Reloading Center fire Ammo for long range......Specifically 338 Lapua Mag

[gt1guy]

As the title states. I just picked up a new Barrett MRAD in 338 Lapua. May try other calibers at a later date. Nice thing about the MRAD is that caliber changes only takes a barrel, bolt head and a magazine......depending on the caliber. Added a S&B PMII 3x-27 in a Sphur mount

I already have a Dillon Super 1050 with a Mr. Bullet feeder that is awesome for spiting out tons of ammo for my other guns, but it can't do 338LM. While it will do competition grade ammo all day long, I need a good single stage that's better suited for doing precision long range ammo.

So for those of you reloading to reach out past 1000, what are you using? Press? Dies? Case annealers? Scales? I'm sure there are other pieces of equipment I missing.

I have what I need for using the 1050 but, I know some if it wont cross over. Example is, I have a small scale that I use to check/set what the powder measure is dropping.....................I don't think that will work very well with what I want to do. I do have everything for case prep/trimming/cleaning. Also already have a crono.





Someone school me on reaching out please.


Because pictures a good....

Stock folded.

Bolt head removes without any tools.

And while I was spending money. I put a S&B 5-20 super short, Sphur mount and a RMR at a 45* on my 308 Revolution. I absolutely love the Revolution, my favorite AR ever.

 

[Roc Doc]

I like turret presses and absolutely love my Area 419 Zero press and have it set up with bushing FL sizers and micrometer seaters for .223, 6mm ARC, 6GT (rawr!), and 6.5CM. Then a Redding T7 for dedicated decapper, bullet puller, mandrel die, and some crimp dies. I know the Zero will handle 338LM, not sure about the T7.

And yes to annealing.

Nice rifle.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I just spoon it onto the scale when I'm loading for my 300rum. Goes faster than you might think.

 

[gt1guy]

That Area 419 Zero press looks impressive. Watched a bunch of videos on it last night. Definitely seems to be a buy once, cry once piece of kit.


Spooning powder into anything is out for me. My reloading room is a bedroom in my house. I'm a slob. I'd end up burning my house down to the foundation. I do keep all my primers locked in a fireproof safe all by themselves.

 

[Roc Doc]

That Area 419 Zero press looks impressive. Watched a bunch of videos on it last night. Definitely seems to be a buy once, cry once piece of kit.

It is impressive. Get the die rings and shellholder shim set as well. Yeah, cry once for sure, I expect it to outlast me. The T-7 is a fine piece as well, but it has wear points that the bearings of the Zero eliminate.

 

[Pony_Driver]

I like turret presses and absolutely love my Area 419 Zero press and have it set up with bushing FL sizers and micrometer seaters for .223, 6mm ARC, 6GT (rawr!), and 6.5CM. Then a Redding T7 for dedicated decapper, bullet puller, mandrel die, and some crimp dies. I know the Zero will handle 338LM, not sure about the T7.

And yes to annealing.

Nice rifle.

I can appreciate someone who appreciates and uses gear like that. It's not me. I'm good with C-clamping a plastic Lee powder dropper to the bench and flopping a light to midline load in a straight wall pistol case and call it good.

 

[gt1guy]

Had the whole range to myself yesterday. Learned a couple things.

Recoil isn't bad at all. Between the weight of the gun and the big ol brake, it kicks about the same as my 308AR. More of a push though. I'd say I could shoot it all day long, but I'll wait until I shoot it all day long before I say it.

Either the scope mount was loosening up or I'm canting the shit out of the gun....................I'm pretty sure the scope didn't move. Pushed forward and torqued to spec when installed.

30MOA built in makes shooting at 100yds...........interesting.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Recoil isn't bad at all. Between the weight of the gun and the big ol brake, it kicks about the same as my 308AR. More of a push though. I'd say I could shoot it all day long, but I'll wait until I shoot it all day long before I say it.

I had never been around brake's until I got my 300. It was eye opening at how well they work. damn thing kicks less than my .243

 

[Roc Doc]

Had the whole range to myself yesterday. Learned a couple things.

Recoil isn't bad at all. Between the weight of the gun and the big ol brake, it kicks about the same as my 308AR. More of a push though. I'd say I could shoot it all day long, but I'll wait until I shoot it all day long before I say it.

Either the scope mount was loosening up or I'm canting the shit out of the gun....................I'm pretty sure the scope didn't move. Pushed forward and torqued to spec when installed.

30MOA built in makes shooting at 100yds...........interesting.

Get a digital level like the Send It. If you mount it ahead of the erectors and shoot with both eyes open, the green dot will show up in the bottom of the scope image.

 

[gt1guy]

Get a digital level like the Send It. If you mount it ahead of the erectors and shoot with both eyes open, the green dot will show up in the bottom of the scope image.

That looks pretty cool. They even make a adapter for Sphur mounts, which is what I have. In fact the Sphur mount does have a bubble level built into it, it's just virtually impossible to see.

Only thing I don't like about the Send It is that it's electronic. Which means another battery to carry a spare for. If the battery dies for the luminated reticle, the reticle still works.

Not going to rule out the Send It, but I think I'll start with a better bubble level that I can actually see.

Something like this.

Flatline Ops Tango Fine Adjustable Anti-cant Bubble Level System Spuhr

The TANGO SM ACCU/LEVEL is Flatline Ops' SPUHR mounted scope level. It boasts the industries only SPUHR adaptable level that is 'micro...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Roc Doc]

The Send It is available with an integrated backup bubble level. And I hear ya, batteries are a PITA. The best non-electronic levels , IMO, are from accuracy first.

A side benefit of the Send It is using it when mounting scopes to ensure the rifle is level, then checking the scope to be level to the rifle.

 

[Chevy_man]

Get the auto-thrower and the fx-120i balance.

AutoTrickler V4

Price in US dollars. For Canadian dollars, place an order and select Pay Later, then email us for an updated quote. For any other currency, your credit card will be charged in US dollars and your bank will convert. Current estimate lead time 1-2 weeks. Please pay when placing the order to avoid...

autotrickler.com

Nothing else helped more to get SD's into the single digits.

Only brass prep I do is making sure it's under max length, annealing for longevity, and an inside neck mandrel for consistent bullet tension.

 

[gt1guy]

Get the auto-thrower and the fx-120i balance.

AutoTrickler V4

Price in US dollars. For Canadian dollars, place an order and select Pay Later, then email us for an updated quote. For any other currency, your credit card will be charged in US dollars and your bank will convert. Current estimate lead time 1-2 weeks. Please pay when placing the order to avoid...

autotrickler.com

Nothing else helped more to get SD's into the single digits.

Only brass prep I do is making sure it's under max length, annealing for longevity, and an inside neck mandrel for consistent bullet tension.

I've been looking at that exact one. Probably should just pull the trigger now, they seem to be 4-5 months out on shipping after ordering.

 

[Chevy_man]

I've been looking at that exact one. Probably should just pull the trigger now, they seem to be 4-5 months out on shipping after ordering.

Yeah. Ordered one in October and got it in April. It's awesome though.

 

[Roc Doc]

Get the auto-thrower and the fx-120i balance.

AutoTrickler V4

Price in US dollars. For Canadian dollars, place an order and select Pay Later, then email us for an updated quote. For any other currency, your credit card will be charged in US dollars and your bank will convert. Current estimate lead time 1-2 weeks. Please pay when placing the order to avoid...

autotrickler.com

Nothing else helped more to get SD's into the single digits.

Only brass prep I do is making sure it's under max length, annealing for longevity, and an inside neck mandrel for consistent bullet tension.

i have the V3 version and it too is awesome, the V2 not so much with ball powder anyway. Also that balance that Creedmoor Sports sells is as accurate as the FX-120i, for use as a backup or for confirmation, for way less money.

 

[gt1guy]

Just ordered the Autotrickler V4 and a Area 419 Zero press.

None of this stuff is cheap

 

[Roc Doc]

Just ordered the Autotrickler V4 and a Area 419 Zero press.

Non of this stuff is cheap

My standard response to newbies is, "Think about all the money you'll save by hand loading!"

The cry once thing is strong here. Take care of your gear and you'll never have to replace it.

 

[Chevy_man]

Just ordered the Autotrickler V4 and a Area 419 Zero press.

Non of this stuff is cheap

No, but if you shoot 50000 rounds of 338 it'll surely pay for itself....


I grew up loading for everything. I now spend all my reloading time on the precision rifles. Rarely will I reload 9mm/223, but I do stockpile components so when things like covid happen I can still run reasonably priced ammo.

 

[Chevy_man]

i have the V3 version and it too is awesome, the V2 not so much with ball powder anyway. Also that balance that Creedmoor Sports sells is as accurate as the FX-120i, for use as a backup or for confirmation, for way less money.

Does it interface with the auto-trickler? Would be cool since I need a second one now.

 

[Roc Doc]

Does it interface with the auto-trickler? Would be cool since I need a second one now.

No, but it's good for confirming a load now and then, or for weighing bullets or primers if you want to get really stupid about the precision thing.

 

[Roc Doc]

No, but if you shoot 50000 rounds of 338 it'll surely pay for itself....


I grew up loading for everything. I now spend all my reloading time on the precision rifles. Rarely will I reload 9mm/223, but I do stockpile components so when things like covid happen I can still run reasonably priced ammo.

Yeah, the big calibers pay off more quickly. A friend shoots ELR with a 375 Cheytac and each round uses roughly 3x the powder that my 6.5 CM uses, and his .50 almost 5x! Too rich for my blood.

 

[Roc Doc]

Oh Sam Millard from Panhandle Precision loads, (I dunno if he still does it for him), had a video where he had two RCBS Chargemaster lights running side by side and never double checked the load amount, and that kid is winning national level tournaments with those loads. Me? I feel like I need every equipment advantage I can get, so I do everything to the best of my ability/knowledge.

 

[Chevy_man]

Oh Sam Millard from Panhandle Precision loads, (I dunno if he still does it for him), had a video where he had two RCBS Chargemaster lights running side by side and never double checked the load amount, and that kid is winning national level tournaments with those loads. Me? I feel like I need every equipment advantage I can get, so I do everything to the best of my ability/knowledge.

Oof.


I had the Hornady. Once I got the FX I started checking it. I was lucky to be within .1 grn, it was usually more like .5grn over 50 rounds.

I could still find loads with sd's in the single digits, but you had to find that sweet spot.

Biggest thing is if I have a miss at 1200, I want to know it was my bad wind call or ranging, not a load that was 30fps slow that dipped under the plate.

 

[Roc Doc]

Biggest thing is if I have a miss at 1200, I want to know it was my bad wind call or ranging, not a load that was 30fps slow that dipped under the plate.

The ELR guys run a Lab Radar on every shot expressly for that reason.

 

[gt1guy]

What are you guys using to anneal your brass? Induction or fire?

 

[Roc Doc]

What are you guys using to anneal your brass? Induction or fire?

Induction. The Amp Annealer is the shit.

 

[gt1guy]

Induction. The Amp Annealer is the shit.

I was afraid of that.

Got an Amp on the way.

 

[Roc Doc]

I was afraid of that.

Got an Amp on the way.

Im having a blast spending your money, BTW.

Or at least sharing the pain.

You won't be disappointed

 

[gt1guy]

Im having a blast spending your money, BTW.

Or at least sharing the pain.

You won't be disappointed

Well, I certainly appreciate the help.....................even if it is a bit painful.

I need to tone down my spending for a while. I have a Winchester model 1886 showing up today. Was built in 1896 and I want to send it to Turnbull for restoration and conversion to 50-110. I'm sure that will be painful too

 

[665.0coupe]

I’m not saying that a zero press isn’t worth the money, but this might put some perspective on things. Last weekend Austin won the 2022 PRS championship.