338 Lapua Load help

[Nellej12]

I have a 338 lapua on the way and would like some input on the load direction.

needed info on:
Best Powder: RL33 or H-1000 or Retumbo
Powder amount: ?? (Yes I know every rifle is different but just looking for a ball park amount so I don't waste a bunch of ammo/$ testing)
Best Primers: ??

I will be using a rifle with a 26" barrel, Berger 300gr Elite hunters, Lapua cases and possibly CCI No250 large Mag primers. I'm open to a different primer.
Main use for the rifle will be hunting out west.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[dkhunt14]

I would use Federal 215 primers, especially for hunting. They seem to always fire and the CCI brand has been giving people trouble. I like R33 but all those powders listed work good. The reason I like 33 is because it gives about 100 to 150 more FPS without pressure. It also gave better accuracy at 1000 yards. I load one shell and fire, resize and load again with another grain. I keep going up to find out where I can go to. It doesn't take many loadings to find max. I start a little under that. The reason I use one case is because if I keep sizing it, you will see if there is a sizing problem and you only lose one case if it is too hot and loosens the pocket. Matt

 

[jimbires]

I use RL33 , 300 gr elite hunter , Fed 215 primers , lapua brass . I did play with H1000 , but I get more velocity with RL33 .

 

[Carolina Hillbilly]

I get the most speed with RL33, I get the lowest SD with H1000, in the longer tubes. In my 26" barrel, I get the best performance with Lapua Scenar 250's and Retumbo.

 

[dkhunt14]

I get the most speed with RL33, I get the lowest SD with H1000.

SD isn't always the best. I seen loads that shot ES of 2 to 3 shoot 13 inch groups at 1000. Also saw ES of 20 or more shoot 3 inch groups at 1000. The small ES would have a low SD and the bigger would be bigger. The load I am shooting now in my 338 Lapua IMP is running 2993. The load one grain less ran 2946 average but they both shot in 4.25 inch group at 1000 yards. This was shot with the shots fired like I would shoot a match back to back with aim at 1000 yard target. That was a 50 feet spread in velocity but the group didn't show no vertical in it. The only way you know what a gun will do is shoot it at distance. 100 yards and a chrono wont tell you that. Matt

 

[ccooper]

It's been about 7 years since I sold my 338 LM, but I had settled with Retumbo over Reloader. It gave me better groups at distance. 215M primers with Lapua brass and the 300 Matchking. 96 grains of Retumbo, but work up to that as I can't remember if it was a hot load. I don't typically load really hot loads though.

 

[dkhunt14]

It's been about 7 years since I sold my 338 LM, but I had settled with Retumbo over Reloader. It gave me better groups at distance. 215M primers with Lapua brass and the 300 Matchking. 96 grains of Retumbo, but work up to that as I can't remember if it was a hot load. I don't typically load really hot loads though.

Re33 wasn't out 7 years ago. It was designed for the 338 Lpaua and that is why it is 33. Matt

 

[germanlongbow]

I shoot a 338 LM AI. Doesn't matter RL 33 (300gr Berger) or Retumbo (277gr Cutting Edge) both are accurate in mine with similar velocity. I stayed with retumbo (96.6) and cutting edge bullets, gave me my best group (12/12 with 14 inch group at 1760 yards). You have to throat the barrel to shoot the cutting edge bullets however. Prior to throating I shot RL 33 at 104.9 grains with 300 gr bergers at 3010fps. Would easily shoot 1/4 moa but not as accuate or consistent as the Retumbo was at 99.6 grain and sub 0.1 moa. Both powders are great for the 338. Retumbo burned cleaner is mine compared to the RL as well. Scott

 

[ccooper]

Re33 wasn't out 7 years ago. It was designed for the 338 Lpaua and that is why it is 33. Matt

Yea, Reloader 25 is what I used. It shot good at 100 yards, but at distance it seemed to open up more than Retumbo for me.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

just as a reference, since rifles can be fussy, I have the Savage single shot with the factory 26" barrel and throating. My load is 97.5gr of RL-33 and the 300gr Berger Hybrid. New brass, CCI 250 Magnum primer (I was out of 215's), in Nosler brass. OAL was 3.845" .010" off the lands. Velocity is 2821fps. This load gave me 5-shot groups at a 1000yds 8-10". In the high.4s" at 100 yds. It is so consistent I hesitate to tinker with it...

Rich

 

[dsinfour]

Rich: I used that same load with lapua brass and with sierra 300 grainers and same rifle out to a mile and shot good against the 5-6 thousand rifles...I also get 2820 fps. the same as you..I will use the savage rifle to learn with and will put a better tube when it go south...Happy shooting and shoot straight...cya

 

[Tempest]

100g RL33 with a 300g Berger is best load in my rifle. I slowed it down from 103-104 and accuracy improved with "my" Savage 110BA.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

I am hoping that the combination of RL-33 and throating my barrel to allow an OAL of 3.94" or so will get me to a node around 3000fps. I got there with a different load, but I couldn't keep five rounds on an IPSC target at 1000.

I really do, since I just bought 2 8lb kegs of the stuff.

 

[dkhunt14]

I am hoping that the combination of RL-33 and throating my barrel to allow an OAL of 3.94" or so will get me to a node around 3000fps. I got there with a different load, but I couldn't keep five rounds on an IPSC target at 1000.

I really do, since I just bought 2 8lb kegs of the stuff.

I think you will like this powder. It has given a lot more velocity and better accuracy in 3 different 338's. It really seems to like the heavy bullet for caliber. It also seems to like close to or in the lands a little. At least that is what we found. We even hit 3000 in an Ultra mag. Matt

 

[davidpatton]

I dont have a lot of experience with this round yet but i just started working with my 338 lapua and few months back. Ive been shooting 91 grains of h1000, lapua brass and 300 grain matchkings. Chronographed at 2750, shoots around 4 inches at 1000.

 

[dkhunt14]

I dont have a lot of experience with this round yet but i just started working with my 338 lapua and few months back. Ive been shooting 91 grains of h1000, lapua brass and 300 grain matchkings. Chronographed at 2750, shoots around 4 inches at 1000.

We shot 3 different 338 cartridges and all of them went 3000 with R33 and 300 Berger. They all shot 4 to 5 inches at 1000. Matt

 

[snowpro440]

I dont have a lot of experience with this round yet but i just started working with my 338 lapua and few months back. Ive been shooting 91 grains of h1000, lapua brass and 300 grain matchkings. Chronographed at 2750, shoots around 4 inches at 1000.

This were I'm at except my barrel is 30" and speed is a bit higher and accuracy is excellent

 

[davidpatton]

We shot 3 different 338 cartridges and all of them went 3000 with R33 and 300 Berger. They all shot 4 to 5 inches at 1000. Matt

Matt i havent really tried much else yet due to the current load shooting well. We shot it this past weekend from a walmart bipod and a rear squeeze bag at 1000. 5 shots measured 4.2 so i figured might as well just shoot it. Not sure i could tell if i found a better load. That may be the limit of my shooting ability

 

[4xforfun]

consistent as the Retumbo was at 99.6 grain and sub 0.1 moa. Scott

Sub 0.1 MOA....that is under an inch at 1000 yards. That is under 1.7 inches at a mile!!

Try again.

Just sayin,
Tod

 

[hambone1971]

I would use Federal 215 primers, especially for hunting. They seem to always fire and the CCI brand has been giving people trouble. I like R33 but all those powders listed work good. The reason I like 33 is because it gives about 100 to 150 more FPS without pressure. It also gave better accuracy at 1000 yards. I load one shell and fire, resize and load again with another grain. I keep going up to find out where I can go to. It doesn't take many loadings to find max. I start a little under that. The reason I use one case is because if I keep sizing it, you will see if there is a sizing problem and you only lose one case if it is too hot and loosens the pocket. Matt

Matt, do you resize at the range? If so how do you do it, with a portable system you take along? Just wondering because I like the idea of one brass testing and I'm just getting into the 338 lapua world, collecting stuff right now. I'm not new, been doing this for over 40 years, but still interested in hearing how you do it. FL, bumping, neck size, etc.....Thanks a lot. HB