338 Lapua ?s

Tacman · July 24, 2008, 12:25 AM

First time that I am going to be working with this caliber. At this time I haven't purchased a single stage press because I have worked with progressives for close to 15 years. I have not bought componets other than brass. Everthing else I have including a new Sako TRG 42 that will be waiting for me when I get home from the sandbox.

I am looking for recommendations on press selection, ( I am leaning towards the RCBS Rock Chucker), bullet and powder selections, etc.

Zero will be 600 and will be stretching out as often as possible.

Thanks

Whisper 300 · July 24, 2008, 05:35 AM

Currently using Forster press for the 338 LM and it is a dream to use- also have Rock Chucker on the same bench but the Oooomph needed is not worth it compared to the Forster, So my recommendation is that if you have not yet purchased a press, look closely and do a bit of research re:which press and you might just like the Forster a bit better even though it is a slight bit pricier.

Re: the actual reloading, shop around for your brass and bullets- did see Lapua brass for under 200 for 100 cases and bought Sierra 300 gr, HPBT in a bulk 500 pack for a very reasonable? amount.

Go with SLOW powders, I have good results with 3 or 4 but seem to gravitate to either Retumbo or Reloader 22.

Many forums for help and advice of needed.

Gary

Tacman · July 24, 2008, 06:22 AM

Thanks for the info Gary

ForneyRider · July 29, 2008, 08:28 PM

Lapua Magnum is powerful caliber. I had good luck with RL22 for heavy magnums. I have some RL 25, but not tapped into it yet. RL powders are easier to measure than IMR. But IMR 7828 may be another powder to try. Hodgdon Retumbo is their ultra magnum powder.

When starting out with a new caliber, I usually buy factory ammo and then try to match it, then experiment with heavier/lighter depending on what I where I want to go with it.

E.g. I shoot 140gr 7mm Magnum and liked the performance. I looked up the ballistics (3200fps), then bought the bullet(Hornady) to match. Then I found a recipe that would get me close to that load. Then buy powder(RL22) to get me in that burn range. I tend to use Federal (215M) and CCI primers.

250gr Sierra MatchKing, 250gr Lapua Scenars. Norma and Lapua make brass.

You getting a canted set of ring/mounts for those long shots?

Can't go wrong with RCBS Rockcrusher. You can get a RCBS kit for 250$ with powder measure, scale, book and other pieces to get started. RCBS, Redding, Forster, Lyman and Hornady make dies for .338 Lapua.

If I ever shoot out my barrel on my 7mm Magnum. I am going with Lapua or Remington Ultra Mag.

Wildalaska · July 29, 2008, 10:13 PM

Funny thing I have never heard one of the numerous combat troops I know ever referring to Iraq as the "sandbox"

WildjustanasideAlaska TM

joneb · July 29, 2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Funny thing I have never heard one of the numerous combat troops I know ever referring to Iraq as the "sandbox"

The poster never said he/she was in the military.

Shoney · July 29, 2008, 10:51 PM

But he does list his location as Baghdad!

joneb · July 29, 2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

But he does list his location as Baghdad!

But are there not nonmilitary Americans/Allies in Baghdad or did I miss something

Tacman · July 30, 2008, 03:22 AM

Thanks for the input guys. Whisper I liked the looks of the Forster press you recommended and Forney thanks for the powder choices. A good place to start so, many thanks.

Yeah Forney I'll be putting at least a 20 minute base on this thing. The Sako made mount is pricy but apparently worth the 4 bills it costs. Still researching and not getting in a hurry for the optics options, but I am leaning towards a US Optics fixed 10x.

A side note for WildAlaska. If you want to get into a debate on someones character you had better come more prepared than "Funny thing I have never heard one of the numerous combat troops I know ever referring to Iraq as the "sandbox" How many is numerous? I talk with 100 plus per day. Have lived here voluntarily helping the warfighters 7 days a week 16 hours a day, been deployed outside of CONUS since 2004 in various 3rd world S**tholes and have been home for less time than you have sat on the toilet in those four years. So before you get into someones post contributing nothing the subject matter and start critiqueing their use of the various slang terms used for things outside of your realm, maybe you should take a minute and ask yourself one simple question. "Does what I am about to say matter?" If you even remotely think it doesn't, erase it, move on and go bother somebody else.

As for what I do I have included a pic with one months worth of the guns we couldn't fix. Some blown up, some burned, some still with blood on them. This is not even a 10th of the weapons we fix monthly and send back out into the fight after repairs. I did my time in the Corp and have now wasted more time on you than I care to. Best Regards!!

July 24, 2008, 12:25 AM	#1
Tacman Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: Morehead, KY and Roanoke, VA Depending Posts: 108	338 Lapua ?s First time that I am going to be working with this caliber. At this time I haven't purchased a single stage press because I have worked with progressives for close to 15 years. I have not bought componets other than brass. Everthing else I have including a new Sako TRG 42 that will be waiting for me when I get home from the sandbox. I am looking for recommendations on press selection, ( I am leaning towards the RCBS Rock Chucker), bullet and powder selections, etc. Zero will be 600 and will be stretching out as often as possible. Thanks

July 24, 2008, 06:22 AM	#3
Tacman Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: Morehead, KY and Roanoke, VA Depending Posts: 108	Great Start Thanks for the info Gary

July 29, 2008, 08:28 PM	#4
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	Lapua Magnum is powerful caliber. I had good luck with RL22 for heavy magnums. I have some RL 25, but not tapped into it yet. RL powders are easier to measure than IMR. But IMR 7828 may be another powder to try. Hodgdon Retumbo is their ultra magnum powder. When starting out with a new caliber, I usually buy factory ammo and then try to match it, then experiment with heavier/lighter depending on what I where I want to go with it. E.g. I shoot 140gr 7mm Magnum and liked the performance. I looked up the ballistics (3200fps), then bought the bullet(Hornady) to match. Then I found a recipe that would get me close to that load. Then buy powder(RL22) to get me in that burn range. I tend to use Federal (215M) and CCI primers. 250gr Sierra MatchKing, 250gr Lapua Scenars. Norma and Lapua make brass. You getting a canted set of ring/mounts for those long shots? Can't go wrong with RCBS Rockcrusher. You can get a RCBS kit for 250$ with powder measure, scale, book and other pieces to get started. RCBS, Redding, Forster, Lyman and Hornady make dies for .338 Lapua. If I ever shoot out my barrel on my 7mm Magnum. I am going with Lapua or Remington Ultra Mag. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

July 29, 2008, 10:51 PM	#7
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	But he does list his location as Baghdad! __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

July 24, 2008, 05:35 AM	#2
Whisper 300 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Posts: 155	Currently using Forster press for the 338 LM and it is a dream to use- also have Rock Chucker on the same bench but the Oooomph needed is not worth it compared to the Forster, So my recommendation is that if you have not yet purchased a press, look closely and do a bit of research re:which press and you might just like the Forster a bit better even though it is a slight bit pricier. Re: the actual reloading, shop around for your brass and bullets- did see Lapua brass for under 200 for 100 cases and bought Sierra 300 gr, HPBT in a bulk 500 pack for a very reasonable? amount. Go with SLOW powders, I have good results with 3 or 4 but seem to gravitate to either Retumbo or Reloader 22. Many forums for help and advice of needed. Gary

July 29, 2008, 10:13 PM	#5
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	Funny thing I have never heard one of the numerous combat troops I know ever referring to Iraq as the "sandbox" WildjustanasideAlaska TM