Anyone have any go to loads for 250s or 300s out of a shorter bbl? Have a 20 inch AXMC showing up soon.
20 inch barrel 338 Lap loads
- Thread starter DownRangeThermal
- Start date
I run 89.0 Retumbo behind a 300 SMK in my 20” AXMC barrel. I’m headed out the door for work but I can snag the OAL this evening.
I found anything over 89 causes a sticky bolt and anything over 90 causes the bolt to stick so badly that it has to be opened either with a rubber mallet or with assistance from a rod down the muzzle. This is true with both barrels I own, which are 20” and 27”.
Additionally, both barrels are chambered in such a way that bullets need to be seated quite deeply in the cases to avoid having them jammed into the lands. This is not really a problem for me because the 89gr load produces half-inch groups at 300 yards when I’m shooting well and even when I’m not doing particularly well, it’s still easy to shoot under 1.5” groups at that distance.
I do believe some more load development could be done that could lead to heavier loads. Comparing to other people’s loads, 89 grains of Retumbo is a pretty light load and I feel like the rifle can probably handle a “closer to typical” load with some work, I’ve just been happy enough with the current load that I’ve not taken the time.
Also, for what it’s worth, I can swap back and forth between the two barrels and the point of impact shifts about 1/4 to 3/8ths of an inch at 100 yards. The shorter barrel impacts shift just a hair to the left of where the longer barrel impacts.
I hope this helps.
Edited to add: the OAL I'm running right now is 3.625"
I found anything over 89 causes a sticky bolt and anything over 90 causes the bolt to stick so badly that it has to be opened either with a rubber mallet or with assistance from a rod down the muzzle. This is true with both barrels I own, which are 20” and 27”.
Additionally, both barrels are chambered in such a way that bullets need to be seated quite deeply in the cases to avoid having them jammed into the lands. This is not really a problem for me because the 89gr load produces half-inch groups at 300 yards when I’m shooting well and even when I’m not doing particularly well, it’s still easy to shoot under 1.5” groups at that distance.
I do believe some more load development could be done that could lead to heavier loads. Comparing to other people’s loads, 89 grains of Retumbo is a pretty light load and I feel like the rifle can probably handle a “closer to typical” load with some work, I’ve just been happy enough with the current load that I’ve not taken the time.
Also, for what it’s worth, I can swap back and forth between the two barrels and the point of impact shifts about 1/4 to 3/8ths of an inch at 100 yards. The shorter barrel impacts shift just a hair to the left of where the longer barrel impacts.
I hope this helps.
Edited to add: the OAL I'm running right now is 3.625"
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