Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

[frankythefly]

I have a friend who is getting neck surgery and his .338 Lapua is kicking his butt. I have been helping him with his reloads but I have never reloaded reduced loads before. He wants to shoot a 250 SMK and still be supersonic at a 1000yds/(3500-6000ft elevation).
So I want to aim for the 2100-2300FPS range. I have heard that simply reducing the loads with certain magnum calibers can have adverse affects if using slow burning powders.

Does anyone have an suggestions or have any recipes?

 

[savage12]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

might try a muzzle break i got one form a hide membe rwc or someething like that and put it one my 308 and itcut it down the recoil about 25 to 35% might be the way to go to help him out or at least something to look in to i think iit was $40 then $60 to have it put on well worth it

 

[mdmp5]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

You need a good muzzle brake or a suppressor. Don't bother trying to lighten the loads.

 

[exhogflyer]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

88gr of H1000 is the lightest load listed, that and a good brake will do about all you can to minimze recoil. He may be better off with another caliber....

 

[esromvre]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

DO NOT I repete DO NOT go below the book settings This is as bad or worse than going over pressure!!!! Slow burning powders do weard things when case compasity is too great(detanation)..

My suggestion to him and you would be drop the 338LM and look into 6.5 284 less recoil and great for accuracy.

Im no expert but what I know I have checked on or done my self. You two make the choice for your self.

 

[frankythefly]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

Thanks guys for the info. I have heard about going below the book settings can be bad that is why I was asking. He only has a few rifles and this one is his favorite. I have been trying to get him to go 6.5 direction but he is to stubborn. He is still waiting for a can, that can be awhile. He has a break but most NRA matches like f-class do not allow the use of a break. Looks like the 88gr of H1000 will be the best bet then.

 

[mdmp5]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

He is gonna shoot f class with a 338? That is really gonna hurt.

 

[esromvre]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

If he is pushing the 338 LM at a F-Class match that makes Him the only one other than me that I know of doing it.

Lots of kick for 80 rds a day

 

[DBohn]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

I agree that a good brake will make a huge difference. I have an AR-30 and an SRS in .338 and they both weigh in basically the same (12 lbs for the AR-30 and 12 1/4 for the SRS). The recoil on the AR-30 is noticeably less with the huge contraption that comes on the end of it, although I would never give up my SRS. If you can find a brake as effective as Armalite's, too much recoil wil be a thing of the past.

 

[frankythefly]

Re: Reduced .338 Lapua Loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: palmik</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He is gonna shoot f class with a 338? That is really gonna hurt. </div></div>
My two friends that I go to these matches with are always trying to outdo the other for whatever reason. One friend shoots a .300 win mag so naturally the other had to get something bigger. I simply shoot .308 and .223. They both get lots of looks from other shooters especially the guys who shoot the free recoil method.