30-338 WM: Powder Suggestions

[capreppy]

Picked up a Rem 700 (trued with a few other bells and whistles) chambered in 30-338 WM (tight neck [need to look up what neck size], 27" 1.25 no taper, & muzzle brake).

It came with Redding Competition Dies including the appropriate Titanium Bushing to go along with it.

In addition to the above, it came with 100 pieces of W-W headstamped 338 WM brass that has been neck sized and neck turned to the appropriate dimensions for use with the tight neck chamber (also have another 100 pieces that need to be neck turned prior to use).

I have 49 loaded rounds, but am planning to pull the bullets and do a proper workup to find a good load.

Why would I pick up this rifle chambered in an obscure cartridge? It only cost me $900 for everything as stated above and because I wanted something different (this setup is NOT tactical in any sense of the word and is setup as a strictly benchrest rifle).

With that being said, what do I have on the shelves:

24# of Hodgdon H1000 (also have a 300 WM in the process of being built and should be ready in the next 60 days).

20# of Hodgdon H4350 (for my 6.5 Creedmoor)

10# of Aliant RL-25

I have other powders, but I think these are the most appropriate for this cartridge. I'll be using CCI #250 (Magnum Large Rifle).

I have quite a few Hornady .308 208 A-Max and ideally that is what I would like to shoot.

As Hodgdon's website doesn't have the 30-338 WM as an option, I've looked at the ballistically "similar" 308 Norma Magnum for some ideas. What am I looking for? Suggestions on powder ranges to try with this cartridge.

TIA

 

[Garrobo]

At one time I had a Chzeck .98 Mauser chambered in this caliber. The barrel was a 24" (unknown), stock wood sporter (unknown) and had the military trigger. It had an old 4X Weaver scope on it. The only record that I found for reloading it with H1000 was for a 180 grain boat tail Sierra, 72 grains of Hogdon 1000 and Fed 215 primers. It chronied at around 3000 fps. Seems like it was like a souped up .308 to me. Not much else to be said about this caliber. Here's hoping that you can sometime resell it for what you have in it.

 

[capreppy]

At one time I had a Chzeck .98 Mauser chambered in this caliber. The barrel was a 24" (unknown), stock wood sporter (unknown) and had the military trigger. It had an old 4X Weaver scope on it. The only record that I found for reloading it with H1000 was for a 180 grain boat tail Sierra, 72 grains of Hogdon 1000 and Fed 215 primers. It chronied at around 3000 fps. Seems like it was like a souped up .308 to me. Not much else to be said about this caliber. Here's hoping that you can sometime resell it for what you have in it.

I'd really like to get the barrel's worth out of it. Previous owner had exactly 49 rounds down the tube (the 49 once fired brass that it came with). It is likely the previous owner cut it down to 27.5 (just a guess because 27.5 is just an odd measurement). With that being said, I've probably got a few hundred (possibly as high as 5) before the barrel is totally shot. For ME, that is plenty.

I'll rebarrel at that point. It is built on a Rem 700 short action with a Mag bolt face so I have ton's of options for other cartridges. If I change the bolt, I have even more.

I saw quite a few loadings for H1000 and as I said, I've got 24#. I may give the RL-25 a try as I was going to run that in the 300 WM as well. I'm probably going to try some 308 Norma loads. Start from the bottom and see where I land.

 

[Greg Mercurio]

IMR 4350. Gave me sub MOA in a Ruger No. 1 with a 26" barrel.

 

[bush3755]

When the .30-.338 was popular in long range matches, IMR4350 was the favorite powder with 180 to 200 grain bullets. 67 grains under 180's, 66 with 190's and 65 grains with 200's. Accuracy about 1/2 to 5/8 MOA at long range

Barrel life was about 1200 rounds. Case life was 15 to 20 reloads.