CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

[vh20]

I'm having trouble getting this new Savage 110 FCP .338LM to shoot below 1MOA with a load made up of 300 gr. SMKs, CCI 250s, and Retumbo. A friend suggested to me that the CCI 250s might not be hot enough to light-off such a large charge of a very slow powder consistently. He strongly recommended I try Fed. 215s, and even gave me 100 to try. I haven't gotten to try them yet, but the problem is even if they work they are hard to come by right now, and I'm sitting on 2000 CCI 250s that I'd like to use.

So, in looking on here, I don't see the CCI 250 mentioned much. Has anyone had good success with them in this caliber, using Retumbo?

Thanks

 

[cega]

Re: CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

I have been using CCI #250 primers in all my 338LM loads since Day One and have never had any problems whatsoever. I have run them with Retumbo, H1000, VV N170 and VV N570 and with a variety of bullets including the 300gr SMK.

Might get better info if you posted the load (recipe) you are working with too.

 

[varmint slayer]

Re: CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

Yeah I use the CCI 250s with H1000 which is similar to Retumbo and have had no problems yet.

 

[timelinex]

Re: CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vh20</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm having trouble getting this new Savage 110 FCP .338LM to shoot below 1MOA with a load made up of 300 gr. SMKs, CCI 250s, and Retumbo. A friend suggested to me that the CCI 250s might not be hot enough to light-off such a large charge of a very slow powder consistently. He strongly recommended I try Fed. 215s, and even gave me 100 to try. I haven't gotten to try them yet, but the problem is even if they work they are hard to come by right now, and I'm sitting on 2000 CCI 250s that I'd like to use.

So, in looking on here, I don't see the CCI 250 mentioned much. Has anyone had good success with them in this caliber, using Retumbo?

Thanks </div></div>
I use 215m's with retumbo in my 110ba. I think thats what most people use in their savages, when I was doing research on a load.

How many rounds have you put through the rifle? Many people say it takes 100+ rounds for the rifle to start shooting accuratly... That might also just be partially because it takes that many for the shooter to start getting used to the rifle and recoil...

 

[vh20]

Re: CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

Thanks, guys.
Cega - I'm still searching for one. Right now I'm having best results at 92.0 gr and 93.5 gr. I did my initial tests seated -.010, but I had a bit better results on the last group of 93.5 gr. when I seated a little deeper at -.020. I wonder how far off the lands most guys with these rifles are finding works best for them?

Varmint Slayer - I have some H1000, but haven't tried it yet. I was hoping to stick with Retumbo because, once again, it is more available to me locally.

Timelinex - I think right at 70 rounds so far. I find recoil to be more pleasant than my .30-06. I have seen where some folks have said it takes a while for the barrel to settle in, though.

Thanks for the help, guys. I do plan to stick with the 250s for a little while longer, so it's nice to know they are working for at least some of you.

 

[cega]

Re: CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

Looking at Hogdon's online reloading data it looks like 90gr is the starting load and 98gr the max for your combination of 250gr bullet & Retumbo. Note that Hogdon doesn't list the SMK specifically but it should be pretty close to those numbers given.

I know with my 338LM (not the same rifle as yours) I get better performance and results on the upper end of the range vs. the lower. You may find that you are creeping up on an accuracy node at the low end and if you jump up by a bit you will start finding another up close to the high end of the range.

Obviously all the usual caveats apply about working up to a load etc. but if I were chasing a load I would push past and head up in the charge weight and see where I got. As far as seating depth is concerned I don't know if it is a function of the same smith chambering three rifles for me but my 6.5x47, .308 and .338LM all like a .010 jump.

 

[vh20]

Re: CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

Cega - Sorry to cause confusion, but the when I was referring to "250s", I meant "CCI 250 primers", not 250 gr. bullets (it didn't even occur to me that they are so easily confused because of the number). I'm using 300 gr. SMKs, which I did state in the original post, but failed to clarify later. With that in mind, Hodgdon starts at 85.0 and goes up to 94.0 gr. of Retumbo for that bullet. So, @ 93.5 I am up near their max load (which of course may or may not have anything to do with my individual rifle). I have had the best chrono results (ES, SD) at that level, but have not been able to translate that to good group size yet. Since my last shooting session I have just completed epoxy-bedding the rifle, so my next step is to re-shoot the last test and see if it improves. Beyond that I am open to anything else you might suggest. Thanks again!

 

[bullelk6]

Re: CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

try 91 gr h1000 at3.805 and got out on length from there my savage shoots less than 1 moa at that load.4500 ft elevation and 285ofps,300gr berger otm,cci250.I have not tried any load of h1ooo over this as it was told to me by another 338 lapua fan that uses that load to knock the shit out of things at over 1000 yds all the time.watch extreme outer limits and you will see.

 

[bullelk6]

Re: CCI 250s Work Well In 338LM?

by the way does anyone know of a supplier with any h1ooo for sale?