338 Lapua brass to 338 Norma

[distantfoe]

My experience with 338 Norma brass has been favorable for the most part with the exception of loosening primer pockets. I'm running a moderate load of Retumbo behind a 300gr hybrid, producing 2710fps which didn't show extractor marks and primers were still"round." 3-4 firings would noticeably loosen pockets.

Has anyone experimented with making 338 Norma brass from 338 Lapua? Would running a well lubricated lapua case through the Norma fl die, neck turn, followed by fire forming, produce a 338 Norma case?

 

[dkhunt14]

According to what I see in drawings the 338 Lapua base is bigger. As thick as the Lapua brass is I don't believe you will be able to squeeze it down in a 338 Norma die. My buddy built a 30 Norma in one. He cant get good velocity or case life either. Matt

 

[rickiesrevenge]

According to what I see in drawings the 338 Lapua base is bigger. As thick as the Lapua brass is I don't believe you will be able to squeeze it down in a 338 Norma die. My buddy built a 30 cal in one. He cant get good velocity or case life either. Matt

Is he using norma brass or reformed lapua?

Aaron

 

[dkhunt14]

Is he using norma brass or reformed lapua?

Aaron

Yes he is using Norma. I should have specified that. Matt

 

[distantfoe]

According to what I see in drawings the 338 Lapua base is bigger. As thick as the Lapua brass is I don't believe you will be able to squeeze it down in a 338 Norma die. My buddy built a 30 Norma in one. He cant get good velocity or case life either. Matt

Unfortunately i could only find 1 lapua improved case to tinker with. Full length sizing went well as well as neck turning so will try to fireforming this weekend with a light load.

The 338 Norma has proved to be very accurate but the brass situation has put a damper on my plans. Hoping to locate a supply of 423 Dakota lapua headstamped brass to convert.

 

[dkhunt14]

I wasn't sure if you could size it enough at the base. According to drawings the lapua case is .002 bigger at the base. I know the Lapua cases are really tough and thick. That's why I didn't know. Yea the Dakota brass is supposed to be made by Lapua. I don't know the dimensions of that case. Good luck and hope it works out for you. PM me and let me know your results. Matt

 

[montana_native]

If you can find some, try Jamison brass. A friend of mine is using it and it seems to be very tough stuff. He's on load 5 or 6 with no signs of brass fatigue and he has the 300 grain bullet going almost 2900 fps out of a 28" barrel.

 

[ELR Researcher]

Captech/Jamison is showing "out of stock". I'd e-mail or call them.

While I was on the Captech/Jamison site I noted that they build both 338 LM and 338 NM brass. The interesting thing (to me) is that they quote the wall thickness of their 338 LM at .0163 and their 338 NM at .0155. My fireformed Lapua brand 338 LM measures .0150-.0155.

 

[dkhunt14]

Captech/Jamison is showing "out of stock". I'd e-mail or call them.

While I was on the Captech/Jamison site I noted that they build both 338 LM and 338 NM brass. The interesting thing (to me) is that they quote the wall thickness of their 338 LM at .0163 and their 338 NM at .0155. My fireformed Lapua brand 338 LM measures .0150-.0155.

Where do they measure the wall thickness? ON the neck? Matt

 

[distantfoe]

Definitely going to try the Jamison brass, any word on it's consistency?

I've noticed Bertram, made 338 Norma brass at some point, but no one shows it as a stocked item. The little info that's out here seems favorable. Any ideas who might have some to try?

 

[ELR Researcher]

dist...

I'd check with IQ Metals. They carry HSM 338 NM ammo based on Norma brass but have a strong relationship with Bertram (see their 338 LM and CT brass offerings - their only brass offerings - all Bertram). They are at 406-381-9730

 

[simo hayha]

Unfortunately i could only find 1 lapua improved case to tinker with. Full length sizing went well as well as neck turning so will try to fireforming this weekend with a light load.

The 338 Norma has proved to be very accurate but the brass situation has put a damper on my plans. Hoping to locate a supply of 423 Dakota lapua headstamped brass to convert.

http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-components/brass/rifle-brass/brass-prod37539.aspx?avs|Cartridge_1=DDK_338+Norma+Mag

ha, I see your looking for 'better brass'. hope it works out for you.

 

[.338 Norma Cowboy]

I know this is an old thread but how did this work out for you. I have been running 2 different .338 Norma mags for around 7 years now. While I have never had any problems with the primer pockets getting loose, I have had problems with the formation of neck ring due to brass flow in the norma brass. This is most prevalent with my N570 loads. While no longer available, I can vouch for the quality of the jamison brass. This was the only brass I could get my hands on when I first put my rifles together. I have several pieces with 40 plus firings on it. It is hard brass and needs annealed every 1 to 2 firings. I consider it on par with the lapua brass I run in my other long range guns. I have no other experience with norma brass but consider softer than it needs to be. I recently contacted capitech but they have plans the make any more of this brass. If any new brass uses the same formulation, it could be a good option for us norma shooters. Some general information for those who might be considering this cartridge

Gun 1
Blueprinted factory rem 700 la with CEG bolt 22 inch Krieger stainless barrel

Federal match magnum primer 300smk over 89 grains of retumbo jamison international brass

Velocity is about 2675 depending on temperature. This gun is in a pillar bedded laminated stock and is light weight. Will generally do about .75 moa at 1200. This is my LR hunting gun and I have not shot it as much as my other gun

Gun 2

Eliso rtm with glued in defiance mutant action I have two lothar walther barrels for this gun one is 26 in and one is 27 in
They both perform about the same with the same loads

Jamison brass federal match magnums 300 smk over 87.8 grains on n570

My 89 grain returns load works good in this rifle to but only give a velocity in the mid 2700

Velocity I just shy of 2900 depending on temp
Consistently shoots under .5 moa at 1200 yards and under good conditions will get you closer to .25 moa

I use a grizzly bushing reamer and Forrester fls dies with an almost immeasurable bump to the shoulder. Die match the dreamers very good. Only had to polish out the rear quarter on the chamber to keep the cases from sticking at the back. They size easier than my pistol rounds. Had a set of rcbs dies to until the size die split on me 4 or 5 times. Finally measured the die and found out the die was smaller than the case webs. Rcbs never did correct the problem that I know of. Stay away from these.

Norma and jamison brass has nearly identical case capacities after being fired and I have found little need to vary my loads when switching back and forth. I have also used cci magnum primers with no change to the rest of the load. Smk seem to have a slight accuracy advantage over the berger in my gun. I have played with seating depths quite a bit and always came back to a seating depth that would give you an overall length of 3.615 to 3.625. A hard jam would put me out about another .030 to .040. Can't remember the specific base to ogive measurement. My chambers are a little long. Closing about have way on my no go gauge. I load the berger with the same base to ogive measurement, but have found them to be less sensitive to seating depth. I have even got decent accuracy jumping them from 3.6 aol. Recently started shooting some 300 nosler cc as substitutes in my smk loads with no other changes. They have not given me the accuracy I have been looking for. I suspect this I due to greater weight variation and a less uniform template.

I run an older tbac supressor that has been repaired.

 

[ZGB]

I know it has been awhile on this thread but I was wondering about your glued in mutant rtm. Why did you glue it in and what did you use. I ask because I have the same setup and thinking about gluing. I talked to Gary and he said he hasn’t really seen any improvement one way or the other but I did notice his new tactical rifle is glued in from the factory. I’m also trying to decide on what 338 to go with. Any new advice on 338 nm vs lm

 

[ELR Researcher]

Both Peterson and Lapua are coming out with .338 NM brass this year (2018). Also Atlas/ADG. And if you want to step down a notch, Hornady has also announce .338 NM brass for 2018. Plenty of options.

 

[.338 Norma Cowboy]

Sorry zgb but I don't monitor this to much.

I use Devcon or jb weld when I glue them in. I do not have any experience with not gluing them in. I do not think there is anything to loose by gluing it in. I just shot both my rifles today to get ready for elk season tomarrow. My tube gun was holding about a quarter minute at 1200 yards under some nice morning conditions. Hard to beat that type of accuracy off a bipod. I rarely shoot this gun at 100 yards, but during load development it would consistently shoot in the teens.

The Lapua brass is welcome news ELR. Looks like I can finally use my remain ing Jamison brass without fear.