Reloading .338 Lapua Magnum

Madmax1956 · January 3, 2008, 09:49 AM

Hi guys,
first email. I'm developing loads for my TRG42 in .338 Lapua Magnum. Close range shots phenomenal accuracy, 500+ still searching. COL is governed by magazine length. I've tried Reloader 22 as well as a number of Australian made powders - AR2225, AR2213sc and a couple of others. I'm using Sierra 250grn HPBT, Remington mag primers. I've been searching for Retumbo but am having problems getting it in Australia. Am looking at Reloader 25 as it's slower than the RL22 but cannot find tables where they specify .338LM loads. Even Alliant cannot help as they haven't developed loads for this calibre.

Can some of you gurus help please?

Max

UniversalFrost · January 3, 2008, 11:04 AM

I will post my loads this evening when I get home.

have been getting sub moa in a custom built 700 action with a krieger barrel with all my loads. Very accurate out to 1000 for me.

ForneyRider · January 3, 2008, 05:31 PM

Hodgdon has data for .338 Lapua magnum.

Looks like 4831, 1000, 4350, and Retumbo are your friend. These are ultra mag class powders.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Madmax1956 · January 8, 2008, 08:12 AM

Thanks for the words guys. I've ended up opting for ADI AR2225 - 98 grains flat with Sierra 250 grn HPBT. They are giving me good sub MOA whereas the Reloader 22 was spraying them around. Can't get Retumbo where I am in Australia, but the 2225 has a very similar profile.

Cheers

Max

Zak Smith · January 8, 2008, 09:41 PM

In the TRG and the AI, we got best results with H4831SC and Retumbo, also good results with RL25.

Also, use the Lapua Scenar. The 250gr SMK has a terrible BC.

Madmax1956 · January 9, 2008, 03:42 PM

Thanks Zak, can I ask what load you RL25 you used? Was it 98grains? I see that the Retumbo, RL25 and ADI AR2225 have similar burning rates.

Cheers

Max

Zak Smith · January 9, 2008, 03:44 PM

Hi,

I can't remember and my notes aren't handy. It was over 90gr, but not as high as you say. 96.0gr Retumbo is the final load for my friend's TRG wiht the 250 Scenars. I use 90gr H4831SC (or 88gr of the ADI equivalent).

Madmax1956 · January 10, 2008, 06:35 AM

Thanks Zak.
I've been getting some good results with the AR2225, I've got a can of Reloader 25 at home, I'll try some loads to see if it's giving the consistancy of the 2225. I've got an order going with you for some cards at the moment, I'm waiting for them before going back to 500meters. They should save me a lot of time and trials. I've been hunting for a long time, This is my first real foray into real long range. I have the rifle now I just need to get rounds downrange.

Cheers

Max

Madmax1956 · May 4, 2008, 04:40 AM

Hi guys,
after a lot of trial and error and just plain old range time I've found that ADI Powder - AR2225, the approximate equivelant of Reloader 25 is returning pretty good accuracy out to 500 yards, as far as I can go on the range I'm using, behind a Sierra HPBT 250 grain pill if I put 98.0 grains behind it, using a remington Magnum primer. Sub moa thus far.

Cheers

Max

BHP9 · May 23, 2008, 08:00 AM

Try 92.5gr/H1000 under a 250gr Scenar or LockBase.

Madmax1956 · September 22, 2008, 09:26 AM

I must say that after getting my TRG42 out to 500yards she has been returning excellent groups.
3 round group at 100yards - two thirds of an inch
3 round group at 200yards - a little less than an inch
3 round group at 300yards - an inch.
3 round group at 400yards - an inch.
3 round group at 500yards - one and a half inches.
The ADI powder is giving me a larger group so I have opted for Reloader 25, 96 grains behind a 250grain Lapua Scenar.

Great load Zac, thanks.

Max

xkguy · March 11, 2012, 11:39 AM

Shooting a Savage 110BA. I have Berger 300 Gr bullets and primers will be 215s. I have survived 3 years of loading for the 50 BMG and have a lot of RL50 powder. Any suggestions as to a safe starting load for this combo? I also have Retumbo but just a couple of bottles. The Savage has a 1:9 twist.
thanks in advance.

Jimro · March 11, 2012, 05:02 PM

I doubt you could get good performance with 50BMG powder in your 338 Lapua. I don't have data, but the folks who tried it say it is even too slow for the 300 SMK. I think you are better off using the Retumbo and sticking with heavier for caliber bullets.

But that is second hand information, so take it for what it is worth.

Jimro

JMP · March 11, 2012, 10:34 PM

I just found once fired Lapua brass at brassman for $96/50( http://store.brassmanbrass.com/servl...l?sfs=7eeb4427 ). I can never find once fired so I waited until my order was in before I said anything

xkguy · March 12, 2012, 09:07 PM

Thanks Jimro. I don't use 50BMG powder, I use Reloader50. It made a difference in the 50 and it was suggested for the .338.
thanks

SHR970 · March 13, 2012, 08:47 AM

Retumbo and AR2225 are pretty much if not the same thing.

link

Edit to add: Having a chance to compare ADI data and Hodgdon data they list the same maximum charge and a velocity difference of (1 fps.). I wouldn't go out of my way looking for Retumbo since you have Retumbo.

NESHOOTER · March 13, 2012, 10:11 PM

mad, I do like ramshot powders here are links to the powder and some load data, maybe you can get this to work for you and speeds are still good with less powder it may be avail in aussie http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/up...dgun_rifle.pdf and http://www.ramshot.com/products/rifl...product=Magnum I use this on my magnum loads.

NESHOOTER · March 13, 2012, 10:23 PM

mad, I use both hunter and magnum food for thought.

January 3, 2008, 09:49 AM	#1
Madmax1956 Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 8	Reloading .338 Lapua Magnum Hi guys, first email. I'm developing loads for my TRG42 in .338 Lapua Magnum. Close range shots phenomenal accuracy, 500+ still searching. COL is governed by magazine length. I've tried Reloader 22 as well as a number of Australian made powders - AR2225, AR2213sc and a couple of others. I'm using Sierra 250grn HPBT, Remington mag primers. I've been searching for Retumbo but am having problems getting it in Australia. Am looking at Reloader 25 as it's slower than the RL22 but cannot find tables where they specify .338LM loads. Even Alliant cannot help as they haven't developed loads for this calibre. Can some of you gurus help please? Max

January 3, 2008, 11:04 AM	#2
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	I will post my loads this evening when I get home. have been getting sub moa in a custom built 700 action with a krieger barrel with all my loads. Very accurate out to 1000 for me. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

January 3, 2008, 05:31 PM	#3
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	Hodgdon has data for .338 Lapua magnum. Looks like 4831, 1000, 4350, and Retumbo are your friend. These are ultra mag class powders. http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

January 8, 2008, 09:41 PM	#5
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	In the TRG and the AI, we got best results with H4831SC and Retumbo, also good results with RL25. Also, use the Lapua Scenar. The 250gr SMK has a terrible BC. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

January 9, 2008, 03:44 PM	#7
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Hi, I can't remember and my notes aren't handy. It was over 90gr, but not as high as you say. 96.0gr Retumbo is the final load for my friend's TRG wiht the 250 Scenars. I use 90gr H4831SC (or 88gr of the ADI equivalent). __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

January 8, 2008, 08:12 AM	#4
Madmax1956 Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 8	Thanks for the words guys. I've ended up opting for ADI AR2225 - 98 grains flat with Sierra 250 grn HPBT. They are giving me good sub MOA whereas the Reloader 22 was spraying them around. Can't get Retumbo where I am in Australia, but the 2225 has a very similar profile. Cheers Max

January 9, 2008, 03:42 PM	#6
Madmax1956 Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 8	Thanks Zak, can I ask what load you RL25 you used? Was it 98grains? I see that the Retumbo, RL25 and ADI AR2225 have similar burning rates. Cheers Max

January 10, 2008, 06:35 AM	#8
Madmax1956 Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 8	Thanks Zak. I've been getting some good results with the AR2225, I've got a can of Reloader 25 at home, I'll try some loads to see if it's giving the consistancy of the 2225. I've got an order going with you for some cards at the moment, I'm waiting for them before going back to 500meters. They should save me a lot of time and trials. I've been hunting for a long time, This is my first real foray into real long range. I have the rifle now I just need to get rounds downrange. Cheers Max

May 4, 2008, 04:40 AM	#9
Madmax1956 Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 8	Reloading the .338 Lapua Magnum Hi guys, after a lot of trial and error and just plain old range time I've found that ADI Powder - AR2225, the approximate equivelant of Reloader 25 is returning pretty good accuracy out to 500 yards, as far as I can go on the range I'm using, behind a Sierra HPBT 250 grain pill if I put 98.0 grains behind it, using a remington Magnum primer. Sub moa thus far. Cheers Max

May 23, 2008, 08:00 AM	#10
BHP9 Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Posts: 76	Try 92.5gr/H1000 under a 250gr Scenar or LockBase.

September 22, 2008, 09:26 AM	#11
Madmax1956 Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 8	Reloader 25 I must say that after getting my TRG42 out to 500yards she has been returning excellent groups. 3 round group at 100yards - two thirds of an inch 3 round group at 200yards - a little less than an inch 3 round group at 300yards - an inch. 3 round group at 400yards - an inch. 3 round group at 500yards - one and a half inches. The ADI powder is giving me a larger group so I have opted for Reloader 25, 96 grains behind a 250grain Lapua Scenar. Great load Zac, thanks. Max

March 11, 2012, 11:39 AM	#12
xkguy Junior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4	Use Reloader 50 for the .338 Lapaua Mag? Shooting a Savage 110BA. I have Berger 300 Gr bullets and primers will be 215s. I have survived 3 years of loading for the 50 BMG and have a lot of RL50 powder. Any suggestions as to a safe starting load for this combo? I also have Retumbo but just a couple of bottles. The Savage has a 1:9 twist. thanks in advance.

March 11, 2012, 05:02 PM	#13
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	I doubt you could get good performance with 50BMG powder in your 338 Lapua. I don't have data, but the folks who tried it say it is even too slow for the 300 SMK. I think you are better off using the Retumbo and sticking with heavier for caliber bullets. But that is second hand information, so take it for what it is worth. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

March 11, 2012, 10:34 PM	#14
JMP Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2010 Location: Wyoming Posts: 118	I just found once fired Lapua brass at brassman for $96/50( http://store.brassmanbrass.com/servl...l?sfs=7eeb4427 ). I can never find once fired so I waited until my order was in before I said anything

March 12, 2012, 09:07 PM	#15
xkguy Junior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4	Thanks Jimro. I don't use 50BMG powder, I use Reloader50. It made a difference in the 50 and it was suggested for the .338. thanks

March 13, 2012, 08:47 AM	#16
SHR970 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 1,427	Retumbo and AR2225 are pretty much if not the same thing. link Edit to add: Having a chance to compare ADI data and Hodgdon data they list the same maximum charge and a velocity difference of (1 fps.). I wouldn't go out of my way looking for Retumbo since you have Retumbo. Last edited by SHR970; March 13, 2012 at 10:22 PM.

March 13, 2012, 10:11 PM	#17
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	mad, I do like ramshot powders here are links to the powder and some load data, maybe you can get this to work for you and speeds are still good with less powder it may be avail in aussie http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/up...dgun_rifle.pdf and http://www.ramshot.com/products/rifl...product=Magnum I use this on my magnum loads.

March 13, 2012, 10:23 PM	#18
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	mad, I use both hunter and magnum food for thought.