.338 EDGE

[wboggs]

Looking for gunsmiths that specialize in building hunting rifles in this caliber and member's experience with them.
Thanks
Bill

 

[B23]

Looking for gunsmiths that specialize in building hunting rifles in this caliber and member's experience with them.
Thanks
Bill

Defensive Edge Rifles probably has as much and likely more than most smiths out there. If I was building a 338 Edge I'd look no further than DE Rifles. That's not to say other smiths can't build a good 338 Edge as well but the 338 Edge has always been one of Shawn's specialties.

The 338 Edge Turns 20 Years Old This month

In July of 2000, I started work on my first wildcat round aimed at long range hunting. I took the just newly introduced 300 Ultra Mag case (introduced in 1999) and simply necked it out to .338”. I knew I wanted to shoot a bullet with a huge ballistic advantage so I zeroed in on…

defensiveedge.net

 

[wboggs]

Thank you. He is one I have on the list.

 

[alf]

Just a thought to consider, if your not going to shoot beyond 1K, the regular 338 Ultra gives up little to the Edge, and is a better fit in a 700 length mag box. Plus ADG brass and no "custom" die upcharge.

 

[6bra1k]

you said hunting rifle, pick a bullet and discuss with builder for an COAL then an action/mag

 

[wboggs]

Just a thought to consider, if your not going to shoot beyond 1K, the regular 338 Ultra gives up little to the Edge, and is a better fit in a 700 length mag box. Plus ADG brass and no "custom" die upcharge.

It is for a friend and that is what he wants. Agree with you but some guys are set in their views. I used a custim ultra for years and loved it.

 

[wboggs]

you said hunting rifle, pick a bullet and discuss with builder for an COAL then an action/mag

That is what I'll do.
Thanks

 

[SKWERLZ]

338 RUM will definitely be easier to fit into a magazine.

Love the 338 edge but at 4.28 oal mine is a single feed

 

[wboggs]

This going to be a hunting rifle and single feed is not an option

 

[Triple BB]

I have an Edge with a Wyatt’s Mag Box and a PTG Orbendorf bottom metal. I think I can fit three in the magazine. No interest in a single shot…

 

[bapayton]

I have a buddy considering the Edge. I also suggested the 7mm Practical as an option.... He's mostly talk but if anyone has both I'd appreciate any info that can be provided.

 

[SKWERLZ]

With the short FR reamer and 225-250 hunting bullets I could see it getting into a 3.75” magazines and certainly a 4”

 

[alf]

I have a buddy considering the Edge. I also suggested the 7mm Practical as an option.... He's mostly talk but if anyone has both I'd appreciate any info that can be provided.

I've had two Edges. Got tired of all the blast & concussion, so I built a 7x300 with a goal of matching the Edge by staying SS to 2K:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/my-7mm-lr-odessy.3933652/

It's certainly harder on barrels than the Edge, so I built a 6.5 PRC that stayed super to 2K as well, with better barrel life:

My 6.5 PRC Thread

So last fall I got the itch to try the new Hornady 6.5 PRC cartridge. I already had the platform, so I really only needed a reamer and a barrel. After quite a bit of research, I gathered up some details: 6.5 creedmoor: 52-53 gr case capacity 6.5 SLR: 55-56 gr 6.5 PRC: 66-67 gr 6.5 SAUM: 70-71...

forum.accurateshooter.com

My last Edge:

 

[B23]

338 RUM will definitely be easier to fit into a magazine.

Love the 338 edge but at 4.28 oal mine is a single feed

Wow, 4.28 OAL is longggg. You must be shooting some of those really long mono's or something because 4.28 with a 300 Berger or 300 Amax wouldn't leave a whole lot of bullet in the neck.

Brass used to be the weak link in the chain because the Remington stuff wasn't very good but since ADG started making 338 Edge brass it's kind of breathed new life in to the 338 Edge. I know Shawn has built a shit ton of Edge's and +P Edge's on Rem 700's with Wyatt's 4.0 mag box and runs them as a repeaters around 3.900 OAL. I think his +P Edge's w/300's aren't to far off of the 338 Lap Imp.

 

[B23]

My last Edge:

A build doesn't get much better than that. Fine looking piece you have there. BAT HR receiver?

 

[SKWERLZ]

Wow, 4.28 OAL is longggg. You must be shooting some of those really long mono's or something because 4.28 with a 300 Berger or 300 Amax wouldn't leave a whole lot of bullet in the neck.

Brass used to be the weak link in the chain because the Remington stuff wasn't very good but since ADG started making 338 Edge brass it's kind of breathed new life in to the 338 Edge. I know Shawn has built a shit ton of Edge's and +P Edge's on Rem 700's with Wyatt's 4.0 mag box and runs them as a repeaters around 3.900 OAL. I think his +P Edge's w/300's aren't to far off of the 338 Lap Imp.

Yes on solids but I’m at 4.0” with 300 OTM’s as well.

The ADG 338 edge brass is excellent

 

[B23]

Ya I think most are running their 338 Edge's with Wyatt's 4.0 mag box in that 3.950-ish OAL range.

As was already mentioned, if you don't build a 338 Edge with the 4.0 mag box there's not really any advantage and you may as well go 338 RUM. ADG makes excellent brass for both the Edge and RUM so that's a huge bonus, for both, in my book.

 

[darkangel_r2]

Looking for gunsmiths that specialize in building hunting rifles in this caliber and member's experience with them.
Thanks
Bill

You are going to have a hard time making that a repeater if you intend to use 300 grain bullets. If you want to single load edge can get a lot of performance out of a long action mag bolt face. If you want to feed from a standard (aics pattern) magazine 33 nosler is about as big as you can go. you will be around 3.65" COAL with 33 nosler.

338 edge will be about 4.03" If you are restricted to a 3.75" internal (CIP aics for 338 and 300 prc) You would likely see very little performance difference between edge and nosler. If you have a longer internal box mag near or past 4" 338 edge will pull away noticeably.

33 nosler will power a 300 grain at about 2650-2700 tops out of a 26" with a full case of reloader 23 or h4831. Bergers load data for 338 edge looks very similar at 3.6" length.

To be honest though I think a 30 nosler or 300 prc loaded out to 3.7"+ and a full case of h1000 looks better ballistically than a 33 cal if shooting new 230 sierra and hornady bullets. Unless you need the extra 1-200 fllbs energy of the 33 at longer ranges I'd stick with 30 cal.

 

[alf]

A build doesn't get much better than that. Fine looking piece you have there. BAT HR receiver?

Yup, single shot HR, so OAL wasn't an issue, & it was just a LR plinker.

I was a little over 4" OAL, but don't remember exactly offhand.

 

[B23]

Yup, single shot HR, so OAL wasn't an issue, & it was just a LR plinker.

My 338 Lap Imp was built with the same receiver, similar stock and scope even.