.338 lapua improved 40degree

[jessej]

Yea thats what I here, 26" kreiger. factory barrel was a little slower. I was hunting with 180 balistic tips before nosler quit makin them. Then changed over to accubonds. 102 grains of rl 22 was sending them out at 3575 fps with no pressure signs at all. Of course it was a short life. Rebarrel with krieger and velocity went up, accuracy went down. shootn those same 180s 3800 fps. I know, sound like a lie doesnt it. I even bought a brandnew chrony because a i didnt trust the old one, same results. I loaded some 250 grn smks up to 3250 fps. 210 scirroccos up to 3700 fps. its been an extremly fast barrel, but hasnt ever shown any accuracy to speak of. It shoots decent groups at 3000 fps and below, goes to krap after that. Thats why I went to to 300 grn smks, get more bang for my buck. Havnt shot paper yet with them, only worked up loads in shop. Will be hittn the range soon to see how they group at extended range. And for the record, those little 180 balistic tips were devastating on whitetail and muleys. More than a handful dropped in there tracks at 500-600 yards, personal best was a nice 8pt at 850 yrds. Ready for the 1000 plus game now. Looking at building a 300 lapua improved on a bat action, 27" barrel. Looking to push 210 smks or bergers at 3400 fps acuratly.
Can it be done?

 

[Tyler Kemp]

210's at 3700 fps? That I'd have to see to believe.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

300spanker, I have never worked with anything off the chey-tac case so can't help you there. The 338 ultramag and 338-300 ultramag which goes by several names depending on who builds it get 2750-2850 fps with the 300 smk on average with best accuracy. A rare barrel may exceed this with either one but I have never seen 3000 fps with either in a safe load. The improved 338-378 wby is the tops in velocity before you get to the chey-tac. On average I see about 100 fps faster than the imp lapua case and 250 fps faster than the ones off the ultramag case. If the rifle is done right accuracy is there with all of them. The 338-378 wby and the improved versions have been known for top accuracy at long range for 40 years and nothing has toppled them from that top spot to this day in a hunting weight rifle.Wind is the key at long range and an extra 100-250 fps means less wind estimation which is the most difficult thing to overcome with long range shooting. So I try and take as much of that variable out as possible with all the fps I can get. Any big 338 from the 340 wby on up will easily kill game with a 300 smk well beyond 1000 yards. Time of flight with less wind drift is the key for me. Back in the winter I put three shots through an elk size target at 1360 yards with a 338-378 wby shooting 300 grain smk's right at 3050 fps. I am working it up gradually until I can make hits with it with good reliability at one mile.

Jessej, that is screaming with a 338 lapua imp. I have never seen those kind of velocities with one. I have a 338-378 wby with a 31" Hart barrel on a ruger #1 action that shoots the 210 swift accurately at 3700 fps with retumbo. That is with about 15 grains more powder than the lapua improved and is the fastest 338-378 I have ever seen. It shoots the 300 smk over 3100 fps. I understand there are some barrels on occasion that shoot outside the realm. I have some. A 300 wby that shoots right with any 300 ultramag I have ever seen. 180's well over 3400 fps and 200's well over 3200 fps. My 338 lapua improved hit best accuracy with the 300 smk around 2950 fps and the 200 ballistic tip at near 3500 fps. I just saw an improved 338-378 wby a couple weeks ago shoot the 300 smk accurately in the mid 3200's. So unusually fast barrels are out there but on here I just stick with telling guys what they can expect out of a particular rifle on average. Unfortunately you get the rare slow barrel just like the rare fast ones. So some guy gets a rare fast one and another gets a rare slow one and they both tell me I'm smoking crack with the velocities I post on here because there could be 300 fps difference between those rare ones.

 

[padd54]

Sorry for the slight jack, but I have a 338lm, would I need to have the barrel cut back or can it just be reamed as is?

Thanks,
Ray

 

[jessej]

210's at 3700 fps? That I'd have to see to believe.

Thats why i purchased a new chrony, beta master i think it is.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I think that 3200 fps with the 30-338 Lap imp, shooting 210g bergers, would be about tops. I have run 180g bullets out of mine with a 30" barrel at the 3600fps mark. That was pretty hot. I have not tried the 210's, but I think barrel length will have a lot to do with that top end velocity if were to have any chance of breaking the 3200fps mark.

Steve

 

[JARHEAD1371]

I have decided to have a .338 lapua improved put together. I was wondering if i have a 29 inch barrel, how much velocity would i see with the 300gn. smk
thanks,gun)

Have you built the rifle yet? Any new info to pass?

 

[B23]

IMHO a 338 Lap Imp with a 29in tube will get a 300gr pill to 3000fps with relative ease. If it will do that accurately is a whole different story.

 

[CUTTER1]

I'm looking for 338 lapua imp 40 dies. Anybody got a set they would sell or any idea on a source without 4 mo wait?

 

[RockyMtnMT]

There is too many variations of the wildcat to be sure you would be getting the right dies. Variations in body taper.

Steve

 

[wolverine99]

I think that 3200 fps with the 30-338 Lap imp, shooting 210g bergers, would be about tops. I have run 180g bullets out of mine with a 30" barrel at the 3600fps mark. That was pretty hot. I have not tried the 210's, but I think barrel length will have a lot to do with that top end velocity if were to have any chance of breaking the 3200fps mark.

Steve

Your right on that. My 30 338imp is 3209 with no ejector or bolt lift with the 210s

 

[Tyler Kemp]

I've now had a 338 LAI for probably 5 years now. Have went to 3200 with 300gr Bergers, 104gr Retumbo I believe. My usual load is about 3050 with 100gr Retumbo. 32" barrel.