250 SMK load

[Cruizin]

I have a 338 Edge AI and am thinking of working up a load with H1000 and the 250 SMK. Any recommendations on where I should start?

I have a really accurate and low es load with the 300 smk of 96 grains of H1000 in Rem brass and the 250 mag cci primers. It gives me 2875 fps. I can't go much higher without seeing pressure signs. In fact if my ammo is warm I start to see pressure signs.

I was thinking I could start at 96 grains and work up does that sound reasonable? How much faster do you think the 250 smk will be? I'm thinking it can't be more than 100fps faster than the 300 smk.

 

[jwp475]

Why would you give up the 300 SMK for the 250?

 

[Cruizin]

Can't buy any 300 smk. No body has them in stock and Sierra says they are not going to be making them for at least a month.

 

[JLR]

How long is your barrel? That seems like an awful lot of H1000 for 2875fps.

 

[Cruizin]

Its about 30". My gunsmith didn't want to do any freebore. Shawn with DE puts in about .050" freebore and this allows more fps from his tubes. I wish I would have gone with another smith but hind sight is always 20/20.

 

[davewilson]

i've shot both the 250's and 300's out of my "stock" Edge.it has a 29" Rock Creek barrel. my accuracy load with the 300's / 250 primer / 92 gr h1000 was about 2780. with the 250's / 98 gr h1000 i'm around 3100.

 

[Cruizin]

Thanks Dave that was what I was after.

 

[davewilson]

my 250 load is definitely warmer than the 300. the 300 load is fairly mild and the 250 is pretty warm. i've run 112 gr of 869 with the 250's and can't get the same speed as i can with 1000. 869 is great with the 300's but too slow for the 250's. i get higher spreads with Retumbo.

 

[JD338]

Cruizin,

What you have sounds very similar to the 338 O'Brien, which is a 338-300 RUM AI.
The 338 O'Brien shoots a 250 gr Nosler PT with 103.0 grs H1000 at 3250 fps from a 26" tube.

JD338

 

[trueblue]

Cruisin,
I have a box of 497 300gr SMK I could sell you some to help you out. I was starting to buy some reloading components for a 338 Edge I was talking with Shawn about building me, but had to delay the build for now due to finances. Send PM if I can help you out.

 

[P KUNDA]

Get a throat reamer

and you can make the "free bore" to your liking. Use an extension and you don't need to even remove the barrel to do this.

Peter