.338 Lapua Magnum... Hand Dies or New B-3 Co-Ax and Redding Comps?

[Matt in Virginia]

Gentlemen,
Between having nothing better to do, and having two national distributors interested in my selling for them, I picked an Accuracy International AXMC in .338 Lapua Magnum. The rifle is an incredible piece engineering with Bartlein supplying cut rifled 5R Blanks and Dave Tooley(in my case) profiling, threading, chambering, and headspacing the barrel for AINA. Some new sources opening up, however, mine came from Dave per a discussion we had a couple weeks ago... This rifle presents a slight problem when it comes to hand loading as it will not fit, with 300 Berger Hybrids seated to CIP length, in my old and much love Forster B-2 Co-Ax and still use Redding Comp Dies or I have to put a set together from with a Forster Ultra and a Redding Type S with decapping pin and possibly carbide expander ball lubed with motor mica... The other suggest has been to buy a full up SS Micrometer Hand Die Set... Just seems out of place of a Lapua. I'm leaning toward the first group, however, I am also interested in the second group. I am obliged for your input...

Matt in Virginia
757-581-6270

Btw, Also interested in the Whidden die sets which are custom made to your brass. Only loaded ammo I have is Swiss Made Tactical load that was tested by the Navy about 10 years back. Cnc turned solids with a truncated point.

I am in the dark on this one guys. While I've been loading for 30 years and Handloading for 15 this cartridge has stretched my gear and my experience... A favorite 300 grain load would never be turned down either...;-). Very open to suggestions...

 

[Jason Boersma]

Your rifle sounds great, a 338L has always been on my mind to build. I would go with Whidden dies then Redding and use a Rock chucker press, they are big enough to be abl to load any case length

 

[SierraCJ5]

I get good performance with my standard Forster FL die and micrometer seater. I have no clearance issues with my Lee classic cast press.

I use Lapua cases, Fed 215 primers, and Reloader 33 with 300g Bergers. Works great at LONG range! Have fun!

 

[germanlongbow]

I use a Forester bonanza press and redding dies. No issues with reloading. Have to either put case in first then tip bullet under die or both together and tip bullet first then into press. Either way it works just fine. Scott

 

[DocBII]

Matt,

I use Redding full and neck sizers in a Dillon 550-b, this lets me FL size and get the neck to the right diameter in 0.005" steps in one pass through the machine. I seat them either on the Dillon or with Wilson hand seater, results are the same. 1/4 MOA with the best loads @ 100. I haven't taken it further than that at this time.

HTH,
DocBII