338 Lapua IMP with RELOADER 33

[dkhunt14]

Last Sunday I took my 338 Lapua Improved up to the Wiliamsport 1000 yard range to test the R33 in it. The rifle is a 36" 1.450 diameter Krieger. It is glued in a barrel block and mounted in an all aluminum stock. It weighs about 45 pounds and is 6 inches wide up front, running on rails so it tracks. The action is a Lawton and the trigger is a Jewel 2 ounce. I fired 5 sighters on the bank and went to paper for 12 shots. I shot the 12 as fast as I could just like a match. The sighters and first 4 of the target had 102 grains and averaged 2932. The next 4 had 103 grains and averaged 2993 and the last four had 104 grains and averaged 3042. This was with the 300 grain Berger (first generation) shot 10 thous. in the rifling. The 102 grain load shot about a half minute low and was about 10 inches; but one shot was way to the right which opened it up a good bit. The 103 grain load shot about a half minute high and was 4 1/4 inches. The 104 grain load was the same height and was 6 1/2 inches; but 7 0f the 8 on those two loads were at 4 1/2 inches. One of the 104 load went about 2 inches high and opened it up a bit. There must be a node right at 103 to 104. I was still picking up good velocity with a grain increase but I can't push them faster because of first generation bullet. There was no pressure and I believe I could get close to 3100. When I shot 97 grains of H1000 I got 2950 but the bolt was sticky. I had 20.75 minutes on so this confirms the velocity was right. Seems this powder is accurate and can get good velocity. Matt

 

[lhouston78]

my lapua imp has a 37degree shoulder, 29.9 inch barrel and I shoot 105.5 grain of rl-33 and 300 smks at 3008 with no pressure. Have not tried bergers with the 33 yet because I didnt have time or enough hunter elites for this year.

 

[MMERSS]

shot 10 thous. in the rifling.

Matt,

You have the ultimate test rifle!!!!holy smokes. I would love to have been there. Great post and a "HUGE" thanks for this data. RL-33 is showing great promise!

Are you finding RL-33 to show most promise in or next to the lands? First thoughts would be yes but wanted to confirm.

Are you short GEN II's? Any plans to test them?

Thanks again.

 

[dkhunt14]

In my prior testing both the Sierra and the Berger shot better 10 in. I bought a lot of the 300 Bergers when they first came out. So I will not buy any of the Gen 11 for awhile. I believe the first generations open up better on deer that's why I bought so many. We actually carry guns up to 90 lb. up to 800 yards to hunt. I built mine lighter just to carry it in. Here in Pa. its hard to find spots to hunt where you can see into the trees. I believe from the powders I shot before that the R 33 is going to be a good powder for all the 338 calibers.

 

[MMERSS]

We actually carry guns up to 90 lb. up to 800 yards to hunt.

Isn't Paul Bunyan from your neck of the woods.....Are you holding something back?

 

[dkhunt14]

Tomorrow is bear season and i will try to get pictures of gun and my rest. Then i will have to get someone to show me how to post. Matt

 

[MMERSS]

Make sure you get Paul in the picture. I bet the gun looks puny carried under his arms.

 

[jmden]

Be curious to see what you find in regards to temp sensitivity or lack thereof if that's a concern for you. Some, in this Lap Imp chambering seem to be finding very little temp sensitivity with RL33 and some quite a bit.

 

[dkhunt14]

Be curious to see what you find in regards to temp sensitivity or lack thereof if that's a concern for you. Some, in this Lap Imp chambering seem to be finding very little temp sensitivity with RL33 and some quite a bit.

We shot the gun out to 1670 yards during the deer and bear season. The temperature went from about 15 degrees to 45 degrees and my click chart seemed to be spot on. I believe it worked even better temperature wise then the H1000 I shot last year. Matt

 

[jmden]

There seems to be about the same number of folks that say it's very temp insensitive as say it IS temp sensitive. I've heard it both ways from folks that know what they are doing I did a couple of tests a couple of times keeping things controlled as possible. Found a 25+fps increase from rounds kept at 70F or (doing this from memory now) compared to about 35F. When rounds were kept at about 10-20F vs. approx 85F (in my pocket), there was about 50+fps difference. This in my 338AX. I used a fan blowing air on my rifle to quickly cool down the barrel to a cool to the touch temp and the rounds were fired 'round robin' to try to keep things as consistent as possible.

THAT SAID, most of these groups were at or under 1/3 MOA and some just above 1/4MOA. AND, even with the measured fps difference, hot/warm groups (not a really big group of data, but nonetheless) seemed to group about 1/3 MOA apart. BUT, I was only testing this at 205 yds prone of an Atlas bipod, so I do not have data from true long ranges.

Would sure like to start a real thread here on what folks experience with this powder is...

 

[dkhunt14]

If you look at my initial testing you will see that the ave. velocity between the 103 load and the 104 was about 50 feet per second difference. The impact on paper at 1000 yards was almost identical with 7 of the 8 shots in 4 1/2 inches and one went higher by 2 inches. So they shot the 8 shots in 6 1/2 inches. I ran the 103 load for hunting season and it worked great. The numbers and group on that load was slightly better and was under the 3000 that I wanted to shoot the 300 Berger at. I think I have the results of kills under pictures of my hunting rig. Matt

 

[jmden]

If you look at my initial testing you will see that the ave. velocity between the 103 load and the 104 was about 50 feet per second difference. The impact on paper at 1000 yards was almost identical with 7 of the 8 shots in 4 1/2 inches and one went higher by 2 inches. So they shot the 8 shots in 6 1/2 inches. I ran the 103 load for hunting season and it worked great. The numbers and group on that load was slightly better and was under the 3000 that I wanted to shoot the 300 Berger at. I think I have the results of kills under pictures of my hunting rig. Matt

Put up a link to that, would you?

Interesting that I had settled at 103 as well and was also just under 3K. May be a trend here...

Any more particulars on temp sensitivity from anyone?

 

[Erik Kiser]

If you don't mind me asking, what are the specs on the case? Shoulder angle and such and is there a reamer available from PTG for it? Just like to start picking up a few parts to the next build and I've decided after dealing with Remington brass the next build will use Lapua brass but undecided on 338 or 375 caliber. Thanks

 

[dkhunt14]

The reamer came from Kiff but I'm not sure about shoulder angle. Either it is a 35 or 40. My gunsmith didn' have a copy of reamer print. Matt