338SS NOW A REALITY

elkaholic

elkaholic

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The Sherman family is growing with a firm order for a 338SS. I will be ordering the reamer this week. This is timely with the possibility of Head stamped brass looking like a reality. The 338 itself will not have its own head stamp for a while but will be easy to form from the smaller SS sizes. I will design the reamer so the neck wall should be correct with no need to neck turn.
I expect the 338 to launch the 250 Berger at 2800' from a 24" barrel,based on the performance of the long action 338 Sherman. It will do so with a coal to the lands of 2.970". The charge weight should be about 61 grains RL17. With these numbers, the SS will have 4363 ft/lbs M E, will need only 25 moa at 1000 yards, and carry 1000 ft/lbs. of energy past 1500 yards!
I could see this chambering being a "do all" big game rifle. With say a 24" #5 contour barrel on a true short action, it would not be too heavy or long to pack. It would be a real thumper at close range, and with a loading as described above, could easily be a 1000 yard rifle when you hit the open country. I would also see some very useful big game loads with the mono's (STEVE):D.
Here is a pic loaded with the dummy round that will go to JGS for throating purposes.......Rich
338SS:250 Berger.jpg







i
 
elkaholic said:
The Sherman family is growing with a firm order for a 338SS. I will be ordering the reamer this week. This is timely with the possibility of Head stamped brass looking like a reality. The 338 itself will not have its own head stamp for a while but will be easy to form from the smaller SS sizes. I will design the reamer so the neck wall should be correct with no need to neck turn.
I expect the 338 to launch the 250 Berger at 2800' from a 24" barrel,based on the performance of the long action 338 Sherman. It will do so with a coal to the lands of 2.970". The charge weight should be about 61 grains RL17. With these numbers, the SS will have 4363 ft/lbs M E, will need only 25 moa at 1000 yards, and carry 1000 ft/lbs. of energy past 1500 yards!
I could see this chambering being a "do all" big game rifle. With say a 24" #5 contour barrel on a true short action, it would not be too heavy or long to pack. It would be a real thumper at close range, and with a loading as described above, could easily be a 1000 yard rifle when you hit the open country. I would also see some very useful big game loads with the mono's (STEVE):D.
Here is a pic loaded with the dummy round that will go to JGS for throating purposes.......Rich
View attachment 86063






i
Click to expand...

Great news! I remember there seemed to be quite a bit of interest in the SS when we first began 338 Sherman discussions. I am hitting 2800 in my 338 Sherman with 62 grains of RL-17, so I am thinking you must have managed to get the relative case capacities pretty close.

This should make some folks pretty happy. With something like the SS in existence, I can't see much of a reason for a 338 RCM or 338 Federal. That goes double with Lapua quality level brass from ADG.

Can't wait to see the results from the first build!
 
benchracer said:
Great news! I remember there seemed to be quite a bit of interest in the SS when we first began 338 Sherman discussions. I am hitting 2800 in my 338 Sherman with 62 grains of RL-17, so I am thinking you must have managed to get the relative case capacities pretty close.
Thanks Brad! I expect great performance from it.
This should make some folks pretty happy. With something like the SS in existence, I can't see much of a reason for a 338 RCM or 338 Federal. That goes double with Lapua quality level brass from ADG.

Can't wait to see the results from the first build!
Click to expand...
 
This is the most appealing cartridge I have seen come along in a while. Following with interest.

What other powders have you considered?
 
cornstalker said:
This is the most appealing cartridge I have seen come along in a while. Following with interest.

What other powders have you considered?
Click to expand...

Here is elkaholic's thread detailing his initial development work on the long action 338 Sherman. Though there will, of course, be some differences between the 338 Sherman and the 338SS, performance should be similar and experience with the 338 Sherman should give you some idea of what to expect:

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/338-sherman-field-test.185002/

My own development work largely mirrors elkaholic's results and can be found here:

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/338-sherman-build-this-is-my-boomstick.189640/

The 338SS won't have the case capacity to make RL26 work, but all other components discussed should perform similarly in the SS case.

Either of the Sherman cartridges will outperform any standard 338 Win Mag loading, along with all of the smaller cased 338's, and are not far behind factory 33 Nosler loadings, though I am sure the margin for handloaded 33 Nosler would be much wider.

Bottom line, both Sherman cartridges punch well above their weight class.
 
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