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.338 Lapua and 300 grain ers with Reloader 33

H

Hoverp

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 20, 2009
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Would you please share your experience and loads with RE 33 in the Lapua, pushing 300 grain bullets. I would like some feedback from those here who have tried the powder and your results and opinions.

Thanks! Ive been using 89 grains H1000, and also 89 grains of N570 with 300 Berger Hybrids and also scenars.
 
Reloader powders are very temp sensitive. Have you tried Retumbo? Thats the go-to powder for the 300gr bullets.
 
I have not as it was reported to burn dirty compared to H1000 , so i just never tried it. have you had good luck with it, how did it compare to H1000?
 
I use RL22 and N570 in my 110BA with 300gr Scenars and 300gr Bergers. Cannot find RL33 anywhere locally.
What I noted of the RL22 is the flame coming out of the barrel, where N570 sure is smokey for a "smokeless powder".
My groups look better with the N570 and 300gr Scenars, but I don't think I'm qualified to comment yet on accuracy. I load my Bergers for magazine length rather than chamber length so there's about a 50 mil jump for the Berger.
 
I have some data for RL33 & 250gr SMKs from this morning in my Savage 110 FCP HS.

COAL 3.686 (.023 off the lands), RUAG brass, Fed GM 215M primers.

96gr: 2 moa
97gr: 1.5 moa
98gr: 2 moa
99gr: 2 moa
100gr: 2 moa

My best two groups were with the 97gr & 100gr loads, with around .6 moa horizontal , but 1.5 & 2.0 moa vertical respectively. not sure why they are stringing vertically like that...

EDIT: I believe my $30 scope rings were to blame. I changed them out with some Nightforce and will report back.

Even up to 100gr, no signs of over pressure.

My best load so far has been 300gr scenars over 89.0gr of H1000 @ 3.685" COAL, with 5 shot groups @ 3/4 moa or better.
 
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Well I was having some issues with my scope rings, so I need to go back and shoot the 250 smks again, but I got some good data today with 300gr scenars after changing to nightforce rings. These were shot at 200 yards.

92gr RL 33: 1/2 moa 3 shot group
93gr RL 33: <3/4 moa 3 shot group
94gr RL 33: 1/4 moa 3 shot group

Almost no vertical variation. No pressure signs either.

I sized the brass to just fit the chamber (RUAG brass), 3.680" oal (.030ish off the lands), fed 215 match primers, no crimp, .002 neck tension. This was through a Savage 110 FCP HS with about 50-60 rounds down the tube.

Through some Lapua brass I had MAJOR vertical spread in the groups. Now to figure that out...
 
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I can't get into the who, what, when & where, but I can tell you that Retumbo/Lapua brass/215m/and a 300 Scenar exhibits ZERO velocity shift at temps from -10f to +140f. Incredibly impressive performance.

Works well with a 250gr, but is tremendous with a 300gr. In my opinion, if you're shooting a .338 LM you should be shooting a 300gr bullet, either a Scenar or Berger. Otherwise, just shoot a .300 Win Mag and save yourself some money.
 
greentimber said:
In my opinion, if you're shooting a .338 LM you should be shooting a 300gr bullet, either a Scenar or Berger. Otherwise, just shoot a .300 Win Mag and save yourself some money.
Click to expand...

In my opinion, it depends what you seek to do. The 250s are generally flatter to 1000 yards and give up little or nothing in wind, while delivering superior terminal performance than a 300wm.
 
greentimber said:
In my opinion, if you're shooting a .338 LM you should be shooting a 300gr bullet, either a Scenar or Berger. Otherwise, just shoot a .300 Win Mag and save yourself some money.
Click to expand...

Why not 300 SMK?
 
After coming back from this match I'm starting to change my tune on 300gr bullets. My experience with them had led me to the conclusion that they were a bit much for .338LM and didn't offer much of an improvement over 250s. However, combined with a longer barrel with a faster twist, I saw them easily outperform my well established 250 load when shooting beyond a mile.

Now, where do I find Reloader 33 in New Zealand?
 
i've tried H1000, Reloader 25 and Retumbo in my 338 Lapua Ackley shooting the 300 SMK. IMHO, Retumbo is the best powder for the 338 Lapua Handsdown.
 
With my 338lm I've used H1000, Retumbo and N570 with the 300 Bergers. Here's what I've settled on for each. I'm not at max on any of the three so I can still push but no need other than to play now.

Retumbo 93.5g, 2840fps, .010" off
H1000 90g, 2712fps, .023" off
N570 91.5g, 2768fps, .023" off

ES and SDs are typically single digit or low teens. I'm going to push on the N570 today and see just how fast I can safely get and hold .5" groups just for the fun of it. WTH, it's just a barrel right? The rifle holds that at 300/600 now with all three of those loads listed.

Rifle is a Sako TRG M995 with a 28" Bartlein 9.5tw. In my sig below.

L
 
Chronod 300gr scenars over 94gr rl33 and got 2680-2699 fps over 10 shots. Max listed load on alliants site is 97.5 which I think could push them to over 2800.
 
I'm also interested in RL33, with 300g bergers. I'm curious why most posters emphatically endorse Retumbo, but don't seem to provide any reason why. Low SD/ES? Good velocity for pressure? Temp insensitivity? In my own limited experience Retumbo proved satisfactory, but not excellent. I find it to be quite dirty/sooty burning, but with an well suited bulk density and the (unverified personally) reputed temp insensitivity of the Hodgdon Extreme coating.
I don't have the urge to test every powder that comes along, but I sure do find the advertising for RL33 tempting! Designed specifically. for the 338LM, utilizing their own proprietary coating to control burn rate (and reduce peak/spike pressure) thereby allowing more velocity to be generated... And having the added effect of almost eliminating temp sensitivity similar to Hodgdon's Extreme coating.
I gotta at least try it!
 
With my 110 BA. I had a real rodeo. I use 300 scenars Lapua brass 250 primers. Started out with all the really slow powders. I had hell. For example shoot one load of retumbo, rl25, h1000, us869, all at them, and then go up some and no velocity change. I talked to Bill Shehane and he told me 26" barrel ain't long enough to burn the slow ones. He asked if when I cleaned it if there was unburned powder in bbl. there was! He said 4831sc. I did. Shot one hole. But at only 2660 fps. I put a thirty inch bbl on it now I'm at 2850. With retumbo. Before the swapping of bbls, I would shoot a group I liked, retry it and it was crap? Like I said the chrony and Bill kinda made it make sense to me. I'm talkin I could move up 2 grains and no velocity change? Just sayin.
 
Exactly. I always had a bit of excess muzzle flash with my 110ba and very poor accuracy. Had tons of muzzle flash with us869.
My current build will have a 30" bbl.
 
Yeah, why would you even build a rifle chambered in this round with a short bbl? To save weight? The thing ain't no carry rifle even at 26". I like 26" plus on my 308,223,6br,7saum, don't get it. I'm not keeping it in a trunk, or engaged in urban warfare? Put a barrel on that bitch! Haul it to the top of the ridge and lay down and shoot like it was made to. I dont get how the trg's get away with the 27"? Maybe it's just me, I like to milk all the power out of them. Sure there's a lot I don't know tho. Cheers
 
bodywerks said:
Preaching to the choir. I've seen 20" 338's. I just shook my head. Absolute waste.
Click to expand...

All depends on intended use.

A 20" 338 is fully capable of fulfilling its original design intent of taking out a man in level 5 armor @ 1000 meters.
 
turbo54 said:
All depends on intended use.

A 20" 338 is fully capable of fulfilling its original design intent of taking out a man in level 5 armor @ 1000 meters.
Click to expand...

+1

I have both 24.5" and 20" barrels for my .338. Both excel in different roles. The 20" with a suppressor is a fantastic fighting rifle to 1300+ yards. The sheer power that 300gr bullet delivers is truly impressive. Difference in elevation correction required @ 1000y (sea level @ ~75f) is .7-.8 Mils with the Scenar. That's not small, but still beats the hell out of a .308!
 
Any one try RL-50? According to the OBT paper, by Chris Long, when I figured out the calculations, RL-50 actually out performed the RL-33. Not by much, but lower pressure and higher velocity at OBT. Since RL-50 was available, and I still haven't found RL-33 available to me, I bought 8# of the RL-50. Two rounds of testing are giving consistent results at 300 yds. 3/8 MOA, multiple groups. When you consider that I am not the most experienced shooter, I'd say that isn't bad. I am running it in a 34" Lilja Barrel, on a Rem700P.
 
Sniper Uncle said:
Any one try RL-50? According to the OBT paper, by Chris Long, when I figured out the calculations, RL-50 actually out performed the RL-33. Not by much, but lower pressure and higher velocity at OBT. Since RL-50 was available, and I still haven't found RL-33 available to me, I bought 8# of the RL-50. Two rounds of testing are giving consistent results at 300 yds. 3/8 MOA, multiple groups. When you consider that I am not the most experienced shooter, I'd say that isn't bad. I am running it in a 34" Lilja Barrel, on a Rem700P.
Click to expand...

I know this thread is old, but what kind of velocities were you getting, what charge did you use, and what length barrel?
 
I don't have the data ready to hand, as I am away from home for business, but it is in the vicinity of 96 grains. This shows as 108% fill ratio on Quick-Load, but the rounds are stable and don't grow at all. Velocities are about 2800FPS, with very little variation, as measured on a Pro-Chrony. I had one group of five that all measured 2743FPS---yes, all five, and it read dupli-1, dupli-2, etc, so I know it read all five shots. The barrel is a 34" Lilja, in 1-10" twist, and has been melonited. Meloniting causes a drop in velocity of 50-75FPS, because of the hardening of the barrel, and its subsequent "slickness." (Less restriction, lower velocities.) I am looking forward to buying a Magneto-speed chrono, and checking another set...
 
2800 is nice especially if pressure isnt high. Though with a 34" tube (even melonited) I would expect to be able to get closer to 2900 or faster... have you tried rl33?
 
lte82 said:
2800 is nice especially if pressure isnt high. Though with a 34" tube (even melonited) I would expect to be able to get closer to 2900 or faster... have you tried rl33?
Click to expand...

Well, look at it this way. QL shows 2812 for the estimated velocity for that. Also, consider that I am working off optimum barrel time-----OCW, what ever method you use, some times the most accurate is not the fastest. RL-33 shows about 20FPS slower than RL-50 for the same barrel time, and higher pressure----still great, but higher. RL-50 is doing 50,000PSI in my rig, RL-33 shows about 53,000, still great, but slower by about 20-30 FPS.


Cheers,
Tim
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms Shall NOT be Infringed
 
bodywerks said:
Preaching to the choir. I've seen 20" 338's. I just shook my head. Absolute waste.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For me, I like to hunt Hells canyon for very tough mountain hardened elk. We ride in on horseback 20+ miles and then hump on foot for days.... When I find a big bull at a thousand yards I want to know I have the energy on impact to cleanly kill the beast without him stumbling off into some dark canyon. No 30 cal can compare.. My Short DTA with an18 inch barrel gets it done with ease. I give up a little velocity but it is a hammer. Toting a 30 inch tube on a conventional rifle on horseback is not realistic. Hauling an338 LM in a package the size of a MP5 that is dead nuts accurate is.....IMHO.
 
Does any out there have any data yet using the 300 gr Accubond and reloder 33 I have yet to find anything other than Alliants listing for the 300gr Matchking any information would be greatly appreciated!! Setting on 5lbs of Reloder 33 and 200 300gr Accubonds for my TRG-42 1-10
Looking for someone to shed a little light onto this matter or steer me in a direction that would be helpful in opening this door!!
Thank You
 
I went from Retumbo to N560 tpo N570 with 300 Scenar and 215M primers. Retumbo showed signs of pressure and the recoil felt like it burned faster and hit harder. But this is not scientific and I'd like to go back and retry Retumbo once again and compare. I can say N570 and it's graphite coating does make cleaning sort of an investment in time and cloth patches. So everyone says that Retumbo is the powder for 338LM, but I'm not sure that H1000 or N570 is worse or better.
 
So whats the best H1000 or Retumbo for 300gn bullets? Sounds like N570 cons out way the pros.

In my neck of the woods it’s very hard to get powder. I want to pull the trigger on 8lbs of either N1000 or Retumbo. For target shooting what’s the best for 1000+ yards? Thx!!
 
siglover said:
So whats the best H1000 or Retumbo for 300gn bullets? Sounds like N570 cons out way the pros.

In my neck of the woods it’s very hard to get powder. I want to pull the trigger on 8lbs of either N1000 or Retumbo. For target shooting what’s the best for 1000+ yards? Thx!!
Click to expand...

siglover

As you can tell by reading these posts, Retumbo and H1000 both work for different shooters/rifles. Would try both and see how they work for you and your rifle. No secret formula there, no one can tell you for sure the outcome, just their personal experience, which sometimes help; sucks that components are hard to find these days but eventually they do show up here and there.
Good shooting.
 
idaho1 said:
I guess it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For me, I like to hunt Hells canyon for very tough mountain hardened elk. We ride in on horseback 20+ miles and then hump on foot for days.... When I find a big bull at a thousand yards I want to know I have the energy on impact to cleanly kill the beast without him stumbling off into some dark canyon. No 30 cal can compare.. My Short DTA with an18 inch barrel gets it done with ease. I give up a little velocity but it is a hammer. Toting a 30 inch tube on a conventional rifle on horseback is not realistic. Hauling an338 LM in a package the size of a MP5 that is dead nuts accurate is.....IMHO.
Click to expand...


This year opening day @ 8000' with my 22.5" Bartlein 338L 300 Scenar...All I want is a 1200yd hammer on Elk, especially in Griz country.
I have a matching 22.5" 6.5x47L also by Mark @ SAC for deer/antelope

I am, however having a 30" barrel spun as well for fun.



 
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