A ballpark figure to reload .338 Lapua

[Dave Pendleton]

I choose (2) every day of the week & twice on Sunday. I hope I'm lucky enough to have Sam "mock" me in such a manner if he ever sees me about to "run into traffic"...

Then I suggest we all write to the manufacturer of the rifle in question and demand its removal from the market, as it is far too dangerous for anyone to safely own and operate.

[Heffay]

2) do you do whatever it takes to get their attention immediately & stop all forward progress, then - & only if you feel like it - attempt to mentor him or her regarding what was about to happen & why?

I choose (2) every day of the week & twice on Sunday. I hope I'm lucky enough to have Sam "mock" me in such a manner if he ever sees me about to "run into traffic"...

Weird. Someone talking about possibly reloading something in the distant future is similar enough to running into traffic right now?

Just because you respect someone doesn't mean they can't screw up. Just because people are calling him out on this doesn't mean they don't respect him otherwise.

[mnmike59]

Funny how this has turned another direction.
I appreciate the responses.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my dynamite assembly.

[rugersol]

is going to leave a lot of empty space in the case, which could lead to a detonation and a blown gun.

Jest curious if ya've got any kinda link or photocopy or anything from any kinda reputable source on this.

I've personally never seen any such thing in any kinda reloading manual. Closest thing I've ever seen is references made to dynamite, and how it differs from smokeless powder. (cite)

BTW, by "reputable", I mean powder manufacturers and/or companies which author reloading manuals more than 20 pages thick.

Thanks!

[macphisto]

Problem 2: The barrel length is right, and the twist is right, but the powder isn't. .338 thrives on Retumbo and RL-25, and near 100 grains of each. RL-19 is too fast, and 75 grains of RL-19 is going to leave a lot of empty space in the case, which could lead to a detonation and a blown gun. Strike two!!

Not Mike's fault. I didn't have a manual handy, and since he was looking for ballpark figures, I pulled up handloads.com (I know, I know...don't start ). There were three loads listed for .338 Lapua, two using RL-19 and one using VV N-165. Since I know VV powders to be some of the most expensive around, I chose the RL-19 as an EXAMPLE to give him a BALLPARK figure, not actual load data. Please don't hurt me.

[DeanC]

Here's my understanding:

1.The reduced load of slow burning powder is laying on the bottom of the case
2.The primer flashes over it and doesn't get a complete high-pressure burn going
3.The bullet leaves the case, but gets stuck in the chamber throat
4. You now have a bore obstruction
5. Boom

There's also this:

Sierra Reloading

SEE: Abbreviation for Secondary Explosive Effect. SEE is a condition which can occur when slow-burning powders are used at greatly reduced charge weights (poor loading density). Rather than burning in a normal fashion, the powder detonates, as though it were a severe overload. Also known as a “pressure excursion.”

Sierra probably knows a lot more about it than me.

[gyrfalcon]

Over all, loading .338LM is no different than .223 from a technical/safety perspective. I've read quite a bit on SEE and while it's possible/plausible; they haven't had great success in replicating it in a lab environment.

[jgalt]

Just because you respect someone doesn't mean they can't screw up. Just because people are calling him out on this doesn't mean they don't respect him otherwise.

I never suggested either of those things...

[Geezer43]

C'mon guys, we all know how this goes by now. It's really quite simple.
Fill the case with IMR 4831.
Compress the powder with a 250 gr. bullet - seated just deep enough to caress the rifling ever so gently (I like that part).
Use a magnum primer.

Go to the range and enjoy!!
No worries.

[JJ]

C'mon guys, we all know how this goes by now. It's really quite simple.
Fill the case with IMR 4831.
Compress the powder with a 250 gr. bullet - seated just deep enough to caress the rifling ever so gently (I like that part).
Use a magnum primer.

Go to the range and enjoy!!
No worries.

I say you work up a load with some Bullseye, P.O. Ackley style

[mnmike59]

Heres an interesting article.

Too long to quote, Sorry.

http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0611/?page=20

[EJSG19]

I didn't mean to imply that Mike shouldn't get into this.

Within reason. (when I say within reason I mean, ease up folks, what I'm about to say is a vague statement not meant to stand up to a 5 lawyer onslaught in the SCOTUS so Effen relax.) So within reason, one centerfire cartridge is as dangerous as any other. A guy can hurt himself loading anything from .25 acp up to .50 bmg.

There should be no reason, under the proper help from a knowledgeable peer, that a guy can't buy a rifle he likes and load for it.

SS is right. Certain steps are not to be omitted. RTFM. Seek help from peers who know the ropes. etc.


In all fairness, the OP never let on whether he intended to do all the due diligence which we'd all recommend. Its a bit unfair to condemn him at this point.

[mnmike59]

Yup, I said I was "THINKING" about it.

[Geezer43]

And the initial comment was with regard to cost, not specific recipes or techniques.
So -- after much cost analysis, it could easily be determined that cost/round is actually something of a moot point,
because it is far outweighed by the "Yeehaw"/round factor.
That would be especially true when loading some of the previously prescribed recipes.

Yeeehaaww!!

[engnerdan]

I don't want to get too far into this but the data and prices I posted was all from components sold at Midway USA and the relaoding data I used was from here.

http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reload ... odata/5/86

If they do not know the cartrige I am not sure who would. Now I know things could be slightly different with a semi auto but I would assume the maker of the gun tried to make it run on factory type loads which are shown on the above chart. I have no doubt about the fact detonation can happen but Lapua does list several rounds with a starting point in the low to mid 70 grain range.

Mike this same data I copied to that spreadsheet I sent you, it is on a tab at the bottom if you did not notice.


-Dan