30-338 Varmint Version hits 4300 FPS with Barnes 130
In our new article on the 30-338 Wildcat, you’ll find expert advice on forming the cases from .338 Lapua Magnum brass plus tips on selecting powder and bullets. The story also features some great photos of a 30-338 custom Richard Franklin built for a California client. That rifle is designed as an Elk Gun, shooting the 190gr Berger VLDs with Reloder 22 powder. The laminated stock is made from exhibition-grade Claro Crotch Walnut and Dennis Smith (aka the Stock Doctor) provided beautiful checkering and a hand-rubbed oil finish.
Ultimate Big Boomer for Varminters
Franklin has also pioneered an ultra-high-velocity varmint version of the 30-338. This cartidge achieves amazing 30-Cal velocities using long, very slow-twist barrels. Richard tells us: “I use 15- to 17-twist barrels with both the 300 WSM Varminter and the 30-338 Lapua Varminter. The 300 WSM easily gets 3900 fps with the Nosler 125 Ballistic Tip and the 30-338 Lapua will do 4150 fps easily with the same 125gr B-Tip. In the 30-338, the 130gr Barnes, a “ringed” bullet with grooves to reduce bearing surface, will get another 150 fps, topping out at 4300 fps. I find the 17-twist does a good job with the light bullets in the 30-338 but I’m going to try an 18-twist and a 19-twist to see if high velocity is a little more easier to obtain. I believe the 19-twist will beat any thing I’ve built to date for velocity and I also believe it’s going to be very accurate.”
The “Official” .300 Lapua Magnum
While nearly every 30-338 you see in the USA is a wildcat, manually formed by necking-down the .338 Lapua brass, there was an “official” version, the “.300 Lapua Magnum”. This was a factory 30-caliber cartridge based on the .338 Lapua Magnum parent case. Lapua produced enough factory ammo to get the .300 Lapua Magnum sanctioned as an official CIP-certified cartridge. QuickLOAD includes the .300 Lapua Magnum in its load database, and QuickDESIGN has complete CIP cartridge specifications. Unfortunately, the .300 Lapua Magnum is no longer in production. For you cartridge collectors, we’re not even sure if Lapua ever produced brass with a distinctive “300 Lapua Magnum” headstamp. However Vihtavuori does include .300 Lapua Magnum load data in the current Vihtavuori Load Manual. That reloading guide shows the .300 Lapua Magnum can drive a 220gr HPBT Sierra MatchKing at 2910 fps with a max charge of VV 20N29 powder. The .300 Lapua Magnum can push the 30-caliber 155gr Lapua Scenar at nearly 3500 fps with VV N170 powder. That’s impressive performance indeed!
CLICK HERE to download Current 2008 Vihtavuori RELOADING MANUAL (35-page .pdf file).
What would be the value of the 30-338LM over the 300 RUM, since the case capacities appear to be virtually identical, based on external measurements?
Phil — Yes capacities are similar, but the 30-338LM offers Lapua brass (extremely high quality/consistency) rated to 68,128 psi.
By contrast the RAUM has Remington brass (low quality/consistency) rated to 64,977 psi.
The Lapua brass requires less prep, can shoot hotter loads, will last longer.
I note that you mention the TSX bullet as a drive band bullet. Barnes describes it as a grooved bullet. My understanding is that it is a grooved bullet as it is made to conform to the larger barrel groove diameter and is then grooved. The grooves comprise a smaller area than the rest of the shaft length of the bullet and the shaft diameter is such that it fills the grooves (rifling) of the barrel, thereby making it a grooved bullet.
A drive band bullet has drive bands on the shaft that are less in total width than the rest of the shaft length. The shaft is made at a diameter that allows it to ride on the faces of the lands of the barrel.
Clarity on whether a bullet is grooved or made with drive bands is important, as they have differing performance characteristics that are defined by the correct description.
I’ve shot the 220 gr SMK in 300 Wby rifles w/ quality brass @ 2935 fps and the 210 Bergers @ 3020 fps with 30 inch barrels (both loads were not hot loads). The 300 Ultra would beat both all to hell (w/ bad brass). I don’t see any advantage to the 30-338 Lapua except if you have the larger boltface and a bunch of brass. The 300 Wby has also a proven accuracy record.
Dan
30-338 lapua with 115 grains of us869 powder, 27 inch barrel, 210 berger. produces over 3500 feet per second.