Reload suggestions for a 338 Lapua Improved Lehigh bullets&Retumbo

[30-338]

Shooters Ready..
.I have a 338 Lapua Improved with a 35degree shoulder and a 28.5 inch Krieger barrel. My stnd. load is 96.5 g H 1000. I get decent velocity(2900FPS), low extreme spreads and mild pressure signs...I have exhausted my supply of H1000, but I have just received 50 Lehigh bullets, and have a lot of Retumbo...so here is the question. If I had the H1000 I would maybe back off a few grains and work from there, but I have zero experience with the lathe turned solids and I don't know if they will shoot well in my rifle and what load of Retumbo to use...Anybody here shot the Lehigh .338 ? Any ideas about the Retumbo load? I can extrapolate from previous load data with a stnd. Lapua and both powders, but the solids are an unknown.

Thank you 30-338

 

[RockZ]

Hope all is well. I have the same bullets, but haven't gotten a chance to load any.
The folks at Lehigh said that 94gr Retumbo would be a good place to start for an accurate load.
Let us know how it goes

 

[30-338]

Thanks Rocco...I will try it. Have you heard anything else about the Lehighs? We will hopefully also be shooting them in a 375 CheyTac soon.....30-338

Hope all is well. I have the same bullets, but haven't gotten a chance to load any.
The folks at Lehigh said that 94gr Retumbo would be a good place to start for an accurate load.
Let us know how it goes

 

[lazylabs]

Do they offer any sort of expanding bullet in 338 or 375? I checked out the web page and only found target/match bullets. Do you have special barrel specs to shoot them?

 

[30-338]

Hey Lazy...I just emailed [email protected] . I should have done so earlier. When he responds, I will let you know what he says about the issue of shooting the Lehighs in a regular barrel. And as far as I know he doesn't offer hunting bullets in 338 or 375. I also encouraged him to become a member of the board. I think he would be welcomed! 30-338

Do they offer any sort of expanding bullet in 338 or 375? I checked out the web page and only found target/match bullets. Do you have special barrel specs to shoot them?

 

[RockZ]

Lehigh said load them off of the lands. I think he said about .070" off if my memory serves me correctly. I am not home, visiting relatives so I don't have my notes.
I've heard good things about the accuracy so I figure I'll give them a try.
Here's another interesting bullet in the works:
Projectiles & New Systems - Sniper's Hide Forums

 

[30-338]

I received a prompt response from Dave Fricke at Lehigh bullets. He seems like a very approachable person and knowledgable. I wish he were a member or a sponsor! Here is what he wrote...


"Here is part of the response that Dave sent me...

thanks for the inquiry. Let's take a shot at your questions. You can start the load from a Lehigh banded solid at the equivalent weight jacketed bullet weight. The critical variable is to keep the bullet 0.070" off the lands. These bullets will develop less chamber pressure than the same weight jacketed bullet so you will ultimately be able to load them hotter and achieve a higher velocity. They must be seated 0.070" off the lands. The bullet design is a hybrid borerider so the engraving force is low.
There is no need for a special bore or groove diameter with any of the Lehigh bullets...Jacketed bullets stretch to conform to barrel diameter variation... A solid is incompressible so...either the bullet has to be undersized or the bore oversized as the bullet will not compress or the barrel will expand and stretch (it will!)... upon the bullets passing ultimately destroying the barrel over a period of time. The driving bands on our bullets do create a slight loss in bc, but that it is far better than destroying barrels.
Our bullets will function in the standard or 0.001" oversize barrels."

Gives me a place to start and some good info! Thanks Dave 30-338

Hey Lazy...I just emailed [email protected] . I should have done so earlier. When he responds, I will let you know what he says about the issue of shooting the Lehighs in a regular barrel. And as far as I know he doesn't offer hunting bullets in 338 or 375. I also encouraged him to become a member of the board. I think he would be welcomed! 30-338

 

[Colcalcipherol]

30-.338,
It has bee a few years since this post. How was your luck with the LeHigh bullets? I am having a .375 CT built and I am thinking of adding these to my inventory.

 

[30-338]

30-.338,
It has bee a few years since this post. How was your luck with the LeHigh bullets? I am having a .375 CT built and I am thinking of adding these to my inventory.

Hi Brother...I never did do any in my 338 Lapua Improved...but I did shoot a few in my .375 CheyTac. I had the Lost RIver bore which was made for solids and they did shoot well. I sold the rifle so I don't have any info for you except that we experimented with Retumbo from about 130 grains all the way to 143 g. for the 350 jacketed Sierras ( way too hot but incredible speeds!) Good luck...30-338

 

[Colcalcipherol]

It is really hard to resist the temptation of a hot load despite the wear and tear it may bring. Even though it really won't help you any, it sure is nice to say that you got that 375 gr chunk to fly 3200 fps. I don't want 3125 or 3192, I want 3200! Just for hoots and hollars if nothing else . . .

 

[30-338]

It is really hard to resist the temptation of a hot load despite the wear and tear it may bring. Even though it really won't help you any, it sure is nice to say that you got that 375 gr chunk to fly 3200 fps. I don't want 3125 or 3192, I want 3200! Just for hoots and hollars if nothing else . . .

In my experience 3200 is possible with the 350 sierra but I settled on 3100 or thereabouts with the 375 which is actually quite good if you factor in the BC improvement 30-338


PS I know what you mean about that extra speed. When we had a few of these built I was told that we could get 3350 with the 350 Sierras but we found out differently. I guess that's a problem you run into when dealing with wildcats especially when you are among the early experimenters with a cartridge But do the ballistic charts and you will be impressed at the long range potential of the Lehigh 375 at 3100 fps ..t is really awesome!

 

[redneckclimbing]

Hi Brother...I never did do any in my 338 Lapua Improved...but I did shoot a few in my .375 CheyTac. I had the Lost RIver bore which was made for solids and they did shoot well. I sold the rifle so I don't have any info for you except that we experimented with Retumbo from about 130 grains all the way to 143 g. for the 350 jacketed Sierras ( way too hot but incredible speeds!) Good luck...30-338

30-338 I just started researching a 375 build and was looking at the drop tables of that Lehigh at 3100fps and they are impressive!

My question is what are the differences with a "Lost River Bore" and can they still shoot the Sierra's, or are you chained to the solids at that point?

Thanks a bunch.