Ok, I have a new barrel on my .338LM. Since Retumbo is unobtainium these days, I’ve decided on using IMR4831 powder. (Mostly because I found a nice supply of it.) The bullet is the 300gr SMK, brass is Lapua, and primers are Federal 215m magnum. The new barrel is finished at 31”, and is a 1:9” twist. This rifle is used only for extreme long range (1500 metres and beyond). And I single load, so mag length is moot here. (In other words, I load ‘em long.)
On the Hodgdon site, it notes charge weights between 68 to 76 grains of the IMR4831 powder With a 300gr projectile. I would like to see speeds in the range of 2800 to 2900fps. I was getting 2880fps with the old 26” barrel and 93.6gr of Retumbo. Which was a pretty hot load. It was very accurate and I had great success to the mile and out to 1900 metres. I will maintain a .010” jump for seating depth, like I did with the first barrel. Since it seems the reamer that was used has given me the exact same CBTO with the 300gr SMK bullet As the first barrel (talk about luck!).
I‘m thinking I don’t need to go that stout since I have 5 more inches length on the barrel. (To try and at least maintain that speed of around 2900fps.)
Who has tried a 300gr bullet with IMR4831? What charge weights did you try? Barrel length? Jump? What were your results?
I am leaning towards starting out around 70gr and working up. What say you?
Andy 6MT