.338 Lapua ackley

[7mmrowland]

For Sale 800.00

 

[Desert Fox]

My SSG built 338 Ackley, with it's 31" Broughton will max the 300SMK at 2875 fps using 95.5 grain of Retumbo. Here's what they look like in comparison to a regular Lapua.

 

[Tyler Kemp]

Desert Fox, I'm interested in buying a dummy if you are willing to sell one.

 

[7mmrowland]

Thanks for the picture.

 

[jmden]

My SSG built 338 Ackley, with it's 31" Broughton will max the 300SMK at 2875 fps using 95.5 grain of Retumbo. Here's what they look like in comparison to a regular Lapua.

Desert Fox,

What is the case capacity (water or some powder to measure) of these two?

I would've thought that you could get a bit more out of that case than 2875 with a 31" barrel. Good to know. Thank you.

 

[7mmrowland]

If them are 300 sierra's I would say they are taking up case capacity if the throat is short.

 

[Desert Fox]

Desert Fox,

What is the case capacity (water or some powder to measure) of these two?

I would've thought that you could get a bit more out of that case than 2875 with a 31" barrel. Good to know. Thank you.

I could push the 300 SMK pass 2900, but the brass show very minimal signs of pressure. I could see slight extractor mark on the case head, but the bolt cycles easily. At 2875, you could easily get to a mile with enough energy to clobber an elk. Not that I'm going to shoot that far, so why bother. Here's what it did to my steel target at 525 yards.

Compare that with the 308 155 grain Scenar at the same distance;

 

[uncleB]

I have been shooting this round for several years now, it will easily reach 3000fps with a 300gr SMK with a 36" barrel. now that it has been trimmed back to 33" it will only go 2960fps.
UB

 

[long ranger]

3000 fps is to much to expect from this case with a 300 grain bullet. About ten years ago when the Lapua and ultramag cases first came out I worked with several variations to try and come up with something to beat the 338-378 wildcat I had been working with since the late 70's. I exchanged input from a number of 1000 yard shooters who were also working on different variations of the Lapua. We all found that with a hunting weight rifle 3000 fps with the 300 matchking could not be acheived without risking blowing up your brass or your gun unless you had a one in a thousand super fast barrel that comes along very rarely. The variations of the Lapua shoot best in the 2800 fps range just like the 338-300 ultramag. Some are getting into the 2900's with good accuracy if they have a fast barrel. At this velocity they are extremely accurate and will kill anything at any range that would be acceptable in a hunting situation. If you want to build one it is a great round but don't build it expecting something there is a 99% chance it will not do and blow yourself up trying.

If you want 3000+ fps with a 300 matchking you need to move up to a 338-378 wby custom rifle that will get you there without blowing up your rifle or your brass. I have already been there, done that working with the 338's for over 30 years and if you want to make the next step up above any of these you have to go with something off the chey-tac case and they are just to heavy to hunt with.

This certainly has not been my experience. This year I have built 12 , 338LAIs and all my clients are reporting the virtually the same velocities I have achieved with my own 2 338LAIs. Which is 3050 to 3090 fps shooting 300 gr SMKs.
I use Rock Creek barrels for most of my custom builds, they seem to be a "fast" barrel, as the Pacnor I used on another 338LAI did not achieve the 3000 fps mark.
To date out of both my persoanl rifles I have 12 adnd 15 reloading from the brass and no signs of not getting many more.

The barrel length I found worked best is 29 to 30"
The powder that I have had fantasic results with is US869, even at 117 grs did not result in any pressure signs, accuracy went for a dump, most of the rifles I have built in this caliber seem to shhot best using 110.5 to 112 grs of US 869, still getting plus 3000 fps with the 300 gr SMKs and just over 1/4 moa groups.
Barrel life seems to be far better than expected as well.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I have never used a rock creek barrel. With the barrels we used in 28" and 30" we could not even begin to approach those kind of velocities. I am just reporting my experiences. I have no proprietary cartridges to protect and just state exactly what my experiences have been. I assure you if we could have got those kind of velocities I would be shooting one right now. Some of those claims were made back then but at the range with witnesses they could never be reproduced. I could give a rip what shoots fastest but whatever it is I will be shooting one.

 

[long ranger]

I have never used a rock creek barrel. With the barrels we used in 28" and 30" we could not even begin to approach those kind of velocities. I am just reporting my experiences. I have no proprietary cartridges to protect and just state exactly what my experiences have been. I assure you if we could have got those kind of velocities I would be shooting one right now. Some of those claims were made back then but at the range with witnesses they could never be reproduced. I could give a rip what shoots fastest but whatever it is I will be shooting one.

I find it interesting the different experiences many of us who have played with this combination have had. I do not doubt your experience for a moment, just different from mine. I have a buddy in B.C. who has built 1 with Shilen barrel and he is not getting the velocites either.
Something else I have been doing differently from many is using Gun Juice religisously.
I believe that also contributes to the added velocity, it sure does keep copper fouling to a minimum.
I agree that velocity is not everything, accuracy IS. To have both is nice.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Long Ranger, Thanks for your expertise. I am here to learn what other shooters experiences are just like everyone else. I am not here trying to discredit anyone, just stating what my experiences have been. I agree completely with you that accuracy is everything and velocity comes second as long as it is adequate. Any 338 lapua class rifle is certainly adequate and all my experiences with the round show that it is extremely accurate. I have two straight 338 Lapua's that I shoot now. They are extremely accurate and I have yet to find an animal that could tell me the difference between 2750 and 2950 fps with a 300 grain bullet. I can judge up and down but not round and round.

I have done who knows how many 300 wby's through the years and own several now. But one in particular is very special. I have no need for a 30-378 wby or a 300 ultramag although i do still own two 300 ultras. The accuracy loads are as follows and this is a lightweight 26" barrel. 180 grain bullets at 3468 fps. 200 grain bullets at 3246 fps. Straight 300 wby and if I could figure that one out I would patent it. I have a couple others in other calibers the same way. Some rifles just shoot way outside the norm.

 

[Tyler Kemp]

LTLR, could you PM me with your 300 Wthby loads? Just bought one and need some good deer loads for this year.

 

[long ranger]

Long Ranger, Thanks for your expertise. I am here to learn what other shooters experiences are just like everyone else. I am not here trying to discredit anyone, just stating what my experiences have been. I agree completely with you that accuracy is everything and velocity comes second as long as it is adequate. Any 338 lapua class rifle is certainly adequate and all my experiences with the round show that it is extremely accurate. I have two straight 338 Lapua's that I shoot now. They are extremely accurate and I have yet to find an animal that could tell me the difference between 2750 and 2950 fps with a 300 grain bullet. I can judge up and down but not round and round.

I have done who knows how many 300 wby's through the years and own several now. But one in particular is very special. I have no need for a 30-378 wby or a 300 ultramag although i do still own two 300 ultras. The accuracy loads are as follows and this is a lightweight 26" barrel. 180 grain bullets at 3468 fps. 200 grain bullets at 3246 fps. Straight 300 wby and if I could figure that one out I would patent it. I have a couple others in other calibers the same way. Some rifles just shoot way outside the norm.

It is all about the sharing of experiences, whether they are similar or totally different that makes forums such as this so valuable.
To be able to capitalize on someones successes or failures is always positive.
I totally agree that the only animal who can tell the differences in velocitis is us.
I have yet to expeience any game complaining of a bullet going too fast or too slow. LOL