Well, I went out today and tried to work up some loads for the 338WM. It was 95* and a heat index of 105! After getting the scope close to center with some stand by 225gr Hornady SST loads, using 76gr's of RL19, I tried the 250gr PT's, 73gr's RL22, CCI250's and Nosler cases. Well, they ran 2780, 2760, and 2754 across the chrono. I had stiff bolt lift and extractor marks on the cases. This was my starting load. Needless to say, I didn't push any further. Accuracy was decent, not great, but okay.
Well, since those were too hot, I decided to try the RL19 loads I had loaded up. My starting load was 250gr PT's, 71gr's, CCI250's, and Nosler cases. They went 2783, 2790, and 2765. Pretty good speed, but again, this was starting loads. Again, had sticky extraction and marks on the cases. Never went any higher than those, but again, accuracy was very decent for the heat state I was shooting in.
I tried to shoot the 264WM with the 66.5gr load of RL22 and again, that was a no go. I shot the first round as a fouler, and then the second. Both were sticky and had a speed of 3280. I never fired another one of them. Extractor marks on the cases in both rounds.
I did however try my "known good" load. Which is a 225gr SST, 76gr of RL19, WW cases, and CCI250's. That load clocked 2876, 2880, 2889 for three shots and shot a sub inch group. I decided to take it back to 250 and see what it did at 250 yards. No real reason I picked 250, but I just wanted to see what they shot like.
My buddy shot the first 2. Here is his target.
I saw those and said, I need to try and shot these next two. I made a dope change between the two rounds so I would still have to tune it, but man, they show a ton of potential.
Overall, the rifle will shoot! The new B&C stock is well worth the money. I only shot two at 250 just cause it was so darned hot and I was getting tired of waiting for the barrel to cool. I really think the PT's will shoot just as well as the SST's, just need to rework the loads. I might try some H4831 and H4350 out. I need to get something a little more temp stable in order to do load work here in Northern Va. I don't really have an option of waiting for cooler weather and need to shoot when I can. I think those loads would have been fine had the temp been 10* cooler, but during this stinking Va heat, they aren't cutting it. Anyhow, the rifle is shooting well with that B&C stock and the groups stay put, even with a hot barrel. Mission accomplished in my book. Plus, the rifle just looks way cooler! Scotty
Well, since those were too hot, I decided to try the RL19 loads I had loaded up. My starting load was 250gr PT's, 71gr's, CCI250's, and Nosler cases. They went 2783, 2790, and 2765. Pretty good speed, but again, this was starting loads. Again, had sticky extraction and marks on the cases. Never went any higher than those, but again, accuracy was very decent for the heat state I was shooting in.
I tried to shoot the 264WM with the 66.5gr load of RL22 and again, that was a no go. I shot the first round as a fouler, and then the second. Both were sticky and had a speed of 3280. I never fired another one of them. Extractor marks on the cases in both rounds.
I did however try my "known good" load. Which is a 225gr SST, 76gr of RL19, WW cases, and CCI250's. That load clocked 2876, 2880, 2889 for three shots and shot a sub inch group. I decided to take it back to 250 and see what it did at 250 yards. No real reason I picked 250, but I just wanted to see what they shot like.
My buddy shot the first 2. Here is his target.
I saw those and said, I need to try and shot these next two. I made a dope change between the two rounds so I would still have to tune it, but man, they show a ton of potential.
Overall, the rifle will shoot! The new B&C stock is well worth the money. I only shot two at 250 just cause it was so darned hot and I was getting tired of waiting for the barrel to cool. I really think the PT's will shoot just as well as the SST's, just need to rework the loads. I might try some H4831 and H4350 out. I need to get something a little more temp stable in order to do load work here in Northern Va. I don't really have an option of waiting for cooler weather and need to shoot when I can. I think those loads would have been fine had the temp been 10* cooler, but during this stinking Va heat, they aren't cutting it. Anyhow, the rifle is shooting well with that B&C stock and the groups stay put, even with a hot barrel. Mission accomplished in my book. Plus, the rifle just looks way cooler! Scotty
