.338 Edge newbie loading help!

[itscastle]

Hey all!

I first want to say to all who contribute, thank you! What an amazing sight! The knowledge and information on this sight blows me away! Thank you so much, I've learned a ton.

I recently recieved my .338 Edge and have been doing some load tests with the 300gr Berger. I'm pretty close, I feel, to finding the "sweet spot". It's somewhere between 3.950 and 3.975. Now, I know you maybe thinking that's hella long, but trust me, that's where it's at. About .020-.050 off the lands. I like it there due to the fact that 94.5gr of Retumbo isn't being compressed and I'm getting 2850fps. That's freaking sick! I love it!

My question is about loading a round with good accuracy for the detachable mag. I've shot the Bergers at interior mag length and they shot like crap! Didn't group at all. The load was compressed at 94.5gr and not at 93 5gr would that be the issue? OR should I try the SMK, given that it has a longer barring surface?

The mag will be a seekins with 3.900 exterior oal. The mags been on back order, don't ask! Sore subject. So I should be able to have an coal of 3.870/3.880.

Any thoughts?

 

[Broz]

When you shot the groups loaded at mag length did you have the mag loaded and installed?

Did you try shooting the mag length load by just single feeding them?

Sometimes rifles loose accuracy with the pressure of a loaded mag box pushing on the bolt. Hard to believe I know, but it has been proven before. Not saying this is your issue, but might be worth looking into.

Jeff

 

[itscastle]

Thanks for the response. I single fed them and got poor results, With the burger bullet, At mag length.

 

[Broz]

Ok, when you say "didn't group at all" what distance and what was the actual group size?

Jeff

 

[itscastle]

I was shooting at 100yds. I didn't actually measure it. I was shooting a benchrest target, all five shots were in and around the circle. If I would guess I'd say it was about a 2 or 3 inch spread.

When I shot the 3.965 rounds, my group was .41, all 5 rounds.

I guess there could be other factors as well. Maybe the charge was too compressed. I'm not the most consistent shooter either. I appreciate your help Jeff. What else do you think I should try?

 

[highridge1]

If you want to run mag length you may get better results with the 300 gr Sierra Matchkings. In 2 different 338 edge's they shot more accurate for me. I also have used them in 2 different accumark 338-378's runnning mag length with a huge jump and they shot incredible both rifles under 1/2 inch. Bergers are usually more picky than the sierra's

 

[Broz]

I guess there could be other factors as well. Maybe the charge was too compressed. I'm not the most consistent shooter either. I appreciate your help Jeff. What else do you think I should try?

Here is what I would do. I would change to H-1000. Start 88 gr and work up. It will leave more room in the case. I don't care for a compressed load. Next I would go to 3 shot groups for now. Barrel heat could be an issue and I see no reason to waste the barrel life. If you get a load under 1" I would take that load to 200 or 300 yards. The last EDGE I set up shot the same size or slightly smaller groups at 200 as it did at 100 with 300 Bergers.

How far off the lands are you with the mag box load? The last one I did it was shooting decent at -.115" off but was tighter at 200 with a -.065" load.

Jeff

 

[itscastle]

That was my next step to go to H-1000. I've heard great things!

I like the idea of going to 3 rd groups instead. I'll give that a go. It'll save $$.

I think my max mag OAL would be .120-.125 off.

So you're saying to try grouping at 200 instead of 100? What's the reasoning behind that? Just curious.

 

[Broz]

So you're saying to try grouping at 200 instead of 100? What's the reasoning behind that? Just curious.

Some may argue, but they are usually debating from a scientific , text book debate. But I am here to tell you that many 338's I have set up with 300 gr bullets, (SMK or Bergers) would shoot the same size groups at 200 as they did at 100.Sometimes tighter. I have a set of targets on my bench from a 338 EDGE right now to prove it. With several load variations and seating depths the rifle was shooting just under an inch, down to .6 at 100. So I felt it was time to test the two best loads at 200. The .6" or .6 moa load at 100 shot .431" or .235 moa at 200 yards. I shot a two more groups at 200 that were all under 1/2 moa to confirm. Then took it to the field for longer shots. The rifle held 1/2 moa 3 shot groups at several distances out to 1500 and shot very well at 1700 and 2077 yards.

Sometimes I think it just takes over 100 yards to get a bullet to stabilize and find it's path. My thoughts are just from what I have seen with my own eyes.

Have you ever seen this video about pitch and yaw?
Watch the yardage.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH9SCbCBHaY]Pitch, Yaw and bullet path - YouTube[/ame]

Jeff

 

[itscastle]

@Highridge1

Thanks for that input. That's what I've heard as well with the Sierras. I like the super long Bergers and that sweet bc, but they do seem to be a little more finicky with the longer jump. I think I'll give the Sierras a try as well at mag length and see what comes up.


Thanks again.

I can't wait to try all this out! I love this stuff!

 

[itscastle]

Jeff!

That's amazing.

I remember my friend trying to shoot his 300 Wmag with the 230gr's and e was noticing at a 100yds the bullet impact wasn't quite perfect on paper. Like the bullet was going in at an ever so slight angle. So he tried a different seating die to be sure that the bullet was being seated properly and tried it again with the similar results. Bullet impact seemed to be at a slight angle, not a perfect punch.

I never even thought that the bullet needed to stabilize that first 100 yds or so. That's great info!!

Sweet!! Now I'm really stoked to go.

 

[Broz]

I will add my opinion on the 300 Berger OTM / 300 SMK differences. They both are great bullets for what I do. My longest elk kill to date was with a SMK. I see little difference in load work up with either as far as time and components. Both have produced very good groups at 200. But when I take them to longer distances I have tighter groups with the Bergers. This could be from the Bergers higher BC and less effects from wind drift. But what ever it is the Bergers shoot tighter at longer distances for me. Now when we take them way out there and they pass through the subsonic barrier the Bergers are still holding a good group for the distance. The SMK's do not and you will probably not even find some subsonic impacts from the SMK's.

Jeff

 

[itscastle]

Great to know Jeff. I've heard both sides and read both sides concerning the Bergers and SMK's. I wanted to go with the Berger's so that's what I've been loading. I was a little discouraged at first with the mag length groups at 100, but I think I'll give them another go with the H-1000 out to 200.

What's a good starting charge for the H-1000? I was thinking about starting at 89gr. Where are you seeing it being compressed, charge wise?

I guess I got a lot of testing with wanting to try the SMK's and Bergers. Moneywise, I have the Berger's so I'll start there. If I'm not satisfied, than maybe I'll try the SMK's.

Thanks again for the input!

 

[Broz]

I always start at 88, 89, 90, 90.5, and so on in 1/2 gr steps from 90 gr.

In the last EDGE off a 700 Rem I still had room at 92.5 and seated at 3.200" to O-give in some of Shawn's Bertram brass. Sorry I never measure to the tip of a bullet for OAL. It means nothing to me as I only care to know where I am from the lands.

Work up slowly. Not all of these rifles will let you get to 92.5 gr. It is a max load and could be over max with some powder lots.

Jeff