I have a Custom 338 lapua that is built on a Dakota take down model.I have 2 problems with it which I would like advice on 1.It dosent like 250 grain Barnes X and TSX Bullets.....pressure problems even with reduced loads , so I have had to switch to Woodleigh P-P 250 grain bullets handloaded for hunting.Can any good member of this forum give some advice on how to handload the Barnes 250 Grain Bullets either by adjusting the length etc or whatever it takes to fit this bullet to the 338 lapua..there has got to be a way.
2.I am trying to push Lapua 250 grain Scenar and Lockbase bullets to 2,900 fps .Any advice.....H1000 would be the preferred powder but beggers cannot be choosers.
I have a Shepherd scope I need to get the bullets to 2,900 fps to "DIAL IN THE OPTICS "TO SHOOT COMFORTABLY OUT TO 1000 TO 1200 +YDS.
Thanks
"babaode"

I sure hope you're not planning on shooting at live animals at the ranges you're talking about. Even 300 yds. is an extremely long shot in the field, only possible by experienced riflemen. You can not buy the ability to make humane long range kills at the gun shop.

Try posting this in the medium bore forum and you will find what you seek......

This is the forum suggestions forum......

I shoot a .338 Lapua using 250 grain Barnes X, 225 grain Barnes XLC, 225 and 240 grain North Fork, 225 grain Barnes TSX bullets, with H-1000 and have no pressure problems. My rifle is a Sako Model 995 and it is a real shooter. I use a Federal 215M primer and 95 too 98 grains of powder, depending on how hot I want the load. It performs very nicely on Deer and Elk. Good shooting.

My .338 Lapua shoots 96 grains of RL with a 250 Sierra at almost 3150. RL 25, Retumbo, and VVN170 shine in my gun. You have a long action, so seat those bullets out and try these powders.
Good luck.

Blake

The case capacity (water) between the Lapua and the 338RUM is 113grains to 111grains. I've loaded for the 338 RUM quite extensively.......I've found that RL-25 and N570 work very well with the heavier bullets.

Are you sure you aren't seated into the lands? Reloading 101, of course, but since I don't know you from Adam:
Each bullet you'll need to to seat until you actually hit the lands in a chambered round (no primer/powder!) and then back off "some." (Many suggest .010" and I go right about there, a bit closer.) If you're just loading to some spec COL, getting high pressures and then when you change bullets you're fine, this may very well be the problem. (Though with these bullets I'd expect the problem to be reversed.)

With the Nosler 250 my 338 RUM goes 2975 FPS. No problem. I thought the lapua went as fast.

The SHepherd scope aim points are set up for a bullet with a.490 BC and 2900 FPS at sea level the aim points are off at higher alltitude.

98 grains of H-1000 and the 250 grain SMK gets 3189 FPS out of my 338 Laupa and 95 grains of R-25 gets 3197 FPS

Thanks a lot, I will try and seat the bullets near the Lands.If you notice , Barnes have removed loading data on the Barnes X from their web site.To the Chap who said something about shooting and not being able to buy accuracy out of a gunshop....I do consider myself and others do too to be a top notch marks man.I have made a 1 shot 404 yard cold bore brain shot kill on a 14ft 1 in problem Crocodile in Mozambique and, this is a well known fact, and with 50 BMG's I make 800 yd shots consistently.Sometimes when Hunting, you just run into these situations where you cannot move nearer a wary Animal especially a man eater Crocodile that knows he is being hunted. "ACCURATE RILFES ARE INTERESTING"...Col Townsend Wheleen .You better believe it.
I will try and reseat the depth of the cartridge until the groove marks just touch the bullet , and I will try the RL 25,H 1000,RETUMBO .Getting N 570,N170,N165 in North America right now, its like pulling teeth .
More advice welcomed ...will sift the wheat from the chaff.
Thanks
Babaode

CORRECTION, BARNES HAVE REMOVED LOADING DATA ON THE BARNES X 250 Grain Bullet from their Web site data, they have the 185 grain , 225 grain and the 250 grain Barnes Banded Solid their...no more 250 grain Data under the 338 Lapua.
Sorry for the specific omission.IMEANT BARNES X 250 Grain.
BABAODE

I know for a fact that a rifle will only like a certain bullet know matter what you do. Same goes for powder. None of my rifles shoot barnes bullets.

And...if you know what minute of angle the reference points are set at on your scope you can easily recalibrate that scope for new yardages with faster and slower bullets with any of the programs easily found on the internet. There is obviously no guarantee that the animal will step out at a yardage point you have on your scope so you always have to adjust anyhow. IE...I could put a ballistc plex on my 30-378....and I could put the same scope on my 45-70 and recalibrate the reference points with little effort.

Fellow forum members, from your posts , I think I will try the Sierra Bullet in 250 grain Gameking and work up from RL25 , H1000 to get 2900FPS on my chronometer.I will hit the Lands and back off 0.010" as advised.If I can go over 3,000 fps, that shoud depend really on which load is the most accurate at 100yds, groupwise and i'll stick to that, learn to live with the speed that is most accurate above 2,900fps
Thanks.....more suggestions welcomed