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Powder compacting when seating bullets.

Compressing a load has always made my seating depth vary by a few additional thousandths. It can also lead to a more pronounced ring around the bullet from the seating stem (which rarely affects accuracy as much as you think it would). Also, as stated above sometimes the bullet can actually back out a little if your interference fit isn't tight enough.

Compressing a load though isn't wrong by itself, depending on powder burn rate and corresponding pressure. Drop tubes like you mentioned do make it easier to get more powder in the case and often compact it more uniformly (less variation in seating depth).
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Official (DTA) SRS, HTI, Covert, Hunter Thread

^that's excellent shooting, kudos!

I'm on my 4th 338 barrel in this platform since 2012. (She's a 34" hammer on a K&P blank by E-S Tactical.)
I've always gotten them to shoot, despite some growing pains along the way. Things like top rail was loose, false pressure signs from neck sizing and inadequate shoulder bump, etc.)

But one thing that was always a big variable in the equation was shooting fundamentals, because any fundamental error was magnified by the recoil.

It's one of the reasons that despite having a 338 Ultra, I have a Gen 2 RR version on order.

Anyway, keep up the good work, mitigate recoil, and solidify fundamentals.

Looks like you have a shooter on at least one end of the rig. :)

Still contemplating a savage 10fp in 308.

I actually miss my old savage 10FP in the hs stock, I keep trying to find one for nostalgia sake since it’s what got me into shoot precision long range stuff.
There is one or two that are new on the broker. I'm pretty sure I'll pick up the local one when I get back from trip back to NC and training. I'll be gone about a week i think id like to get an aics bottom metal for it as well eventually.

Official (DTA) SRS, HTI, Covert, Hunter Thread

Wow, tried a box of Norma golden target 338 lapua 250gr bthp and shot a 1/2 moa 5 shot group on the bottom orange sticker, top is a 3 shot 308 group with 168smk’s. 338 is definitely for the big boys, had to really settle into the the rifle and get it shoulderd properly. Was also using a silencerco 36m suppressor and the sound was no worse than my 300wm. Very impressed with my M2 so far!

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