338 Lapua Reloaders

vancouverbc

vancouverbc

Regular
Rating - 99.5%
807   4   6
Location
BC
Hey guys I am just getting started with 338LM. What are you using for bullets? And do you know where to buy in Canada?

I have recently acquired the rifle (110BA), some Hornady and Lapua brass, H1000 powder but still on the hunt for bullets. Any suggestions for bullets would be awesome...I did manage to find some 300gr scenars at Brownell's but a local option would be nice. And you can only buy $100 at a time or they won't export
 
At what range will you be shooting? Sierra with their Match Kings and Hornady with their BTHP and AMAX both offer great bullets in weights up to 300 grs.
 
Normally I would be shooting in the mountains somewhere at long ranges. Squamish or Hope area. But I'm in SW Ontario for the next year so shooting up north whenever I can get away and find an area...and when I'm really desperate Silverdale 200m (mostly shoot pistol there, but like I said....if I get really desperate lol)
 
Brownell's can't export bullets without the daft permit. .338 calibre bullets can't be that hard to find. Match bullets maybe though.
Silverdale isn't exactly SW Ontario either.
You taken the driver to Epp's yet? Gobles in London or Tillsonburg likely has 'em. Try Al Simmons in Hamilton too.
 
You may have to individually feed the rounds but you can buy some nice 300gr Berger bullets (Match hybrid OTM tactical).I also enjoy the 285gr hornady bullets.
 
I like 250gr Scenars. I developed a good load quite easily with those projectiles and H1000. Never could get 300SMK to shoot well past 1000 yards in my rifle...mind you I didn't spend much time experimenting with them. Shot the 250gr Scenars out to 1760 yards on a few occasions very easily. I have no reason to believe that they wouldn't perform well at 2000-2200 yards.
 
I use 300gr SMK's and 300gr Berger Hybrid OTM's over US869.
The Berger's seem to be quite sensitive to how much jump to the lands you load them. My rifle seems to like them loaded very close to the lands, luckily my mags have lots of room.
I've tried Retumbo and H1000 but didn't have the best results, they seem to work for others though so don't rule them out.
 
You can get bullets from Higginsons too in Ontario. It may also be worth your while to get some H4831SC powder to try. I found my rifle shot better with this over H1000.
 
Boomer686 said:
You can get bullets from Higginsons too in Ontario. It may also be worth your while to get some H4831SC powder to try. I found my rifle shot better with this over H1000.
Click to expand...

I've used 4831SC with some 180gr loads I did up just for fun (I should have chrony'd them) but it isn't as good of a powder for the heavier bullets, it's quite a fast powder compared to the usual 338 powders. I've also used RL-22 but was getting some hang-fires with the 300gr bullets so stopped using it. You want to use your case volume as much as possible and always use magnum primers.
Sucks on the wallet using 100 grains of powder every charge but we don't load 338 Lapua on a budget, that's what 308 is for :)
 
cr5 said:
Sucks on the wallet using 100 grains of powder every charge but we don't load 338 Lapua on a budget, that's what 308 is for :)
Click to expand...

Indeed sir. Although shooting the 338LM is not as expensive as many seem to think. "oh yeah isn't that the $8 a shot caliber" etc. With 60 cent bergers & scenars on the EE, 50 cents in powder, and 10 reloads on Lapua brass (others anecdotes, not personal experience) it isn't all that bad.

What do you figure your costs are per shot guys?
 
vancouverbc said:
Indeed sir. Although shooting the 338LM is not as expensive as many seem to think. "oh yeah isn't that the $8 a shot caliber" etc. With 60 cent bergers & scenars on the EE, 50 cents in powder, and 10 reloads on Lapua brass (others anecdotes, not personal experience) it isn't all that bad.

What do you figure your costs are per shot guys?
Click to expand...

I figure mine are around $1.65/round without including brass. I have been using Hornady brass that I got from shooting some factory loads and taking donations from a buddy that was having issues with them sticking in his Timberwolf chamber. I have 100 1F Lapua brass sitting in the gun room waiting for me to finally finish developing a load before trying it in the Lapua's then saving them for special occasions once they are shooting well. I'm close with the Berger's but haven't settled on a load yet. Still playing with seating depth.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp
 
I'm using 285 Amax over 98gr of RS-80/RL33 in Ruag brass fired by a fed 215m primer, shoots well to at least 1800m in my TRG 42 (1-12" 27" barrel) seated to mag length.
 
cr5 said:
I use 300gr SMK's and 300gr Berger Hybrid OTM's over US869.
The Berger's seem to be quite sensitive to how much jump to the lands you load them. My rifle seems to like them loaded very close to the lands, luckily my mags have lots of room.
I've tried Retumbo and H1000 but didn't have the best results, they seem to work for others though so don't rule them out.
Click to expand...

How much US869 powder do you use with your loads? I have plenty of it but I haven't heard many people reporting good stuff about it for the 338lm.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom