338 Lapua Magnum brass questions from a memory challenged Veteran

[Ken Marsh]

Preface.... Money/cost is a concern for me.... I am a disabled veteran and live on stupid ridicules VA and SSDI pensions.

Has anyone ever ordered from American Reloading? I am interested in seasoning my barrel on my new Ruger Precision Rifle chambered for 338 Lapua Magnum. American Reloading has 100 pcs. of Federal pre-primmed brass for about $88.00. I am very familiar with the Federal Gold Medal Match for 308 Win but have no idea if this Federal brass is of the same quality or not. I have a contact at Peterson Cartridge that I will be getting my match brass from when it comes time for the serious reloading for competition. I have 500 pieces of 308 Winchester Peterson Match brass that I am very happy with for my long distance AR10. I figure for $0.88/ea. for the Federal that American Reloading is selling, it should get the seasoning of the barrel done. Like I said, I want the American Reloading's brass just for the preliminary work. Any suggestions? Or am I headed in the wrong direction?

One thing I thought about with Midway USA selling Lapua brand, Nosler, Hornady, etc...brass in quantities of 20 or 25, is that instead of getting bulk of one kind, I could try a few different brass and find out which my firearm likes it? Is that a good theory?

I am also looking for a suggestion for a bullet for seasoning the barrel to reload into what ever brass I will use for that task. I have 150 pcs. of Sierra 250 gr. MK HPBT and 100 Berger 300 gr. Hybrid OTM Tactical for the load developement that I will be doing. Should I burn up some of the Sierra's seasoning the barrel...or will cheap bullets mess with my barrel? I have shoot 500 or so Cutting Edge 308 Win 168 gr. OTM and have been happy with Cutting Edge's performance. Maybe I should burn up what I have and get some 338 cal. bullets from Cutting edge?

I yousta know what to do.... but with all the neuropathy and pain meds that I take I have memory problems. Been reloading since 1988.... but times have changed and looking for fresh ideas with me moving up to the new caliber. In rifle calibers, I have only reloaded 30 cal. cartridges such as 308 Win and 30-06, so going to 338 will be slightly different.... and cost is a factor!

I do have all the tools for headspace, bullet comparators etc., so I won't require any suggestions on making sure my load development is good.

Ok...time to take an anti-anxiety pill....I've done worked myself all up!!! LOL

Thanks Ken.


https://americanreloading.com/en/338-lapua-mag/516-338-lapua-federal-primed-brass-100ct.html

 

[Howland]

The link shows out of stock, so that may not even be an option.

I've got the same rifle and picked up 100 Lapua cases for load development. I did pick up one box of once fired Federal GMM brass for sighting in. The Federal neck brass is one thousanths thicker than the Lapua, so I'm glad I opted for the die set with the expander ball. I doubt bullet selection will make any difference with the barrel break in.

Edit to add that the description suggests that it may be pulled, so technically it maybe new in that it has never been fired, but may have previously been loaded.

 

[Twoboxer]

It's likely going to take more than one firing for your "match" brass to fully fire form to your chamber. I've always felt it best to use match brass from the beginning as there isn't a lot of "seasoning" necessary.

I'm never against gathering data, but firing several manufacturer's small batches of brass is pretty costly at ~$1.50/round. After you figure out which one seemed best, buying more may only lead to a different batch of brass.

Personally I started out with Lapua brass to minimize variables and preserve barrel life as much as reasonably possible.

 

[Ken Marsh]

It's likely going to take more than one firing for your "match" brass to fully fire form to your chamber. I've always felt it best to use match brass from the beginning as there isn't a lot of "seasoning" necessary.

I'm never against gathering data, but firing several manufacturer's small batches of brass is pretty costly at ~$1.50/round. After you figure out which one seemed best, buying more may only lead to a different batch of brass.

Personally I started out with Lapua brass to minimize variables and preserve barrel life as much as reasonably possible.

Twoboxer your probably right about the more than once to fire form. I should get 100 pcs. of the Peterson like I plan to in the future. And gathering fps, es, and sd will be done for the load dev while I work the barrel up. Thanks.

 

[Ken Marsh]

The link shows out of stock, so that may not even be an option.

I've got the same rifle and picked up 100 Lapua cases for load development. I did pick up one box of once fired Federal GMM brass for sighting in. The Federal neck brass is one thousanths thicker than the Lapua, so I'm glad I opted for the die set with the expander ball. I doubt bullet selection will make any difference with the barrel break in.

Edit to add that the description suggests that it may be pulled, so technically it maybe new in that it has never been fired, but may have previously been loaded.

Howland, didn't even notice the out of stock on the Federal brass. Thanks for your insight.

 

[dkhunt14]

I know the Lapua 338 is tough. It lasts a longtime. Not sure about Peterson because I never shot it. I wouldn't worry about fireforming, it shoots great forming and would pick out the bullet I want to shoot and start load workup. The Sierra 300 shoots great and so does the 300 Berger. With those big bullets, Reloader 33 is your powder. Matt

 

[Ken Marsh]

I know the Lapua 338 is tough. It lasts a longtime. Not sure about Peterson because I never shot it. I wouldn't worry about fireforming, it shoots great forming and would pick out the bullet I want to shoot and start load workup. The Sierra 300 shoots great and so does the 300 Berger. With those big bullets, Reloader 33 is your powder. Matt

I did make an error in my post, I do have the Sierra in 250 gr. I got an 8lb. IMR 7828 from a wholesaler for $80.00. He has two more so I might pick them up.

 

[Wildcat455]

Ken, I think you're going to want everything in the reloading room to be as uncomplicated as possible with the least amount of things to think about. That's going to cost a little bit more money, but it will save you from a bunch of experimentation, stress, frustration and anxiety.

I'd Spend the money on the Lapua brass. If you want to just try it in your rifle, I'd just buy a few pieces from Brunoshooters.com.

Lapua brass will last you way beyond barrel break in, and by the time that is done, your brass will be sized to your chamber pretty well. Another good choice is ADG.
Both seem to also shoot well in fire forming.

Your 250 gr will shoot and load up differently than the 300 gr. if you have no plans on using them for the type of shooting you are going to do, then break in your barrel with them. You have 50 more of those than the others, so that's what makes sense to me.

If it were me, I wouldn't buy any more powder than you already have just yet. You may find the 7828 doesn't get you where you want to be in your rifle, bullet choice, speed, accuracy, ES and SD. If it does, you have 8 pounds to run through, maybe there will be another sale on it before you run through it. If it doesn't, you'll have less powder to sell off while moving to a different powder.

I have also had good results with RL33 in this chambering.

 

[coldboreshot]

Ken, your opening statement was fine up until this paragraph; "I yousta know what to do.... but with all the neuropathy and pain meds that I take I have memory problems. Been reloading since 1988.... but times have changed and looking for fresh ideas with me moving up to the new caliber. In rifle calibers, I have only reloaded 30 cal. cartridges such as 308 Win and 30-06, so going to 338 will be slightly different.... and cost is a factor!" This concerns me. Be very careful with the likes of the 338 Lapua. I've seen the kind of damage a mishap with this caliber can do.

 

[Twoboxer]

. . . Your 250 gr will shoot and load up differently than the 300 gr.. . .

My own experience is similar. Berger OTMs . . . tried 2 powders . . . the 250gr shot significantly better using IMR7977, but the 300gr loved N570. With a 26" barrel and 90gr, the 300gr have an MV of ~2785fps and are ~1325fps at one mile at the altitude I shoot that distance, ~2,000'. So I went with the 300gr.