.338 lapua mag loads

[savagepitbull]

im very new to long distance shooting and reloading.i would appreciate some good advice so i do not blow myself up. i recently purchased a savage .338 lapua mag 1:9" also some match hornaby 285 gr HPBT can somebody help me with a safe starting load. ive looked at hundreds of forums and not much info on the 285.i also have hodgdon h1000 powder and federal 115 primers

 

[cega]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

You might want to go check out the data here:

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

There is no specific listing for the 285gr but there is data for both 275gr and 300gr so you may want to take a look at the starting load for the 275gr and work up from there as for your powder (H1000) the starting loads for both 275gr and 300gr are the same.

 

[savagepitbull]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

thanks cega i looked at that and i think ill try a 83 gr load of h1000 to start.

 

[mrbig]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

I just got the same rig and plan to start at 88 grs Retumbo and work up,,the factory loaded Hornady ammo locked my rifle up and had to beat the brass from the chamber with a cleaning rod,

IDK why people think they have to run these big heavy bullets at the ragged edge,,50-75 fps dont mean squat from a 285-300 gr bullet with a BC of .800..I would rather have safe accurate consistant ammo,,

 

[savagepitbull]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

from what ive read retumbo is dirty and causes jams thats why i chose the hodgdon h1000.

 

[LineofDeparture]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

Currently working up a load for that rifle...

I did however start working up a load for my TRG 42 338 with retumbo and found it VERY DIRTY... I think ill stick with VVN165.. ive shot.4 inch groups with this and 300 secnars and repeated this with the 250lockbase also using N165...

 

[joediesel81]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

I would start with 89-92gr. I got about 35-45 fps more with 285gr then my Berger 300gr. Stick with H1000. good luck and please update.

Joe

 

[mrbig]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

in the TRG42 I have shot with 300 Scenars and 90 grs Retumbo at 2700 fps is scary accurate and easy to shoot,,shot it 50 times last time out and the last shots were dead on at 1525,,it may be dirty but accuracy doesnt fall off in 50 rounds without cleaning,,at least in this one rifle,

we did not get as good accuracy with H1000 in this rifle,,and it would not shoot the 300 Bergers worth two hoots,but we havent tried the new 300 Berger,,I think we had the first bunch that went to heck about 2750FPS.

 

[savagepitbull]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

thank all for replying looks like some good info. i shot my first two rounds of 285@84 and was pretty sweet, both shells were clean primers looked like new.i think ill go up to about 88 for 2 more rounds. i wont talk about my grouping yet until i get my scope set up worth talking about.

 

[savagepitbull]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

after watching your youtube videos joe i think i will jump right up to 89gr of h1000 and start from there.

 

[joediesel81]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: savagepitbull</div><div class="ubbcode-body">after watching your youtube videos joe i think i will jump right up to 89gr of h1000 and start from there. </div></div>

I was going to start at 84gr but it a waste of powder and time. 89gr is a very good start. good luck

Joe.

 

[savagepitbull]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

89 grs h1000 was just awesome got a 1 inch group at 100 yards after bore sighting it. hit the gong at 400 yards. cant wait to take my time to sight it in for 1000 yards.

 

[joediesel81]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: savagepitbull</div><div class="ubbcode-body">89 grs h1000 was just awesome got a 1 inch group at 100 yards after bore sighting it. hit the gong at 400 yards. cant wait to take my time to sight it in for 1000 yards. </div></div>
That's cool. As you get more rounds down range, your groups will get tighter. For me it was the recoil and my groups were all over the place. Once I got use to the recoil it was fun. You need a chronograph. I would like to compare data with you.

Take care

Joe.

 

[savagepitbull]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

i was thinking of getting a chronograph. whats a good make that's affordable?

 

[joediesel81]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: savagepitbull</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i was thinking of getting a chronograph. whats a good make that's affordable?
</div></div>

Competition Electronics work very well. You can hook it up to your laptop and see the velocity on your laptop. Here a video on it that I made.

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3Sauriisnvs"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3Sauriisnvs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

 

[Who Dat]

Re: .338 lapua mag loads

My brake will be here next week and I will be sending some 225 grainers down range using H1000. I have been using it in my magnums ever since it hit the shelves. 91grs which is the starting load will send the 225 grain bullet at 2713fps. The weapon has not been shot yet and I am excited to get it wrung out on paper.