338 Norma Reloading Data

[codyadams]

Got my final load for the 270 Bulldozers!!

270 Badland Bulldozer, HBN coated
88.5 grains VV N-570
.025" off (3.819" OAL)
Peterson brass
GM215M
2835 fps

Three different 3 shot groups @200 yards, pictured below. I adjusted the last one but guessed and went a little far. This gun is a shooter, and these bullets make it easy, I haven't done ANY seating depth testing, and don't think I will.

89.0 grains Retumbo at about 2825 fps didn't do too bad either, and the horizontal stringing may have been me, but still right around half MOA, maybe a touch over. If I can't find any N-570, this or a load close to this will be my back up.

 

[quaka wacka]

Pressure test today with 265 cutting edge lasers and RL26 out of a 24" proof barrel. Ended with very faint ejector marks and no heavy bolt lift. Petersen brass and GM215M. CBTO 3.888"(ish) 85-90gr (+.5)

 

[JW74]

Following along for future updates. Great thread!

 

[codyadams]

Hey guys, this is out in left field but I'm seeing if anyone has done it.

I'm trying to decide what chambering to go with for my wife's LR elk rifle build, and like the thought of a PRC or 30 Sherman Mag, but don't know how she would do with the recoil. But, if I loaded a 230 grain eld in my .338 NM to about 3000 fps, that would be about a perfect representation of what it would be like, as her rifle will be about the same weight as mine.

Anyone have any experience loading the light pills in the 338 NM?

 

[JW74]

Hey guys, this is out in left field but I'm seeing if anyone has done it.

I'm trying to decide what chambering to go with for my wife's LR elk rifle build, and like the thought of a PRC or 30 Sherman Mag, but don't know how she would do with the recoil. But, if I loaded a 230 grain eld in my .338 NM to about 3000 fps, that would be about a perfect representation of what it would be like, as her rifle will be about the same weight as mine.

Anyone have any experience loading the light pills in the 338 NM?

Cody, I haven't tried anything lighter than 285gr in my 338 NM but you could always go the route of 300 NM for your wife's rifle.

 

[JW74]

I ran a ladder test and then worked up some loads with RL26 and Hornady 285 gr ELD's.

This was the best group from the workup so far and also the highest powder weight from my first batch of test loads. I see pressure early so I started conservatively.

 

[adamjp]

Following.

 

[SheepShapeAK]

What dies are all of you liking for the .338 NM?

 

[codyadams]

What dies are all of you liking for the .338 NM?

I have been using Hornady competition dies with micrometer seater and full length bushing die, seems to be working well for me.

 

[quaka wacka]

I use the Forster Ultras. Been very happy with them.

 

[JW74]

I use the Forster Bench rest two die set.

 

[codyadams]

Finally was able to take my rifle out to range, and ran a ladder test at 623 yards with the 270 grain Badland Super Bulldozers, from 86.7 up to 89.3 grains of VV N-570, in .3 grain increments.

The entirety of nearly 3 grains had under 6" of verticle spread, with the best set being 88.5-89.3, the 4 shots showing right at or just under 1.5" verticle, and total group being 4.75", much less if I cheat and only count three ha ha. Not sure if the one to the left was me, some wind changes, as there was two wind channels going on, or just where it was gonna be....

I will load up some rounds with 88.9 grains, chrono them, and start shooting groups at range on steel to see how they do. Even if the 4.75" 4 shot group of .8 grain spread was just how it would be, that is still around 3/4 MOA, not too bad for a harris bipod and rear bag at over 600 yds with with a 9 lb rifle. I bet it will tighten up a bit too using a consistent load.

 

[codyadams]

I will also say, recoil is incredibly manageable. I was shooting side by side, doing a ladder test with an 11.5 lb supressed 7mm rem mag, shooting 175 ABLR's around 2930-2960, and I wasn't able to spot a single hit out of 9 rounds with the 7 mag. However, I was back on target to watch the impact all 10 shots with my .338. The recoil is interesting though, while the .338 moved off target MUCH less than the 7 mag, the felt recoil to the shoulder were almost identical between the two.

 

[codyadams]

Did a charge weight test at 303 yards just because with the 270 Badlands bullets and N570 powder, and the results were very similar with my ladder test. I ran 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, and 91.5 grains working up. Never saw any pressure other than slight primer crater, no ejector mark and no increase in bolt lift throughout. I know the 91 grain load is over 2900 fps, but accuracy seemed to degrade. 88, 89, and 90 grains were all around half MOA or less, and 91.5 was just over. 88 grains is 2830 fps. These were shot with a rear bag and tripod front rest, my hunting type set up. Waited 5 minutes between each shot with a fan on the barrel for cool off.