338 Lapua HUNTING LOADS

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SJB358

Ballistician
Dec 24, 2006
32,439
3,157
Guys, I have a good buddy who has a Savage 110 Lapua 338 Lapua. Right now he is using some factory 250gr MK ammo. Well, the results are pretty gruesome. He asked me about loads for the 338 Lapua, and I kind of immediately thought of the 250gr AB (Wished there was a 275 or 300) and RL25 and Retumbo. Anyhow, if any of you all have any good hunting loads for the rifle, I would appreciate it and will pass them along. Scotty

250gr SMK
Picture086.jpg


Picture094.jpg
 
That load did a number on the poor deer. On the other hand, I'll wager it didn't run off into the bush. Interestingly, the work I've done with the 338 Lapua focused on 225 grain bullets (TSX, AB) though I have worked up a few loads with 250 grain bullets. I have recommended, but to my knowledge no one has acted on my recommendation, the use of 300 grain Sierra MKs or 275 grain A-Frames. I would think these would be great bullets for this cartridge.
 
Scotty,

I know OU812 has some good 338 Lapua load data and he was using 250 gr AB's.

I have used RL 25 and Retumbo in my 338 RUM with excellent results.

JD338
 
I was kinda thinking the same thing about the 275's and 300gr Sierra's, but I think he wants to stick with 250's. He has a Horus reticle system installed in his scope and the 250's seem to print where he wants. Plus, I am not sure if we really gain too much with the heavier than 250 class bullet in the 338L. Again, I am open to all suggestions for this. I even looked a little at the data for the new 285gr Hornady. I would think the 250gr AB at 3000-3100 would be pretty sweet, plus, it would have to keep recoil down a bit as well.

Keep the opinions coming. I will pass it all along. My buddy using this 338 just got back and bought the rifle. Had the optics mounted and he started getting data on his load. Again, I am not sure what exact load he is using (factory ammo), but it does have the Sierra 250 MK. After looking at the results, I am starting to get a little tingle. I hate when that happens... Scotty

Picture040.jpg
 
I looked into loading for a 338Lapua a while back. A friend of mine here was thinking about picking one up. Advice from several folks who own/shoot these out at ranges beyond where I would, was consistent. The powder of choice for the one I trust the most is H1000. Bullet choice? He likes Bergers in the heaviest available weights. I'd be more than happy to connect you to Jeff if you have any questions, Scotty. He's the real thing, as far as long range shooting is concerned. And he's happy to share his knowledge and help others learn. He doesn't sugar coat it, though, but I suspect you've known more than one guy like that in your line of work!
 
I am just kinda researching loads right now for a buddy. I am still a ways off from getting one of my own. I still have a few other rifles that are in need of work before I move on to one of them really long range killers. I kinda just want one for shooting at steel and I am sure I will hunt with it, but I am not really into the LR hunting, in the strictest sense of it. I am pretty much a 500 yard and under hunter right now. If I had access to a longer range, that would change some, but for now, I am pretty content with my set ups. Although the LR guys have alot of innovation which applies across the board. Their optics and mounting systems have really made alot of sense and their principles apply to alot of other types of hunting.

Thanks for the heads up. I am looking forward to getting a rifle, even though it is a ways off. Maybe after my next deployment! Scotty
 
Scotty, what was the range? I bet it's close. The 250 SMK is actually has a much thicker jacket than the 300.

338 Lapua is way too much cartridge for deer, especially when the range is close. It doesn't matter what bullet you're going to use, you're going to have the same result. Try Barnes. At least the expansion will be minimal.

I shot this pup with 300 SMK at 480 yards with my 338 Lapua Ackley Improved. The only reason why the exit wound was small because the coyote has less body mass. If it was a deer, the result would have been different.

AZone09004.jpg


This is the 300 SMK impact on steel at 525 yards at 2850 fps velocity out of the muzzle. The little dent to the right of the 2nd shot that was painted over was from 168 grain Nosler Comp from my 308 at the same distance.

Target023.jpg
 
If you use a controlled expanding bullet in the 338 lapua, you will have nice exit wounds.
I shot this little buck with a 250 gr AB from my 338 RUM, dropping him in his tracks.
The exit wound is shown.
Spike111608a.jpg

JD338
 
Tremendous difference in the wounds inflicted by JD338's rifle, and the deer shot by Scotty's friend. Either way, it's a dead deer. Those big .338's really dish it out...
 
scotty a couple of things, i am not sure what horus reticle he has but that doesnt make a difference what bullet he uses its not a bdc system its moa or mil gridding. he will have to get different info for each bullet he uses but the reticle is universal. another thing is i will agree with desert fox when he said it looked like a close range range shot my guess would be it was under three hundred yards. if i were using a lapua or an ultra on deerand i have on antelope it would be a minimum of 500 yards or better that is the whole point of a big high bc bullet, maintained energy at longer distances. your standard 300 magnums have the power on deer with the right bullet to kill cleanly to 900 plus yards. the 338 lapua can deliver the same result past the 1400 yard mark. if your guy wants to use the lapua at shorter ranges more power to him but i think he will find the results similar with most bullets he uses.
 
I guess the scope is a 4x16 Horus Raptor? Don't know, I know it is made by Horus, but I am not sure who really makes the scope. I haven't heard the details of the shot from the boys just yet, but you all are probably right. Like I said, I will pass all the available info to him and let him decide on what he wants to shoot. I don't know if he is a dedicated long range guy, he has been a sniper for a long time, so he knows how to shoot and seems to set his rifles up accordingly, but he doesn't really care if it is at 50 or 500 yards.. We only get a certain amount of time every year to hunt, so if he has the shot, I am pretty sure he would rather lose the front legs and still have a deer than travel back to Camp Pendleton empty handed.

Great info from you all. I am pretty sure I would stick with a 250gr AB actually. I know it isn't super high on the BC scale, but it should be plenty to get out to longer ranges and still open up out there. Again, keep all of the info coming. Great to hear all of your thoughts and experiences on this.

Scotty
 
The Lapua is about 100 fps faster than the Weatherby .340 with 250 grain bullets, so is somewhat comparable as far as bullet performance. I get 2890 MV with the 250 AccuBond. Either a Partition, AccuBond or Swift A-Frame would work fine for that shot and of course the heavier TSX's, or even the 210 gr TSX, for that matter. Match Kings are not designed to be a game bullet (as you know), especially at that range and with that caliber. That deer looks like a rat that I shot with a .22 WMR!
 
I've never really tried it, but I'm a little leery of shooting bullets with the name 'match' at game. Particularly when Sierra tells you it is not a game bullet.
 
The 300 grain bullet from my 338 Lapua at 2850 fps velocity will have over 5000 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. My data shows that at 4000 ft. elevation where I hunt, the 300 SMK will have over 1000ft-lbs of energy left by the time it crossed the 2000 yard line. And better yet, velocity remain over 1200 ft/sec.

So what this all mean?
If you want to shoot deer with your 338 Lapua, You have to wait until it's 2000 yards away so that you won't ruin any meat. :wink: :wink: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 
Desert Fox":8rxb3oig said:
The 300 grain bullet from my 338 Lapua at 2850 fps velocity will have over 5000 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. My data shows that at 4000 ft. elevation where I hunt, the 300 SMK will have over 1000ft-lbs of energy left by the time it crossed the 2000 yard line. And better yet, velocity remain over 1200 ft/sec.

So what this all mean?
If you want to shoot deer with your 338 Lapua, You have to wait until it's 2000 yards away so that you won't ruin any meat. :wink: :wink: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Click to expand...


Man, that alot of whooping! Scotty
 
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