Reduced power 338 lapua loads

[NZ338lapua]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and are after some advice, I'm in New Zealand and the hunting I do involves back packing to areas where 1000 yard shots are frequently available, Fortunately so are 15 yard shots on the walk in !! I shoot a Remington.338 lapua with a very effective but extremely loud T3 Terminator brake. 285gn hornady eld and 92 gun retumbo in a lapua brass...very effective LR load....but very very loud. My question is this...can anyone advise on a reduced power load using the 185gn TSX at about 2800fps that I can shoot unbraked...on the Carry in, switching to the full noise, braked load for the long shots? Any help would be appreciated. gun)gun)

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I do empathize with your goal.

I'd be leary of carrying 2 different loads. Not from mixing up the cartridges but from the process of removing/installing the brake. Unload and make safe the firearm. Remove brake/thread protector install other.

Failure to properly make the firearm safe could be catastrophic.

Just had to get that warning part in....

What powders can you get. ADI AR 2217?

 

[NZ338lapua]

I appreciate your safety concerns.

I can get most powders the ADI ones the easiest, I have 2225 and 2213sc in the safe already, but also hodgdon, vhitavouri, any of the reloader series are easy enough to source.

Thanks again. Antony

 

[toddc]

A set of electronic muffs or plugs would make more sense for most people.

 

[el matador]

Hornady lists data down to 2700 fps for their 185 grain GMX, which is similar to the TSX. Here is the data:

H4350 80.0 grains
IMR4831 83.9 grains
VIHT N-160 77.9 grains
RL-19 84.0 grains
RL-22 88.3 grains
VIHT N-165 87.0 grains
H4831 86.1 grains
IMR 7828 89.1 grains
H1000 91.2 grains

Most of the Hornady max loads are about 2 grains lower than the Barnes. If it were me I'd start about 2 grains above the Hornady minimum loads and see how it shoots.

Another method would be to use Barnes or Hodgdon's data and start 10% below the max load.

 

[NZ338lapua]

Thanks el matador..... that was exactly what I was looking for...(and thankyou for not treating me like a greenhorn).

 

[Marine sniper]

I was just looking for the same info for a 338 Lapua I am going to load for my Girlfriend.

 

[bpcrshooter]

suppose you could take the brake off, put a shoulder pad on and find a LR load and a short range load. No worries then.