.338 Sherman Short Mag build

[jsmitt6]

It is a legitimate short action cartridge with DBM (Like Rich said) but there are a couple things to be aware of 1) In short action length you will be limited to shooting lead projectiles <250gr or monolithic projectiles <225gr. 2) In order to get the velocity you will want and that it is capable of then you need to have it throated with the longest reamer Rich has. Once you know that, then it's an absolutely awesome true short action cartridge and due to the cartridge design works very well in short barrels. I built one with a 19" Benchmark. I haven't done load development with it yet but with 225gr fireforming loads w/ 57gr of Varget I was getting 2750. I'm going to use the 230gr ELDX as my bullet of choice for it. For a couple reasons I expect it to run ~2800fps. That's pretty much the same as a 24" .338 win mag.

Otherwise, build it on a medium or long action and then you can run the heavies...I'm tempted to build one of those as well because with a longer tube and .300gr Berger I'm thinking the performance could be very close to .338 Lapua/Norma (not the same but close), would be mag fed, and I already have all the reloading stuff.

Do you think a 250 Accubond out of the question with a short action? Thinking of doing a 22-24" barrel in a MPA Ultra Lite Chassis I picked up on BF.

 

[jsmitt6]

Mine is built on a Remington 700 wsm donor with accurate mag wsm magazine.

What loads are you running out of your rifle?

 

[ruby76]

What loads are you running out of your rifle?

Lately a 230 eldx at a coal of 2.870 which is .030 off the lands. I originally used the standard throat reamer but have since added an extra .120. The coal with a Barnes 225 ttsx is 2.908 touching the lands but I have not yet loaded any for testing. I'll set those around .050 off to start.

 

[elkaholic]

Do you think a 250 Accubond out of the question with a short action? Thinking of doing a 22-24" barrel in a MPA Ultra Lite Chassis I picked up on BF.

250 AB will easlly run in a SA but they have a long bearing surface and are 50' slower than a 250 Berger

 

[cjl2010]

What's the coal with a 250 Berger?

 

[elkaholic]

What's the coal with a 250 Berger?

std reamer is about 2.970" to the lands

 

[cjl2010]

std reamer is about 2.970" to the lands

Is the bullet down in the case a ways?

 

[elkaholic]

Is the bullet down in the case a ways?

Not a 250 Berger

 

[jsmitt6]

Not a 250 Berger

Elkaholic- I am assuming you are Rich Sherman? If so, I have a question for you...

My MPA chassis was inletted for a Remington 700 and I put a Defiance anTi in it. Everything lines up but the action comes into the magwell .06". Would I be okay to run the 250 Bergers at a COAL of 2.890" or should I look at going down to a 200-225 grain bullet? Is a .08" jump to the lands acceptable or dangerous? Obviously will have to work up a safe load in terms of pressure but concerned about the jump to the lands. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[elkaholic]

Elkaholic- I am assuming you are Rich Sherman? If so, I have a question for you...

My MPA chassis was inletted for a Remington 700 and I put a Defiance anTi in it. Everything lines up but the action comes into the magwell .06". Would I be okay to run the 250 Bergers at a COAL of 2.890" or should I look at going down to a 200-225 grain bullet? Is a .08" jump to the lands acceptable or dangerous? Obviously will have to work up a safe load in terms of pressure but concerned about the jump to the lands. Any help would be appreciated!

That's quite a bit of jump. The 250 Berger loads about 2.970" to the lands.

 

[jsmitt6]

That's quite a bit of jump. The 250 Berger loads about 2.970" to the lands.

Sounds like I need to go back to the drawing board and either have Defiance mill out the feed ramps or look into a different stock. Pretty bummed at the moment as it is currently a single feed rifle. So definitely wouldn't recommend going to an COAL of 2.890 with the 250 bergers?

 

[elkaholic]

Sounds like I need to go back to the drawing board and either have Defiance mill out the feed ramps or look into a different stock. Pretty bummed at the moment as it is currently a single feed rifle. So definitely wouldn't recommend going to an COAL of 2.890 with the 250 bergers?

You could try it? It might shoot fine?
The Spitzers style bullets would easily fit.
I.e. accu bond, sst, etc

 

[jsmitt6]

You could try it? It might shoot fine?
The Spitzers style bullets would easily fit.
I.e. accu bond, sst, etc

Just so I understand what you're saying, a 250 Accubond at an COAL of 2.890 isn't something to worry about but potentially is with a 250 Berger? I'm sorry for the dumb questions, never worked with seating depths before.
Worst case scenario, I get a stock inletted for the defiance rather than the remington 700 so the mage elk is aligned.

 

[elkaholic]

Just so I understand what you're saying, a 250 Accubond at an COAL of 2.890 isn't something to worry about but potentially is with a 250 Berger? I'm sorry for the dumb questions, never worked with seating depths before.
Worst case scenario, I get a stock inletted for the defiance rather than the remington 700 so the mage elk is aligned.

Yes, the accu bond loads far shorter to the lands.
The 200 Accu bonds are a great choice at 3000+ fps