338 Lapua Magnum

[secondofangle2]

Disagree. Berger's calculator gives SG 1.52 with the 285 bullet parameters, 12-twist, 2700 fps, altitude 4000 feet, temp 59 degrees.

If he's at sea level and it's cold, he may have marginal stability, but I've shot bullets with marginal stability and they performed fine. My 12 twist 375 barrel had basically this same SG for the 390 a-tip and it shot lights out.

So it may be worth a try.

 

[babyguppy]

The 285 ELD-M is an excellent performer. And it LOVES 92.5 of Retumbo. Can even go to 94 but I like a margin for error and high temps

and suppressed !!!!!!!

 

[lash]

Disagree. Berger's calculator gives SG 1.52 with the 285 bullet parameters, 12-twist, 2700 fps, altitude 4000 feet, temp 59 degrees.

If he's at sea level and it's cold, he may have marginal stability, but I've shot bullets with marginal stability and they performed fine. My 12 twist 375 barrel had basically this same SG for the 390 a-tip and it shot lights out.

So it may be worth a try.

Except he said that his rifle didn’t like the 285 bullet. Whether that’s from testing or some other opinion is what matters.

 

[XP1K]

Disagree. Berger's calculator gives SG 1.52 with the 285 bullet parameters, 12-twist, 2700 fps, altitude 4000 feet, temp 59 degrees.

If he's at sea level and it's cold, he may have marginal stability, but I've shot bullets with marginal stability and they performed fine.

So it may be worth a try.

Take a couple zeros off that altitude and that's right where I'm at.

We shot some of the factory hornady 285 stuff and the rifle didn't care for it. How it would do with handloads, only one way to find out. My brother only bought 100 of the bergers to try so he'll be out of them pretty quick. I might get a box of the 285 eldm for him to try.

When he bought the rifle he bought a case of the prime 300gr ammo. We must be on the ragged edge for marginal stability for that one. We've shot it some days and it'll shoot ¾ moa. Other days it's 3 moa. Still made round holes at 300 yards though. Maybe we should give the 285 a try.

It loves a 250 smk. Cheap s&b loaded with them was one ragged hole at 100. At $2 a shot, he should have cleaned the lgs out on that stuff.

 

[secondofangle2]

Except he said that his rifle didn’t like the 285 bullet. Whether that’s from testing or some other opinion is what matters.

Yeah, I missed that sorry

 

[CEO10KaDAY]

Anyone have a hookup on 300gr bergers? Mile High my usual go to is out of stock, everywhere I look seems to be out of stock too. I have a match coming up 6/1

 

[babyguppy]

gunbroker has some.. 250 count. $$$
but with the handle of 10k a day.... that's bubble gum money

 

[CEO10KaDAY]

Is annealing before trimming dumb? What’s the critical path here on order of operations? Or does it not matter. I finally have some brass that’s longer than max.

 

[Dogtown]

1. Anneal
2. Size
3. Neck stuff
4. Profit

 

[CEO10KaDAY]

1. Anneal
2. Size
3. Neck stuff
4. Profit

Thank you. I have another question. Going to finally reveal my true novice status with this one, but isn’t it already sized after I deprime them? I’ve got both the Redding s type neck sizer and full length sizer - been using only the full length sizer lately. But it sizes them when I deprime right? I can run back through though.

 

[XP1K]

Thank you. I have another question. Going to finally reveal my true novice status with this one, but isn’t it already sized after I deprime them? I’ve got both the Redding s type neck sizer and full length sizer - been using only the full length sizer lately. But it sizes them when I deprime right? I can run back through though.

To answer your question, yes. Anneal first, then size/deprime.

 

[Dogtown]

Just for clarity, some of us deprime separately, often as the first step with fired brass before tumbling.

 

[CEO10KaDAY]

Just for clarity, some of us deprime separately, often as the first step with fired brass before tumbling.

Am I doing it the wrong way?

 

[Dogtown]

Not at all; it’s mostly a personal preference. If you deprime at the start, and then tumble, you get clean primer pockets depending on how you tumble. If you’re doing dry media vibratory tumbling, then you’re just going to get a bunch of media in the primer pockets. So in that case it makes more sense to:

1. Tumble
2. Anneal
3. FL Size/Deprime
4. Neck stuff (Mandrel/Trim/Chamfer/Debur)

 

[CEO10KaDAY]

Hello 338 LM reloading God's. I have another question for you.

I just trimmed up some brass. It was my first time doing so and was learning on the fly and could use some advice. First I'm wondering just how critical it is that every piece of brass is the exact same length for optimized accuracy. The application here would be in the scope of an ELR match. I can see how not having uniform brass length can give you non-uniform neck tension, but just how much does 1 thousandth of an inch make a difference.

I'm working with 30 pieces here, and have them trimmed to the folloowing lengths and quantities:

2.713 - 1x
2.715 - 1x
2.716 - 1x
2.7175 - 3x
2.718 - 3x
2.7185 - 1x
2.719 - 16x
2.7195 - 2x
2.72 - 1x
2.7205 - 1x

Question is what should I do here. Are these differences going to give me wild group sizes?


Also - thank you Dogtown for all of your help. I owe you at least a few edible arrangements at this point.

 

[Dogtown]

Honestly, I wouldn't fret over such tiny variations. Maybe just cull the obvious outliers.

 

[lash]

I’m no god like dogtown, just a minor acolyte, but I agree with him. If your trimmer is capable of holding tighter, make them all like the lower 2.717 size, but they really aren’t that far apart. The only two real outliers are on the low side, the 2.713 and 2.715.

 

[Dogtown]

I’m no god like dogtown

oh for fuck's sake....

 

[lash]

oh for fuck's sake....

Hahaha! I figured that you’d like that.

 

[CEO10KaDAY]

Thanks Gents.

 

[Didodadday]

Anyone have a hookup on 300gr bergers? Mile High my usual go to is out of stock, everywhere I look seems to be out of stock too. I have a match coming up 6/1

is the Berger better than Nosler 300?

 

[Dogtown]

Berger 338cal 300gr Hybrid OTM Tactical #33794

Product Information Caliber: 338cal Bullet Diameter: 0.338" Bullet Weight: 300 Grains OAL: 1.819" Bullet Style: Hybrid Open Tip Match Tactical Recommended Twist Rate: 1 in 10" or faster G1 BC: 0.822 G7 BC: 0.421 Part Number: 33794 Quantity: 250

www.bluecollarreloading.com

Berger 338cal 300gr Hybrid OTM Tactical #33109

Product Information Caliber: 338cal Bullet Diameter: 0.338" Bullet Weight: 300 Grains OAL: 1.819" Bullet Style: Hybrid Open Tip Match Tactical Recommended Twist Rate: 1 in 10" or faster G1 BC: 0.822 G7 BC: 0.421 Part Number: 33109 Quantity: 100

www.bluecollarreloading.com

 

[Didodadday]

is the Berger better than Nosler 300?

I just got the Nosler 300 from Powder Valley. Did not look for Berger

 

[CEO10KaDAY]

I just got the Nosler 300 from Powder Valley. Did not look for Berger

Bergers are in stock again it seems. I’m loading up, but I’m still going to shoot the noslers intil
I’m out just because.

 

[CEO10KaDAY]

Hello everyone, I was just sizing some brass and started noticing these marks along the neck of my brass. I am using die wax for the body and dipping neck in graphite before sizing. This is all annealed brass also. Just wondering what's up? I cleaned the bushing that I'm using inside the die but now I'm not certain if these are damaged or not. They're maybe on their 10th firing so maybe it's an older case problem and is ready for the trash can, but I've never seen this before and would greatly appreciate some advice here.

Is that safe to load?

 

[Didodadday]

I'm no expert but I don't think I would load it, especially after 10 prior firings.

 

[secondofangle2]

It’s just galling from your bushing.

Clean the bushing with some steel wool, wrapped around an old bronze brush and chucked in a drill

 

[Didodadday]

Best brass for reloading? How does Lapua brass stack up against any other?

 

[375fan]

Best brass for reloading? How does Lapua brass stack up against any other?

Lapua is thee brass out there. The only thing is that they don't make brass for ever cartridge.Everyone else is fighting to be second. I've been using ADG for my 6.5saum and like it, seems very good and consistent.

 

[Dogtown]

“I mean, It’s in the name!”

 

[Didodadday]

“I mean, It’s in the name!”

Yes I know, but wasn't sure if there is better

 

[Didodadday]

has anyone had any experience with Diamon k brass?

 

[secondofangle2]

No. We all use Lapua. Except the poors

 

[Didodadday]

No. We all use Lapua. Except the poors

I worded that wrong. Diamon K Brass is an online company that sells brass and they have Lapua brass for $2/piece.

 

[GIXXER2000]

I have had good luck with Nosler brass.

 

[secondofangle2]

I worded that wrong. Diamon K Brass is an online company that sells brass and they have Lapua brass for $2/piece.

Buy 100 of them. They will outlast your barrel

 

[secondofangle2]

I have had good luck with Nosler brass.

So have I. I think they may even be made by Lapua. But unless cost or availability are an issue, I stick with Lapua.

I even select cartridges based on the availability of Lapua brass. My first new cartridge in years is 7 PRC, and I'm banking on Lapua coming around to it as they did other PRC cases. I started with Hornady 7 PRC brass, figuring I will use them for load development. Any load they tolerate near max should be an easy change to Lapua when (if) it comes out.

 

[GIXXER2000]

I was able to get 300 .338 BB something head stamp brass that was made by Lapua on a contract overrun for $100 per 100 a few years back. Great brass once in a lifetime deal. I had some Norma .338 that was ok but was better then Hornady brass.

 

[Didodadday]

I bought some .338 bullets and the box states the spin rate should be 1:85 or faster. My rifle is 1:95. What problem, if any, would I experience by shooting them?

 

[Dogtown]

There aren’t a lot of .338 bullets that require a twist that fast - only heavy solids as far as I’m aware. How long are they?

 

[secondofangle2]

The manufacturer “minimum twist” specs are conservative, worst case scenario #s. You can usually go a full whole # higher (or two) and be fine unless you’re shooting them at low velocity, low altitude, and low temps.

 

[Didodadday]

There aren’t a lot of .338 bullets that require a twist that fast - only heavy solids as far as I’m aware. How long are they?

They are long (2.1 inches vs 1.7 for a hornady) and extend 1 inch into the case. These are Lazer single load bullets.

 

[Dogtown]

Uhh, yeah. You’re going to need a faster twist.

 

[Didodadday]

I have plenty of others so I won't use them

 

[Didodadday]

With all things being equal, can the average shooter tell the difference between different types of powder? I have Retumbo, H1000 and Supreme 780. I loaded 30 bullets (10 ea of the different powder). Not sure what to look for or what distances to test them.

Or will they all do the job equally?

 

[secondofangle2]

H1000 for 250gr

Retumbo RL33 or N570 for 285+

 

[Didodadday]

H1000 for 250gr

Retumbo RL33 or N570 for 285+

I used 225 gr. Most of my rounds are 300gr

 

[375fan]

I've been using H1000 with 285ELD-M in my Lapua. (2960 out of 30" barrel) I've got a bunch of H1000 since I use it in multiple cartridges.
RL33 and Retumbo have been difficult to find/locate.

 

[Didodadday]

I've been using H1000 with 285ELD-M in my Lapua. (2960 out of 30" barrel) I've got a bunch of H1000 since I use it in multiple cartridges.
RL33 and Retumbo have been difficult to find/locate.

I was at a gun show and bought 8 lbs of WMR 780. Supposed to be replacement for Winchester Supreme 780. We shall see how good it is. Price was $240.

 

[375fan]

I was at a gun show and bought 8 lbs of WMR 780. Supposed to be replacement for Winchester Supreme 780. We shall see how good it is. Price was $240.

Wow! 30 bucks a pound.. let us know how it performs.