338 SHERMAN MAX

[Deleted member 109523]

Rich, I was wondering what the trim length is gonna be on this one. I never had to trim my 338 ss

 

[ramrod79]

Just chambered my 338MAX last night! Got a suggested fire forming load with 230 ELD-X

I use 57 Varget in my 338 SS for forming 230.

 

[ramrod79]

Here is a pic of the Max with a 250 Berger seated at the lands (3.090")
I just measured the capacity at 78.6 grains h20.View attachment 141513

Rich can you post one with SS beside it for comparison. I'm real eager to see what these gents get over the SS version.

 

[elkaholic]

Rich, I was wondering what the trim length is gonna be on this one. I never had to trim my 338 ss

2.015" on the max

 

[elkaholic]

Rich can you post one with SS beside it for comparison. I'm real eager to see what these gents get over the SS version.

Ill try tomorrow. If you dont see it rattle my cage

 

[Deleted member 109523]

2.015" on the max

thank you. mine were 1.995 after forming.

 

[elkaholic]

thank you. mine were 1.995 after forming.

Ooopsie! I had 7 max on the brain. 338 is 2.005" chamber length. Youre perfect! Thats right where I hoped it would be

 

[ramrod79]

Jeff what are you running for a rifle barrel twist etc just interested in all the 338 data and your gonna run the 230s correct.

 

[Deleted member 109523]

Jeff what are you running for a rifle barrel twist etc just interested in all the 338 data and your gonna run the 230s correct.

Yes, i'll be shooting the 230. I had the short throated 338 ss with a hart barrel, 10 twist, which was A slow barrel, a lot more than everybody else's 338 ss. So instead of giving up on the barrel I put it on a long action and had the max reamer ran through it, hoping with the longer throat I could bring down the pressure and get some fps. I just now started measuring with the different bullets. It's throated a bit longer, just about perfect for what I have here.
230 eld-x COAL 2.965 BTO 2.223
250 BERGER EH COAL 3.105 BTO 2.252
225 BULLDOZER COAL 3.141 BTO 2.271
240 BULLDOZER COAL 3.271 BTO 2.377

sorry for crappy pics, but they sit in the neck just right

 

[Deleted member 109523]

oops the 4th picture is the 225 bulldozer again

 

[Deleted member 109523]

here's a little bit of data I got this week temps averaged around 50 deg. Everything I shot was .020 off. shot from a 25" hart barrel 10 twist

240 bulldozer
fed 215m primer
2.357 BTO
3.251 COAL

Varget was too fast for my barrel. I got 2730 at 60 gr with a small swipe on the brass and stiff bolt lift.
RL-17 61 2671
62 2709
63 2766
64 2793
65 2838 very slight mark, no bolt lift. I chickened out on this. I did't have loads in smaller increments. I'll try it again later

h100v 62 2660
63 2712
64 2741
65 2788
66 2811
67 2857
67.3 2868
67.6 2877
67.9 2920 stiff bolt. Max for me

Couldn't get enough RL-19 in the case to pressure up. 67g gave me 2560
I'm gonna try something like v550 or something around that burn rate. Any suggestions would be great, since I'm still learning here.

Berger 250 EH
Fed 215m primer
2.234 BTO
3.095 COAL

RL-17 62 2721
63 2767
64 2808
65 2855
65.5 2871
67 2899 so close. slight mark heavy bolt lift. Max

pp 2000-MR 60 2604
61 2640
62 2692
63 2736
64 -----
65 2841
66 2883
66.5 2897
67 2923 within a half a grain, went way over pressure.
I wanted to try this powder because it works very well in my buddy's 308 with heavies like the 175 180 class. and it pushes 250 interlocks in my 35 whelen AI at 2720. I want to try it in the again in the max with 265 ABLR's. but it seams to go over pressure within .3 grains every time I use it.

225 super bulldozer
215m primer
2.251 BTO
3.251 COAL

Again, Varget and 4064 pressured to sooner than the rest, both at 61gr for 2870 average

IMR 4451 60 2568
61 2638
62 2737
63 2722
64 2785
65 2822
66 2825 no pressure. didn't go any higher, because I hate this powder. every time I try it, it leave kernels in the chamber/barrel. sometimes can't shut your bolt. have to tip the barrel up to let all the powder run out each time. its going in the garden.

RL-17 62 to 65 lost data
65.3 2921
65.6 2955
65.9 2954
66.2 2977
66.4 2985
66.6 2993
66.8 2995 I think this is max. small swipe , stiff bolt lift

230 ELD-M
215m primer
2.203 BTO
2.945 COAL

RL-17 62 2772
63 2820
64 2881
65 2925
66 2967
66.2 2954
66.4 2986
66.6 3003
66.8 ----
67 3018 over pressure heavy bolt lift.
I don't think my barrel is as fast as some others.
For having such a heavy bolt lift on some of these upper charges, there's very small marks on the brass. pretty tough stuff.
The 225 and 240 bulldozers are very accurate in my gun. all the upper charges went into .5" at 100 yds.
The range was packed today with hunters sighting in for the season. I had a few curious guys lingering about, that couldn't believe I was getting this out of a 338 short action.

 

[elkaholic]

I was wondering if this Max case would act more like the 338 Sherman than the SS as far as burn rate and it seems like that MIGHT be the case? Doc will have his up and running soon so we can get more data. Im thinking RL26 behind a 285 ELDM might run around 2750'. That would be a pretty sweet load if it does!
Good work Jeff!

 

[ramrod79]

I was hoping to try 285 after hunting was over in my A's was hoping to be at 2750 as I run 250 Berger at 2820last run over Chrono.230s at accuracy of 2885. I really hoped to run 2750 or is that asking to much from the smaller case.

 

[elkaholic]

I was hoping to try 285 after hunting was over in my A's was hoping to be at 2750 as I run 250 Berger at 2820last run over Chrono.230s at accuracy of 2885. I really hoped to run 2750 or is that asking to much from the smaller case.

You might with enough FB?