.338 Lapua Load Recipe

[Alaska Bush Man]

RL 25 has shot the best in mine. I would really like to try RL33.

Excellent powders along with RL 26
Suggest RL 25/26 for 250’s with H1000 and Grand
RL 33 or LRT for 300’s
For long range the 285 ELDM and Retumbo are hard to beat. Seems the 300gr bullets are just a tad too heavy for the Lapua .
For long Range in the Lapua the 270gr thru 285gr seems to be the sweet spot in bullet weight.
I load my Lapua at 2750 FPS with 285gr ELDM which is easy to do with Retumbo.

 

[Sniper338]

I use reloader 33 and 300 bergers. Cant remember numbers. But they were good.

 

[ebb]

I haven't made an exhaustive search, but I haven't seen RL33 for sale in many years. I bought a 500 pack of 300 grain SMKs before Berger came out with their 300 grain bullets. I am happy with them and will shoot them until they are gone. That said if I were choosing today I would use the Berger 300 grain bullets and RL33.

 

[vince_ross]

This makes my 3rd Lapua in 15 years, I just bought my 3rd this fall after my neighbor bought a Lapua and needed reloading advice. Got me wanting a Lapua again. So now back in the 338 Lapua gang !
Had to reorder everything but I did keep my reloading data and a few bullets. Had to get dies and Lapua brass again and powder. H1000 was what I used before but it’s not seen on the shelf here but a newer powder Ramshot Grand Powder is available here. I have some 250gr Accubond for moose hunting. I installed a BOG 12” Arca Rail on it and modified my Bog Death Grip tripod for a Ball QD Lever Arca Mount to run it on ! A 14lb gun for a fixed stand moose gun.
At 300/400 yards yes it is boring accurate a chip shot for the 338 Lapua.

What rifle did you end up getting? I just recently picked up a Ruger Precision (gen 3)...Shoots off the shelf S&B 250gr extremely well, but I'm trying to work up a load for it currently. I have some 250gr Nosler and 285gr Hornady with some H1000, Retumbo and N560...I'll just have to see what combo works best.

 

[Alaska Bush Man]

What rifle did you end up getting? I just recently picked up a Ruger Precision (gen 3)...Shoots off the shelf S&B 250gr extremely well, but I'm trying to work up a load for it currently. I have some 250gr Nosler and 285gr Hornady with some H1000, Retumbo and N560...I'll just have to see what combo works best.

CA Mesa Bronze and put in CA Bronze MPR stock
92.2 of Retumbo
Lapua Brass
Fed 215M
285 ELDM
2750 fps in Mesa
338 Lapua
3.683” COAL my rifle .047” off lands
For your rifle you might have to adjust charge weight to achieve 2750 FPS based off barrel length. But I had great accuracy from 91.9 to 92.5 with 285 ELDM.
If your magazine will allow start at 3.681” COAL

 

[vince_ross]

CA Mesa Bronze and put in CA Bronze MPR stock
92.2 of Retumbo
Lapua Brass
Fed 215M
285 ELDM
2750 fps in Mesa
338 Lapua
3.683” COAL my rifle .047” off lands
For your rifle you might have to adjust charge weight to achieve 2750 FPS based off barrel length. But I had great accuracy from 91.9 to 92.5 with 285 ELDM.
If your magazine will allow start at 3.681” COAL

Thank you for the information!

I have Lapua brass, 215M primers, 285 ELDM's and a variety of powders (trying to see what works best in that rifle).
The last load I worked up was 84.5gr of Magpro at 3.685" (averaged 2830's)...Pretty good results, but I know it can do better. I do have some Retumbo and will try your recipe to see what I get.

Thanks again for the info!

 

[Alaska Bush Man]

Thank you for the information!

I have Lapua brass, 215M primers, 285 ELDM's and a variety of powders (trying to see what works best in that rifle).
The last load I worked up was 84.5gr of Magpro at 3.685" (averaged 2830's)...Pretty good results, but I know it can do better. I do have some Retumbo and will try your recipe to see what I get.

Thanks again for the info!

2750 fps was my target goal with 285’s ELDM same as Hornady factory advertised velocity with Retumbo @ 92.2 in my rifle.
Your Welcome and Merry Christmas
Yes I could increase charge weight to 93.0 to 94.0 but groups open up more as more velocity levels increased. 91.9 to 92.5 gave the best groups .

 

[Alaska Bush Man]

RL 25 has shot the best in mine. I would really like to try RL33.

Hard to find here RL 25/33.
Grand / LRT very close the same