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Looking for accurate 338 Lapua loads
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Broz
Well-Known Member
Lapua Brass
CCI 250
H-1000 start at 89 gr and work up 1/2 gr steps looking for accuracy node.
Berger 300 gr OTM Hybrid start at .020" off the lands and fine tune.
Jeff
CCI 250
H-1000 start at 89 gr and work up 1/2 gr steps looking for accuracy node.
Berger 300 gr OTM Hybrid start at .020" off the lands and fine tune.
Jeff
sleepyeddie
Member
Lapua Brass
federal 215
300gr SMK
90.5 H1000
OCL to 3.681 to fit my sako trg mag.
My pet load is 300gr SMK, 90.5gr H1000, avg velocity 2759 with ES of 19 fps 500 yd 5 shot groups are 1.109" shot from a Sako TRG42, Nighforce 8-32x56 NXS, NP-R1.
I started loading for my 338 with the hopes of using the 300 gr Berger hybrids with an OCL to fit my magazine but after trying both reumbo and H1000 starting at 89.0 grains of each and working up by 1/2 gr I was only able to come up with three loads that were 1/2 to 3/4 moa at 100. I took these three loads and worked up and down .1gr at a time without any better results. I worked up both powders until signs of pressure started which started in the retumbo at 92.0 gr and in h1000 at 91.5gr. Of the three loads that were 1/2 to 3/4 moa at 100 only one held 1 moa at 500 which was 89.5 gr of Retumbo.
I decided to try the 300 SMK with Retumbo and H1000, starting at the same spot and same OCL. Results were impressive. I ended up with 3 loads that shot under .350 at 100. 90.5 h1000, 90.5 Retumbo and 90.0 Retumbo. 500 yd 3 shot groups were .997" 90.5 h1000, 1.601" 90.5 Retumbo and 1.490" 90.0 Retumbo. I decided to stay with 90.5 gr H1000 even though all 3 loads shot very well because my ES with retumbo was around 80-95 fps and only 19 fps with H1000.
After this long winded post, I am simply trying to let you know it may take some time to come up with a load. I shot 21 different loads before I found the one my rifle liked so be patient. Accuracy nodes like Broz was talking about are what you need to look for.
federal 215
300gr SMK
90.5 H1000
OCL to 3.681 to fit my sako trg mag.
My pet load is 300gr SMK, 90.5gr H1000, avg velocity 2759 with ES of 19 fps 500 yd 5 shot groups are 1.109" shot from a Sako TRG42, Nighforce 8-32x56 NXS, NP-R1.
I started loading for my 338 with the hopes of using the 300 gr Berger hybrids with an OCL to fit my magazine but after trying both reumbo and H1000 starting at 89.0 grains of each and working up by 1/2 gr I was only able to come up with three loads that were 1/2 to 3/4 moa at 100. I took these three loads and worked up and down .1gr at a time without any better results. I worked up both powders until signs of pressure started which started in the retumbo at 92.0 gr and in h1000 at 91.5gr. Of the three loads that were 1/2 to 3/4 moa at 100 only one held 1 moa at 500 which was 89.5 gr of Retumbo.
I decided to try the 300 SMK with Retumbo and H1000, starting at the same spot and same OCL. Results were impressive. I ended up with 3 loads that shot under .350 at 100. 90.5 h1000, 90.5 Retumbo and 90.0 Retumbo. 500 yd 3 shot groups were .997" 90.5 h1000, 1.601" 90.5 Retumbo and 1.490" 90.0 Retumbo. I decided to stay with 90.5 gr H1000 even though all 3 loads shot very well because my ES with retumbo was around 80-95 fps and only 19 fps with H1000.
After this long winded post, I am simply trying to let you know it may take some time to come up with a load. I shot 21 different loads before I found the one my rifle liked so be patient. Accuracy nodes like Broz was talking about are what you need to look for.
federicogorio
Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2010
- Messages
- 11
Dear Eddie,
I am in the process of studying a load for a trg 42 as well, and I am not finding otm 300 gr bulets to be very accurate (as far as now 91.5 gr of h1000 gave me about 4 inches at 500 yds). I am jumping 0.07 inches, maybe that's too much...
I read with interest your post, did you find any other interesting loads e.g. with other bullets? how do sierras matchking 300 gr perform on deer? (that's the game I will shoot hunting)
Thank you!
Federico
I am in the process of studying a load for a trg 42 as well, and I am not finding otm 300 gr bulets to be very accurate (as far as now 91.5 gr of h1000 gave me about 4 inches at 500 yds). I am jumping 0.07 inches, maybe that's too much...
I read with interest your post, did you find any other interesting loads e.g. with other bullets? how do sierras matchking 300 gr perform on deer? (that's the game I will shoot hunting)
Thank you!
Federico
My Savage HS shoots well using 300 Berger HTM's seated .025" off the Lands, Lapua brass, Fed215 Primers. Redding .365" Neck bushing
90 gr H1000, 2725FPS, .25-.5 MOA
90.5 gr Retumbo, 2750FPS, .25-.5MOA
90 gr H1000, 2725FPS, .25-.5 MOA
90.5 gr Retumbo, 2750FPS, .25-.5MOA
Hi Greyfox. I'm working a very similar load. Can you please confirm that you are using Berger 300gr Match Hybrid OTM Tactical bullets? I'm surprised to see many posted ~90 gr H1000 loads with this bullet while Berger shows a max load of 85.2 gr. Is it because Berger tested with a relatively short COAL of 3.681" for their test data? I'll be at 3.891" if touching the lands in my rifle (will seat a few hundredths deeper than this), so I expect less pressure.
Any insight on your experience is greatly appreciated! Referencing the following page:
http://www.bergerbullets.com/Reloading_Data/338Lapua300gr.pdf
theodoreh
Well-Known Member
Any update? I searched long and hard but didn't really get any SOLID answers.
Cleaned barrel-
26" savage 338 lapua
Coal 3.75"
300gr elite hunter
Lapua Brass
Cci 250
88.5gr of H1000 (~2700fps)(Not compressed, still under test development looking for overpressure as weather warms up)
89.5gr H1000 produced muzzle speed 2750fps, es 12, sd 3. Great accuracy beyond 1k yards. This load shows hard to see primer crater at 50f, none at 20f, so I backed down a full grain.
Berger lists H1000 max load at 85.2 grain, 3.681" Coal, compressed, ~2629fps. I am 3.2 grain over book. Is this safe?
Did development up to 90gr of H1000, lapua brass seems to be identical to charge at 85 grain. No ejector mark, bolt lift pressure is same.
Again, what kind of pressure am I running? If it is over 70k psi, then I will back down.
Your load sounds safe, but a lack of observable physical signs of overpressure are also no guarantee. I know that I've seen conflicting info on what pressures a 338LM can take. I believe SAAMI states 68K. I could be wrong, though.
Unastamus635
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2017
- Messages
- 184
Take the barrel off, put on a Bartlein and start over. Buddy just bought the same gun, went through several rounds and still wasn't consistent...
Yes, I was using the 300gr Berger Hybrids loaded .025" off the lands. I ended up using Retumbo(89.2gr) with Fed215M primers. Same accuracy,(.25-.5MOA), but 40-50FPS higher velocity over H1000 at 2700FPS, ES<10FPS.
Traveller678
New Member
What COAL did you settle at?
Traveller678
New Member
Anyone have recent load data on the .338 Lapua Magnum Berger 300 gr Hybrid OTM bullet? I will try this round out of a DT SRS A2, with a 28'' Research Proof Carbon barrel, unsuppressed. Lapua Brass, CCI Large Magnum primer, H1000. Debating whether to start at a COAL of 3.7500 or 3.9000. Appreciate any thoughts?
