338 edge problems...

[JOSE A. MARINE]

I own a 338 edge but I´m having trouble with the loads, currently use the 94 grains of h1000 and a cci 250 primer with the 300 grains of sierras match king.

the trouble starts with the velocity, I´m getting 2720-2740 ft/s which I think is slow. and I should be as shawn said around 2800´s

the barrel is a shilen crome moly contour 5 with a holland brake.

what can I do to steady the loads, velocity wise..?

please help.

Joe from Mexico.

 

[MagMan]

Joe, what kind of chronograph are you using?

 

[300rum]

Hi Joe,

First of all are you reload at 3.785?
on my 3338 edge with AOL - 3.785 and 91.5gr H1000, 250CCI rem bras i got 2750fps and 5inch group at 1024yards.

If you do not have a really good chronograph, do the manual way:
zero @100yards
shoot at 100 - 300 - 500 - 700 - 1000
input the bullet drop in Exbal or Nightforce with all the corect data (elev, temp, cosine, etc)
and exbal will give you the right velocity.

Hope this helps.

 

[davewilson]

2730 is just a "tad slower than some shoot. maybe a bit faster than some. mine shoots around 2750 to 2770 depending on conditions.i have to push mine a little to go over 2800. if you have an ES of 20 and it shoots well, i'd say you're good to go. you didn't say how long your barrel is? did you try more powder?

run a drop chart for 2730 and then one for 2800 and see what the difference is. you'll measure it in units of BFD.

 

[300rum]

hi Davewilson,

if you are asking about my barrel lenght is 30inch Rock Crick 1-9.4twist with a muzzle brake on.
I tried to push a litlle more powder 92, 92.5 but the rifle was kichink like a horse, more then normal, so i just set the load at 91.5 h1000.
i know i have more bullet drop, but it shots great.

 

[jwp475]

I have the 338 Lapua (not an Edge) and my barrel is 31 1/2" to the end of the brake, a Rock Creek (10 twist) barrel Carbon wrapped by ABS. I shoot 92 grains of H-1000 for 2791 FPS. I load the 300 grain Smk to a C.O.A.L. of 3.860"

 

[thor69]

That does sound a bit slow Im geting 2800fps out of my edge 29 inch rock creek,92.5grs of h1000, federal 215 primers with nosler brass shooting 300gr smks

 

[jwp475]

That does sound a bit slow Im geting 2800fps out of my edge 29 inch rock creek,92.5grs of h1000, federal 215 primers with nosler brass shooting 300gr smks

I've gone up to 94 grains and not much increase in speed, but I got heavy ejector marks on the case head and I'm useing Lapua brass and Federal 215M primers. Funny thing is with 98 grains of H-1000 and the 250 grain SMK I get 3189 and no ejector marks and with 95 grains of RL-25 and the 250 SMK I get 3197 with no ejector marks. Barrels will tell you what they will and will not do if you listen to them

 

[thor69]

I tried as much as 94.5 grs of h1000 and had the same problem ejector marks. did you say that you are using lapua 300rum brass.

 

[jwp475]

No I have the 338 Lapua and I use the Lapua brass

 

[thor69]

ok I thought maybe lapua started making 300rum brass that would be nice.

 

[J E Custom]

I own a 338 edge but I´m having trouble with the loads, currently use the 94 grains of h1000 and a cci 250 primer with the 300 grains of sierras match king.

the trouble starts with the velocity, I´m getting 2720-2740 ft/s which I think is slow. and I should be as shawn said around 2800´s

the barrel is a shilen crome moly contour 5 with a holland brake.

what can I do to steady the loads, velocity wise..?

please help.

Joe from Mexico.

Joe

I would try a slower powder like H 869 or 50 bmg and use all of the case capicity My 338 RUM
did not like the H1000 at all with the big bullets . also I like 100% load density and H1000
would not reach 100%.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Fiftydriver]

I am not sure why but everyone seems to overlook Retumbo for use in the 338 Edge. H-1000 is a great powder and generally produces good velocity and great accuracy but I have found that Retumbo, with its slightly slower burn rate allows for a higher load density and in 30" barrels, generally a bit more velocity.

In the 338 Edge rifles I have built, I generally test with 92.0 gr REtumbo with the 300 gr SMK seated to 3.750" OAL. Not long throated. My rifles are generally set up for use with the 3.820" extended Wyatts mag box.

Generally velocity is in the 2800-2850 fps. Some are a bit slower, some a bit faster. One rifle with a 32" barrel got me averaged 2950 fps with 94.0 gr. This load was a bit harder on primer pockets but was still allowing 3-4 firings at least.

I have tried Retumbo from 90 up to 95 grains under the 300 gr SMK. Depending on the specific barrel, some will allow 95 grains, most will top out around 93-94 grains. A few will top out at 92 grains. Start at around 90 grains unless seating deeper then 3.750" OAL. If you seat out to the long length, you will likely be able to use more powder. IF your seating shorter, drop down to around 88.0 gr and work up from there.

THe slower powders will work well but you will likely not be at the velocity of these other two powders, LIKELY, sometimes they will generate good velocities. One downside is that in most cases you will not be able to get working pressures up to +60,000 psi. Because of this, the ultra slow ball powders can tend to burn pretty dirty so if you try them, stay on top of the carbob fouling because it will be significant.

These powders are also more sensitive to temp changes. This is one reason I dropped back to Retumbo and now that is my standard powder in not only the Edge by also my 338 AX which is very similiar but slightly larger case capacity.

May be worth a try. Remember velocity is not the end all. +2700 fps with a 300 gr SMK is still a serious long range load. The grass is not always greener but sometimes it never hurts to just take a peak over the hill to see......

 

[300rum]

ok I thought maybe lapua started making 300rum brass that would be nice.

Hi thor69,

Just ask Rick (ATRS) for the right powder. He buildet anyway the rifle for you. He used moustly US869 with good results. On my 338Edge (buildet by Rick) i could not get good results, but hi claims he is very happy with US869.
As you, I tried Retumbo, H-1000, but in my case, as FiftyDriver sais every barel is different, and mine likes very vell H-1000 with Reminton Brasses and CCI 250M primers, and COAL 3.785. Far now I have 10 reload on the same case and no signs yet.
I do FL Resise all the time.
Sometimes, just changing the primer with different brand can improve significant your group.
One think to be carefully:
My rifle likes to shoot with dirty barell (ROCK CRICK). I could not get 1/2MOA group with clean barell (using Coper remover and GunJuice) at all. After 10 rounds through the barel i was impresed by the group. One ragged hole.
In hunting situation I do not clean the barel, just one clean patch to remove the extra carbon residues.
This fall all my 1st COLD BARELL SHOTS WAS RIGHT ON SPOT. From 200 to 1033 yards.