338 Norma Load Data

[diderr]

What cartridges should I be looking at for published load data? Is it close enough to the lapua to use it's data, and just reduce data by 6.5% (case capacity difference between the two.)? Or should I be looking at something else.
thanks. gun)

 

[Edd]

You should be looking for 338 Norma Mag load data, not some other cartridge.

 

[diderr]

You should be looking for 338 Norma Mag load data, not some other cartridge.

Cant find published 338 norma load data for american powders.

 

[Edd]

I'm not sure what your definition of "published" data is but there is a lot of data out there. Determining a starting load should be easy. There is even article on this website that has some RL22 data. What bullet and powder are you wanting to use?

 

[diderr]

I'm not sure what your definition of "published" data is but there is a lot of data out there. Determining a starting load should be easy. There is even article on this website that has some RL22 data. What bullet and powder are you wanting to use?

By published I mean by powder manufacturers. Norma has some data on their website, but it's only for their powder. That's all I'm trying to figure is starting loads, and go up in .5 increments until I reach pressure. A h1000 and a retumbo starting load would be nice to know. I'm going to be using a 300 Sierra MK and might try some 300 bergers. I've looked and looked for data, and asked on other forums w/o success. Just found what others were shooting.
I'll ask this then. is 85 grains of Retumbo a good place to start? I have 20 already loaded up. From what little I found most people run between 90 and 92 w/ 300s.

 

[Edd]

85 grains of Retumbo sounds reasonable to me but I don't think Hodgdon would recommend you start there. I think they would recommend starting at 80% full and increasing the powder until you reach your desired velocity or are full. Then if you don't have the velocity you should have and don't have high pressure, you would move to the next faster powder and start over.

 

[sp6x6]

I thought you had a Lapua that is barely broke in?The Norma is about 7 grn. less capacity than LA. I f you have followed lots of threads like you do you know what people are shooting. You are in the ball park. A guy that is in gun bussiness shoots Retumbo 86-92 grn cci 250 with 300 either. Has 1000'srnds out in many multiple rifles. In my rifles I laod 87.5 Reumbo over F 215M,300 OTM, at 3.675 coal and shoots well in both mine at 2725-50. I have shoot to 2825 but did not group as well, and I fought the Bergers a bit on getting a group. I would start low because I had pressure before max I was given on identical build

 

[diderr]

I thought you had a Lapua that is barely broke in?The Norma is about 7 grn. less capacity than LA. I f you have followed lots of threads like you do you know what people are shooting. You are in the ball park. A guy that is in gun bussiness shoots Retumbo 86-92 grn cci 250 with 300 either. Has 1000'srnds out in many multiple rifles. In my rifles I laod 87.5 Reumbo over F 215M,300 OTM, at 3.675 coal and shoots well in both mine at 2725-50. I have shoot to 2825 but did not group as well, and I fought the Bergers a bit on getting a group. I would start low because I had pressure before max I was given on identical build

Thanks. Yeah my lapua was having a few "issues". First of all its a saami mag. I wasnt planning on keeping it a Lapua long anyway. I've always had the fancy for the 338 Norma since I got interested in the 338 game. I was just planning on keeping it a Lapua a little longer. I weighed my options. Either burn powder and money in a caliber I was not truly happy with, or spend the money to convert it to a 338 Norma.

 

[sp6x6]

So you converted? You might have been ok with a shorter 250 grn. or 285. in the LA. But sounds like you are on the Norma track now. What velocity where you running in you LA.w/300 grn.

 

[diderr]

So you converted? You might have been ok with a shorter 250 grn. or 285. in the LA. But sounds like you are on the Norma track now. What velocity where you running in you LA.w/300 grn.

Don't know. only ran 250 smks and 225 interbonds. Didnt have any 300s locally other than Bergers. Didnt want to buy them as I new it would be a huge jump at mag depth. I was running 250s at 2,995 w/ a little pressure.

 

[sp6x6]

there waas a guy on here, cant remeber, but ran shorter barrel like 24-25 and 250 in Norma and it flew with 300 out to 1200 if I remeber right. The 300 has a ton of energy though.

 

[diderr]

there waas a guy on here, cant remeber, but ran shorter barrel like 24-25 and 250 in Norma and it flew with 300 out to 1200 if I remeber right. The 300 has a ton of energy though.

Do you think I should bump up to 26 or 27 on my barrel, or keep it at 25? I plan on shooting out to at least 2,000 yards, but more often than not it will be 1,400 to 1,800 yards.

 

[sp6x6]

Mine are both 26 then add the brake makes them a bit longer,going to 25 isnt that different. I carry mine in a upright set up in my jeep to and fro hunting and only have 1/2'' to spare to roof. That would leave me going to a DE bullpup design if I want a longer barrel rig type rifle. 1'' of barrel isnt that much and many push the norma harder than I do.

 

[406precision]

I always kind of looked at it this way

If you want a magazine fed system 338 norma
If you want to run a shorter barrel for hunting or suppressed 338 norma
If you want to shoot out past 2000 yards 338 lapua in a single shot

Of course this is subjective...but those are kinda the parameters I run with when customers ask about the two....

Jordan @406