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212 ELD-X in 30-378: Anybody tried it yet?

el matador

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Jul 30, 2008
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I need to work up some loads in a custom 30-378 and can't find much info. Hornady does have some data out so I'll probably start with that, but has anyone here tried this combo or anything similar? I have H1000, Retumbo, and RL33 on hand that I'll be loading in Nosler brass with Fed 215s. This rifle does have freebore so I'll probably go with Hornady's recommended 4.000" OAL to start with.

Is RL33 the best choice here? Looking for a load that's a few grains below max that will give good accuracy. Not too concerned about squeezing velocity out of it since this thing is a screamer already.

Here is the Hornady data (26" BBL)

RL33 102.1 2900 fps 105.3 3000 fps 108.5 3100 fps 111.7 3200 fps


Edit: OAL needs to be 3.600-3.650 to match factory ammo jump to lands. Not sure what Hornady is thinking with the 4.000" measurement.
 
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el, haven't tried them yet, but a friend gave a box and may try them in my Mark V. Will watch this thread.
 
Will also be giving these a try in the next month or so -- hopefully you'll pave the way.

Here's another data point --

Nosler manual
26: Lilja (1-10)
210gr LR AB
WLRM
Nosler Brass
3.640" OAL
RL 33

Start 101.0gr 2,991 fps
Max 105.0gr 3,108 fps

Paul
 
I do not have a 30-378 but I do have a 300 rum and I found they recoil with RL33 to horrible for less speed then retumbo. Burning 4-5 gr more powder for more recoil and less speed is not worth it. My load was a 215 Berger with 92 gr retumbo to get 3060 fps and 98 gr of rl 33 was wasn't breaking 3000 and rip your shoulder off.
 
I do not have a 30-378 but I do have a 300 rum and I found they recoil with RL33 to horrible for less speed then retumbo. Burning 4-5 gr more powder for more recoil and less speed is not worth it. My load was a 215 Berger with 92 gr retumbo to get 3060 fps and 98 gr of rl 33 was wasn't breaking 3000 and rip your shoulder off.

That's kind of odd. I was over 3000fps with the 230 bergers with RL33. I just could never get the accuracy that retumbo was giving at a 2940 with the 230's. I just don't like the single feed on the 230's so I switched to the 220 ELDX and it has given me the best of both words. Accurate and mag length with a heavy bullet. A little more BC would of been the icing on the cake. :rolleyes:...but cant have everything.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I've decided to try both Retumbo and RL33 with an OAL of 3.680". That puts the end of the bearing surface right flush with the case mouth. Hopefully I can find a good accuracy node around 106-109 grains of RL33 or 96-98 grains Retumbo. That should give 3100 fps or thereabouts and be easy on brass.

Interesting comment about the increased recoil of RL33. I don't think that will be a major issue since this rifle has a nice radial brake on it but I'll pay attention nonetheless. Without a brake it seems like all the extra powder would make a big difference.
 
I do not have a 30-378 but I do have a 300 rum and I found they recoil with RL33 to horrible for less speed then retumbo. Burning 4-5 gr more powder for more recoil and less speed is not worth it. My load was a 215 Berger with 92 gr retumbo to get 3060 fps and 98 gr of rl 33 was wasn't breaking 3000 and rip your shoulder off.
I wonder if the RL33 is just a little too slow for the 215s in that cartridge. I've heard it works great in the big 338s pushing 300 grain pills between 2800-3000 fps. Haven't heard of anyone using it with lighter bullets like the 250s, which can hit 3000 fps with Retumbo or H1000. The RL33 might need a little more bullet in front of it before it starts to shine.
 
In my 30/378 I've used RL-33 with 200gr Nosler Part and the Barnes 175 gr LRX. With the 200 gr Nosler I worked up to 112 grs . A max load in my rifle and a vel of close to 3200 ft/sec Accuracy was good. With the 175gr LRX my max load was 115 grs for a vel of 3405 ft/sec. My first oal with the 175 was 3.790 and accuracy was 1.5 moa, but bringing the oal to 3.730 gave me sub moa accuracy. Good load, and I found the powder worked real good and burned real clean.
 
I wonder if the RL33 is just a little too slow for the 215s in that cartridge. I've heard it works great in the big 338s pushing 300 grain pills between 2800-3000 fps. Haven't heard of anyone using it with lighter bullets like the 250s, which can hit 3000 fps with Retumbo or H1000. The RL33 might need a little more bullet in front of it before it starts to shine.

I'm not sure if it would be different with the 230 or not. My rifle has a brake on it and it was bad. Total package was 12 lbs.
 
I have a 30-378 rebarreled 27in lilja my first load with the 212 eld was with 97.5grs of h1000 wlrm primers the first one out was 3177 fps i found the most accurate load at 99.5 grs but have not checked velocity.
 
Mine loves H50bmg 113.0 Coal 3.78 fed 215 primer ELD-x 3250fps 1.25 in group at 400yds that's my range at ranch custom 28 in proof research barrel I use Hornaday brass . Prior to rebarrel it's was standard 26 in accumark and still H50 BMG was best powder over rl33 Norma 214,H 1000, rl 25, us 869 and retumbo though gel in 26 stock barrel was 3050 it was 11 shots all touching at 100 yes with H50 BMG it is the powder for this cartridge in my Montana opinion
 
I should state that like JE Custom has my rebarrel has .250 freebore which isn't the .361 standard weatherby my prior coal with stock rifle was 3.850
 
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