338 Lapua velocities

[Nicholas]

I tested some RL 25 the other day in the new Timberwolf. Velocities are way higher than H1000, at 91 grains I am getting 2900 fps with the 300 grain SMK!!! That's out of a 26" tube. I am going to put together some more loads today with RL 25 and Retumbo.

By the way with H1000 I was getting 2735 fps at 91.2 grains.

[ 05-27-2003: Message edited by: sr90 ]

 

[tim goins]

that sure is smoking velocities, keep us posted, i am working on a 338 right now

 

[mbigley]

SR

what type of accuracy did you have? what ranges are you up to? I am counting the days until my timberwolf arrives.

 

[tim goins]

keep us posted

 

[Nicholas]

I was shooting at 1000 yards, accuracy was pretty good, it was difficult to do a good accuracy test as we had 25-35 MPH changing winds, we spotted 5 small twisters within 5 miles of where we were shooting. In fact one of them started on our 700 yard line. The twisters were big enough that the funnels went all the way up to and touched the clouds.

Then rain started pouring down hard and lightning was starting to strike so we hightailed it out of there. I have never seen such rough weather, the wind was blowing towards our faces most of the time and everytime we took a shot it was like someone was throwing a handfull of dirt in our faces.

I am going to go out and shoot some Retumbo and RL 25 over my oehler this afternoon, I'll post the results.

[ 05-28-2003: Message edited by: sr90 ]

 

[Ronin Rifles]

Sr90

How is the Timberwolf action vs Remingtons, Bats, or Nesika Bays? I have them all, but was also interested in a Timberwolf action. Are they any smoother or nicer?
Thanks for the info

 

[Nicholas]

Ronin
My friend has a Nesika that I am able to compare the Timberwolf to, they are both excellent actions and I would be completely satisfied with either. Having said that I like the Timberwolf more, the action is a bit beafier and it's bedding system is awesome. With the integral scope base it is a fair arguement to say the Timberwolf is a stiffer action. In addition the bolt system on the T-wolf appears to be designed more for field use.


I shot 89.8-91 grains of RL 25, the temperature was 97 degrees, The extreme spread was 20 fps for all shots, the accuracy was very good. I was only able to shot the loads at 100 yards instead of the planned 300 yards (ignorant rangemaster). All of the primers were pretty badly cratered, so I am going to try 88-90 grains next time out. I think I could get 2850-2880 fps without the bolt sticking at all.

These velocities are from memory, I will post the rest of the velocities later.
89.8 2897 fps

91 grains 2910 fps

The Retumbo was also very accurate but the velocities were a bit slower. I loaded up from 91-94 grains.

91 grains 2750 fps

94 grains 2840 fps

I will post the rest of the load data later.

 

[Nicholas]

Readers beware, the load data below should not be duplicated, please start 3 grains low and work your way up.

Here's the data:

Reloader 25
89.8 grains 2903 fps
90 grains 2897 fps
90.2 grains 2898 fps
90.4 grains 2903 fps
90.6 grains 2911 fps
90.8 grains 2918 fps
91 grains 2906 fps

All loads with REL had "sticky" bolt lift and prominant ejectore marks and cratered primers, but accuracy and velocity spread were fantastic. I am going to test 88-90 grains to lower pressure signs. If I were to stay at these loads I will probably blow a primer soon.

Retumbo
92 2746
92.3 2782
92.7 2793 Slighty sticky bolt
93 2819 Slightly sticky bolt
93.2 2798 Moderately sticky bolt
93.4 2792 Moderately sticky bolt
93.6 2814 Sticky bolt
93.8 2827 Sticky bolt
94 2812 Sticky bolt

The Retumbo grouped really really well too, I didn't have a very good rest when I was shooting the Retumbo so the group was a bit larger than with the REL 25, I am sure with a good rest the groups would have been almost identical to the smaller groups from the REL 25.