338 lapua loaded to the lands will not fit in magazine?

[Grizzdude]

Hey guys, so I was doing some measurements on my savage 110 ba 338 chamber and with 300gr bergers OTM's and it comes out to 3.827 , I thought a good place to start with loads would be .015-.020 off the lands but that won't even fit in the magazine. The magazine inside dimension is about 3.765, loaded to mag that would be just over .060 off the lands. Is that too far of a jump? Won't that start to erode the throat prematurely? Just trying to get this right. The other option I was thinking was to modify the front and back inside walls of the magazine to accept a longer cartridge, has anyone done that before?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Hey guys, so I was doing some measurements on my savage 110 ba 338 chamber and with 300gr bergers OTM's and it comes out to 3.827 , I thought a good place to start with loads would be .015-.020 off the lands but that won't even fit in the magazine. The magazine inside dimension is about 3.765, loaded to mag that would be just over .060 off the lands. Is that too far of a jump? Won't that start to erode the throat prematurely? Just trying to get this right. The other option I was thinking was to modify the front and back inside walls of the magazine to accept a longer cartridge, has anyone done that before?

New guy?

What you're describing is the case with just about every factory rifle made by man. Many bullets, save for the VLD secant ogived projectiles, can stand a jump.

You wouldn't be able to sand/file off enough metal to make the effort worthwhile, is my thought.

You can either single feed the long carts, or you can just load to mag length and go from there.

Finally, you can have a custom barrel spun on that will allow a chambered, mag safe round, to approach the lands more closely.

Chris

 

[JGorski]

Load em so they fit the mag, shoot the shit out of them, done.

 

[NICETRY]

I forget what my measurement (I am at work) from base to ogive is but my load gives a average COAL of around 3.725 and they feed just fine from my mag.

For my 110 HS Precision I load my Berger 300gr OTM's to just fit the magazine. 92gr of Retumbo it shot just under an inch at 200 yards 4 out of 5 rounds. First shot cold bore was just under about an inch. Tried 92.5 and 93gr loads also and the 92gr loads shot better groups. Over the chrono using a MagnetoSpeed V2 the 92gr loads averaged around 2730fps. 93gr was around 2780 average. Gonna try and get some more data on the 92gr loads this next weekend. Might try some with a lighter load see if I can tighten the groups up some. 93gr of Retumbo with a 300gr Berger you will start compressing powder. I have loaded up to 93.5gr of Retumbo and it shot fine but controlling run out because of the powder compressing was difficult even with the Redding Comp die.

Also wanted to add I am using Lapua brass. If you load this hot with Hornady brass you will have extraction issues. Berger reloading data shows a max of 89.5gr's of Retumbo and if you go to Hodgdon's website they show max load of 94gr's. I ran a ladder test from 86 to 93.5gr's with no signs of pressure. All loads extracted fine and primers looked just fine. Not sure what powder you plan to use but this been my experience with my 338 so far.

 

[Grizzdude]

Ok so it looks like I should just load to the mag and just play with the powder and not the bullet jump. I plan on using H-1000 loaded into Lapua brass but I also have 1 pound of retumbo to play with. Thanks for the info, just wasn't sure if .060 seemed like a big jump.

 

[JGorski]

Ok so it looks like I should just load to the mag and just play with the powder and not the bullet jump. I plan on using H-1000 loaded into Lapua brass but I also have 1 pound of retumbo to play with. Thanks for the info, just wasn't sure if .060 seemed like a big jump.

Here's what .110" off the lands look like at 300yds from my 308.

 

[1quik70]

I am loading for my FCP-HS with 92 Grains of Retumbo and short enough to fit in the mag, and it shoots bug holes at 200 if I do my part. Load em up and shoot, I was going to do some testing with longer loads but decided it wasn't worth the time at the moment.

 

[timelinex]

Just single load them.... Most applications for the 338lm never requires the use of a magazine. You generally don't rapid fire at something 1 mile away.

 

[P7id10t]

+1 to Timelinex
I load 300OTMs and scenars both ways.
Find single loading works nicely.

Just single load them.... Most applications for the 338lm never requires the use of a magazine. You generally don't rapid fire at something 1 mile away.

 

[bodywerks]

Here's what .110" off the lands look like at 300yds from my 308.

Different bullets react differently to jump. Amax bullets like it, for example. Nearly all Berger vld and hybrids don't. Lucky for the OP the 300 tactical bullets are fairly accepting of jump. I think it'll work with .060. Only way to know for sure is to try...

 

[bodywerks]

Just single load them.... Most applications for the 338lm never requires the use of a magazine. You generally don't rapid fire at something 1 mile away.

Very true, and the 338lm builds up heat quick. 5 round down the tube in quick succession is a good way to erode the throat prematurely. One every 15 second or so is ok, but you'll still want to let the barrel cool after 5-10 rounds.

 

[Creature]

I had this problem before I switched over to the DTA system. I wonder if there is a way you could modify a magazine and have it still be structurally sound? Maybe cut a thin strip out of the center for the tip of the bullet to protrude through...

 

[High Binder]

Just single load them.... Most applications for the 338lm never requires the use of a magazine. You generally don't rapid fire at something 1 mile away.

+2

Until you get custom bottom metal you're going to have this problem on 99% of rifles ever made. Savage 338s with 250/300gr bullets don't seem to like much jump. I shoot 300gr Berger OTMs, .01" off the lands and at that length you have to single load them, mag length loads don't shoot well at all.

 

[High Binder]

Very true, and the 338lm builds up heat quick.

hBN coating the bullets really helps to alleviate this ^^ problem. I get ~20 shots in before the barrel really even feels hot to the touch and the brass ejects cold as well.

 

[oneshot.onehit]

I load my Barrett 338LM .050 off the lands with the 300 gr Scenars and H1000 – ¼ to ½ moa rifle for the most part. We shoot a lot from 500 to 1760. My back yard has AR500 out to 823. I have around 1300 rounds through it shooting suppressed.


oneshot.onehit