.338 - RUM, Lapua, Edge, ? - and why
- Thread starter mattlewis
- Start date
Ive built 3 all using the same action , stock etc. 338 rem ultra mag ackley , (reamer was on sale ) ,338 lapua , 338 win mag . All using the same manuf. 26 in barrels , all 1.25 bull .
Out of all the 338 win mag wins in MY book . Velocity is about 200 fps slower , but it still is impressive with a LOT less powder. Yes it is belted but I do my own chambering ,so its not an issue .
Good luck and oh so many choices !
PS I also built a 375 Rem Ultra Mag Ack , just because the reamer was on sale .
Out of all the 338 win mag wins in MY book . Velocity is about 200 fps slower , but it still is impressive with a LOT less powder. Yes it is belted but I do my own chambering ,so its not an issue .
Good luck and oh so many choices !
PS I also built a 375 Rem Ultra Mag Ack , just because the reamer was on sale .
.338 Mollett same capacity as .338 lapua and velocity,but more accurate .
If you already have the mag bolt face go with the edge. With the Bertram brass available from Shawn at Defensive Edge it is leaps and bounds better than Remington brass. Very consistant in weight and very strong primer pockets. I shot a 3.5 inch group at 1000 and a 7" group at 1375 with my Edge last month off the bi pod. I let my 10 year old nephew shoot it a couple weeks ago. He hit the milk jug at 600 yds on his first shot ever shooting a gun like that. With my slabbed 4 port "Muscle" brake on it the recoil is less than a 308. Spotting your hits isn't hard at all. Accuracy is phenomenal. No downsides to it.
I own a 338 lapua. Let me start by saying I love the thing. However if I were to do it again I would go edge all the way. I would put at least a 30" if not 32" barrel on it and shoot the 285gr hornady bullets (hopefully). If you plan to shoot it out to 2000yds or more the 300 berger isnt really your best choice as you have to get 3000fps or more to keep it supersonic at those ranges. Much easier with the 285. The lapua and edge or practically the same speed wise so either will work. The cost of brass availablity and price of it and actions with the lapua boltface are enough to make me want to go to the edge.
Mynbuddy and I both built 338s on savage actions. Mine is a lapua and his is an edge. Accuracy is about the same as well as velocity. Been using rl33. He spends less to shoot his than me.
Some may not agree with this but just my opinion.
Anxious to hear your choice! What exactly will you do with it? 32" may be excessive if you plan to carry it much. Also if you go that long I would think about a chassis like the xlr or similar with a bipod that has an axis near the bore like the long range accuracy or similar. Done rambling now
Mynbuddy and I both built 338s on savage actions. Mine is a lapua and his is an edge. Accuracy is about the same as well as velocity. Been using rl33. He spends less to shoot his than me.
Some may not agree with this but just my opinion.
Anxious to hear your choice! What exactly will you do with it? 32" may be excessive if you plan to carry it much. Also if you go that long I would think about a chassis like the xlr or similar with a bipod that has an axis near the bore like the long range accuracy or similar. Done rambling now
Want a .338 bore for a Fun Shooter?
Consider that the .30/338 was a longrange favorite for many, many years.
Consider that the .338win gives you MORE bullet seating latitude than any of the longer-bodied ctgs.
Might also reflect on the longer barrel life that accrues from burning less powder
I live in rural Alaska. Have owned .338win, .340wby, .338-06, .338rum and my favorite, the .338/300win. Not really any need for the big powder burners; but I'm not shooting at targets a mile away either.
250gr bullet, or heavier at 2500fps or more is ample power for any big game hunting. I have had a lot of fun shooting 292gr cast boolits from my .340wby. Nice not to "need" a muzzle brake.
If you are going for fun, the .338win is pretty hard to beat. If you want a larger case, the .338/300win is about on par with the .333 Dakota and .340wby, nut much under the Lapua or rum, but unlike the big ones, can be loaded with mild loads w/o danger of detonation.
Nice to shoot brass that is readily available and realatively cheap. Nice not to have to seat the heavy, high BC bullets far into the case body. Set-up your headspace on the shoulder and you won't know the belt is there... Do a custom chamber about .001 over virgin brass length and your brass will last a longtime.
Get a Lee 220gr .338 mould and learn what real plinking fun is all about.
Consider that the .30/338 was a longrange favorite for many, many years.
Consider that the .338win gives you MORE bullet seating latitude than any of the longer-bodied ctgs.
Might also reflect on the longer barrel life that accrues from burning less powder
I live in rural Alaska. Have owned .338win, .340wby, .338-06, .338rum and my favorite, the .338/300win. Not really any need for the big powder burners; but I'm not shooting at targets a mile away either.
250gr bullet, or heavier at 2500fps or more is ample power for any big game hunting. I have had a lot of fun shooting 292gr cast boolits from my .340wby. Nice not to "need" a muzzle brake.
If you are going for fun, the .338win is pretty hard to beat. If you want a larger case, the .338/300win is about on par with the .333 Dakota and .340wby, nut much under the Lapua or rum, but unlike the big ones, can be loaded with mild loads w/o danger of detonation.
Nice to shoot brass that is readily available and realatively cheap. Nice not to have to seat the heavy, high BC bullets far into the case body. Set-up your headspace on the shoulder and you won't know the belt is there... Do a custom chamber about .001 over virgin brass length and your brass will last a longtime.
Get a Lee 220gr .338 mould and learn what real plinking fun is all about.
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