Sounds good Roy can't wait to hear the results!

Fired some loads for velocity and pressure checks.

Put 96 gr of Ramshot Magnum behind the Hornady 225 SP Interlock for a measley 2822 fps. That Ramshot burns like coal. I may have to reopen the old "One Time Coal Co." in Butler Co. PA and collect the bugdust for rifle powder.

89gr of RL-22 behind the same bullet produced 3068 FPS and may have been just a titch hot.

92gr of 7828 behind the same bullet gave 3094 w/no pressure signs

87gr 7828 behind the 250gr SMK produced 2877 and
88gr of 7828 and the SMK produced 2891

None of the loads were pushing any limits even for a 92 degree day.

Tomorrow I'll give her a cleaning and install the RSI strain gage and see how that gizmo functions.

ALl of the above loads were fired with a 1/8" flash tube installed. The whole idea of this testing is to see what kind of differences frontal ignition makes, if any. The RUM is a much better cartridge for this test than was the Win Mag.

Roy,

I also shoot 92gr of 7828 with the 225 Hornady Interlock and I'm getting 3151fps and with the 250gr Interlock I'm using 90gr of 7828 and getting 2998 fps with that load. As far as the RamShot powder I never had any luck with that either. RL 22 and RL25 have yielded good results for me with the 210 and 225gr TSX's from Barnes. Also I'm almost done with with my .264 WM I just ordered my stock yesterday it was a Holland fiberglass stock and it will be here in 10 days and then the work will begin for me. I can't wait this rifle project has been haunting my dreams for months now!

Here are the results of today.

With IMR 7858 and H1000 velocities and pressures are almost identical to the IMR reloading data. Never had that occur before.

92gr IMR-7828 and Hornady 225 Spire Point seated to a length of 3.016" from base to ogive (the crimp ring is a full 1/8" out of the case mouth. All shots with Flash Tube.

Don't worry about the group size. The bedding has some problems.

Here's the full skinny:

Intresting results it's always nice to see what others are getting for performance with similar loads. I don't have equiptment for obtaining pressure data but I do have a chrony so it was nice to see pressure data for that load. Thanks for posting and that and keep the results coming. By the way do have any plans on loading the 250gr TSX from Barnes?

By the way do have any plans on loading the 250gr TSX from Barnes?

Don't know yet. I'll go through some Sierra 250s some SMKs and 252 and 275 Wildcats before I get to the Barnes.....

Getting the correct bullet/powder combination for maximum accuracy and performance is going to be a task.....But fun.

Roy have you ever used any of the Swift A-frame bullets before? The make a 275gr slug in .338 and that would be a crusher of a round in the .338 RUM don't you think! I was curious as to how accurate those A-frames were but I havn't come across anyone who has used them before.

I'm still feeling this rifle out. I fired three shots of 92 gr 7828 without the flash tube and got similar velocities as with it but the three shots were in a perfect 3" horizonal stirng with only a slight vertical dispersion.

I know I'm close when that happens. A grain or so above or below that will shift the spread from horizonal to vertical or vise versa then dropping back maybe a half grain will result in a symetrical group.

I went up a grain. Group was a nice triange about right a 1 MOA and a volicity of around 3100. Still no pressure indicators on the cases. The RSI said about 63000 PSI.

My feelings are that the 250 and maybe the 275 grain bullet is what the 338 RUM was made for.

I agree! The .338 RUM was born to be heavy hitter!

BTW, all shots are at 200 yds. That's the closest distance I shoot.

Cause that's where the backstop is:rolleyes:

Progress Report
 

Just finished my first pillar bed job. Followed it w/a skim job. Looks and feels really good. Will see if shooting improves. Bedding has another 12 hrs to cure. That means by 1000 tomorrow I could be shooting:D If I didn't have to make some money first:rolleyes:

I will also be doing my first pillar bedding job in a few days. The stock is for my new .264WM. I hope all goes well.

You'll have no problem. Just think it through first. Once you get going it all makes sense.

Does your RUM torque a bunch. Mine seem to want to twist about a quarter turn to the right or is it the left.:rolleyes: and I hold it pretty firmly. This is off of a pedestal rest.

I'm working on an above the bore bipod with a bit of a wide stance hopefully it will help w/looooonnnnngggg range.

With 93 gr of 7828 I'm getting about an average of 3080 FPS MV for 3 shots today But the battery in the chorno was running low and pooped out after tose three shots. The chrono may show them a little slower than they were.

Pressure was around 60000 PSI which may be actually 62000 or so but there were not pressure problems as indicated by primer markings and case extraction.

Accuracy is right around MOA @ 200.

To answer your question about the torque from the RUM it's YES!!! all 3 of my RUM's had a jump high and to right. The amount of movement went up with caliber and potentcy of ammo. I have become accustom to a real firm hold with the .338. I like your idea of the above bore tripod as usual let me know how it turns out. I just may adopt a similar set up! On a side note I bought some 142gr SMK's for my .264 and are long and skinny! They make me think of sleek areodynamic fighterplanes when I look at them. I want to do some loooong distance shooting with these when I'm done with my rifle. These bullets have a B.C. of over .590 when fired at at velocities between 2800 & 2900 fps so the should fly fast ,flat and a long ways out there.

Been shootin' the 338 RUM today.

Found the max pressure level at about 65000 PSI. At this point the extraction pressure was only slightly noticeable and primer seating was still good. Above that @ 65700 PSI everything was more noticeable especially loose primer when seating. At 73200 it was smack the bolt handle hard and smack it back to get it started. (Sure wish I had some Win cases).

Load was 91.5gr IMR 7828, Sierra 250gr Game King. Base of case to ogive was 3.041". And it didn't group worth a crap.

Got the Hornady 225 SP Interlock shooting 94gr 7828, Base to ogive 2.889"
3 shots @ 200 adjusted back to 100 was 0.612" Velocities of 3097/3097/3102. PSIs of 61600/61020/64924

It seems from my development and another fella shooting a 338 wildcat that 7828 does best at max loads.

It will be a miracle getting the 250gr bullet anywhere near 2900 (only 70 more FPS than the 338 Win Mag barrel)

Have only tired 7828 and H-1000, so far. Maybe Retumbo for the 250s?

Roy,

I was able to get within +or- 10fps of 3000fps with a 250gr Iterlock using 90gr of IMR7828 and 90gr of H4831. Both loads produced sub MOA accuracy.

RUMLUVER,

How confident are you w/your chrono readings? I can't come close to those velocities with that amount of powder or for that matter, any amount of powder.:rolleyes:

I am very confident in my results I have achieved those results on more than one occasion and the results were fairly consistant. My biggest swing was 20fps but always +or- 10fps of 3000fps. I am going to do it again soon because I'm going on an antelope hunt and temps are warmer during this season so I want to see how this will change my results. I'll let you know how it comes out.

Gettin closer.....
 

Bought some Retumbo Monday and some RL-25 earlier today.

I wasn't impressed w/Retumbo's numbers so I started with the RL-25

From using the RSI pressure trace I'm pretty confident of recognizing the pressure sign from case extraction. I set up the chrono and started shooting.

I used the same two cases for this whole deal for analness.:(

RL-25, Sierra 250 Game Kings, seated to 3.041 base to ogive(if that'w what you call where the bullet is 0.338 diameter). Federal 215 Primers and neck sized cases.

90gr - 2822
91gr - 2883
92gr - 2902
93gr - 2949
Here's where I began to think that 3000 fps was achieveable.:)
93.5gr - 2977
94gr - 2983
94.5 - 3009
94.5 - 2993
94.5 - 2995

OK, now I'm comfy w/the velocity. Just beginning to see/feel/sense pressure signs in heat of day w/cartridges and rifle at afternoon temperatures.

The group looked prommising
94.5 - :)

I have a lot of seating depth to work with. The bullet base is at the base of the neck. The powder level is at the base of the shoulder.

I'll hook up the RSI and do further testing but it shouldn't need to be much.

Besides the average velocity of 2999 FPS there was a spread of +10 and -9 from the average which is much better than I was able to achieve with the Win Mag.

Also, after a scope adjustment:rolleyes: the last two shots went into 0.55" @ 200.

Tomorrow well see if this is a fluke or not but I'll grin myself to sleep tonight.:rolleyes:

Glad to see everything is working out for you now. It will be intresting to see what pressure your at with that 94.5 of RL 25. I might just try working with that and my 250gr Interlocks. I havn't tried RL 25 with them yet so it would be nice to see if could duplicate that accuracy also. Keep me posted !

A bit of data from this afternoon:

All loads 250gr Sierra Game Kings, 94.5gr RL-25, GM-215M Primers, Neck sized and numbered cases. Note the difference in seating depths.....

Shot Case Vel COAL Primer to ogive.
1 1 3034 3.24"
2 2 2995 3.24"
3 3 2991 3.24"
4 4 2958 3.072"
5 5 2932 3.072"
6 6 2951 3.072"
7 7 2904 3.016"
8 8 2927 3.016"
9 9 2915 3.016"

Pressure was in the low 60Ks for shots 1-3 and decreased uniformly to low 50Ks for shots 7-9. That was kind of a surprise

Accuracy was not good. 3-4" @ 200 yds.:(

Very intresting indeed and I'm glad to see that you have obtained the 3000fps. Now to get the accuracy with the desired speed.

Pre & Post Tubbs Final Finish test
 

Sorry its only one data point but it was fun go get.

also how does one post 2 pics on same post????

Pre-tubb final finish process completion. (approximately 150 rounds fired:

Second Pic
 

after shooting the last 5 #4s and the last 5 #5s on one sweet early fall morning:

Some mighty nice shooting there Roy! I realy liked that 225gr Hornady target I get similar results with 92grs of 7828 but just a little bit faster but not enough to make a difference. I hope to be able to shoot some more before I go back to work but the wind hear in North Dakota won't quite blowing it's at 40mph.

Finally gotter all done, well, pretty much.

Was at the local county fair. Some kid was painting album cover type things w/paint cans and torching them off to dry the paint. It was pure inspiration.

He did the paint job. Cost me 35 Bucks.

Just finished the drag bag/shooting matt and the short sticks. Gave it all a good test this morning while doing some drop chart testing.

Those HOR 225s sure shoot good!!

Looks sharp Roy! And it souds like it shoots as good as it looks!

Getting Closer
 

Found a box of Hornady's new 250gr BTHP Match bullest #33361

Cost me 31 bucks + and a 60 mi round trip just to see what they looked like.

Selected a seating depth as determined by the bullet seated by the riflings.

Stoked three with the same load I used for the Nosler PTs. (94.5gr RL 25 & GM515M primers). These were fire forming loads as I had just formed them from 300 RUM cases.

The three shots strung about 4" vertically @ 200 yds. No chrono readings. Dead battery:rolleyes:

Kyped batter from LRF for next shots.

Loaded 3 fire formed cases w/95gr RL-25 and the fed primers.

Shots went 2978/2940/2958 and tried to from a group but 1 shot was 2.5" high.

Things indicated that as powder went up vertical stringing went down so.....

Loaded 3 more w/96gr RL-25.

Shots went 3000/3015/3020 and into about 1.28" @ 200.

Will see if there is improvement with 96.5grs of powder but 3000 FPS MV is adequate for me but I'll take more if I can get it.

Looking good Roy I wish I had more time to play but I had to go back to work. I will do some in about 2 months.

Roy finally my .264 is done and I am hoping to go to the range this Sunday to see how it shoots. I will post pictures when I can. I am so happy Shooting it is all I can think about while I'm at work!

What kind of work do you do that you can't shoot for a couple of months?

I finally have ol' Pink (338 RUM) shooting like she's supposed to.

Was never happy with accuracy or velocity of 225 and 250 grain bullets. I chould shoot MOA with both and with the 250 as fast as the 225 which was slow for the cartridge.

I got to thinking that if heavier bullets went faster than the lighter ones, then a heavier bullet than those two weights should perform about normal.

Bought some 300 SMKs. They sure looked sweet. Tried US869 powder and started a 96gr (low published) and with up a grain at a time to 100 gr (1 gr below max published) watching for pressure signs along the way.

Loaded several with 101gr US869 and the 300 SMK just touching lands (3.818 base to tip).

6 shot velocity averaged 2734 fps with one shot 2735 and another 2734. I've never achieved a load that consistent before.

Groups were about 50 Cal @ 200 yds.

1.7 Mils high @ 200 puts it right at about 5.0 Mils @ 980 yds.

Will check drop chart before I head for the mountains next week.

Thumps you about like an unbraked 06 w/150s @ 3000.

I am a Union Millwright and work shut downs in power houses that go 2-3 months and 6-7 days a week. That is a real impressive load with those 300gr SMK's. I will have to try some of that new powder also and see what happens. Thanks for the update Roy!

BTT JFF or maybe new life.

I forgot to post back to this thread with my results from last year's load development. With the 225-grain TSX and loads of RL25 from 92 to 95 grains (one-grain increments each), 92-94 were... "not worth writing home about, AT ALL." Each hotter load got "slightly" tighter, but I REALLY mean "SLIGHTLY." However... with 95 grains, they suddenly tightened up a LOT and all went under an inch! I had no pressure signs whatsoever, my velocity averaged (when I loaded up a bunch of 95-grainers and went back another time to chronograph the load) right around 3114, and I called things "done" as far as load development went. I know, I could have gone up to 96 grains, just to see "what if"... but, honestly, for elk hunting, sub-MOA is just fine and dandy with me; so, I left things at 95 grains. Cold bore, warm bore... they're all "right in there" as long as the action screws are tight (one of them I need to check now and then, because when the groups start opening up, it's that damn screw).

Anyway, just wanted to post for the benefit of anyone else who might be interested... RL25 and the TSX seem to be matched pretty well to each other.

Russ