338 Lapua Mag

[ColdBore-0-]

So I did a little test, by putting a .004 shim behind the brass to see how snug it would be in the chamber.
Factory Hornady and HSM loaded rounds where really tight with the shim, but the Lapua brass, as seen in my picture I posted a day ago, could take .012 of shim before being tight.
Has anybody else see Lapua brass being small?
I should say, I bought the rifle, loaded rounds, and reloading equipment from a guy. I don't think the Lapua brass as been fired more than twice.
As much as I agree with 4x, It looks like the chamber could be in spec.

 

[dkhunt14]

Lapua brass is harder and will take a hotter load without much case expansion. I believe you were really cold with your 869 load. I shot up to 114 grains in my 338 Lapua IMP and had no pressure with a 300 Sierra and the velocity was 3070. I didn't like the powder because it wouldn't burn good when it got cold out. It was also very dirty. I tried H1000 and Retumbo but the RE33 was better for accuracy and velocity. I also switched to Berger 300's becuase at the same velocity they were flatter at a 1000 yards and shot better groups. (4 inch 5 shot groups at 1000) They also killed whitetails better. If you shot a cold load and bumped them they were probably too short for chamber. Matt

 

[cdparker]

Cold bore--read your last post. You have solved your problem. Your brass from the guy who loaded it is sized improperly. Get a gauge to measure the base to shoulder/datum point on a fired case from your gun. Adjust the die in your press to size the case about 0.002" back from the fired length and you should be good to go. The cases in the picture show signs of incipient head separation. Check them with a paper clip and if you can feel it inside the case, toss the cases in your scrap brass bucket.
I shoot a Barrett 98B with a 27" barrel. My gun likes H1000 with the 300SMK's and H4831sc with the 250SMK's. I have tried 869 and Retumbo but did not get the accuracy that the other powders gave. I have tried Re33 and it is interesting. As with the other double based powders, you have to be very close to a maximum load before you can see the real accuracy potential. I did not get to chronograph it as it just got too cold here in Upper Slobovia. Wait till Spring. If you watch the excellent series of Sniper 101, you will see that Tiborasaurus Rex does very well in his .338LM with the 300gr.SMK using 90gr. of Magnum powder. He and his gun shoot extremely well.

The one thing that bothers me a wee is no one addresses their shooting skill. These guns require a vast amount of skill but apparently everyone is a High Master shooter who fires perfect shots every time. Sometimes me thinks that folks tend to blame their components and loading procedures for not being able to make the gun shoot a bug hole. A lot of the blame is on the caveman and not the spear. Been there-wore the T shirt out.
HTH
Craig

 

[ColdBore-0-]

So....I checked my head space, and found it to be in spec. Thanks to Memo43 for letting me use his gauges. On to the real problem.
Dude had this die set, and since all of the brass is over sized, a guy must be able to do so with these dies. This is a new one on me, as I thought FL meant back to SAAMI spec. I'm a fan of 3/4 sizing myself, but I've never seen a factory FL die set allow you to push the brass that far up it.
Has anyone else seen these Match dies do this?

 

[memo43]

Cold bore glad you got the gauge set, have you ensured your barrel is not loose. My savage had the same thing and I was able to unscrew it by hand, hence the gauges. If so check the recoil lug mine was bent from having the headspaspace so out of whack.
Also what kind of she'll holder are you using a standard one or redding Comp set.
I'm curious to what the issue is, worse comes to worse I can send a few pieces of 338 brass. If yours can't be blown foward with a mild load

 

[germanlongbow]

My first 338 LM loved SMK 300 over Reloader 22. Easily 1/4 moa even after 1300 rounds at 2850 fps. I load for my buddies 338 AI Surgeon with 300 OTM Bergers and RL 33 (102.8 grains) at 2940 fps out of a krieger 1in9.35 twist with half moa. No pressure and excellent SD's. My new 338 AI same krieger barrel and berger 300 OTM's with RL 33 at 104 grains is running 2980 with single digit SD's. My other buddy also shoots a Stiller 338 AI with a rock barrel with Retumbo 99.0 grains, 300 SMK's at 2830 fps. Hope this helps. Scott

 

[ColdBore-0-]

Wow germanlongbow, that's a lot of 338 in one group of guys. I think i'm going to try to get my hands on some RL-33.
I don't know where to start with my...not my problem anymore. I'm ditching all that Lapua brass, as it all has cracks on the inside. I ordered some new Hornady brass, because I have 2 boxes of factory Hornady rounds, so now i'll have 140 pieces to work with. Dude must have been working the crap out of that brass sizing it like that. What looks like to be three or four times over. I'm out about $210.00 in Lapua brass, but at lease I didn't damage the gun.

 

[memo43]

what bullets are you going to try and load, sorry about the brass but at the same time you didn't get hurt
but that's the beauty of the game trial and error

 

[germanlongbow]

Pretty easy to fireform. We started both the last 338 AI's with new lapua brass. Seated 20 thousandths into the lands and worked load slowly from 96 grains to 105.3. All cases fireformed nicely. No pressure signs even up to the 105.3 grains of RL 33. The case gets pretty full at that point. Even after FF I can still fill the case to 107 grains. I haven't shot it at this load. No need the 104 yields the velocity with best Sd and accuracy I need for shooting out to 2000 + yards. I have a annealing machine that will get used after the second load. I shoot almost all ackley cartridges now. Better case life being the main reason. The increase in powder capacity is a bonus but no always needed. One thing I have noticed is reaching the dangerous level of high pressure occurs a lot easier with the ackley rounds. Just a few tenths more and blown primers and some serious extractor blow outs. 20 years of reloading and Im still learning myself. Scott