338 Norma Reloading Data

[COL127]

Tag

 

[RH300UM]

Would definitely try H1000 or N565. H1000 probably gives the best accuracy but may not give you really high velocities but the BC of that bullet will more than make up for it. At 2900 fps you already have more energy than a 375 H&H. You can kill anything in the world with that bullet including dangerous game.

I've moved on
Leaving the "Badlands" spent way too much time, money and precious components.
The bullets were too inconsistent and finicky for my needs.
Thanks

 

[Mike D Texas]

Anyone tried faster twist barrels yet? I've currently got a 1:9.3 on my 338 and have two I will be spinning up that are 1:8. Went with a faster twist so I can shoot the heavier monos.

Be pretty sweet if badlands came out with a 300 grain solid for the .338.

I'm running a 1:8 on my 338 NMI.

 

[SheepShapeAK]

I'm running a 1:8 on my 338 NMI.
View attachment 513427

Hopefully my shot groups look like that at 300 yards.

 

[Fenix Outdoors]

A little different animal, but I shoot a 338 Warthog (338 NMI w/40° shoulder), 26" barrel.
300gr Berger Elite Hunter
100gr of RL33
2910 FPS

 

[FEENIX]

A little different animal, but I shoot a 338 Warthog (338 NMI w/40° shoulder), 26" barrel.
300gr Berger Elite Hunter
100gr of RL33
2910 FPS

@Longrangers. That's good to know, my .338 Thor (.338 NMI) is 45° shoulder, neck shortened to .300", and 24" suppressed. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bryan M]

View attachment 473369

I agree that starting at l0.050 off or even more and working up to 0.125 off in 0.025 increments works well with the badlands bd2 and sbd2 250 for the 338N. Then you can fine tune seating depth and tweak the powder once you find which of the big jumps works best. R26 and N560 gave the best velocity and case fill; i have tested both from 86 to 91 grains without any real pressure signs using lapua brass and fed215M primers. Generally the 87 to 89 grain range is where i settle with either powder, depending on the rifle and powder lot variations. Depending on barrel length (i have tested from 22 to 25 inch) and the final powder charge, velocities can range from 2850 to 3025 fps. Slower powders overfill the case a bit and/or don't produce the velocity with 250 grain coppers; the badland 250s are really long. My OAL with the bd2 is around 3.625 and a bit over 3.700 with the sbd2. These are shot in hunting rifles using a hawkins hunter mag and bottom metal. Twist is 1:9.3. There is no need to shoot a copper larger than 250 grain in the 338N as these bullets have a very high bc and good weight retention. The 338N is a very forgiving and efficient case. For hunting, there is no need to use the improved version with a 40 degree shoulder as the standard case feeds better and is "fast enough". Good shooting.

 

[Lonewolf74]

A little different animal, but I shoot a 338 Warthog (338 NMI w/40° shoulder), 26" barrel.
300gr Berger Elite Hunter
100gr of RL33
2910 FPS

I have a similar wild cat and just got done shooting up all my forming loads so ready to do some real load development. I was curious if you also tried H1000 and Retumbo and where you ended up with those if you tried them at all?

 

[Cutarm]

Is there anyone here that has or still loads the 300gr SMK? If you seat the bullet at 3.600" what is the amount of bullet jump?

I'm just trying to figure out for sure if there was a shorter throat reamer that was commonly used instead of the CIP .225" free bore.

Just reading online and 3.600" was popular and yet Sierra book is 3.680". CIP is now 3.681".

Another question. I plan on only shooting the Cutting Edge 250gr Lazer Gen 2 Single Feed. With their Seal Tite band bullet projection of 1.264" I should be able to keep it a repeater with the Defiance Rigby BDL box mag. Around 3.746" is what the OAL will be.

Is a shorter free bore more ideal for the Cutting Edge Lazer? I'm told the reamer my gunsmith has is .129" free bore.
A 300gr SMK loaded to 3.605" only has .010" to the lands.

 

[SheepShapeAK]

Is there anyone here that has or still loads the 300gr SMK? If you seat the bullet at 3.600" what is the amount of bullet jump?

I'm just trying to figure out for sure if there was a shorter throat reamer that was commonly used instead of the CIP .225" free bore.

Just reading online and 3.600" was popular and yet Sierra book is 3.680". CIP is now 3.681".

Another question. I plan on only shooting the Cutting Edge 250gr Lazer Gen 2 Single Feed. With their Seal Tite band bullet projection of 1.264" I should be able to keep it a repeater with the Defiance Rigby BDL box mag. Around 3.746" is what the OAL will be.

Is a shorter free bore more ideal for the Cutting Edge Lazer? I'm told the reamer my gunsmith has is .129" free bore.
A 300gr SMK loaded to 3.605" only has .010" to the lands.

Bullet jump will really be specific to how your smith cuts the chamber and what reamer is used.

If you don't like your freebore after some load development, then you can always have more added after the fact.

 

[KH_Outdoors]

A little different animal, but I shoot a 338 Warthog (338 NMI w/40° shoulder), 26" barrel.
300gr Berger Elite Hunter
100gr of RL33
2910 FPS

How close to pressure are you with that load? Sounds like a hammer

 

[Fenix Outdoors]

How close to pressure are you with that load? Sounds like a hammer

I'm within 0.7 gains of max.

 

[SheepShapeAK]

Anyone got a starting point with N570 for the Badlands 275 SBD-2?

Might even try some 24N41 in it.

 

[RH300UM]

Anyone got a starting point with N570 for the Badlands 275 SBD-2?

Might even try some 24N41 in it.

Mines a 338 nmi so take that in mind
I was at 96.5 grains gave me 2920 fps from a 24 inch 9.4 twist. I couldn't get the accuracy I needed so I went to a different bullet