback fellas

 

[cecchino76]

I also have one 110 ba and no problem with mine , prefers 300 SMK H1000 91.5 gr 0.060 from the land about 1/2 MOA

 

[iShoot17]

The 110BA I shoot has a common load of 90.0gr of H-1000, Lapua brass, 215M primer, and 300 Scenar seated .010 off of the lands.

I tried Hornady and will never use it again in the Lapua. I had to use a rubber mallet to knock back the bolt on the rifle in order to free the brass from the chamber. I shot 20 rounds and 19 got stuck. Last time for me!
(^^This is MY opinion. To each his own though.)

 

[Raven796]

Tag.......

 

[mudpig]

So I did my 1st ladder test this weekend. Working with Hornady 285gr in my 338LM Savage 110BA. I used Retumbo and WC872. Loaded 2 rounds at each powder charge just to see if they were safe loads, get a guess at consistency and accuracy. Posted a pic of the Retumbo target cause I thought that was respectable..the WC872 loads need some work... Velocity was way low and accuracy sucked, so I'm going to redue that ladder and start at 103gr and go to 106gr. I'll post the results of that. The two Retumbo loads that show promise...I'm going to load 10 rounds each and refire for consistency and accuracy and see how that all works out. Target was shot at 100yds. I was extremely pleased with the accuracy of the 93 and 94gr Retumbo loads in the 110BA.

 

[aidenpeacemaker]

Great job. Mudpig. Nice shooting

 

[bob6117]

Hornady 285gr. bthp
Hodgdon H1000 89.5gr.
Lapua case
Federal 215M
3.700 coal
2745 fps

Hornady 250gr. bthp
Hodgdon H1000 95.0gr.
Federal 215M
Lapua brass
3.550 coal
3025 fps

 

[338DUTCH]

Hell I'm shooting Herters and S&B same result as everyone else, hole on hole to four bullet apart hell and that's top with the finest $112.34 scope you can get at ACADEMY do it will get'em there.