Fastest powder you've had work in 338 Lapua?

[alphapygmy]

Starting to work up my 338 Lapua and having good luck with RL33 and Hornady 285's and Berger 300's. I only have a few pounds of RL33 and no more available so I'm looking for a backup powder. I have some H4831SC but that's about the next slowest thing I have. I can get a little RL26 locally but no H1000 or Retumbo. What faster powders have you ran in your 338L with the heavier bullets?

 

[WAMBO]

I've used 4831 in my 338 Lapua with 250gr bullets but not anything heavier.
Here's a cut and paste from Hodgdon's reloading site for the only data I could find.

Case: Norma
Twist: 1:9.000"
Primer: Federal 215M, Large Rifle Magnum Match
Barrel Length: 24.000"
Trim Length: 2.714"
BULLET WEIGHT300 GR. SIE HPBT
ManufacturerHodgdon
PowderH4831
Bullet Diameter0.338"
C.O.L.3.600"
Starting Load
Grains71.0
Velocity (ft/s)2,307
Pressure44,400 CUP
Maximum Load
Grains79.0
Velocity (ft/s)2,511
Pressure53,100 CUP

 

[alphapygmy]

Thanks. Local shop has some IMR 7977, supposedly close to H1000 so I'll try that. Didn't see too many having much luck with it but it will go boom.

 

[284winner]

US869, H1000, H4350, H4831 and RL33 all work. Some better with heavier bullets and others a bit lighter.

 

[3Ackleys]

R26 is what I use with the 285's

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Mostly I used 300 grain Berger’s and RL-33, but I’ve also used some RL-23 with 277 gr Cutting Edge MTAC bullets, Lapua cases, Fed 215M primers, at 2650 fps out of my 26” barrel.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I run a 338-416 Rigby Improved, the fastest powder I can actually utilise is RE25, gives quite ok velocities with 285gr pills.
Best powder is H50BMG while US869 is also very good. Don’t like RE33, too dirty for my liking. I want to try RE50, but cannot get my hands on any yet.

Cheers.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have shot retumbo in my 338 lap imp with 300s, some barrels really like it. Its on the fast side for 300s. N570 is my favorite so far.

 

[JTEX]

I've used RE 19 with a lot of success with 250g bullets in the Lapua.

 

[lb-ft]

I second RL19. I shoot lots with the 225 SST and 230 ELD. Furthest I’ve shot with the ELD so far is 880 and it does really well.

 

[std7mag]

Bryan Litz actually tried Varget in his 338 LM.
Doesn't really recommend it, but he did it.

 

[3Ackleys]

I run a 338-416 Rigby Improved, the fastest powder I can actually utilise is RE25, gives quite ok velocities with 285gr pills.
Best powder is H50BMG while US869 is also very good. Don’t like RE33, too dirty for my liking. I want to try RE50, but cannot get my hands on any yet.

Cheers.

Reloder 50 is instock at Powder Valley

 

[284winner]

With 225-250s, I had great accuracy success with H4831sc. Loaded fairly light at around 3000 fps from a 338 LM Improved, it's a good deer load.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

Reloder 50 is instock at Powder Valley

They havent updated the main powder selection web-page.

- Zero 1 Lb, Zero 8 Lb when you go to the individual item page.

 

[tom]

I've only had improved versions and only shot 300 grains bullets of 3 flavors. I've had good accuracy with retumbo, rl33, and vv570. I think in the standard version h1000 was very accurate with 300s. But of course I was just reading other people's results online.

Tom

 

[alphapygmy]

Well, I’m heading back to the hardware store so I can grab a pound of powder. I think I’ll try IMR 7977 over the RL26. The next slowest powder they have is 4350 burn rate stuff. If it doesn't shoot well I’ll dip into my H4831SC. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[ebb]

Pats reloading WC 860 and WC 872. When breaking in the barrel of my 338 i shot some hunting bullets at about 300 yds with WC872 never had a better group with any powder. And its cheap and available.

 

[B23]

Used RL25 w/300gr SMK's quite a few years ago for fire forming loads to make 338 Lap Imp brass and it shot extremely well. I'm not a real big fan of RL25 but I had a big jug of it and wanted to use it instead of some of my more preferred powders and was pleasantly surprised when it shot so well forming cases.

 

[6MMsteve]

IMR 7383 at Bartlett reloading $65 for 7 pounds replaced 4831 in 50 cal

 

[dragman]

H4831SC, RL22 is it for me and i wouldn't do it again just doesn't work like it should.