Lapua sell 338 once fired? Updated bushing question

alberta tactical rifle said:
THIS alone makes the 338 Lapua Improved an even more worthwhile consideration to anyone looking to buy or build a 338 Lapua. I just finished reloading my 338 LAI casings for the 36th time last week. AND my 300 gr SMKs leave the barrel at 3065 FPS, there is not a SAAMI or CIP 338 Lapua loading on the planet that will touch that.:D
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I am on my 20th with .338 LM but I anneal after every firing and avoid bumping as long as possible! Just neck size and No failures yet or signs of failure this is from once fired Lapua brass. I have had to cull 3 out of 75 pretty good I think.

I know jeff from Grizzly Gun Works has 40 reloads on his with only a few culled after inspection of course he is annealing after every firing he is shooting out of a AI .338 LM and me just look below in my sig line:D
 
DG Photography said:
I am on my 20th with .338 LM but I anneal after every firing and avoid bumping as long as possible! Just neck size and No failures yet or signs of failure this is from once fired Lapua brass. I have had to cull 3 out of 75 pretty good I think.

I know jeff from Grizzly Gun Works has 40 reloads on his with only a few culled after inspection of course he is annealing after every firing he is shooting out of a AI .338 LM and me just look below in my sig line:D
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I have NEVER annealed or had to trim my brass. I lost 1 casing during fireforming. For unknown reasons it seems that with the Improved chambering the casings just don't grow much. This is NOT an anomoly, over the last several years we have built MANY 338 LAIs and every single 1 has the same result. Vitually zero brass growth and incredibly good casing life.

I bump my shoulder back .001 every 5th or 6th reloading.

Personally I would far rather be shooting than annealing.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
I have NEVER annealed or had to trim my brass. I lost 1 casing during fireforming. For unknown reasons it seems that with the Improved chambering the casings just don't grow much. This is NOT an anomoly, over the last several years we have built MANY 338 LAIs and every single 1 has the same result. Vitually zero brass growth and incredibly good casing life.

I bump my shoulder back .001 every 5th or 6th reloading.

Personally I would far rather be shooting than annealing.
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I will definitely consider LAI when re-barreling! I do have to trim every few firings and bump a .001 or .002 every 4 firings. I use a rotary annealer it provides good efficiency compared to one by one annealing. The annealer really helps with the .50 brass I have 10 reloads on my IVI Match really impressed no bumping as of yet just trimming:eek: I use a neck bushing die from CH4D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uldy8tQ0oII&feature=youtube_gdata
 
DG Photography said:
I will definitely consider LAI when re-barreling! I do have to trim every few firings and bump a .001 or .002 every 4 firings. I use a rotary annealer it provides good efficiency compared to one by one annealing. The annealer really helps with the .50 brass I have 10 reloads on my IVI Match really impressed no bumping as of yet just trimming:eek: I use a neck bushing die from CH4D
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A good rotary annealer is the cats meow for sure!! Good dies also help in the equation more than most realize.
The less you work the brass the longer it lasts, in theory.
Annealing 50 brass IS worth the effort as it grows alot with every shooting, there is just soooo much brass there to grow.
Typically I only see 5 to 6 reloads from IVI match, but do not anneal it. Now I load my 50 brass 5 times then relegate that brass to the M2, which is REALLY hard on brass:eek: Then it's off off to brass heaven:cool:


Your PGW mags may work with the 338 LAI, seeing as we have a T wolf at the moment, I will try a few rounds of 338 LAI in the mag and see. Will let you know how it works.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
A good rotary annealer is the cats meow for sure!! Good dies also help in the equation more than most realize.
The less you work the brass the longer it lasts, in theory.
Annealing 50 brass IS worth the effort as it grows alot with every shooting, there is just soooo much brass there to grow.
Typically I only see 5 to 6 reloads from IVI match, but do not anneal it. Now I load my 50 brass 5 times then relegate that brass to the M2, which is REALLY hard on brass:eek: Then it's off off to brass heaven:cool:


Your PGW mags may work with the 338 LAI, seeing as we have a T wolf at the moment, I will try a few rounds of 338 LAI in the mag and see. Will let you know how it works.
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Thanks! I think it helps when the once fired IVI Match has been shot from something like a rifle with proper head spacing as far as chamber size I do not know how much of a difference between a M2 and a battle chamber like Tac .50, LRT-3 ect. I know they tend to use a M2 accurate type reamer??? This to me would be a little more snug then a actual M2 chamber?

If I had the time I would like to build my own annealer like the one Giraurd Tool Company makes.:cool:
 
Giraud makes great reloading tools. I have his trimmer and am looking at his annealer.

My M2 has as tight a chamber as an M2 can have, but they are a long way from what can be cut in a bolt action rifle, hence a tad hard on brass.
 
I had a spare few minutes today aqnd tried the PGW mags with 338LAI ammo and it does feed from them quite nicely. Like every mag, these are short for seating out the 300 gr bullets to what would be ideal.
 
Redding neck bushing dies experts can you help

I have a question in reloading regarding which bushing size to get started.
I appreciate any advice you guys can give. :)



www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6475869#post6475869



peterdobson said:
Nammo Lapua Oy does not sell once-fired brass. We'll refrain from other commenting on other misinformation at this time.

Regards,

Peter
Hirsch Precision Inc., Official Lapua representative for Canada
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Thanks Peter that was what I thought and did not understand why I was told that as it only made me suspicious.
 
Thanks for the info guys. I'l give the .365 a try first.

EDIT. If anyone has any nitride bushings in stock please let me know.
 
Different brass will have slightly differing neck wall thickness.
Hornady brass has a slightly thicker neck wall than Lapua brass does and Norma is in between.
Best way to figure a starting point is to measure neck wall thickness, double that number, and add the caliber, then deduct 2 thou.
So for example neck wall is .015 x2 = .030 plus .338 for the bullet is .368. less .02 for neck tension gives you .366
This formula will work for all calibers to get a starting point.
 
Rick,

with calipers the neck wall thickness came to 15 to 16 thou. Do you have a .365 or .366 nitride bushing in stock for the Redding dies?
 
Rick,
I ordered a bushing from you this morning. Actually before you posted I called Hirsch precision and Peter recommended you guys.

Now :D, can someone advise a good powder for the 300 smks. I have my reloading manuals but would appreciate the consensus on powder.

thanks.
 
I am still developing a load for Berger 300 Hybrids but have promising signs at 89.5 grains of H1000 @ 2796fps.
I have loaded it up to 91 grains of H1000 but the groups just started opening up tremendously.

They are seating far enough to still fit in the mag, unfortunately its not nearly close enough to the lands for me.
I agree with Rick, all the mags are too small in my opinion.
 
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warrenb said:
Rick,
I ordered a bushing from you this morning. Actually before you posted I called Hirsch precision and Peter recommended you guys.

Now :D, can someone advise a good powder for the 300 smks. I have my reloading manuals but would appreciate the consensus on powder.

thanks.
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H1000 or Vit N570 would be my choices for standard 338 Lapua, for the LAI it is hard to beat US869
 
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