338 Lapua Improved

[Willys]

300 Berger, .010 off the lands, n570, try starting 99gr working up gr at a time to 2950-3000 fps. Money! 3 shot groups of 3" at 1000 if you and barrel are good.

Remember these are loaded long - start with sample shots lower and work up of course.

 

[DTF370]

Remember, all chambers can differ. Willys suggested starting at 99gr of N570 which I don't disagree with, however in my rig 99gr is approaching pressure limits. Below are max pressures for my 338 LM AI chamber, interpolate as needed:

300gr berger 101 gr N570
285gr ELD 100.5 gr Retumbo
285gr ELD 100 gr N570
250gr berger 98 gr H1000
300gr A-Tip 99.5 gr N570

These are loaded to CIP magazine length. By no means are these suggestions for you to load, I just wanted to show where my pressure limits are. My numbers are stopping just before my first sign of pressure. Also, I HBN coat my bullets and HBN lube the necks.

I will say, this has been the easiest cartridge to get extremely accurate results out of. Maybe it is just my rifle, but I have had phenomenal results. One of my ELD loads has an SD of 2.8fps and ES of 6.8 and will print about .3 moa!

 

[Erik Kiser]

Thanks guys. That helps a lot. I've been loading for 31 years so I'm 25 years past the "push it to the limit" phase. I'm much more concerned with good brass life and good accuracy

 

[SportsmanCDA]

Remember, all chambers can differ. Willys suggested starting at 99gr of N570 which I don't disagree with, however in my rig 99gr is approaching pressure limits. Below are max pressures for my 338 LM AI chamber, interpolate as needed:

300gr berger 101 gr N570
285gr ELD 100.5 gr Retumbo
285gr ELD 100 gr N570
250gr berger 98 gr H1000
300gr A-Tip 99.5 gr N570

These are loaded to CIP magazine length. By no means are these suggestions for you to load, I just wanted to show where my pressure limits are. My numbers are stopping just before my first sign of pressure. Also, I HBN coat my bullets and HBN lube the necks.

I will say, this has been the easiest cartridge to get extremely accurate results out of. Maybe it is just my rifle, but I have had phenomenal results. One of my ELD loads has an SD of 2.8fps and ES of 6.8 and will print about .3 moa!

This is great info - I'm just starting load dev on my 338 AI, was able to pick up Berger 300 elites after last weeks drop.

Anyone working with RL33? I have some Retumbo and N570 but those are what my 300 PRC likes as well… and are rarely stocked.

 

[Willys]

This is great info - I'm just starting load dev on my 338 AI, was able to pick up Berger 300 elites after last weeks drop.

Anyone working with RL33? I have some Retumbo and N570 but those are what my 300 PRC likes as well… and are rarely stocked

This is great info - I'm just starting load dev on my 338 AI, was able to pick up Berger 300 elites after last weeks drop.

Anyone working with RL33? I have some Retumbo and N570 but those are what my 300 PRC likes as well… and are rarely stocked.

Thxs for heads up on Elites - just grabbed some!!!!

 

[500000KV]

Got my 338AI about a month ago. cci250, 102.3 gr N570, 300EH. 3,020 fps. Crazy consistent. w/bipod n 2 in the mag it's right at 12lbs.

 

[Willys]

Nice!!! What reamer?

 

[500000KV]

Nice!!! What reamer?

@kaseyfied ?

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

This is great info - I'm just starting load dev on my 338 AI, was able to pick up Berger 300 elites after last weeks drop.

Anyone working with RL33? I have some Retumbo and N570 but those are what my 300 PRC likes as well… and are rarely stocked.

We've found very good nodes with 300 elites & retumbo out of the lapua ai from 98-99 grains. CCI 250's CIP length (3.850 ish COAL) be sure to work up on 2-3x's fired brass!

 

[338weatherby]

This is great info - I'm just starting load dev on my 338 AI, was able to pick up Berger 300 elites after last weeks drop.

Anyone working with RL33? I have some Retumbo and N570 but those are what my 300 PRC likes as well… and are rarely stocked.

I am also doing load developement on my 338 improved. I am using both RL33 and Retumbo with the Berger 300 Elite Hunters. So far I have not found pressure and will load some tonight to find it. Here's where I'm at so far

Lapua brass, once fired, then fireformed.
Fed 215's
.020" off
.002" neck tension

RL 33
100g 2720
101g 2771
102g 2810
103g 2837
104g 2881

Retumbo
98g 2869
99g 2894
100g 2933

I loaded up 3 rounds for all loads.

The RL33 101 & 102 loads were .375" @ 100 yards.

 

[338weatherby]

Got my 338AI about a month ago. cci250, 102.3 gr N570, 300EH. 3,020 fps. Crazy consistent. w/bipod n 2 in the mag it's right at 12lbs.

Wish I had some N570

 

[Willys]

RL33 probably be 6 grains over retumbo.

 

[500000KV]

Wish I had some N570

I'm 0.040 off lands and .0015 neck tension. Yeah N570 seems to be meant for it. 3 shots at 600 yards.

 

[Erik Kiser]

I was just having a conversation last night with my dad about trying CCI250's. They were great in my 338 Edge's, beating out the 215's. Not sure why I haven't tried them yet. Now that I have another set of cases fireformed I will probably try the CCI's next loads. I have RL33, Retumbo, N568, and H1000. For bullets I have Berger 300, Hornady 285's and Hammer 262's. The Hammer's are borderline too short since my rifle was throated for the 300 Berger