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Getting a .338 barrel compliments of Jim Briggs, and after researching bullets, ordered some Berger VLD 300g. My manuals all show a 24" test barrel length, and neither Hornady or Nosler show a 300g offering. My question is what kind of velocity can I expect with a 26" Shilen barrel, pushing a 300g bullet with the best accuracy-producing powder?
According to the Hodgdon site around 2400+ FPS.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
Thank you. I tried to see if Berger had a table or calculator, but they haven't figured out the best way to run it through the site...I'd assume my 26" will gain me atleast 100 fps, but that's a long way from pushing that 300g over 2800fps. May not be attainable in a .338 win mag, but I'd like to see it go faster than 2400. Anybody that reloads ever get close to the speed I seek without brushing death?
338 Winny isn't even gonna get close to 2800 fps with a 300grn bullet and you live to tell about it.
What is a realistic max out of 26" of Shilen's finest? Surely faster than 2400, right? Perhaps a better question would be, assuming a 300yd zero, can the bullet be kept above -12" at 400 yards? I know its asking a bunch from a heavy bullet for caliber, but is it attainable?
Velocity will have to be around 2600 fps with a 300 yrd zero to get close to -12" at 400 yrds. 2" of extra barrel generally won't give you near that increase in speed over 2400 fps.
Who knows? Maybe you'll get a "fast" barrel? Won't know for sure unless you try it, but odds are against it being able to do it.
So it sound like I need to give up the awesome BC of the 300g VLD, and back way down to 225g if I want anything close to my target trajectory of -10" at 400yds. Bummer.
Instead of a 338wm, build a 338 edge
I had originally set out to build a 338-378 or a 340...couldn't decide, talked to Jim, ended up with a 338win, 338-06, and .284win barrels. Go figure. Don't know a thing about the Edge, but they seem to be quickly gaining a following. If its along the lines of a Lapua, why not go 338-378? Free bore?