I just started loading for 338RUM. After 3 loadings I trimmed and noticed primer pockets loosening up a bit. I'm using 96 and 97gr RL25 (97gr is max) with 225gr Interbonds.

I find it odd as I can get 6 - 7 out of my 300RUM with stout loads. Annealing after every 2 shots keeps necks from splitting. Not all of the 338RUM pockerts are loose so maybe its just the 97gr ones. Could be my guns max.

Wanted to know how many reloads you 338RUM guys are getting.

Hey BISCUT

Yeah I have backed down to 94 gr RL25 cause I was losing the brass at the 96 to 98 gr level. I would rather lose a little velocity than not be able to reuse the brass after 3 reloads.

I am still getting 3105 fps with the 94 gr but I loaded 25 new cases with 92 gr and 225 gr Interbonds and the velocity fell to 3000 fps. I have been thinking about pulling those and running the powder up to 94 gr on those also.

I think the brass has a reputation of having a soft primer pockets and I have seen complaints about losing the pocket on other threads too. Stuck with Remington as that is the only kind available.

quote:

Originally posted by BISCUT:
I just started loading for 338RUM. After 3 loadings I trimmed and noticed primer pockets loosening up a bit. I'm using 96 and 97gr RL25 (97gr is max) with 225gr Interbonds.

I find it odd as I can get 6 - 7 out of my 300RUM with stout loads.

Regardless of caliber or what weight of powder someone listed in some book somewhere, if your primer pockets are expanding, then your pressures (and therefore presumably your powder charges ) are too high to be sustainable, having exceeded the resistance of the brass.

There are other possibilities to explain excessive pressures other than too much powder, but unless you have brass that is so thick in the neck that it is binding in the chamber, or your bullets are seated so long that they are wedged into the riflings, then you're putting too much powder in your loads. There is one cure for this; I'll leave it to your imagination what it might be.

Also, I have found Reloader 25 to vary quite a bit, lot to lot.

I shot 250 grain bullets in mine and found the first lot to take 95 grains, the next lots maxed out at 93. And one bottle was all in at 91 grains.

Now I try to buy big jugs to minimize the re-work up with every new bottle.

I'm a big fan of RL25 but have noticed the same variations. I have only gome thru 2 eight lb containers so far. My 300RUM loves it. I just switched to Retumbo in the 338RUM to see what I get.

Stonecreek: Thanks -- but that much I got. I really do understand each rifle (like women) is the same but different

At the end of the day I would rather drop velocity to keep or gain accuracy. 3 loadings to 4 loadings won't make me happy for my 338RUM.

Maybe I'll get lucky w. RETUMBO.

I use 90 grains of VihtaVuori N-165 with 225 grain North Fork. Velocity 3050 fps. 1/2 inch groups. Good brass life.
Kills animals real dead.
Good luck

In my Rem 700 XCR with 225gn Hornady Interbonds I use 100gns of ADI AR2217 /H1000 for 3010fps.

This is listed as the max load on the ADI website, however I have not had any problems with excessive pressure, and cases have lasted numerous firings so far.

I have found the ADI powders excellent from lot to lot. They are exported from Australia and sold under the Hodgen Extreme brand in the USA.

I think you will do okay with Retumbo.