JE Thanks I thought maybe I had slept through something in class when learning the trade many years ago in Trinidad.
I am a firm believer in heavy bullets being the answer to all long range issues, but agree with you twist rate like 9.4 would most likely sheer the jackets right off of lighter bullets. And know this happens with thin jacketed bullets.
The reason I tend to opt for heavy bullets is simple, at real distance weight rules. Selecting the right twist rate is paramount. The good folks at Pacnor thought I was nuts asking for 9.5 twist 338 barrels.
If my exbal program is to be believed the 300 gr SMKs I shoot are still supersonic at 2500 yards, yet the 250s are sonic only to 1950 yards.
Energy is another issue for me , the 300s have 1000 ftlbs left at 2700 yards, the 250s only have the 1000 ftlbs at 1900 yards. For many this is not an issue, for me it IS.
New Shooter
I started with a 34" barrel and chronoed it with the best accuracy load I could build, then started cutting the barrel back 1 inch at a time to see where I really started to see a decrease in velocity. I found not much changed until the 30" mark, so finished my 1st barrell at 29.5".
I still have and shoot this rifle, it has as posted just over 1000 rounds through it, I am still using the original box of Lapua brass, which has all been loaded 11 times if you count fire forming. I have not trimmed any of it, but have bumped the shoulder back 1 thou, every 2nd loading.
This is without a doubt in my mind the most accurate large caliber rifle combination I have ever built. I have built quite a few of these and have many more on the build board again this year, I think there will be alot more to come on this caliber as time goes on I believe it will enjoy a well deserved repuation for being a very hard hitting, flat shooting cartridge. Whether it is ever adopted as mainstream is doubtful, but we can hope..
The 338EdgeAI is also showing me great promise, but at the moment I still prefer the Lapua, strictly on the count of the Lapua brass being about the best there looking for a little advice.
