338 Norma magnum with Berger 250 elites or hammer hunter 260s?

[Jakeweb09]

I'm new to the 338 world and looking for powder recommendations on the lower weight class bullets. H1000 seems standard but also impossible to get my hands on. I've read n560 but would rather stay away for VV as it gets pretty expensive with these large cases!

 

[Rhovee]

I have shot both. H1000 with 260's works good. Same with RL26. You can get away with H4831sc or RL23 with 250's. Both are great bullets.

 

[Jakeweb09]

Figuring I'll shoot steel with the Berger's and elk with the hammers. I have a decent amount of rl26 but like that in a couple other guns of mine and don't want to burn through it.

 

[codyadams]

Pretty much any powder for these big boomers is gonna be either hard to find/expensive, or both. Retumbo, rl26, rl33, h1000, vv n560, 565 and 570, and so on, it is kind of what you sign up for when you build one. I use VV N570 with 270 grain bullets.

However, Ramshot Magnum is a powder often overlooked by people that seems to do well, velocity similar to H1000, is accurate, and is what Jimmie Sloan originally used in the .338 NM's. I believe in my testing with 300 grain pills, there is still plenty of room for more powder and 250 grain pills. It is a ball powder and sensitive to temp change, but if you can't find / won't spend the money for the other good powders, that's what you have left

 

[mdvctry]

Pretty much any powder for these big boomers is gonna be either hard to find/expensive, or both. Retumbo, rl26, rl33, h1000, vv n560, 565 and 570, and so on, it is kind of what you sign up for when you build one. I use VV N570 with 270 grain bullets.

However, Ramshot Magnum is a powder often overlooked by people that seems to do well, velocity similar to H1000, is accurate, and is what Jimmie Sloan originally used in the .338 NM's. I believe in my testing with 300 grain pills, there is still plenty of room for more powder and 250 grain pills. It is a ball powder and sensitive to temp change, but if you can't find / won't spend the money for the other good powders, that's what you have left

@codyadams do you have any start point loads for 338 Norma with either Ramshot Magnum or LRT? I have 250gr or 300gr Nosler ABLR bullets? I have Peterson brass and both LRT and Magnum powders, 26" Barrett MRAD

 

[codyadams]

@codyadams do you have any start point loads for 338 Norma with either Ramshot Magnum or LRT? I have 250gr or 300gr Nosler ABLR bullets? I have Peterson brass and both LRT and Magnum powders, 26" Barrett MRAD

Here is what I got when testing. 300 grain HBN coated Berger. The rest of the details are at the top of the chart. Never saw pressure signs, however I believe it was at or over CIP max pressure with 94 grains, maybe even 93 grains. This is out of a 28" barrel. If I was gonna stick with this powder, I would have loaded in the 89-90 grain range, a nice flat spot there.

 

[mdvctry]

Here is what I got when testing. 300 grain HBN coated Berger. The rest of the details are at the top of the chart. Never saw pressure signs, however I believe it was at or over CIP max pressure with 94 grains, maybe even 93 grains. This is out of a 28" barrel. If I was gonna stick with this powder, I would have loaded in the 89-90 grain range, a nice flat spot there. View attachment 228959

Thank you!

 

[cjuve]

This is from my improved case and I actually started at 87 gr. My fire form load with 88 gr is hitting 2620 FPS

600 yds with Ramshot mag and 250 Berger ladder

Take it with a grain of salt and start low I had zero indication of pressure with lapua brass on second firing but have found that pressure sometimes does not show up until 3 firings or so. I did not collect velocity on these that will be next.

 

[Rhovee]

How far are you jumping the 250's? That's a good looking ladder. I would load three shot groups from 94 up and see how the shape.

 

[cjuve]

That was at .050 off. I got a seating depth test at 95 that runs to .090 off in .010 increments set up for tomorrow. Depending what shows up there I plan on tweaking powder next. With as tight as it came in I probably should have gone right to some groups at different charges.

I started clear down at 87 grains since data is a little scarce and so far 94-96 looks the best.

 

[cjuve]

How far are you jumping the 250's? That's a good looking ladder. I would load three shot groups from 94 up and see how the shape.

I will say the last load that I developed similar to this required zero seating depth adjustments. I shot that one at only 300 yds

300 yard ladder all shot with .750 seating depth I chose 83 gr

.

.750 ended up in the low .3's I did make a 1 moa vertical up adjustment prior to shooting the group at .750

 

[cjuve]

Well seating depth went good @ 95 gr Ramshot mag 250 Berger at -0.040 2950 FPS