338 Norma Reloading Data

[quaka wacka]

Thanks for the update. I talked to Petersen about pressure signs with their brass and you likely won't see them until you are way over. Just an FYI.
Looks like your getting promising results. I'm playing with the 265 CELs right now using RL26. With I could find some of the N570

 

[codyadams]

Thanks for the update. I talked to Petersen about pressure signs with their brass and you likely won't see them until you are way over. Just an FYI.
Looks like your getting promising results. I'm playing with the 265 CELs right now using RL26. With I could find some of the N570

Ya, that is kind of what I figured, so I'm gonna keep my load aroumd 88 grains or so. In a action designed for the larger cartridges however, you could get some crazy performance. In my buddies stiller TAC 338 with a 28" barrel using peterson brass and retumbo, when trying to find max pressure I got the 300 Bergers over 2900 and still wasn't having any pressure signs!! I backed it down to 2750 and it's happy there.

 

[18echo]

Just wanted to put in my findings, for my rifle. I'm shooting a 3 groove 1-9 benchmark barrel @ 27 inches.

With both Retumbo and H1000, the most forgiving node ( +/- .15 grains in the drop) is when the velocity is right at 2750 fps. For H1000 that's at 87.3 and Retumbo is 87.5. (using the OCW method for node finding) I'm shooting a Berger 300gr Elite Hunter.

Factory 300 SMK Norma ammo is one-hole-at-100yds accurate and clocks in at an average of 2615 over 6 shots (first six shots out of the rifle with magnetospeed).

I would really like to know what Sloan's recipe was for this round using the 300smk and Ramshot Magnum. I thought i recalled reading somewhere that this round was developed with that bullet and powder to shoot at 2650fps in a 26inch barrel.

It's really surprising that even now, there is very limited "official" load data for this cartridge out on the web...

 

[GioCa]

Hi everyone, I have recently got a 338 Norma,
I tried 2 powders:
Norma MRP 87gr.
Vihtavuori N 165 92 gr.
Nosler 250 Accubond.
The most consistent is Norma Mrp.
He gives me group 1.96 " at 437 Y
Speed 3018 fps
28" is Hardy CF barrel

This European deer I got it at 500y.
It collapsed on the spot.
The bullet went through from mid ribs up to the neck.
For me it is a good cartridge
Regards

 

[Jakeweb09]

Anyone shoot h1000 over the Berger 250 elites? I'm looking for a solid starting point. I did load some seating depth tests with a low charge of 83.5 grains but velocity was pretty low. It's a new barrel so I'd expect it to speed up some but I was right at 2530 FPS with this load. What are you guys finding most people wind up at with this combo?

 

[Rhovee]

I bet you would be closer to 90. I know with standard 338 Norma and 300's, most guys are around 85-86 H1000. Just load up 2 shots each jumping half a grain at a time and run up to 90. I would start at 86

 

[redneckclimbing]

Anyone shoot h1000 over the Berger 250 elites? I'm looking for a solid starting point. I did load some seating depth tests with a low charge of 83.5 grains but velocity was pretty low. It's a new barrel so I'd expect it to speed up some but I was right at 2530 FPS with this load. What are you guys finding most people wind up at with this combo?

Jakeweb09, you should be able to shoot them quite a bit faster than that. I'm running a 270 ELD-X at 2800 with a 26" barrel. So far brass life has been good, just a couple of firings but still very tight pockets. It's also Bertram brass. I don't have the 250 Berger in QuickLoad however, with the 250 gr. Grand Slam, which should have quite a bit more bearing surface being a flat base tangent ogive bullet. It says max pressure is at 100.00 grains of H-1000 at 3.47" COAL. That load gives you 2970 with a 26" barrel.

Obviously, be smart when applying that information, but I would say you have some room to work with if you want it. As a comparison, it says your load with a 26" barrel should make 2463 fps. Not sure how long your barrel is? You may have a tight bore that is making some additional pressure? I would say don't go over whatever charge gives you 2950 fps, and you should be pretty safe.

 

[Jakeweb09]

I bet you would be closer to 90. I know with standard 338 Norma and 300's, most guys are around 85-86 H1000. Just load up 2 shots each jumping half a grain at a time and run up to 90. I would start at 86

I was reading most people around 88 for the 300s so figured I should be able to go a bit higher yet. Thanks!

 

[Jakeweb09]

Obviously, be smart when applying that information, but I would say you have some room to work with if you want it. As a comparison, it says your load with a 26" barrel should make 2463 fps. Not sure how long your barrel is? You may have a tight bore that is making some additional pressure? I would say don't go over whatever charge gives you 2950 fps, and you should be pretty safe.

Appreciate the info! I have a 27" HCA carbon barrel. I definitely don't see myself headed up to the 100 grain mark though and am just hoping to get around 2900 would be great

 

[WeiserBucks]

Have any of you guys had any more luck with N570? Ive got a 338 Norma build underway and Ive got a ton of N570. It worked great in my 300 Norma and I was hoping for similar performance in the 338.

 

[highdrum]

Appreciate the info! I have a 27" HCA carbon barrel. I definitely don't see myself headed up to the 100 grain mark though and am just hoping to get around 2900 would be great

Are you running Mike's 338 norma improved chamber?

 

[highdrum]

Have any of you guys had any more luck with N570? Ive got a 338 Norma build underway and Ive got a ton of N570. It worked great in my 300 Norma and I was hoping for similar performance in the 338.

N570 is fabulous in my 338 rum which has a bit more capacity.

 

[Jakeweb09]

Are you running Mike's 338 norma improved chamber?

Yes I am

 

[highdrum]

Yes I am

His improved chamber is probably the most aggressive one out there thats on the 35° shoulder. Idk if the 338 version moves the neck shoulder junction forward like the 300 version or not. I would suggest a starting load with N570 at around 88-89gr. That should have you in a 2650-2700 fps area. His 300 version is 108gr capacity and 338 should be 109. My 338 rum is 110 so the data should correlate fairly close. My finalized load is 92.7 gr for 2850fps in adg brass with 28" barrel pushing 300 elite hunters.