RL-26 and the 33-28 Nosler....ROCKS!!!

INTJ1

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Since I am a jazz guy I would prefer to say it "swings", but sadly not to many people think of good music when they hear "swings" anymore.

I had a "New" M-70 chambered with a Benchmark barrel in 340 Wby and a B&C Extreme Weather stock. It was fine but it was only a matter of time after I got my lathe that I would chamber something a little different. I didn't want to shoot a 338 RUM or Edge in an 8.75 lb rig without a brake, so I figured I would build a 33-28 Nosler.

It shoots very well with RL-26 and Barnes 225 TTSXs. Best load was 3173 fps with a ES of 12 fps and a 100 yd 3-shot group of 1/2". 48 ft lbs of recoil. I first tried RL-23 as that speed of powder makes more sense. But a friend said to try RL-26. Glad I did.

I think there is more velocity available. There are zero pressure signs. With the help of a fellow shooter I set up Quickload with the parameters of the cartridge and it tells me 89 grains of RL 26 yields 61,300 PSI. I hope that is close and it does match what I see on the fired cases.

Fired 33-28 Nosler cases have a capacity of 102.46 grains of water. New cases are the same length to the shoulder but fired cases grow .0055" at the shoulder and grow .0025" at the base. For comparison, the 340 Wby fired in my 340 barrel has a case capacity of 104.19 grains of water.

Below are some pics. If on the rare chance you wind up with a 33-28 Nosler, start below my data and slowly work up watching for pressure signs. I can only guarantee this data works in MY barrel.

33-28 Rifle.jpeg
33-28 Tgt #1.jpeg
33-28 Tgt #2.jpeg
 
Nosler. I first neck it up to 30 Cal, then 8mm, then 338. Necking up that much pulls some of the shoulder into the neck. The diameter at the lower part of the neck was .006" more than the top of the neck, so I had to turn the necks.
 
Wow that is a tremendous capacity jump over the 33 nosler very cool
 
I think RL-26 is the magic. I'll bet a 340 Wby with RL 26 would get the same velocities.
 
Curious why you chose this over 338rum for recoil?? Love the nosler case. Look forward to more info

This rifle is a walking rifle designed to be portable and won't be used past 600 yds. The 340 Wby and 28 Nosler case are about optimum for that. The 340, the 338 RUM, and 338 Edge for that are a bit too long for an unmodified M-70 magazine.

I didn't want to extend the magazine on this rifle, I just wanted to chamber a new barrel. I did have to get the RUM magazine and follower to get the rounds to feed. So I now have what is about an ideal .338 cartridge for a 3.6" magazine box.

When I build my next Edge, I will either build it as a single shot or else get Kevin Wyatt's 3.85" long M-70 box. It will be about a 12 lb rig using a light Palma contour barrel.
 
This rifle is a walking rifle designed to be portable and won't be used past 600 yds. The 340 Wby and 28 Nosler case are about optimum for that. The 340, the 338 RUM, and 338 Edge for that are a bit too long for an unmodified M-70 magazine.

I didn't want to extend the magazine on this rifle, I just wanted to chamber a new barrel. I did have to get the RUM magazine and follower to get the rounds to feed. So I now have what is about an ideal .338 cartridge for a 3.6" magazine box.

When I build my next Edge, I will either build it as a single shot or else get Kevin Wyatt's 3.85" long M-70 box. It will be about a 12 lb rig using a light Palma contour barrel.
That all makes sense. Recoil was my question since there is very little difference between a 338 rum and 33-28nos. Looking forward to more testing from you
 
In prep for an elk hunt that didn't happen, I backed off my load 1/2 grain, sighted in, and shot each reticle (B&C reticle) to determine the distance where each will hit. Since this isn't a long range rifle the scope is a Leu VX-3i, and while they hold their zero well, I don't really trust any Leupold series outside of the Mark 4 and similar to dial consistently.

The pic shows how it went. Aimpoint was the orange circle. The bottom aiming point is a V and less precise than the crosshairs, as can be seen by the increased vertical in the target. I have had good results sighting in this way. I will refine the load and hopefully get a chance to use it in 2021.

BF0F7545-945C-4CD2-A49E-CA0D5EFB4A63.jpeg
 
So does this take a speacial reamer to chamber this, or are you able to just use a 33 nosler and just neck 28 brass up? I'm kinda new to all this so sorry if my questions seem amateur
 
I just used a 33 Nosler reamer and ran it in about .120 deeper. It worked great. That said, it wouldn't be any issue to have a reamer maker a 33-28 Nosler reamer.
 
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