Today I loaded and shot 18 rounds for my 338 Lapua, 9 rounds in RUAG brass, 9 rounds in Lapua brass. The load is below:
Lapua Scenar 300gr
3.680" OAL
Fed 215 mag primer
RL33 - 92, 93, and 94 grains
I sized all of the brass with the FL die set to the same position, but the RUAG brass fit a tiny bit snug when I closed the bolt, and the Lapua brass was not snug, ie, no resistance when I closed the bolt. Why would that happen if I left the die in the same position? More on this later.
My groups with RUAG brass were FAR superior to the Lapua brass. With the RUAG brass, groups were tight, and shot to shot vertical variation was non-existent. They were nearly all on the same plane. With the Lapua brass, I saw as much as 2 1/2" vertical variation at 200 yards, and all three groups did this to some extent, though the other two weren't as bad.
RUAG groups: .25moa - .75moa (yes, a legitimate 1/2" group at 200)
Lapua groups: .75moa - 1.5moa (most of the variation was in the vertical direction)
The RUAG is once fired brass, the Lapua is 2-3x fired purchased used from another shooter (or so he claimed).
All of the brass was prepped the same, loaded the same, etc.
What would cause the Lapua brass to shoot like that? Is that a sign of shot out brass? Could it because I didn't have any resistance on the bolt, ie, a bit too sized? I guess i will do more testing, but I'd like to see what the more experienced guys say.
Lapua Scenar 300gr
3.680" OAL
Fed 215 mag primer
RL33 - 92, 93, and 94 grains
I sized all of the brass with the FL die set to the same position, but the RUAG brass fit a tiny bit snug when I closed the bolt, and the Lapua brass was not snug, ie, no resistance when I closed the bolt. Why would that happen if I left the die in the same position? More on this later.
My groups with RUAG brass were FAR superior to the Lapua brass. With the RUAG brass, groups were tight, and shot to shot vertical variation was non-existent. They were nearly all on the same plane. With the Lapua brass, I saw as much as 2 1/2" vertical variation at 200 yards, and all three groups did this to some extent, though the other two weren't as bad.
RUAG groups: .25moa - .75moa (yes, a legitimate 1/2" group at 200)
Lapua groups: .75moa - 1.5moa (most of the variation was in the vertical direction)
The RUAG is once fired brass, the Lapua is 2-3x fired purchased used from another shooter (or so he claimed).
All of the brass was prepped the same, loaded the same, etc.
What would cause the Lapua brass to shoot like that? Is that a sign of shot out brass? Could it because I didn't have any resistance on the bolt, ie, a bit too sized? I guess i will do more testing, but I'd like to see what the more experienced guys say.