338-300 Win Mag (338 Patriot)

[thesheepdog]

It's been a while since I've done anything with this: working 50-60 hours a week and studying to be an engineer at the same time....yeah.....

Anyway,

I got some free time this weekend to play around with some loads. I opted to use some IMR 7828 and Berger 300gr OTM's.

Load specs:

67gr IMR 7828
300gr Berger OTM
Federal 300 WM brass
Rem Mag Primers
3.875 OAL

Rifle Specs:
Bartlein 28" MTU 5R, 1:9.3 (nitrided)
Rem 700 custom action

This load was clocking about 2500fps. I have more powder room in the case to boost the velocity, so that't what I am going to do over the next few weeks.
I also plan to take this bad-boy out to 1300 yards in the next few weeks as well.

 

[Timber338]

Very cool rifle. I'm really interested to see where your load ends up and how it shoots at long range.

And I might be wrong, but I'm guessing you're studying mechanical engineering?

 

[thesheepdog]

Very cool rifle. I'm really interested to see where your load ends up and how it shoots at long range.

And I might be wrong, but I'm guessing you're studying mechanical engineering?

Thanks for the reply! I am just as interested as you-if not more. My hope is to get 2550-2600fps out of this load with 300gr and 2700ish with the 250's.

I would like to do Mechanical Engineering, however, I have most of my experience in computers/programming; with that, Computer Engineering my be my forte.

 

[thesheepdog]

So, I got to stretch the 338-300's legs out to 1000 yards with some 250gr HPBT's (Hornady).

Average velocity was 2715 fps, using 72.5gr RL26.

This load shot like a laser.

I also used the same powder charge for some 285 AMAX's and 300gr Bergers. The 285s were running 2685fps and the 300gr Bergers were running 2630fps

 

[7mmShooter]

Awesome, but what DBM are you running to mag feed that 3.875" OAL? Seekins 3.990"...? Definitely interested, as this is another option for a 338 on a 700 platform!

 

[thesheepdog]

Awesome, but what DBM are you running to mag feed that 3.875" OAL? Seekins 3.990"...? Definitely interested, as this is another option for a 338 on a 700 platform!

That's typo. It's actually 3.785. I am running the Accurate Mag/AICS + (ext.) length mags out of my Mcree Chassis. I have some 338 Edge barrels for this action that I load to 3.8"ish.

 

[7mmShooter]

That's typo. It's actually 3.785. I am running the Accurate Mag/AICS + (ext.) length mags out of my Mcree Chassis. I have some 338 Edge barrels for this action that I load to 3.8"ish.

OK, that makes more sense! i like it, with the Ultra Mag brass being so hard to find locally to do the Edge, this opens up another option. Getting 2600+ with RL26, with room to spare I assume, is pretty awesome considering the relatively low powder charges (compared to the Edge/Lapua, etc). Keep up the great work sir!

 

[thesheepdog]

OK, that makes more sense! i like it, with the Ultra Mag brass being so hard to find locally to do the Edge, this opens up another option. Getting 2600+ with RL26, with room to spare I assume, is pretty awesome considering the relatively low powder charges (compared to the Edge/Lapua, etc). Keep up the great work sir!

Yes! That's why I went with a "backup" .338 caliber for my 338 Edge-brass was too hard to find and expensive.
And 2600+ with a 300gr Berger is nothing to cry about. That is one heck of an LR load.

Here's where I got my reamer from, in case you'd like to make yourself one too.

Reamers, Chamber Reamers, Jgstools.com, Rifle, Shotgun, Pistol, Chamber Reamers , Gauges, Bore Reamers, Precision Tools, Rifle Button, Turbo Assesories, Quality Tooling

 

[Timber338]

And 2600+ with a 300gr Berger is nothing to cry about. That is one heck of an LR load.

Absolutely agree. That's a great load you've got. Nice work.

 

[thesheepdog]

So Saturday I got to push the .338 Patriot (.338-300 Win Mag) out to 1200 yards. I was using 300gr Bergers loaded to 3.785 OAL which clocked 2610 fps (very low SD) using 72.5gr RL26. RL26 is like the big-bore magnum version of RL17. I absolutely love both of these powders. No pressure signs at all. Based off my predictions, I am within .338 Win Mag territory still as far as pressure is concerned, with about 10gr more case volume.

Overall, I am very pleased with this caliber. I don't even shoot my .338 Edge anymore, because it's way overkill for 1200 yards.

 

[thesheepdog]

It's been a while.

Good news though. My buddy and I found a range here in Texas that offers up to 2400 yards of distance and we're planning on heading out there sometime next month.

This is amazing for so many reasons. 1) I get to stretch the legs of my .338-300 Win Mag beyond a mile 2) shooting a mile+ is a lifelong dream 3) I also get to test out my .308 Win, 208gr AMAX loads.

Stay tuned. I'll be posting pictures/videos about this once I get the opportunity.

 

[7mmShooter]

It's been a while.

Good news though. My buddy and I found a range here in Texas that offers up to 2400 yards of distance and we're planning on heading out there sometime next month.

This is amazing for so many reasons. 1) I get to stretch the legs of my .338-300 Win Mag beyond a mile 2) shooting a mile+ is a lifelong dream 3) I also get to test out my .308 Win, 208gr AMAX loads.

Stay tuned. I'll be posting pictures/videos about this once I get the opportunity.

Awesome! gun)

 

[thesheepdog]

So I finally did it!!! I got to shoot 1 mile with my 338 and actually hit something!!

I used 285gr AMAX to get my 1st and only hit at a mile away. 22.1 mils of elevation and 1.5 mils for wind on a 24x24 target.

My original dope was off by a mil. I noticed my first shots at 1760 were a mil high, so I went back to 1100 and checked my DOPE, and it was a mil high. So I corrected, started to engage the 1 mile plate and my next shots went 0.2 mils left, so I corrected and BANG!!!! One shot on the bottom left edge of tech plate.

 

[7mmShooter]

So I finally did it!!! I got to shoot 1 mile with my 338 and actually hit something!!

I used 285gr AMAX to get my 1st and only hit at a mile away. 22.1 mils of elevation and 1.5 mils for wind on a 24x24 target.

My original dope was off by a mil. I noticed my first shots at 1760 were a mil high, so I went back to 1100 and checked my DOPE, and it was a mil high. So I corrected, started to engage the 1 mile plate and my next shots went 0.2 mils left, so I corrected and BANG!!!! One shot on the bottom left edge of tech plate.

Nice, congratulations on busting the mile!