I am a new reloader. After lots of questions and lurking here I put together the basic equipment to load for my new AI AW SM .338lm.
I bought all lapua components, excepting primers. Lapua brass. VV n165 powder. Lapua 250 gr lock base. Lapua 250 & 300 gr Scenar.
The data showed the Lock Bass round at 3.602 COAL and the scenar rounds at 3.681 COAL
Followed all instructions and Ta Da! beautiful ammo that I loaded all by myself.
Yup, problem is that when loaded to COAL specs in both Sierra and Lapua specs the Scenar rounds at 3.682" are too long to fit in an AI magazine that measures a max length of about 3.012".
The 250 scenars will not chamber with the bullet contacting the end of the chamber before the bolt closes. The 300 scenars are too long for the mag of course but will chamber and run velocities indicated in the reloading data for the combination loaded.
I measured the chamber length with a Sinclair gauge and the length is 2.750" fwiw.
I pulled apart a Lapua factory 250 gr Scenar round that does indeed have a 3.600 COAL. It held 92 gr of a a powder that is shorter grain than the N165. I am assuming that it is vv powder but it does not match up with any powder weight for this bullet in the Lapua specs.
I went ahead and reseated all the scenars at 3.602 with no apparent issue.
Am I ok using the stated specs for reloading, but just seating the bullet to a length that will fit in the mag?
Thanks,
Forest
I bought all lapua components, excepting primers. Lapua brass. VV n165 powder. Lapua 250 gr lock base. Lapua 250 & 300 gr Scenar.
The data showed the Lock Bass round at 3.602 COAL and the scenar rounds at 3.681 COAL
Followed all instructions and Ta Da! beautiful ammo that I loaded all by myself.
Yup, problem is that when loaded to COAL specs in both Sierra and Lapua specs the Scenar rounds at 3.682" are too long to fit in an AI magazine that measures a max length of about 3.012".
The 250 scenars will not chamber with the bullet contacting the end of the chamber before the bolt closes. The 300 scenars are too long for the mag of course but will chamber and run velocities indicated in the reloading data for the combination loaded.
I measured the chamber length with a Sinclair gauge and the length is 2.750" fwiw.
I pulled apart a Lapua factory 250 gr Scenar round that does indeed have a 3.600 COAL. It held 92 gr of a a powder that is shorter grain than the N165. I am assuming that it is vv powder but it does not match up with any powder weight for this bullet in the Lapua specs.
I went ahead and reseated all the scenars at 3.602 with no apparent issue.
Am I ok using the stated specs for reloading, but just seating the bullet to a length that will fit in the mag?
Thanks,
Forest