338 RUM TOO FAST....2836fps
- Thread starter vintec
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
Tyler Kemp
Well-Known Member
Where can I get some US869? I assume it would be good in my 338 Lapua Improved at 110+ grains.
remingtonman_25_06
Well-Known Member
Tyler, US869 is a Hodgon powder so you should be able to get it anywhere they sell hodgon powders.
Here is what I got for the 338 RUM w/26" bbl and 300g SMK's. These are all at 63000K.
The fastest powder combo is US869 at 101.6g for 2707fps. Then Retumbo at 93.3g for 2688fps. MAGPRO at 87.6g for 2667fps. IMR7828 at 83.4g for 2654fps. H1000 at 89.1g for 2646fps. RL25 at 86.4g for 2637fps. Rl-22 at 83.3g for 2635fps. Rl-19 at 80.2g for 2601fps.
Only around 40fps is gained for every 2" of barrel as well. 338 is a very efficient cartridge.
Here is what I got for the 338 RUM w/26" bbl and 300g SMK's. These are all at 63000K.
The fastest powder combo is US869 at 101.6g for 2707fps. Then Retumbo at 93.3g for 2688fps. MAGPRO at 87.6g for 2667fps. IMR7828 at 83.4g for 2654fps. H1000 at 89.1g for 2646fps. RL25 at 86.4g for 2637fps. Rl-22 at 83.3g for 2635fps. Rl-19 at 80.2g for 2601fps.
Only around 40fps is gained for every 2" of barrel as well. 338 is a very efficient cartridge.
remingtonman_25_06
Well-Known Member
I cant answer that. Only you can by seeing how your pressure is on your cases.
QL is just a guide, not set in stone.
My 215g Sierras from my 28" EDGE I shot tonight were about 200fps faster then what QL predicted as well. Was getting 3450fps with 102.8g of H1000 and was only suppose to be getting around 3200-3250fps. Didn't see any real bad signs of pressure and it was very accurate, under 1/2 MOA. 107.1g of Retumbo gave 3550fps and QL was only predicting 3250fps or so.
Anyways, the more you play with QL and run more loads for comparisons, the more you see that its just a guide still. When your primers look bad and your bolt gets a little sticky, you know you've reached the max in that rifle with those components and you need to back off at least 1g and call that your max.
QL is just a guide, not set in stone.
My 215g Sierras from my 28" EDGE I shot tonight were about 200fps faster then what QL predicted as well. Was getting 3450fps with 102.8g of H1000 and was only suppose to be getting around 3200-3250fps. Didn't see any real bad signs of pressure and it was very accurate, under 1/2 MOA. 107.1g of Retumbo gave 3550fps and QL was only predicting 3250fps or so.
Anyways, the more you play with QL and run more loads for comparisons, the more you see that its just a guide still. When your primers look bad and your bolt gets a little sticky, you know you've reached the max in that rifle with those components and you need to back off at least 1g and call that your max.
Long Time Long Ranger
Well-Known Member
Vintec,
You just have a fast barrel and that is good. All the 338 ultramags and 338-300 ultramags I have tested maxed out with accuracy around 2685-2865fps with the 300 grain bullet. Just depends on your barrel and setup.
Remingtonman, You are right on the 40 fps per 2" barrel in the big 338's. On all the ones I have tested it averaged around 18 fps per inch I think. Your chrono was wrong on your 3400+ fps with the 215. That is getting close to 338-378 territory and that is way more gun than an ultramag. The 338-300 ultramag will max out between 3225-3325 fps depending on your barrel. That is a really good bullet by the way that often gets overlooked. I have taken game with it over 800 yards.
You just have a fast barrel and that is good. All the 338 ultramags and 338-300 ultramags I have tested maxed out with accuracy around 2685-2865fps with the 300 grain bullet. Just depends on your barrel and setup.
Remingtonman, You are right on the 40 fps per 2" barrel in the big 338's. On all the ones I have tested it averaged around 18 fps per inch I think. Your chrono was wrong on your 3400+ fps with the 215. That is getting close to 338-378 territory and that is way more gun than an ultramag. The 338-300 ultramag will max out between 3225-3325 fps depending on your barrel. That is a really good bullet by the way that often gets overlooked. I have taken game with it over 800 yards.
Franklin
Well-Known Member
I don't believe his chrono is wrong. My 338ultra shoots 225 accubonds at 3200fps behind 101.00 grns of H1000, with no pressure signs.
remingtonman_25_06
Well-Known Member
Could very well possibly be my cheap CRONY. I've had it long enough to where I usually know when and how to use it, but its still a $70 crono. It might be a low battery, but it hasn't showed that on the crony yet. I think I'll switch the battery out for a new one and load them up again and shoot a different day. Also bring a 22LR to verify. Thats usually a pretty good way to tell if your crono is acting up. Shoot a standard 22 LR round through it and if its much over 1250fps you know somethings up.
Really need to get a better one. Any suggestions besides the Oehler thats no longer produced?
Really need to get a better one. Any suggestions besides the Oehler thats no longer produced?
Long Time Long Ranger
Well-Known Member
Let us know what happens when you check it again. You may just have an incredible barrel, who knows. In 1998 I did over a hundred 338-300 ultramags for people all over the country and who knows how many since. I have never seen one that fast without some very loose primer pockets. But then I have that rediculous 300 weatherby that shoots 180's at 3460 fps and 200's at 3250 fps. Those are just a few fps faster than the accuracy loads for my 300 ultramag so crazy things do happen. I still want to have that barrel and chamber tested to see how it does that. I could be a multizillionaire if i could figure that one out.
300SAUM, Your 338 ultra load is dead on in the range of where it should be.
300SAUM, Your 338 ultra load is dead on in the range of where it should be.
remingtonman_25_06
Well-Known Member
Tell ya what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna load up the same cases I shot those groups with at that velocity and see what the primer pockets feel like when seating the new primer. They dont "look" like anything is wrong, but I dont claim to be an expert on pressure signs, but its pretty obvious as well when you do get them...
My 300g SMK loads definately have a stiffer bolt lift at 2840fps then those 215's at 3450fps did.
I"m going shooting in the morning so I'll have some more info. Gotta remember to get a new duracell 9v battery on the way to!
LTLR- About those 215g gamekings, you shoot any elk with them? If so, how far were they and how did the bullets hold up?? I've shot and or loaded a few gamekings over the years in 25-06, 270, 7 RM and 300 WM and I've found them to be a pretty soft bullet actually on deer shoulders at long range still. I dont think I would trust them up close on elk shoulders thats for sure based on what I've seen them do at LR on deers shoulders. I'll probly just use them for fouler shots. I really want to try the 225g AB after my elk hunt. If I can get 3300fps that is still pretty impressive for that weight bullet. If I can get 3400 safely and accurate, all the merrier. Dont think the 250g AB is worth the extra weight and little BC increase over the 225g AB to have much ballistic gain. Your thoughts??
My 300g SMK loads definately have a stiffer bolt lift at 2840fps then those 215's at 3450fps did.
I"m going shooting in the morning so I'll have some more info. Gotta remember to get a new duracell 9v battery on the way to!
LTLR- About those 215g gamekings, you shoot any elk with them? If so, how far were they and how did the bullets hold up?? I've shot and or loaded a few gamekings over the years in 25-06, 270, 7 RM and 300 WM and I've found them to be a pretty soft bullet actually on deer shoulders at long range still. I dont think I would trust them up close on elk shoulders thats for sure based on what I've seen them do at LR on deers shoulders. I'll probly just use them for fouler shots. I really want to try the 225g AB after my elk hunt. If I can get 3300fps that is still pretty impressive for that weight bullet. If I can get 3400 safely and accurate, all the merrier. Dont think the 250g AB is worth the extra weight and little BC increase over the 225g AB to have much ballistic gain. Your thoughts??
Long Time Long Ranger
Well-Known Member
I am with you 100% on all you said. Gamekings in 30 cal and smaller have way to thin a jacket and to soft a lead core for anything other than deer. Starting with the heavy 8mm gameking and the larger calibers Sierra uses a much tougher antimony lead and a thicker jacket making it a top big game bullet. I have used the 338 cal 250 gameking on elk to over a 1000 yards since they first came out with it in the 70's. It was for a long time the highest BC big game bullet on the market. The perfect fit for my new 340's and 338-378 wby's in the mid to late 70's. It is still a top big game bullet for elk.
I also think the 225 AB is the right choice over the 250 AB because there is not enough BC gain per velocity loss. Most of the 338-300 ultramags I did top out just under 3400 fps with the 200 grain bullet with best accuracy and any kind of brass life. The 225's between 3250 and 3300 fps. These are averages and what my two personal guns do. The AB is a tougher bullet than the 215 gameking but either will take elk. Now I shoot 225 AB's in my 338-300's. For me they give the best BC/velocity ratio in a quality big game bullet I can count on in any shooting angle circumstance to take game. With the ultramag size case I prefer these to the 300 matchkings. They shoot much flatter and have way less recoil in a hunting weight rifle than the 300's. I would not have a problem taking an elk at 1000 yards with the 225. If I knew I had a shot beyond 1000 yards I had rather have the 300 but you got to play the averages of where most of your shots are going to be. But if I know I will have shots beyond a 1000 yards I will carry my 338-378 or 338-416 IMP and push the 300 well over 3000 fps to get an edge way out there. But inside a 1000 yards the 338-300 ultramag is incredibly accurate and has way less recoil than my 130 grain plus powder charges in the big guns so I like it.
I also think the 225 AB is the right choice over the 250 AB because there is not enough BC gain per velocity loss. Most of the 338-300 ultramags I did top out just under 3400 fps with the 200 grain bullet with best accuracy and any kind of brass life. The 225's between 3250 and 3300 fps. These are averages and what my two personal guns do. The AB is a tougher bullet than the 215 gameking but either will take elk. Now I shoot 225 AB's in my 338-300's. For me they give the best BC/velocity ratio in a quality big game bullet I can count on in any shooting angle circumstance to take game. With the ultramag size case I prefer these to the 300 matchkings. They shoot much flatter and have way less recoil in a hunting weight rifle than the 300's. I would not have a problem taking an elk at 1000 yards with the 225. If I knew I had a shot beyond 1000 yards I had rather have the 300 but you got to play the averages of where most of your shots are going to be. But if I know I will have shots beyond a 1000 yards I will carry my 338-378 or 338-416 IMP and push the 300 well over 3000 fps to get an edge way out there. But inside a 1000 yards the 338-300 ultramag is incredibly accurate and has way less recoil than my 130 grain plus powder charges in the big guns so I like it.
