bigngreen
Well-Known Member
Make sure your not using elevation and station pressure together and don't swap G1 and G7 bc's, two easy ways for gross error.
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338... a revisit on a specific build.
- Thread starter Kristopher Megahan
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rbTanzan
Well-Known Member
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- Sep 11, 2012
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Well, I like 338's, good bullets, and good wine. So blessings on you with your plans and build.
Personally, I would go with the larger casehead, meaning Norma or Lapua. And between the two I would choose Lapua as having more reliable brass available in the future, including from Lapua. The 338 Lapua is well-designed. The Norma allows long bullets, but the same effect can be had from almost any bullet when it is "single-loaded" on top, rather than fed through a magazine.
On throat and rifle twist I would check out various bullets and see what twists are needed for what you want. CEB, Hammer, GSC, and Barnes would be my first thoughts. Some of those bullets have BC's in the 800's. You may need to prepare two loads, one for loads in the magazine and then a single-round load on top of the other rounds that is too long for the magazine. CEB has a 265 grain .338" with an .800+ BC. Likewise GSC has a 257 grain with an .800+ BC. This last bullet is 1.91" long and has a recommended twist of 9.0", although a 10" twist would marginally work.
As for the 185gn TTSX, it is a great deer bullet for normal ranges. I shot a Calif mule-deer three months ago with one at 302 yards. Face on, DRT, bullet exited diagonally thru back ribs. In a 338 WinMag the muzzle velocity was 3125fps. Since I hunt under 400 yards that was fine. For 1000 yards I would look at the bullets above. Barnes has a new 250 grain bullet with a .600 BC that is not too shabby!
Personally, I would go with the larger casehead, meaning Norma or Lapua. And between the two I would choose Lapua as having more reliable brass available in the future, including from Lapua. The 338 Lapua is well-designed. The Norma allows long bullets, but the same effect can be had from almost any bullet when it is "single-loaded" on top, rather than fed through a magazine.
On throat and rifle twist I would check out various bullets and see what twists are needed for what you want. CEB, Hammer, GSC, and Barnes would be my first thoughts. Some of those bullets have BC's in the 800's. You may need to prepare two loads, one for loads in the magazine and then a single-round load on top of the other rounds that is too long for the magazine. CEB has a 265 grain .338" with an .800+ BC. Likewise GSC has a 257 grain with an .800+ BC. This last bullet is 1.91" long and has a recommended twist of 9.0", although a 10" twist would marginally work.
As for the 185gn TTSX, it is a great deer bullet for normal ranges. I shot a Calif mule-deer three months ago with one at 302 yards. Face on, DRT, bullet exited diagonally thru back ribs. In a 338 WinMag the muzzle velocity was 3125fps. Since I hunt under 400 yards that was fine. For 1000 yards I would look at the bullets above. Barnes has a new 250 grain bullet with a .600 BC that is not too shabby!
Canhunter35
Well-Known Member
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- Jun 13, 2017
- Messages
- 3,167
This is a great thread.
To the op, I wanted to add: velocity and energy retained at 1k is one thing, being able to make a cold bore shot is another. Shoot enough 1000yd shots and you'll be looking for all the wind deflection you can get.
I think you said you have a 300wsm. Take that out and shoot the light monos at 1k in the wind. Then load up a heavy 30cal like the 212 or 215 and see how you do.
Using bigngreen posted numbers, my 212eldx at a measly 2825fps is beating that 185 338 at 1k on all fronts.
Selecting ur bullet or class of bullets first is the optimal way for choosing a lr range gun, then you can match cartridge capacity to your desired action length.
Good luck in your research
To the op, I wanted to add: velocity and energy retained at 1k is one thing, being able to make a cold bore shot is another. Shoot enough 1000yd shots and you'll be looking for all the wind deflection you can get.
I think you said you have a 300wsm. Take that out and shoot the light monos at 1k in the wind. Then load up a heavy 30cal like the 212 or 215 and see how you do.
Using bigngreen posted numbers, my 212eldx at a measly 2825fps is beating that 185 338 at 1k on all fronts.
Selecting ur bullet or class of bullets first is the optimal way for choosing a lr range gun, then you can match cartridge capacity to your desired action length.
Good luck in your research
I built a 338 Norma, 24in barrel (magnum profile) on a Rem700 action and an ultralight CF stock. 8lb 5oz with a Leupold VX5 3-15 on it. Terminator T2 muzzle brake and a limbsaver knocks felt recoil back to 30/06 levels.
It you were to moderate I would go 22in barrel, a moderator that is partially over barrel (not just all in front) and Ti or similar for weight control.
338 Norma is easy to source brass for with 4x manufacturers turning out cases, three of them very good quality. With this combination, a 300gn bullet leaving the barrel at 2650fps should be easy to achieve.
Whilst walking in, load a stiff bullet for opportunity shots at muzzle to 200, then when you get into a LR position, load the magazine with 300gn Bergers or similar.
It you were to moderate I would go 22in barrel, a moderator that is partially over barrel (not just all in front) and Ti or similar for weight control.
338 Norma is easy to source brass for with 4x manufacturers turning out cases, three of them very good quality. With this combination, a 300gn bullet leaving the barrel at 2650fps should be easy to achieve.
Whilst walking in, load a stiff bullet for opportunity shots at muzzle to 200, then when you get into a LR position, load the magazine with 300gn Bergers or similar.
I've had a burning passion to build a custom 338 Lapua for a long, long time. But after seeing what I can do with my (custom) 300 WinMag with the heavy bullets out beyont 1km, I began to ask why - and in the process have changed my thinking and set my sights (pun intended) on a 375-something..... Just my $.02 worth
jasent
Well-Known Member
Idk if your interested in wild cats but I recently finished a 338/375 ruger that's a blast to shoot.
Orange Dust
Well-Known Member
Agreed. Wanted another 338 until my second 300 RUM. Now my next rifle will be either a 375 or something small... So little time, only so much money, so many wants... Its a disease, there is no cure.
The addiction is REAL! LOL
Kristopher Megahan
Member
I have wanted a 375 for a long time....Didn't seem right to own a 375 before I owned a 338. I guess I wanted to go far more than just hit hard
Is anybody shooting a 375 far? is it possible to have a 375 that is manageable to shoot that will go far and can be carried....the 375 Ruger is an interesting round. Divergence....
Google 375 Lethal Magnum - for a jump start
Kristopher Megahan
Member
Geez....Thats a big ol cartridge....Looks they build $20,000 guns that shoot 2 miles with...
benchracer
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- Joined
- Dec 18, 2009
- Messages
- 1,659
The real problem with the 375's is bullet selection. Most 375 bullets are close-up smasher types, made for heavy game/safari. The high bc bullets are heavy enough to require Cheytac sized cases to make them worthwhile.
I have a 375 H&H, which I have tinkered with to get an idea of its long range potential. While I came up with some interesting results, I think the .30's and .338's are a better, more practical choice. If the right bullets were available, the 375's have a lot of potential. I pretty much shelved my 375 load work unless/until better long range hunting bullets become available.
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
Hi Brad . You are correct on the bullet selection. Here are a couple of the smashers that you mentioned.The real problem with the 375's is bullet selection. Most 375 bullets are close-up smasher types, made for heavy game/safari. The high bc bullets are heavy enough to require Cheytac sized cases to make them worthwhile.
I have a 375 H&H, which I have tinkered with to get an idea of its long range potential. While I came up with some interesting results, I think the .30's and .338's are a better, more practical choice. If the right bullets were available, the 375's have a lot of potential. I pretty much shelved my 375 load work unless/until better long range hunting bullets become available.
Hardshot
Well-Known Member
Wow we all have different opinions that's great. I am a 6.2 , 240 lbs guy that just couldn't reliably shoot the big 338 's in a light gun , 9.5lbs in the field or at the bench. The load development killed me , sold them off . I then built a 30/338 26 " with a break . I shoot 215 or 230 and it does everything that I want and I can shoot it 25/30 times at the bench . If I do it again I will do the Sherman , that's my vote .
