Powder for .338 Lapua Magnum

[gsg5pk]

I currently using Retumbo for reloading .338 Lapua Magnum but seem like they were hard to find. Just found that some supplier have these powder which also proper for this caliber.


Do any one have an experienced in reload .338 Lapua Magnum with these powder ?

Reloader 33
IMR 7828
IMR 4350

 

[Spook]

I use RL-33 in a 300 Norma Mag and it does well.
Ramshot Magnum is good in my 338LM.

 

[Jason Boersma]

I used Hogdon us869 in the rifle I had it worked good for me

 

[338 Mollett]

IMR 4350 and h 4350 is way too fast for the big 338's

 

[338 Mollett]

What bullet are you using and what twist rate is the barrel?

 

[dkhunt14]

I am shooting R-33 in my Lapua IMP. with 300 Bergers. Yesterday I went and tested at 1000 yards and the numbers were great and the groups good. Got less pressure, more velocity and better accuracy than H 1000 that I was shooting. Got 60 feet faster and no pressure yet. I would try for more but I have first generation Bergers and you can't push them over 3000 till the bullet starts to slump. I am right at 3000 and zero pressure. The group was 4.25 inches.

 

[338 Mollett]

How many shots? It would be interesting to see how it does for 20 shots,if the powder is dirty etc.

 

[dkhunt14]

The 4.25 inches was after 5 sighters and the first load of four at 102 grains. The four at 103 was 4.25 and 7 of the eight went into that and one went high to make it 6.5 inches. That was 103 and 104 grains four shots each. Seems like i could get more because there was no pressure. The case was filled about to the bottom of the neck. I just can't push them faster because of the first generation of the bullet. Most of the guys started slumping them at about 3000 to 3050. If i had the new ones i would go farther to see how much i could get. I believe i could get 3100 out of it. The minutes of angle drop confirmed the velocity. It also was really windy on Sunday. I thought it was going to be a waste of time. When we drove down to the pits to see the target i was impressed. My buddy said it looks like that is going to work. It is a lot cleaner then US869.

 

[dkhunt14]

So it was 17 shots total shot back to back as fast as i could shoot the 12 for record. I shot them just like i would at a match. I had the first four colored blue and the second four colored red and the last four were plain. The colors showed up on the target so they could easliy be seen and measured. Now this is a 1.450 diameter 36" long barrel in a block and an aluminum stock. The gun weighs about 45 pounds. It seems this powder is going to be real good with the Lapua case. Now mine is an improved and throated for the 300 grain bullets. The Alliant book calls for 97.5 grains in a Regular 338 Lapua with a 300 Sierra.

 

[gsg5pk]

I use 2 type of projectiles,

Berger 250 gr and Berger 300 gr.

My rifle was AI AWM with 9.35" tw



The reloading manual from Berger does not have RL 33.

 

[Jeffvn]

I used H1000, RL-25, Retumbo, and VV570 in mine. The H1000 and Retumbo worked best for me pushing 300 SMKs.

When I moved over to the 338 LM Improved (124 gr H2O), the chosen powders were Retumbo and VV570.

I'm still trying to get ahold of some RL-33 to give it a test.

Jeffvn

 

[dkhunt14]

I used H1000, RL-25, Retumbo, and VV570 in mine. The H1000 and Retumbo worked best for me pushing 300 SMKs.

When I moved over to the 338 LM Improved (124 gr H2O), the chosen powders were Retumbo and VV570.

I'm still trying to get ahold of some RL-33 to give it a test.

Jeffvn
]Yes the H1000 and Retumbo were the best in mine for accuracy. I could get the most speed with US869 but it was really dirty and couldn't burn it when it was cold in hunting season. This R33 seems to be more accurate and good velocity. It is tough to find, I called every gun shop around and most never even heard of it. I could only get 2950 with the H1000 and that was sticky bolt. Hit 3030 with 104 grains of R33 and no pressure. With the US869 I could get 3100 and no pressure with 300 Sierra. But now I am shooting 300 Berger 1st generation with the thin jackets. I believe I could get 3100 with the R33. It took 20.5 MOA to get on at 1000 so the velocities are real close to being right.

 

[338 Mollett]

With a 9.35 tw you should be able to shoot just about anything.Using 250g pills H 4831,N 165, H 1000 were the powders that performed better than others N 165 being the most accurate.With the 300g bullets H 1000, Retumbo, N 170, N 570, Re 25 and Re 33 will work.I've tested all these in three different 338's except R 33 over 5 years.The 300 g and powder combo was a crap shoot for accuracy, anybody's guess.But N 165 was the poop in 338 lapua,338 norma,and my own.I like hearing about R 33 on a long string of fire,looking forward to trying it.

 

[4xforfun]

I have loaded for a few Lapuas. It was a toss up between H1000 and RL-25. Half like one and half like the other. This was before RL-33 hit, and I never tried Retumbo. Most all of the 338 guys were on H1000 and some were on RL25. I figured that there was no use in trying to re-invent the wheel.

I would like to try RL33 in one the next time I have a chance. I have an Edge that I was going to try it in, but it shot so damm good with H1000, and bullets are so hard to get, that I decided to leave well enough alone!!

Good luck,

Tod

 

[dkhunt14]

Tod you need to try the R33. Numbers were good and accuracy was great. Fouling seems to be reasonable. The gun shot just as good on the 17th shot as the 12th. The brake looked clean when done and when you used the US869 the brake was all black on the outside. Now I need to see how temperature sensitive it is. A guy on long range that shoots at 1000 Montana told me it didn't change much in velocity from 78 degrees to low 30's. He said it only changed a few feet on the chrono. By the end of hunting season I should know. Matt