Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting .338 LM

Looks like there might be some hurt feelers at the ice breaker this year.... grin

You should come out. Lots of good folks with lots of knowledge to share....and challenging conditions to shoot in.

Thanks for the invitation, you guys are way outta my league!!! I’m good at killin but long range I’d get spanked!! Haha

Exactly why I sold my 338/300 Ultra, basically a twin to the Lapua.

Mine ran 300's at 2820 with 93 grains of H-1000.

Built the 7x300 WM to replace it, 3 lbs lighter & no brake, & matched the 338 to 2K. Still a handful to spot shots, but doable.

Sold that to downsize to the PRC. Only makes super to 1850, but like the PRC manners even better.

Some years ago I had a .338 L when I was shooting 1000yd BR. My rifle was in the light gun class and weighed 17.5 lbs. W/O the brake it was just too much of a good thing.

With the brake it was manageable but with 100gr of powder going off a lot of schit is happening at the same time. It would torque in the bags and had to dick around to get get back on target....burning time and increasing the time for conditions to change.

I was working up a load and I had a bunch of stuff on the bench. Brass, loaded rounds, solvent, glasses. One shot and the bench was wiped clean. say concussion!!!!.

The round was very accurate but to shoot a five or ten shot group quickly it was just too much to manage in a competitive situation.

FWIW the NF 12X42 that was on it has been on several rifles and is still going strong.


Lefty C

That is why I run a 30” barrel on mine with a brake. My 338 LM has a brake and is an easy rig to shoot.

I'd like your load info, PM if you'd like.


41

Lapua brass, trim length: 2.714", neck sized with a .366 bushing, shoulder bump every three firings.
300gr Berger OTM
88.0grs H1000
Rem 9 1/2 Mag primer
COAL: 3.850"
BTO: 3.005"

I had to back down a bit with my recent lot of H1000. I've used up to 90.0grs. work up slow, and pay attention to bolt lift.

I've also used 215 Mag Match Federal primers, but have had good luck with the Remington Mag primers. They are just as hot as the federal. SD was just as good with them, or better.

Amazing group and nice looking rifle....that would definitely qualify as a "hammer" as far as groups and rifles are concerned. I will say that challenging conditions are a lot more fun to shoot in :-)

RIFLEMAN.

Originally Posted by scenarshooter
I've kicked around the thought of selling the rifle a few times the past two or three years.
It's a challenge to shoot, lots of muzzle blast, concussion, and plenty of recoil even though it's heavy, and has a good brake on it.

Great shooting!

I am shooting an improved 338-416 Rigby. I have to second the "Challenge to shoot" comment - My rifle is burning 112-grains of RL33 and is driving the 300 Berger at 3050 fps. It currently has a Vias brake and it isn't getting the job done. Even with a "sissy-bag" filled with 10-pounds of lead shot, the rifle is very challenging to shoot.

I mistakenly turned a skim-bedding into a glue-in and am getting five-shot groups in the 3/8 range when the Idaho winds are blowing elsewhere. Some LR steel is next on the agenda.

Those 300gr Bergers are something aren't they? I love that bullet!

300gr Bergers? Just doesn't seem right to not be shooting your eponymous bullets! LOL

I was glad to see your mention of the recent lot of H1000. There is a BIG difference in maximum loads between the different manuals and I wonder how much of this is due to the varying lots of powder. The 2017 Hogden annual manual lists 98.0grs with 250gr HornadySP for 52,800 CUP. Berger lists 90.0grs max for 250s and Nosler lists 90.0grs max for 300's! Seems like a lot of variation between the different data sources.

98.0grs was a little warm in my rifles with 250 SCENARS. 96.0 was 2grs below the listed max in the Hodgen manual and didn't have any traditional "pressure signs' like bolt lift, primers etc. but my Velocity was 200fps faster so the pressure HAS to be higher. I wonder how much of all this is the lot variation you mentioned........

.....................dj

I went back to my log book on that rifle, and found this data on my 250gr Scenar load. That bullet shot very well with VV N560.

I've always had good luck with VV powder. It seemed to be very consistent from lot to lot...spendy, but good powder. Course I guess there's nothing cheap about shooting a .338LM...;)

Awesome!

Groups at 200, with the 300gr load.



After shooting this last five shot group100M to confirm velocity, I "aired it out" and made gravel out of bowling ball sized rocks out to 850 meters. The fun part is hearing the impact those 300's make when they hit something solid..

FWIW, I've logged 1400 rounds through it, and the throat still looks very good. It's a pretty well balanced design...338 diameter+LM case capacity isn't really over-bore IMO. I'm betting 4-5000 rounds of barrel life.

I'll have another report on hitting steel out to 1700 meters in a few weeks.....I have 300 rounds loaded up for the Icebreaker..;)

Fine shootin' Pat!

I had a chuckle on the "challenge to shoot" mention. I'm sure it is but you surely make it sing.

I've fired ten shot groups under 2" at 300 yards with my 700 in 308, and he's doing it at 500 meters with that beast. Takes the air right out of my balloon.

Pat has the same humbling impact when posting picts of critters.

300 Berger. Bull elk 500 yards.
My edge pushes them right at 2800. They are definitely something else.