newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338LM

[dakotadan]

I have a rem 700 chambered in a 338 LM which i believe has a 26 in barrel and a 1:10 twist rate "correct me if i am wrong".

I think iam going to use 250GR SMK i plan on using the gun for game and range is using the SMK goign to be efectice enogh for deer\elk or should i use SGK? i feel the SGK might be over kill on this caliber.

I have once fired Lapua brass but not fired in my gun is that going to be an issue?

Dies redding or rcbs?

Powder ?

 

[desertHK]

Re: newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338LM

I use RCBS. They work just fine. With once fired brass from another gun, you need to FL size them to make sure that they will chamber in your rifle. There is nothing wrong with the 250 SMK, but its performance will drop beyond 1500 compared to bullets like the scenars or the 300 SMK. Between the 250 SMK and the 300 SMK, I would pick the 300 SMK, especially when your twist rate is fast enough to stabilize it.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338LM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dakotadan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a rem 700 chambered in a 338 LM which i believe has a 26 in barrel and a 1:10 twist rate "correct me if i am wrong".

I think iam going to use 250GR SMK i plan on using the gun for game and range is using the SMK goign to be efectice enogh for deer\elk or should i use SGK? i feel the SGK might be over kill on this caliber.

I have once fired Lapua brass but not fired in my gun is that going to be an issue?

Dies redding or rcbs?

Powder ?

</div></div>

SMKs are a bit thin skinned for hunting larger game, although I guess they do do well on bipedals, don't they?

Gamekings, SSTs, Interlocks, Ballistic Tips, Accubonds, all will be sufficient.

I use Redding, but had most 338LM dies, at one time, or another. I use a combination of FL, body and neck bushing dies.

1x brass will be fine as long as you bump the shoulder back, initially, so you can chamber the stuff in your rifle. You can use a Body/Neck sizing combo, or a simple FL sizer.

250s? VV-165, VV-170, H-4831sc (a fav. of mine) H-1000, RL-25, etc. yadda, yadda, yadda.

Good luck and don't blow yourself up.

Chris

 

[hugo121175]

Re: newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338LM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dakotadan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a rem 700 chambered in a 338 LM which i believe has a 26 in barrel and a 1:10 twist rate "correct me if i am wrong".

I think iam going to use 250GR SMK i plan on using the gun for game and range is using the SMK goign to be efectice enogh for deer\elk or should i use SGK? i feel the SGK might be over kill on this caliber.

I have once fired Lapua brass but not fired in my gun is that going to be an issue?

Dies redding or rcbs?

Powder ?

</div></div>

1. SMK will destroy animals. Most of the time it's more like they explode in the animal.... I would use SGK (Game Kings) You can use a reduced powder load, so you're not destroying your game.

2. For once filled brass you need to Full Length Size. Then fire in your rifle. After that you could continue to Full Length Size, or start Neck Sizing.

3. I have RCBS Full Length Die, and Redding Neck Sizer, Body, and Seat Die. I have never had a problem with any of them.

4. I use:
Lapua Brass
Federal Gold Metal 215 Magnum Primers
85.5gr of Reloader 22
SMK 250gr
.364" Neck Bushing
3.720" COAL
They push out of my Sako TRG 42 1:12 twist at an allmost constant 2810fps.

I was just at the Thunder Valley Precision NewBe Shoot, Ohio. Over this past week-end this configuration was hitting their 1760 yard target (1 Mile) on the third correction.

 

[dakotadan]

Re: newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338LM

Thanks guys keep the Good info coming. I have learned one thing in the past that if you want to succeed surround your self with others who have already done so.

I pretty sure ill us SMK and full size the once fired lapua brass.federal 215

As for the dies leaning toward the rcbs due to price but the redding "look" better quality. do i do the 2 peice or the 3?

powder still undecided?
powder charge still undecided.

 

[scarabrick]

Re: newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338

I have some bullets if you need them




*** .338


Nosler partition 250 grain spitzer~ full box
Nosler partition 225 grain spitzer~ half box
Nosler partition 200 grain spitzer~ handfull
Barnes 175 gr" X" ~handfull
Speer 200 gr soft point ~40-50
Sierra 250 gr spitzer boat tail ~ maybe a dozen
Sierra 215 gr spitzer boat tail ~maybe 25
Sierra 250 gr spitzer boat tail~ full box

Rick
Vegas

 

[madd0c]

Re: newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338

Just a suggestion, and if you are experienced with reloading other cartridges than the .338, then disregard this post.

If this is your first time reloading, I would practice on another cartridge than the .338LM.
The brass costs $2.25 per case. It is painful if you mess up a case, and I have messed up a few.
I love the .338LM platform, and think you will also, but I would start reloading with a .308 or .223 which you can pick up for less than the cost of a box of 100 new LM brass.

When you screw up a case while you are learning, it will cost you 40-50 cents for the case if you are loading new lapua. If you are loading once fired or bulk brass, then it will be even cheaper.

With the 338 you are going to be using ALOT of powder, I use around 90-95 gr of powder with 250 Lapua Scenar. I use ~23gr with a 223 round. This is not a downside, just an observation.

Finally, If this is your first attempts at reloading, I hope you have no problems, but I sure would rather have a .223 round have a case head seperation or overcharge than a .338.

As for equipment, RCBS and Redding are both good dies, If you are planning on only using the ammo in one gun, then I would suggest a neck sizing set with a body die for the eventual FL resize when the shoulders need to be bumped.

Powder is a hot topic (pun intended), Retumbo, Rel-25 or H4831SC
seem to be the most popular. The reloading manuals I have don't have alot of loads listed for .338LM, probably will be better in the next editions as the .338 was new when the current editions were printed.

Good luck whatever you decide to do, just be safe.

madd0c

 

[mdmp5]

Re: newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338

Dan, get the redding 2 piece set FL bushing die and the comp seater die. I have that set plus a neck bushing die. I first neck size then FL size in the T7.

 

[dakotadan]

Re: newbie needs help reloading 338 lapua mag .338

bump