338 lapua MV

Am still waiting for my new toy to show up and starting to get antsy, been going over some possible loads and I am having trouble believing the numbers I got from the Hodgesons load calculator page. It shows that a 92 gr load of H-1000 and a 300 gr bullet is giving me a muzzle velocity of 2590, that seems pretty slow to me. I will be shooting a Savage 110ba with the 26" 1 in 9 twist, 300 gr SMK's, federal large magnum primers, Lapua brass and 92 gr of h-1000. If someone could tell me wether I am on the right track here or not and what kind of real world velocities I can expect that would be great. Thanks in advance.

Bryan

You should be able to squeeze a little more velocity out of that barrel. Just watch for pressure signs. The issue is the 26" barrel, this is where you are losing some of your velocity. Once you get your rifle see what the real numbers are and hopefully you can get up to at least 2800fps.

2750 to 2800 was kind of the range that I was thinking I should be able to get out of that combo. I knew that the weak link was that 26" barrel. Am planning on swapping it out to a 32 or maybe a little longer one day when the wife isn't looking lol

I can get 2850 with 92 gr h1000 with my 28" broughton barrel. If you find you are not getting the speed you want try some Retumbo. It should gain you a little more speed.

I have a 30" Rock Creek ABS carbon wrapped barrel and 92 grains of H-1000 in Lapua cases lit by Federal 215M primers gives me 2800 FPS. 94 grains gives little velocity increase and leaves shiny spots on the case head indicating excess pressure

Same load, min spec chamber, 27" Bartlein 5R, 2895 fps.

Hi Bryan,

I am using a DSR-1 and the 300 SMKs. I have tried the Lapua Scenars and Lockbase 250's over three different powders. Every single one has been well under the tables velocities.

My current load of 92 grains VV N570, 300 SMKs is 0.3gn over the tabled VV max load of 91.7gns. VV claims 2710 f/s. I am getting 2582 f/s and showing the first signs of pressure. The bolt camming on a few rounds was a little tight so I will back off to 91.7 and stay there.

This load is the closest I have got to the VV tabled velocities (4.7% low). Not too bad really, until you consider than VV use EXACTLY the same test barrel as the DSR-1 is fitted with. The question is "Where the hell do they shoot these numbers? On the top of Mount Everest?"

My conclusion is that the numbers are pretty much stacked to support the hype that this caliber has generated.

The rifle/load accuracy is extremely good. The attached photo was shot using just the bipod, with variable low cross winds. I am a long way out of practice, so I think I can get a bit better.

Hey Bryan,

In my 110ba:

300 gr Sierra mk
89.2 gr retumbo
Oal 3.702"
2755 fps
(shooting very well out to 1000yrds)

300 gr Berger hybrid
89.2 gr retumbo
Oal 3.758"
2700 fps
(just started tinkering with this bullet... Reduced speed compared to smk likely because I had to load a lot further off the lands to fit the magazine)

285 gr hornady hpbt match
91.4 gr retumbo
Can't remember oal off hand
2822 fps
(showing very good potential at 1000 and actually doesn't give up much to the Berger hybrid as far as drop at distance and both those edge out the SMK at the velocities I have them loaded at according to my ballistic software... Keep in mind that is just what the software says, I haven't sent as many of the hornady and Bergers to 1000 as the SMK's so I can't confirm what the software says )

Orch

How, exactly, do you know you will be shooting 92 gr of H1000? Now, to be fair, a guy can be fairly close. For me and the 7mm Rem Mag......71-74 of h1000 and a 150 NBT....but that is still a four grain spread. I can go as far as to ALMOST garitee the powder, but to predict the actual charge wt........NOT!!

I have a 110BA as well and i'm loading 91.0gn H1000 and am getting 2820 FPS out of it.

91.0gn H1000
300gn SMK
Lapua Brass
3.706 OAL .030 off lands


It seems the sweet spot with this rifle is around the 2800 fps mark with the 300 smk's. I also see orch is using 3.702 as an OAL so the sweet spot must be around the .030 mark as well.

4xforfun said:

How, exactly, do you know you will be shooting 92 gr of H1000? Now, to be fair, a guy can be fairly close. For me and the 7mm Rem Mag......71-74 of h1000 and a 150 NBT....but that is still a four grain spread. I can go as far as to ALMOST garitee the powder, but to predict the actual charge wt........NOT!!

Click to expand...

Because that was the starting load I had decided on after doing a lot of reading on what was working in other peoples guns rather than just a number I pulled out of thin air. I did use 92 grains but dropped it down to 91 because I was getting craterd primers and 91 was more accurate and consistant anyways. My question was whether or not that stated velocity seemed right or not, and judging by what others have posted on here it isn't right which is what I had wanted to know.

With a 26" tube 1 in 9 twist, 91 gr of H-1000 and a 300 SMK should be in the 2725 to 2750 range. That is my best guess after firing well over 1000 rounds all with H-1000 and 300 gr bullets from a .338 LM.

Jeff

Many thanks to all for posting their recipes and actual velocities. I have used up my supply of SMK's and am about to start playing with the 300 bergers, gen 1's as well as 2's. After some testing I will post my results. Once again thanks everyone for your input.

I think I am the last hold out in my area to still be shooting the LM. Most everyone went back to the 338-378. The 338 LM has some very good attributes but velocity is not one of them. A long time ago I learned not to use Vihtavuori powders or Scenar bullets in them and that the higher velocities of other cartridges is not an actual improvement.