Hi
Just got my Sako TRG 42 in 338 Lapua.
Have been looking around for a goto reloading recipe to start of with.
All the posts ive found ( in English..) are more than 10 years old.
So has there been any change from 250gr Scenar with 95-98gr N170?
BTW I was measuring my max coal with 250gr scenars. At 92mm i was in the lands. Is that normal?!
On vitavouri´s data it says coal 93,5mm. That would be 1,5mm into the lands! Doesnt sound good..
would be grateful for any information
thanks!
In my opinion it is normal to have lands with 250gr Scenar in 92mm. It would not be normal to use 93,5mm OAL for that particular bullet.
There are at least two sources which suggest 93,5mm OAL for 250gr Scenar. Vihtavuori Reloading guide and Paananen's reloading handbook. I think Paananen is using Vihtavuori's data for OAL, which can't be correct. Probably it is a typo.
//http://www.takilta.fi/keskustelu/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=10095&start=10#p66743
There is some variation in maximum loads of the mentioned reloading data. Even thou the TRG42 is quite sturdy piece of iron, be safe, don't start with maximum values. I would like to suggest normal load development with ladder testing.
I can't help you with N170 load data as I use N165
My Jyri Jalonen's JJ-94 with LW barrel in 338LM has lands in 93mm.
I have got Sako TRG-42 338LM recently, but not done any load development yet for it. Barely touched it. I have heard, some people use rather short OAL for TRG-42 250gr Scenar loads. For example 90,5mm. Some prefer near lands configuration. If you make the load development, you can try anything that suits you best.
thanks for the reply and clearing up the coal confusion :)
Started loading the 250gr Lock base bullets to "fireform" the brass as they are cheaper than the scenar.
ran into something strange here aswell...
while using my Forster benchrest seater i couldnt get the sleeve to compress as it should. It would get stuck like a cm of the base of the case
and then if you continued the case would get pressed up into the sleeve and then compress as it should. Didnt happen with just a case so wasnt an alignment problem.
Disassembled the die to see what was wrong. The forster has a tube in which the bullet seater sits in. This tube seems to be close to .338
tried a lock base, wouldnt go through the tube.. Had to hammer it through.
Tried a 250gr Scenar, went through without a problem.
When measuring the 250gr Lock base they seem to be .3385-.339 while the scenars show 338.
Anyone else noticed this?
Is there something wrong with my batch of bullets?
Are they safe to shoot or should they be returned?
thanks!
Thought ill share my own findings.
Got a reply from Lapua regarding the Lock base bullets
"Here is the answer from LAPUA on your Lock Base bullet question :
The nominal diameter of these bullets is 8.60 mm = 0.3386" so they are absolutely safe to use."
so it seems that my Forster seating die is a bit tightly made.
Also did some load development with 250gr lock base and N170.
Only did 3 shot grps as 338 get abit expensive to do 5.. :-\
(https://i.imgur.com/MowhRC5.jpg)
Seems like a good node between 91gr and 91,5gr. Will do some 5 shot grps in that range. Didnt chrono the shots so just guestimating the velocity to around 850m/s based on vihtavuoris data.
Ive read that ppl usually find good accuracy at around 850m/s and 900m/s so it seems true.
At 92gr i thought the scope had gone loose.. really opened up the groups.
But it tightened up again at 94gr and 94,5gr. So i guess if i had continued up over 95gr i might have found a good node.
But with the lock base im aiming for a "plinking" round for 100-300m so i dont need any max loads to burn the barrel.
thats what solids are for ;)