Advice for new guy? .338 win and reloads

[copasj]

Definitely bigger, but I wouldn't call it cheap.  .338 Win reloads are going to be kicking at the heels of .308 or 30-06 factory core-lokts as far as price is concerned. 

I was tossing cases after 3 or so reloads of my .300 Win Mag.  Case life was pretty short in my experience.

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I don't think that a 338 is that much more expensive when you look at similar quality components. The brass will be the most significant investment and that's about $35 per 50. I averaged 5 loads per case on my last 338 Win. I doubt that this rifle is going to be shot a whole lot anyways. Probably less than 100 times per year. So figure  50 pieces of brass will last two, maybe three years. Add bullets at 30-50 cents each, primers at about 4 cents each, and then about 25 cents for powder. I would say you can load up ammo for less than $.90 a shot. More or less depending on components. Seems pretty reasonable to me.

Andrew

Expensive is relative in the end . 

I don't know anyone that uses Ramshot powders, but I've seen them mentioned favorably in the gun rags.  If it works stick with it.  I believe they are fairly temp stable, if it's true that's a good thing though. 

I prefer the Hodgdon's stick powders myself, and H-4895 is one of my favorites.  Even with big cases it has always done me well.  Once I've gotten near top end loads it's given me consistent velocities, just not top end velocities.  Plus it is endorsed by Hodgdon for reduced loads as well if you want to go that route for practice. 

I'm using it with 120 barnes bullets in the wifes 7mm-08, 175 interloks in my 7mm Mauser, 69 SMK's in 223 and 168 AMAX's in 308 Win as well.  I used it with 165's in the 300 WM also.

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[eburkett]

Take delivery of the rifle on Monday. Have done a lot more research as far as reloading and made sure I know what measurements to go for. Thanks everyone for their input. Now if only I had a place to break it in....

[wraithen]

I hope that was a joke. Range 15 every saturday and sunday. I'd come in through 507 though as it would be the shorter route and keep things legal.

Yorke, you're about to have a pm.

[eburkett]

Range available on Mon/Tues?

[wraithen]

Unfortunately just weekends. However if you don't mind the drive head out to the hills by eatonville on scott turner rd. Once you get onto the DP required land there's a couple spots people shoot into the hills that provide an excellent backdrop if it's legal to shoot there still. Idk about the fire bans and areas affected right now. 

[eburkett]

Alright I'll check into it. You wouldn't happen to be available one of those days would you, considering you are near JBLM.

[wraithen]

Which days? This monday and tues I will be in yakima and the weekend after I will only be available if I limit out really early. Weekend after that I could be available. What do ya need?

[eburkett]

Was just going to see if you;d be here this m/t to go shoot but you'll be on the east side

[wraithen]

Yeah. I'll be miserable just about every second of it too. Sorry. I wouldn't mind seeing how that gun shoots.

[Skinnyman]

I reload for my 338wm. I shoot barnes TTSX 225gr, with IMR 4350. If I can do mine, it shoots about 5/8" groups at 100yds. Great caliber/catridge!

[eburkett]

200 GR Hornaday Interlock, 68GR Ramshot Hunter worked amazing on Wednesday. Zeroed to 200 yds and could do less than 1inch 5 round groups at 100 yes. BOOM! Ready to hunt!