338 LM

I’m needing to work up a load for my 338 LM. I have both 300gr accubonds and 265 LRAB to play with.

I have a test batch loaded up with 300gr accubonds and retumbo.

I have several powders to choose from
Re25, re26
7828, retumbo, 4831,

I have an 8lb jug of re25.


Anyone have any tried and true 338 LM loads I can use as a starting point.

Those 300gr accubonds are one mean looking bullet!


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I tried some 300 grn Nosler Custom Competition. Looked promising but did not make it back to fine tune. WLRM Primer, 90 gr Retumbo, 3.65 COAL. At 91.5 Retumob it opened up. I ahve to get back to fine tune.
I had better luck with 300 grn Nosler Custom Competition, WLRM, 95 gr RL33. That was three shots, 0.5" at 100 yards. Again, I have not gotten back to fine tune. Probably won't till it cools down.

Good Shotting!!!

Only setup 1 338 Lapua, was a Cadex shooting 250g SMKs over 93g of IMR8133. Good for 3000fps and 1/3 MOA, 5 shot groups. Probably not much help, but that's all I got for one.

89.3 grs of Retumbo in Lapua case and 300 MK or 300 Berger shot submoa for me in Savage. Not a hot load, 2715 fps, but accurate and easy on brass in my gun.

Only shot 9 or 10 300 Accubonds with 87.5 grs of Retumbo but it was accurate too. Never chronographed it.

92 grains of Retumbo with a 300 grain AccuBond shot right at 1/2 moa at 100 and 200 every time I shot it. Tested that load enough to know it was solid. Never got to stretch it out at distance yet.

Worth a shot to work up to since that's the bullet you're shooting. That load/pressure may or may not transfer over to other rifles as it's possible this one is an oddball. Everybody says Accubonds like jump and this rifle shoots them best at .015 off.

I’ve got 5 loader up at 1/2 gr increments from 92-94gr of retumbo. I’ll give them a try this weekend and see if anything stands out


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I got some major pressure signs at 92.0gr. Ejector marks and stiff bolt lift. I’m going to have to pull the rest. I guess I’ll drop down to 90gr and try that.


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have you got this figured out ?


I'm loading 300 gr Berger E hunting , Lapua brass , Fed 215 primer , 102.5 gr of RL33 , 2939 FPS from my 30" bbl . a guy I have been shooting with switched from H1000 , and is now using the above recipe only at 102.0 gr of powder . he is getting 2970 FPS from his 30" factory savage rifle . there seems to be a node in around this velocity . we are both getting great results near and far . this past Saturday we were shooting , and my dope wasn't working out to well . I needed to add 3 moa at the longer targets to hit . I couldn't think of what happened . I was thinking the scope slipped or something . latter in the day I remembered of finishing that 8 pound of powder , and getting into a new lot . Sunday morning I went out to check velocity , way lower . I think I'll need to add at least 0.5 grain to get my velocity back . this lower velocity still shot well though . I might stick with this velocity , and watch brass life .here is a 200 yard target at the slower velocity . the rifle shoots tighter at the higher velocity , but I'm wondering if it's worth it . by mistake , I had 0.5 MOA left wind on the scope when I shot the first 3 .

I am still struggling with the 338 LM. Getting pressure signs in light loads. I think I’m going to have to switch off of retumbo and try something else. I’m using ABM brass. Maybe the brass is soft? I know it was about a third the price of lapua


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does your fired brass look ok ? no signs of any roughness ? can you "easily "rechamber a piece of fired brass ?

I've only used Lapua brass . I pulled some ammo apart for Ed , I think he's using Nosler .

I didn't come right out and say it above , but I'm starting to think there is a big velocity difference between lots of RL33 powder .

Flat primers, ejector marks.


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The best for me so far was:
PPU brass
WLRM primer
RL33 95 grn
Nosler CC 300 grn
COAL 3.65
1/2" at 100 yards. First 2 shots touching, 3rd shot 1/2" off.
Not sure how to load the picture
Have not gone back to range to work on it

Ignore the first pic

I never did like Retumbo that much , very spooky. When RL-33 came out I switched and never looked back.
My 338 Lapua Savage 112 Target Magnum
Lapua Brass
Fed 215M
Nosler 300gr C.C.
RL-33 98.5grs
3.948” ogive
2770 fps based on drops (Magnetospeed doesn’t fit on my rifle)
I think that ABM brass maybe made by Lapua that you are using. Weigh some of your brass , Lapua brass runs 328 to 330 grains.

Are you sure about that 3.948" Ogive? or was it a typo?
Maybe 2.948" to ogive

3.948” with Hornady Comparator and the old fashion calipers.

Now I understand. Old fashion gauge, you can not zero. The Hornady piece probably adds another inch. At least mine does, but I use digital calibers and I can zero.

Thebear_78":xcvg6plz said:

Flat primers, ejector marks.


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Click to expand...

what is the load you're trying ?

Thebear_78":1vafxk1w said:

I got some major pressure signs at 92.0gr. Ejector marks and stiff bolt lift. I’m going to have to pull the rest. I guess I’ll drop down to 90gr and try that.


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Click to expand...

Just a quick thought... What's the case capacity difference between brands of brass?

Just for a point or reference, my PPU Brass is 112.4 grn H2O and my Lapua is 113.4

Shot a few out of my MPR 338LM today. Using 250gr SMK with re25. Pretty decent at 2937fps



Shot 3 lower shots. Made scope adjustment shot top 3. Adjusted again to zero. I dialed up 2.5 MOA and then shot the remaining 4 I had loaded at my 300 yards target.



This is easily the best the MPR has done yet.

I just wish this MPR would do this with the 300gr AccuBond or 265 AccuBond LR.


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