School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

G

grkmec

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Minuteman
Mar 15, 2009
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Stamford, CT
#1
I have a problem guys. I don't know jack about 338LM ammo and I have my first 338LM rifle inbound. I need to feed the beast. I don't reload (yet) and I need info on what my factory ammo options are. Do I want 250gr or 300gr? Brands? Best round? Best value/practice round? Where to buy? Best prices?

For 308, I shoot FGMM 175gr SMK. What would the equivalent 338 round be?

In case it matters, the rifle is a DTA SRS
 
#2
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

How deep is your pocket? In terms of choices there aren't a whole lot of options available. No matter what brand, bullet grains you shoot, it is going to cost you approximate $5+ dollar per trigger pull.

Black Hill 250 SMK, and 300 SMK
Lapua 250 scenars and 300 scenars
Hornady 250 grains (not sure if SMK or scenars)-- if avalable.
Remington 250 scenars (I don't know if they still make them).

I would avoid 250 SMK, just because too expensive for the performance. Stick with 250 scenars or 300 SMK. You may want to start reloading about now, or send in the refinancing mortgage paper about now. LOL. Let us know on how the DTA performs. I hear good thing about it.
 
#3
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

i am looking to load some .338 lapua ammo. i have a Lee press. What other dies will work in the Lee press? I dont see any from Lee that are available.
 
#4
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Lapua 250 scenars and 300 scenars.

Reload Lapua 250 scenars with VV N560 or RL25

Reload Lapua 300 scenars with VV N570 or RL25
 
#5
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Black hills is great because they use lapua brass, which is great for when you start to reload.
I am trying my hand at: 300gr SMK, with RL25 and Lapua brass.
 
#6
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Hornady and Prvi Partizan are putting out "less expensive" .338LM ammo, but I have no idea if it's up to the same quality as the Lapua or Black Hills ammo.

I wonder if we could do a big Lapua group buy on 250 and 300gr ammo? Something large enough to bring the price down a bit would be worth it for folks who don't roll their own loads.
 
#7
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You may want to start reloading about now, or send in the refinancing mortgage paper about now. LOL.</div></div>

+1!
I can't afford to shoot mine with factory ammo. Besides, you can work up some pet loads just for your rifle
smile.gif
 
#8
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

If you guys wanted to do a large order of 338 LM ammo, I could make some. Components would be new Hornady 338LM brass, Alliant R25 powder, Fed 215M primers, and either a 250 grain or 300 grain Sierra Matchking. I load everything on a Redding T-7 single stage press with an Accu-Lab digital scale. Pricing would be around $285 per 100 rounds.
 
#12
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you guys wanted to do a large order of 338 LM ammo, I could make some. Components would be new Hornady 338LM brass, Alliant R25 powder, Fed 215M primers, and either a 250 grain or 300 grain Sierra Matchking. I load everything on a Redding T-7 single stage press with an Accu-Lab digital scale. Pricing would be around $285 per 100 rounds. </div></div>

thats some good pricing. If I didnt load my own I would be jumping on that.


Here is my current SRS 338LM load. Have put close to 1k rounds on my SRS and love it. Have used this out to 1 mile with great results.

94gr RL-25
250gr Lapua LB
Fed 215m primer
OAL- 3.69"
2920 fps
 
#14
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Hi , for my rifle Sako TRG42 and AWM 338 l.m my load is :
Lapua case
Lapua Scenar 250
Fed 215GM
N560 88,3 V0= 2910 fps
N165 91,5 V0= 2950 fps

Is very good test at 1220 Meters whit wind 10mph ,
not sovrapressure .
Best Regards
 
#15
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shooter65</div><div class="ubbcode-body">89 Gr. reloader 25
300 gr. SMKS
fed.215m primer
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">OAL 2.770 </span></span></div></div>

Is that a typo? Do you mean 3.770"?
 
#16
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you guys wanted to do a large order of 338 LM ammo, I could make some. Components would be new Hornady 338LM brass, Alliant R25 powder, Fed 215M primers, and either a 250 grain or 300 grain Sierra Matchking. I load everything on a Redding T-7 single stage press with an Accu-Lab digital scale. Pricing would be around $285 per 100 rounds. </div></div>

How much is considered a large order? I am very interested in a few hundred rounds (2-3 hundred) at this price.

SCL
 
#17
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Yes. 3.770

sorry.



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shooter65</div><div class="ubbcode-body">89 Gr. reloader 25
300 gr. SMKS
fed.215m primer
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">OAL 2.770 </span></span></div></div>

Is that a typo? Do you mean 3.770"? </div></div>
 
#18
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

I have tried Rem 250 gr Scenar, an Summit 300gr I believe.

Rem uses Lapua brass, Summit - Hornady brass.

Rem cost a bit over $100/20 at dealer pricing. Summit cost about $70/dealer.

Summit accuracy was horrible, about 4moa at 100. Rem was good at 1moa.
 
#19
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

For competitions I use Lapua factory match ammo loaded with B408 250grs lock base, bofors rp-15 gunpowder and fed 215 primer.

Why: The desired 900m/s (aprox 2950 fps)speed can be easily obtained by this ammo, from my TRG-42. The accuracy is better than in my handloads(usually between 0.5 to 0.80moa). This round is also standard Finnish military round. My scope zeiss 3-12x56 FINNDOT has a BDC for this round. This catridge burns very nicely so the throat does not get filled with carbon residues as happens with n570 and n170.The trajectory of b408 is ALMOST the same as 250 scenar. The FMJBT bullet feeds nicely, which is desirable thing in Finnish comptitions. The factory ammo is also much more stabile for temperatire changes due the used bofors rp-15. Also I do feel that factory ammo is safer and more consistant in performance as handloads. I have succesfuly shot these rounds up to 1400m. The extra tolerance between chamber and brass makes the roud safer to use in sandy conditions. The 338LM brass gets widened from the back of the brass. You can not press this bump down eaven with a full lenght sizing die.

Still this ammo is expensive, so for practice I use ammo that is a near duplicate of factory ammo. The powder is different and load lenght longer that factory ammo, but ballistics are the same.

Bullet: B408 250grs lock base
Powder: N570 95.3-96.1GRS depending on case capacity,primer lot, powder lot (usually 95.8grs).
Primer: fed 215
COL: 91.6mm
Cases are all full lenght sized with Redding type S dies. Seating is done with redding competion micrometer De.Accuracy between 0.5-1.50moa.
Velocity: 900m/s at 0c


For the original questioner: With a DTA I would try to find Lapua factory ammo loaded with 300grs scenar. The velocity of this roud is about 835m/s (2750fps). Similar handload seems to work in a DTA that couple of my frieds have. These guns have also worked with B408 and 250grs scenars both in handloads and factory ammo. The 300grs scenar seems to be the best bullet for DTA srs.

Reloding 338lm is a necesarity if you plan to shoot over 400rds a year. For me the only reason to reload is cost not performance, since I want to concenrate to training not testing ammo.
 
#23
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Is it true that 338LM brass lapua headstamp once fired is only worth .05? If that's the case its not even worth me picking it up. I have seen many of ads selling once fired 338 brass for $300 per 200. what do you guys say? I know I can't sell here yet but I have quite a bit of 338 and 50bmg brass. And would full length resizing and decapping make then worth anything more? thanks
 
#25
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Kinda what I was thinking I thought this stuff was kinda expensive. I knew these people where pulling my leg at 5 or 10 cent offers. So would you say that $1.25 to $1.50 shipped would be a fair price? or right around that area.
 
#26
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you guys wanted to do a large order of 338 LM ammo, I could make some. Components would be new Hornady 338LM brass, Alliant R25 powder, Fed 215M primers, and either a 250 grain or 300 grain Sierra Matchking. I load everything on a Redding T-7 single stage press with an Accu-Lab digital scale. Pricing would be around $285 per 100 rounds. </div></div>

This is a heck of an offer!!!

When you get ready to reload try this one:
Lapua Brass
250gr Scenar
VVN560...start at 88.0 or so
Federal 215 Mag Match
I'm getting 3100fps with easy bolt lift....plus its the most accurate load I've tested so far.

Good Luck!! .338LM's are a whole other dimension!!
 
#29
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

I have 200 rounds of Chad's 250gr SMK and 100 rounds of the Hornady factory 250gr BTHP inbound for my 98B... At the prices this stuff is going for right now, .338LM finally falls within the realm of possibility for me -- and I'll have 300 pieces of once-fired Hornady brass to start handloading.
 
#30
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

i am in the same boat as the original poster i have decided that i will buy some 300gr lapua factory ammo and then start tweaking the load to get what i want hopefully thats a good starting poiunt to begin with
 
#31
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you guys wanted to do a large order of 338 LM ammo, I could make some. Components would be new Hornady 338LM brass, Alliant R25 powder, Fed 215M primers, and either a 250 grain or 300 grain Sierra Matchking. I load everything on a Redding T-7 single stage press with an Accu-Lab digital scale. Pricing would be around $285 per 100 rounds. </div></div>

Still selling this?

 
#33
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

I've have used the following:

Black Hills 250-gr SMK
Black Hills 300-gr SMK
Lapua 300-gr Scenar

I sighted in my rifle at 100-meters using the BHA 250-gr SMK, and basicly it was half-moa or better.

I've shot all three factory loads listed above out to a mile, and the 300-gr Scenars are noticably better for bucking the wind. I haven't chrono'd the Black Hills loads, but based on reports and published spec.'s, the BHA runs hotter then the Lapua factory stuff.

You need to decide if you want to (or able to shoot) beyond 1200-yards. If not I'd stay with the 250-gr flavors as they shoot flat, and more so then the 300-gr flavors. If you have to deal with high winds, go with the heavier bullets with a higher BC.

A site sponsor sells (often on sale) factory Lapua at less then $5 a round. I bought a bunch, and also bought some Lapua 250-gr Scenar loads (200-rounds) which I haven't tried yet. I'm pretty much going to stay with the 300-gr Scenar pills, so I may just sell the 250-gr loads.

I bought most of my Black Hills ammo here in Colorado for just over $4 a round. A local sporting goods chain had it on the shelf for $95 a box of 20, but rarely sold any. I offered to buy all they had for $85 a box and they took my offer. I went to another store in the chain, and did the same. Since then (two-years ago), they are yet to stock any more 338LM ammo on their shelves.

I've got all the equipment, parts, and pieces to start reloading, just need to set things up to do so.
 
#34
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

One thing I forgot to say, the Black Hills loaded cases turn green on the inside a few weeks after firing, whereas the Lupua factory loads don't.

I'm guessing that Black Hills uses faster burning powder, and it's vaporizing a small amount of brass inside the case?
 
#36
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

+1 on Chad. He has loaded 300 gr. 338s for me that have shot better than Black Hills or Cor Bon... Do the test loads first, then buy per 100 rounds when you find the best one for your rifle! Mine shot better than 1/2 MOA and closer to 1/4 MOA with his ammunition on my first day behind the rifle...
 
#40
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BULLY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Black hills is great because they use lapua brass, which is great for when you start to reload.
I am trying my hand at: 300gr SMK, with RL25 and Lapua brass.
</div></div>

Black Hills does not use Lapua Brass - at least there is no Lapua head stamp on it. I know that Federal uses Lapua brass and has the Lapua head stamp on the brass.

Please check it out and clarify.
 
#42
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Great info. I've found the Lapua 300gr Scenar factory ammo to perform best in my 338's. In fact, I can barely duplicate the accuracy handloading. Blackhills? Meh, so-so. Around 3/4 MOA if I really buckle down and do my part. HSM is about the same as BH. I would like to try some of Southwest's 300gr pills and Dallas Reloads - everyone says good things about both of them.
 
#43
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Patriot Prepper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Black Hills does not use Lapua Brass - at least there is no Lapua head stamp on it. I know that Federal uses Lapua brass and has the Lapua head stamp on the brass.
</div></div>

All the Black Hills 338LM I've shot have all had Lapua Brass (little shield with the "L" head stamp).
 
#44
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Alpine 338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...A site sponsor sells (often on sale) factory Lapua at less then $5 a round. ...</div></div>

Which sponsor? Is it usually announced in the Sniper's Hide PX: Commercial Sales section?
 
#45
Re: School me on 338LM Factory Ammo

Hello All, I am shooting some factory ammo from Lapua 250gr Scenars and also have picked up and shot some HSM 230gr (T-50) solids these are a CNC turned bullet that have shown sub. 1/2" groups at 300yds. These can be purchased for right at $75.00 for 20 and $65.00 for SMK 250's. I am getting right at 3200fps from there factory ammo in the 230gr. (T-50) BC .664 which is the same as the 250gr Scenars bullets , but I am looking for anyone that is handloading this bullet. As accuracy out of my Sako TRG-42 is unbelievable to me as we stretched it out to 1500yds after dope'n scope with Nightforce Ballistics Computer it shot 4" high after adjusting I was 5 for 5 on a 16" square steel plate at that distance, we are at 2500ft Elevation 85degrees. So I know these bullets will shoot. I am just hoping to find someone else that is reloading them so I can cut my costs. Our next plan is to stretch these out to 2000yds and see how they perform, I have high expectations of them after shooting them at 1500yds. These are definetly a hard target bullet as they are of a copper/brass base metals and we had pass threw at 800yds on 7/16" or 1/2" AR plate not exactly sure which thickness it was just know it was AR plating. So if anyone knows of any data out there to get me started I would be thankfull. Also would like to see that data for either H-1000 or H-4831sc as I have 8lbs of each sitting waiting on me to begin my reloading process, that and a finger that is getting very Itchy to run some more rounds downrange that and the Boss just turns her head and shakes it every time I buy a box of loaded ammo. TheBroke1 ([email protected])
 
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