338 Lapua Improved Loads

[Justin Crossley]

My buddy and I just got our Christensen Arms MPR rifles that we had chambered in 338 Lapua Improved. I have 11 days before I leave for a bear hunt and I need to get a load worked up with the 300 grain Berger Elite Hunters. What is your go-to load for that combo?

 

[Justin Crossley]

I was able to get a few rounds loaded up and started testing yesterday. I decided to go with Retumbo for now and CCI mag rifle primers. The max length in our magazines is about 3.780" so I went just under that to start with. I started way low with only 90 grains of powder and worked my way up to 99 grains. I'm still not getting any pressure signs and the velocity was averaging 2870 fps. With my very short timeline I am going to go with that for now assuming my rifle shoots the same load as well as my buddy's.

This was the last three shots at 100 yards.

 

[dirtytough]

You missed the bullseye with all 3 shots?

 

[Justin Crossley]

You missed the bullseye with all 3 shots?

Yep

 

[Justin Crossley]

I pulled this rifle back out last week and figured I would post some updates. Since I originally posted I was able to get some N570 but didn't have the time to mess with it until now.



Last week I loaded up five sets of three loads each from 94 grains to 98 grains of N570. Brass is Lapua, primers are CCI 250, and OAL is about 3.780".

I didn't see any difference in pressure from the lowest charge up to the 98-grain charge and velocities were 2878, 2882, and 2870 fps at that charge. It seemed to group well so I loaded up 50 and took it to the mountains.



I took a bunch of guys shooting Saturday who had little to no experience shooting. Four of them wanted to try out the Lapua so I shot three shots and then let them try it out. We fired 15 shots total at a rock at 400 yards and all shots hit within 2-4" of the point of aim so I was happy with that. Keep in mind we were shooting a rock so I'm basing that on what I could see in the spotter.

The load seems to be consistent so I'm looking forward to more shooting at longer ranges to prove it out.