.338 Lapua Magnum

[quigley97]

I am looking for info on reloading the .338 Lapua Magnum. A friend of mine is a long range shooter and is looking for a starting point to reload. The rifle is not a Savage. The barrel is 32" long with a 1in 8" twist. He shoots long range competition, 1000 & 1200 yards. If anyone has any info for a starting point, (what powder, primer, bullet). He is leaning towards a 215 or 250 grain bullet. Right now he is using factory loads and wants to attain better accuracy if possible. Any help and info would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.

quigley97

[Fjold]

Bullet

Sierra Match King 300 gr. HPBT Match
BC:
.768 @ 2300 fps and above
.760 between 2300 and 1800 fps
.750 @ 1800 fps and below

Powders
300 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon US 869 - 98.5 grns 2567 fps 47,500 CUP to 104.0 grains 2677 fps 51,500 CUP
300 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon Retumbo - 85.0 grns 2376 fps 41,100 CUP to 94.0C grns 2654 fps 53,400 CUP
300 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon H1000 - 83.0 grns 2383 fps 43,200 CUP to 92.0C grns 2590 fps 53,000 CUP
300 GR. SIE HPBT IMR IMR 7828 - 73.0 grns 2376 fps 44,600 CUP to 81.0 grns 2566 fps 53,000 CUP
300 GR. SIE HPBT Winchester Supreme 780 - 79.0 grns 2460 fps 45,100 CUP to 84.0 grns 2593 fps 50,600 CUP
300 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon H4831 - 71.0 grns 2307 fps 44,400 CUP to 79.0 grns 2511 fps 53,100 CUP
300 GR. SIE HPBT IMR IMR 4831 - 68.0 grns 2316 fps 43,500 CUP to 76.0 grns 2541 fps 53,300 CUP

Primers
GM215M Large Magnum Rifle Match Magnum rifle

[quigley97]

Frank,
Thanks for the reply and the info. It should be a good starting point for him. I have the Sierra manual and was showing him the differences in the performance of the different powders. The young man has no idea whatsoever about reloading. i will definitely pass it along and head him in the right direction. Thanks again.

Tom

[Uncle Jack]

"....The rifle is not a Savage."

Well, other than the initial insult, what rifle is it?

uj

[Eric in NC]

"no idea whatsoever about reloading" + 1,200 yards + 338 Lapua magnum = really bad idea.

Not a good way to start learning - my opinion of course.

[pa hog]

I would think he would want to start out reloading for something a little smaller and cheaper than to reload for something so expensive and dangerous to start with. Also he would want to look into the new .338 Berger 300gr Hybrids if he's serious about it.

[boy412]

"no idea whatsoever about reloading" + 1,200 yards + 338 Lapua magnum = really bad idea.

Not a good way to start learning - my opinion of course.


Agreed!

:)

[Uncle Jack]

+2
I jost gotta jump in there too.

".....The young man has no idea whatsoever about reloading."

Really, seriously, no BS, no gunsmoke, that is not a good place to start.

uj

[Budweiser360]

If I had a 338LM I would be waiting for the 300grn Berger Hybrid VLDs to come out.

[pa hog]

The 300gr Bergers are out,A friend of mine has been shooting them in his 338Cheytac for almost a month now.