Advanced Marksmanship What is the most accurate long range 338 lapua magnum ?
- Thread starter Fulcrum
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I do not have experience with that brand and load of .338 LM ammo, but you question is a bad one. I suspect that you meant to ask what factory .338 LM ammo have others found to work best for them in your (insert brand of rifle, action, barrel length) rifle and based upon those responses, make a decision as to what you will try in yours.
Barrels will vary as to which load they prefer and if you are only using factory ammo, your best bet is to buy a box of each of a few types and brands and try them in your rifle.
Also, it will help to narrow your responses if we knew what your intent was for your rifle. General plinking, match level performance at long range, hunting, ELR shooting? That way you can get input on the best bullets for your application at the same time.
For what it’s worth and without additional information, generally Lapua and Prime make high quality ammo that performs well. Some people have good luck for their use with the lower cost brands.
Personally, I load Hornady 285g bullets over 91.4g H1000 and get excellent repeatable results out to 1200 yards or so. After that, I like flatlines loaded to 2950 FPS for longer distances. Good luck with your journey.
Barrels will vary as to which load they prefer and if you are only using factory ammo, your best bet is to buy a box of each of a few types and brands and try them in your rifle.
Also, it will help to narrow your responses if we knew what your intent was for your rifle. General plinking, match level performance at long range, hunting, ELR shooting? That way you can get input on the best bullets for your application at the same time.
For what it’s worth and without additional information, generally Lapua and Prime make high quality ammo that performs well. Some people have good luck for their use with the lower cost brands.
Personally, I load Hornady 285g bullets over 91.4g H1000 and get excellent repeatable results out to 1200 yards or so. After that, I like flatlines loaded to 2950 FPS for longer distances. Good luck with your journey.
You are right . I own a sako trg 42 338 LM. Trying to get the best performance in long range target shooting. I think this helps narrowing down the answers
- Mar 15, 2018
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Hijacking in progress...Lash, specs on rifle please. I’ve given up on Retumbo for two reasons, it never shot the 285’s well out of my barrel no matter what I tried and it’s generally impossible to find. H1000 I have pounds of since my 300WM loves it; think I’ll work up a load with that and see what happens. Thanks!
Those Sakos are nice.
The rifle is unimpressive, just a stock Savage 110 LRP that I bedded and cut in a cheek piece. The bedding job made all of the difference. Lapua brass with the 285 BTHP seated 0.020” off the lands shoots lights out with single digit SDs at a mild 2780 FPS.
To not further derail the OPs thread, PM me with any further questions.
- Mar 15, 2018
- 1,346
- 5,335
Those Sakos are nice.
The rifle is unimpressive, just a stock Savage 110 LRP that I bedded and cut in a cheek piece. The bedding job made all of the difference. Lapua brass with the 285 BTHP seated 0.020” off the lands shoots lights out with single digit SDs at a mild 2780 FPS.
To not further derail the OPs thread, PM me with any further questions.
Thank you!
I also have a 42, mine eats Berger 300 grain OTM, hated hornady bullets. Can hold a pretty damn tight pattern at 1850 yards. Give the Berger factory ammo a try maybe.
Retail 338LM ammunition. No tweaking, no customization. Expensive venture to possibly find just "acceptable" results.
There are just some calibers that are meant to be reloaded for. This is one of them. If I had to go retail though, I'd probably look at Berger's offerings - or factory Lapua.
There are just some calibers that are meant to be reloaded for. This is one of them. If I had to go retail though, I'd probably look at Berger's offerings - or factory Lapua.
I have shot my trg 42 enough to shoot out the factory barrel. I never shot factory through it beyond zero and brake in. With hand loads it shot the scenar bullets well and shot the berger 300 otm exceptionally well. The Hornady 285 eldm didn’t seem to like it as much. Try Lapua factory ammo with either 250 or 300gr scenars or berger 300 otm factory ammo first. Either option will yield Lapua brass which you can use to reload if you decide to go that route. Expect 10+ reloads from that brass when prepped correctly every time.
below is a group with my hand loaded 300 berger otm ammo. Typically performed a ragged hole at 100 and touching at 200.
below is a group with my hand loaded 300 berger otm ammo. Typically performed a ragged hole at 100 and touching at 200.
The only factory ammo I've had any experience with have been Hornady Match 285 grain, one lot with AMAX the other with ELD-M, and Federal GMM with the Sierra 300 grain Matchking BTHP.
Both Hornady loads were similar in accuracy with the best group .333 MOA and several other groups in the 4's. This in two rifles with two shooters, neither in any danger of winning a match. The FGMM didn't quite keep up.
YMMV, but if I didn't reload, I'd grab a couple boxes of the Hornady.
Both Hornady loads were similar in accuracy with the best group .333 MOA and several other groups in the 4's. This in two rifles with two shooters, neither in any danger of winning a match. The FGMM didn't quite keep up.
YMMV, but if I didn't reload, I'd grab a couple boxes of the Hornady.
PRIME .338 LAP MAG OTM 300GR MATCH+ [CASE]
PROUDLY MADE IN USA The price shown is for a single case of 200 ROUNDS. NOTE: All orders will ship 2 TO 3 WEEKS from the time the order is placed
www.primeammo.com
My Barrett loves the 285 eldm loads. Shoots in the .3s as well.
I should add that if you want to keep your options open to reload down the road, Hornady brass has a reputation for being soft brass and won't hold up to as many reloads as some other brands of brass. The FGMM has a reputation for being tougher brass but even after the first firing, primer pockets were much looser than my Lapua after seven firings. The Hornady was still pretty tight after two firings.
Keep that in mind even if you never reload because that once fired brass has value. Selling once fired brass can bring your cost down by ~$1 a round. You might consider trying a pricier brand like Lapua because if your rifle likes that best, the cost could even out after selling the once fired brass with the premium it would bring.
Oh, and that .333 MOA from above was at 400 yards.
Keep that in mind even if you never reload because that once fired brass has value. Selling once fired brass can bring your cost down by ~$1 a round. You might consider trying a pricier brand like Lapua because if your rifle likes that best, the cost could even out after selling the once fired brass with the premium it would bring.
Oh, and that .333 MOA from above was at 400 yards.
I’m blaming quarantine. You posted after me, what’s your excuse. LOL. Cheers. Stay safe.
I ran that ARM .338 ammo through my RPR. I had no problems at my short ranges (300 yards or less), actually really good groups. I wanted to buy a few crates, couldn't find them. Ended up calling the manufacturer directly and it seems they abandoned the .338 rounds ( or sell your extra to me ). I will hand load one day, just no time or room to do that now unfortunately.
I like my 300grn Lapua Scenars and 300grn SMK's with Vhit N570.
I haven't dabbled too much with H1000 even though I have a lot of it.
I also like running Hornady ELD 285grn projo's with RE33.
I am pushing them through a Sako TRG-42. I have tried running some Bergers but they load too long to be mag fed.
I haven't dabbled too much with H1000 even though I have a lot of it.
I also like running Hornady ELD 285grn projo's with RE33.
I am pushing them through a Sako TRG-42. I have tried running some Bergers but they load too long to be mag fed.
You still running the factory barrel? I switched from scenars to bergers on the tail end of my factory barrel’s life and had really good results even though they were single fed loads. Sub 1/2” groups with them. The scenars were accurate too but the better BC of the bergers was nice. For just playing around single feed is fine for me.
I am pretty happy with my Scenar and SMK loads. I was able to successfully run the 300grn Scenars to the 2,000 yard target at Spearpoint when I shot there last.
Still using the factory barrel.
I reload for my rifles.
After the usual tweaks, they offer consistency well above factory loads.
After the usual tweaks, they offer consistency well above factory loads.
I found some .338 Magnum ammo today. Don't know much about the brand and was very little online. No reviews. Can anyone give me first hand performance of .338 LAPUA MAGNUM VAIROG 250 GRAIN HPBT. MATCHKING . Thank you!
I walked up on the deal while picking a FFL transfer. 20 round boxes for $45 each. Guess they has been on the shelf for a while. Only had two boxes, of course bought them both!
