338LM, what is best factory ammo for brass and reloading
- Thread starter done111
- Start date
centerlineseal
Gold $$ Contributor
Coupla' years ago I bought some Nosler factory overruns from Shooters Pro Shop. Achieved 3 shots in 0.38 inches @ 200 yds from my Sako TRG42. Once. Put the remainder into Armageddon storage.
Every now and then they have some. Believe I paid about $260 per 100 rounds.
I reload those and Lapua brass as well.
Every now and then they have some. Believe I paid about $260 per 100 rounds.
I reload those and Lapua brass as well.
The brass most often recommended for 338LM (and many other calibers) is Lapua brass. If one is going to go down the expensive path that is 338LM, go with Lapua brass. At ~$1.50 (reloads) to ~$5.00 (factory) per round, it doesn't take long to shoot away any "savings" from buying less expensive brass.
In 308 and 30-06 I have occasionally seen factory Lapua ammo on sale for close to or even less than the cost of Lapua brass and the components for one reload. I haven't seen that in 338LM. In the smaller calibers I have bought a box or two of factory Lapua (and Norma and FGMM) to use for initial accuracy testing. Or for practice/plinking.
Since that brass is likely from a different lot than the 100-200 cases I would buy for load development and bench shooting, I've kept it separate and used its reloads for pure practice. While that may be an unnecessary precaution given the consistency of Lapua brass, it's one I prefer to take.
In 308 and 30-06 I have occasionally seen factory Lapua ammo on sale for close to or even less than the cost of Lapua brass and the components for one reload. I haven't seen that in 338LM. In the smaller calibers I have bought a box or two of factory Lapua (and Norma and FGMM) to use for initial accuracy testing. Or for practice/plinking.
Since that brass is likely from a different lot than the 100-200 cases I would buy for load development and bench shooting, I've kept it separate and used its reloads for pure practice. While that may be an unnecessary precaution given the consistency of Lapua brass, it's one I prefer to take.
oht
Gold $$ Contributor
Team Never Quit sells some fairly accurate 338LM ammo using Norma brass as I recall. Sub moa out of stock Savage 112. They team with Snake River Shooting Products.
https://snakerivershootingproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/338-Lap-Mag-300-gr-TNQ-1.pdf
https://snakerivershootingproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/338-Lap-Mag-300-gr-TNQ-1.pdf
muleman69
USMC -1st marine Div. RVN
Gun Works is offering there own head stamped brass now at around $2 a piece. Just finished a great article on it by Pahandle precision were he wrung out there 300WM brass. Loaded and shot it up to twenty times with warm loads ,held up well. They offer 338LM as well as a few other calibers. Think I'm going to order some in 300WM and 338LM ,looks to be great stuff
I got my 338 RPR in March. I am near the end of the process of shooting factory loads to find the best precision (5 rnd dime group @ 100). At this point, I have good results from: Desert Tech 300gr OTM, Lupua 300 gr Scenar, Lapua 250 gr flat base. I am trying to stay with the 300s because they will carry to one mile while the 250s may not. I want to see how a 300 gr Barnes LRX and the 300 gr Nosler ABLR work. I also want to try the 300 gr solids.
The goal is to shoot one mile with the original factory weapon. Gunsmith got the trigger down to 1.25 lb and I bought a Phoenix Precision bipod for the front end.
This ammo is expensive. $6/rnd Can't be helped. Look at AmmoSeek for deals.
Seems like the exact match for your request is Lapua’s factory loaded ammo. The heavier of two choices is the 300 grain scenar, and it is ridiculously good ammunition, which will leave you with a Lapua case. I have no experience with their 250 grain ammo.
I have the same rifle and it has never seen factory ammo. I did get some once fired Federal GMM brass and after a single firing the primer pockets were downright loose. Although it has a thicker neck than Lapua or Peterson, I would not buy them for that reason alone.
If I get ten firings on Lapua brass (I'm at five so far), using H1000, 215M & 285gr. ELD-M my cost is just over $1.50/rd. If I can do the same with Peterson it drops to $1.35. Just buy the components.
The Lapua pockets are still very snug after five firings. I found the Peterson even tighter than Lapua but I've only got one firing so far.
If I get ten firings on Lapua brass (I'm at five so far), using H1000, 215M & 285gr. ELD-M my cost is just over $1.50/rd. If I can do the same with Peterson it drops to $1.35. Just buy the components.
The Lapua pockets are still very snug after five firings. I found the Peterson even tighter than Lapua but I've only got one firing so far.
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