Might pick up a 338 Lapua. A couple component questions

[kdsd731]

I might be picking up a Barrett MRAD in 338. I will reload for this caliber. I want to have two types of reloads. Some for long range accuracy and others for short to mid range "plinking"(rounds for friends and family that just want to shoot it without spending a small fortune). As far as lesser expensive rounds, where are typically the cheapest components for this caliber found? Any pointers for someone getting into this caliber?

[LynnJr]

The only thing you will save between match ammo and plinking ammo is the primers and bullets.
With Match ammo you use Federal 215 Match primers and bullets costing a minimum of 75 cents each going to $2 each.
For plinking ammo go with a lightweight bullet as they are cheaper and a standard large rifle primer whichever is the cheapest.
For powder H1000 is hard to beat and on the brass Lapua is the only way to go even for plinking ammo.

[dwalker]

Every time I shot a 338LM I had visions of $10 bills floating through the air. That's why I don't own one and the desire had been strongly curbed.

[kdsd731]

The only thing you will save between match ammo and plinking ammo is the primers and bullets.
With Match ammo you use Federal 215 Match primers and bullets costing a minimum of 75 cents each going to $2 each.
For plinking ammo go with a lightweight bullet as they are cheaper and a standard large rifle primer whichever is the cheapest.
For powder H1000 is hard to beat and on the brass Lapua is the only way to go even for plinking ammo.

Thanks. That's about what I was thinking. I think I can reload it for about $.75-$1 for plinking. Thanks again!

Every time I shot a 338LM I had visions of $10 bills floating through the air. That's why I don't own one and the desire had been strongly curbed.

Hahaha...I hear ya. I will mainly keep the 308 configuration on it for just that reason!

[kdsd731]

Anyone know if that round will fit in a Hornady single stage? Seems like it would. But seems you would have to finesse the bullet up into the seating die and then into the case mouth.

[liber]

I was just pricing out 338LM recently.

You should be able to hit $2/round, but you might need to buy some components on sale most likely.

Cases are about $2.50, even if you can get 25 reloads out of a case, that's $1 right there.

You can get Lapua bullets for about $0.65 (Powder Valley).

Powder will only yield about 70-80 rounds per lb. That's about $0.40/round.

And a primer.

The above is around $2/round.

LynnJr I've heard the longevity on the Lapua brass is pretty good on the 338LM, what type of life do you see ? Is 15 more realistic?

[9mmrevolver]

Check out midway for 300 gr noslers. I think I paid like .42 per a while back

[9mmrevolver]

Never mind there is cheaper to be had

[kdsd731]

I found.26 a bullet (sale) , about .25-.30 a powder charge, .03 primer and at 2.50 a case used at 25 times by your math, that's 10 cents a round. Those prices did not include shipping on the bullet or cases. That's .69/round. Seems cheap but can't see that i did anything wrong in my work up.

[TomReloaded]

I was just pricing out 338LM recently.

You should be able to hit $2/round, but you might need to buy some components on sale most likely.

Cases are about $2.50, even if you can get 25 reloads out of a case, that's $1 right there.

You can get Lapua bullets for about $0.65 (Powder Valley).

Powder will only yield about 70-80 rounds per lb. That's about $0.40/round.

And a primer.

The above is around $2/round.

LynnJr I've heard the longevity on the Lapua brass is pretty good on the 338LM, what type of life do you see ? Is 15 more realistic?

If you get 25 reloads out of a $2.50 case, it's only 10 cents. If you only get 10 loads it's still just a quarter.

Midway has bullets for 28 cents each. That's about a buck a shot, which isn't bad at all! Cheaper than shooting decent store bought 308.

[LynnJr]

I get 8 reloads and toss the brass and barrel but 15 is a reasonable number for plinking ammo.
On the bullets you can get factory blemished in 225 grain right now for 23 cents each and once fired Lapua brass on Calguns is $1.50 as of today. Primers are 3 cents each so you save a penny or two over match type primers. No case prep work just size them add a primer powder and seat a bullet.
I have seen very very few 338 rifles that didn't group well. For some reason the various chamberings in 338 all seem to shoot very well.
On the few that didn't shoot well the barrel was usually a high round count barrel and past its prime.
It's 8AM Sunday morning and this is my cutting board in my kitchen.
Going to shoot some Flatline bullets in a 338 SnipeTac after breakfast.

[MrElectric03]

Anyone know if that round will fit in a Hornady single stage? Seems like it would. But seems you would have to finesse the bullet up into the seating die and then into the case mouth.

I haven't tried it yet personally but have been told that it's pretty tight. I was considering using an rcbs comp die that has the window in it to place the bullet. I recently bought an rcbs ammo master that is made for 50 bmg and the guy I bought it from had to use it for .338 LM because none of his other presses would work.

[bigdawg86]

The best bet to keep costs down is like already suggested. Once fired Lapua brass is 1.50 right now... The best deals for plinking bullets are found in factory blemished bullets or seconds. I picked up #1000 Hornady 285g ELD Match projectiles for 36 cents per shipped from Midway. I also have Lapua 250g Lockbase which were on sale for 200 buck shipped for a box of 500 (40 cents per). I am now set for projectiles for shooting up to 1 mile, but do have some solid copper bullets on back order to try.

Powder and primers costs don't vary much...

Bottom line its not that expensive if you keep an eye out for deals.

[ar15barrels]

If you want to keep the cost down, simply shoot a smaller/less expensive cartridge.

It's faulty logic to shoot a "cheap" load and a "good" load in a 338 as the cheap loads are STILL wearing the barrel out, but they are less accurate and won't shoot to the same point-of-aim so you would be wasting extra rounds re-adjusting your zero back and forth between the two different ammo types.
Those extra rounds would make up the difference in cost of just shooting good ammo to begin when you account for the 50 cents per shot barrel life cost.

[dwalker]

I get 8 reloads and toss the brass and barrel but 15 is a reasonable number for plinking ammo.
On the bullets you can get factory blemished in 225 grain right now for 23 cents each and once fired Lapua brass on Calguns is $1.50 as of today. Primers are 3 cents each so you save a penny or two over match type primers. No case prep work just size them add a primer powder and seat a bullet.
I have seen very very few 338 rifles that didn't group well. For some reason the various chamberings in 338 all seem to shoot very well.
On the few that didn't shoot well the barrel was usually a high round count barrel and past its prime.
It's 8AM Sunday morning and this is my cutting board in my kitchen.
Going to shoot some Flatline bullets in a 338 SnipeTac after breakfast.

Just shoveling the powder in by the tablespoon?