My 338 Sherman Shortmag

I've had my 338 Sherman Shortmag out a couple of times now. I've put 60 shots down the pipe mostly fire forming 338 head stamped brass with 250 Bergers and 55g of VARGET. I had my LabRadar out today and it registered anywhere from 2543 to 2550 on the 55g VAR/250g Bergers.

I also loaded 6 shells with 250 Bergers and Varget at 59, 59.5, 60, 60.5, 61 and 61.5 grains. I started getting swipe marks at 60.0 but no heavy bolt lifts really at all. My dilemma will be that I have H&S Precision bottom metal which limits me to 2.85" COAL. I have some 213 Hammer Hunters I will try as well as some 225 Barnes TTSX to see how they do. With the loads above I was able to get the following velocities from my 22" barrel with 250g Bergers VLD-H:
59g VAR - 2720; 59.5g - 2731; 60g - 2761; 60.5g - 2780; 61g - 2806; 61.5g - 2811.

Here is a pix of my gun. It is a switch barrel gun done by West Texas Ordnance. Has a Bighorn Origin with Trigger Tech Trigger, Bartlein 22" Barrel, McMillan Stock, Area 419 Brake & Nightforce ATACR F1 4x-16x. I also have a 22.250 barrel, 7mm-08 SAW and 6XC barrel for it.

IMG_3441.jpg
 
I've had my 338 Sherman Shortmag out a couple of times now. I've put 60 shots down the pipe mostly fire forming 338 head stamped brass with 250 Bergers and 55g of VARGET. I had my LabRadar out today and it registered anywhere from 2543 to 2550 on the 55g VAR/250g Bergers.

I also loaded 6 shells with 250 Bergers and Varget at 59, 59.5, 60, 60.5, 61 and 61.5 grains. I started getting swipe marks at 60.0 but no heavy bolt lifts really at all. My dilemma will be that I have H&S Precision bottom metal which limits me to 2.85" COAL. I have some 213 Hammer Hunters I will try as well as some 225 Barnes TTSX to see how they do. With the loads above I was able to get the following velocities from my 22" barrel with 250g Bergers VLD-H:
59g VAR - 2720; 59.5g - 2731; 60g - 2761; 60.5g - 2780; 61g - 2806; 61.5g - 2811.

Here is a pix of my gun. It is a switch barrel gun done by West Texas Ordnance. Has a Bighorn Origin with Trigger Tech Trigger, Bartlein 22" Barrel, McMillan Stock, Area 419 Brake & Nightforce ATACR F1 4x-16x. I also have a 22.250 barrel, 7mm-08 SAW and 6XC barrel for it.

View attachment 148509

That combo there ought to Kill Anything Big Enough to Die.
 
20190909_155341.jpg


My parts are finally here and everything is heading to the gunsmith!!! Excited to soon have both a 6.5ss and 338ss. This will be a switch barrel, no fancy lugs, just torqued on shouldered barrels.

Finaly build should be right around 6.5 pounds, with a 22" barrel for the 338 and 6.25 pounds for the 6.5ss.
 
I've had my 338 Sherman Shortmag out a couple of times now. I've put 60 shots down the pipe mostly fire forming 338 head stamped brass with 250 Bergers and 55g of VARGET. I had my LabRadar out today and it registered anywhere from 2543 to 2550 on the 55g VAR/250g Bergers.

I also loaded 6 shells with 250 Bergers and Varget at 59, 59.5, 60, 60.5, 61 and 61.5 grains. I started getting swipe marks at 60.0 but no heavy bolt lifts really at all. My dilemma will be that I have H&S Precision bottom metal which limits me to 2.85" COAL. I have some 213 Hammer Hunters I will try as well as some 225 Barnes TTSX to see how they do. With the loads above I was able to get the following velocities from my 22" barrel with 250g Bergers VLD-H:
59g VAR - 2720; 59.5g - 2731; 60g - 2761; 60.5g - 2780; 61g - 2806; 61.5g - 2811.

Here is a pix of my gun. It is a switch barrel gun done by West Texas Ordnance. Has a Bighorn Origin with Trigger Tech Trigger, Bartlein 22" Barrel, McMillan Stock, Area 419 Brake & Nightforce ATACR F1 4x-16x. I also have a 22.250 barrel, 7mm-08 SAW and 6XC barrel for it.

View attachment 148509


Any word on the 213 Hammer's? I'm very curious of the speed you see with your 22" barrel.
 
View attachment 149219

My parts are finally here and everything is heading to the gunsmith!!! Excited to soon have both a 6.5ss and 338ss. This will be a switch barrel, no fancy lugs, just torqued on shouldered barrels.

Finaly build should be right around 6.5 pounds, with a 22" barrel for the 338 and 6.25 pounds for the 6.5ss.

I have a switch Lug I suddenly don't need. I was thinking of putting it in the safe but I could sell it. I'm now doing a .300 SS & my SA is already a Switch Lug.

https://westtexordnance.com/switchlug/
 
I'll be fireforming brass in 2 weeks. Finally!

I have the headstamped ADG brass.

I understand in it's most basic form, 10% below max and a jammed bullet should be safe and yield a well formed case.

But I'm curious, if I dont jam the bullet, will the shoulder still form? If I'm working thru a ladder test? I have very limited time and want to try to get something loaded for the last of this hunting season.

Could I load a couple ladders with preferred bullet and powder combos, then I would atleast find max in an unformed case and start to see the velocity trends of each combo. Max with a former case should be higher... will this save time/components and still give me well formed cases?
 
I'll be fireforming brass in 2 weeks. Finally!

I have the headstamped ADG brass.

I understand in it's most basic form, 10% below max and a jammed bullet should be safe and yield a well formed case.

But I'm curious, if I dont jam the bullet, will the shoulder still form? If I'm working thru a ladder test? I have very limited time and want to try to get something loaded for the last of this hunting season.

Could I load a couple ladders with preferred bullet and powder combos, then I would atleast find max in an unformed case and start to see the velocity trends of each combo. Max with a former case should be higher... will this save time/components and still give me well formed cases?
You shouldnt have to jam the bullet. Velocity wont change much from formed to unformed.
 
Awesome news.

So will working up in powder charges during a ladder test yield a difference in the way the case forms?

ie. Will 54 grains of Varget form the same as 60 grains of Varget? If I stay 0.010" off the lands?
 
Awesome news.

So will working up in powder charges during a ladder test yield a difference in the way the case forms?

ie. Will 54 grains of Varget form the same as 60 grains of Varget? If I stay 0.010" off the lands?
It could form differently and I wouldnt use varget! Use something that fills the case more
 
Latest batch of brass I formed I used 56 gr Varget with my 230s just touching lands. Brass formed great nice sharp edges no issues then did pressure test then seating depth. The first batch of brass I did I used Varget as well jammed formed all my brass then did load development. I still have half the first 50 formed on 6th loading.
 

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