Looking for accurate 338 Lapua loads

[wrathog]

Recently purchased a new Savage 110 BA 338 Lapua and am looking for good long range hunting loads. Any help out there ?

[Broz]

Lapua Brass
CCI 250
H-1000 start at 89 gr and work up 1/2 gr steps looking for accuracy node.
Berger 300 gr OTM Hybrid start at .020" off the lands and fine tune.

Jeff

[sleepyeddie]

Lapua Brass
federal 215
300gr SMK
90.5 H1000
OCL to 3.681 to fit my sako trg mag.

My pet load is 300gr SMK, 90.5gr H1000, avg velocity 2759 with ES of 19 fps 500 yd 5 shot groups are 1.109" shot from a Sako TRG42, Nighforce 8-32x56 NXS, NP-R1.

I started loading for my 338 with the hopes of using the 300 gr Berger hybrids with an OCL to fit my magazine but after trying both reumbo and H1000 starting at 89.0 grains of each and working up by 1/2 gr I was only able to come up with three loads that were 1/2 to 3/4 moa at 100. I took these three loads and worked up and down .1gr at a time without any better results. I worked up both powders until signs of pressure started which started in the retumbo at 92.0 gr and in h1000 at 91.5gr. Of the three loads that were 1/2 to 3/4 moa at 100 only one held 1 moa at 500 which was 89.5 gr of Retumbo.

I decided to try the 300 SMK with Retumbo and H1000, starting at the same spot and same OCL. Results were impressive. I ended up with 3 loads that shot under .350 at 100. 90.5 h1000, 90.5 Retumbo and 90.0 Retumbo. 500 yd 3 shot groups were .997" 90.5 h1000, 1.601" 90.5 Retumbo and 1.490" 90.0 Retumbo. I decided to stay with 90.5 gr H1000 even though all 3 loads shot very well because my ES with retumbo was around 80-95 fps and only 19 fps with H1000.

After this long winded post, I am simply trying to let you know it may take some time to come up with a load. I shot 21 different loads before I found the one my rifle liked so be patient. Accuracy nodes like Broz was talking about are what you need to look for.