Anybody built a 338 Norma improved?

[Ucsdryder]

I’m liking this a lot…on paper.

Shorter and fatter allows for a magazine fed bullet loaded long without coal issues like the 338 edge.

Shorter and fatter also allows for a slightly shorter barrel, similar to a 7saum or 308.

I’m thinking a 23” 338 Norma improved in a xlr folder with a brake (later a TBAC 338 suppressor) shooting 285 eld-m around 2750 would be the ultimate elk rifle. Carrying weight would be around 9.5lb.

Curious if anybody has something somewhat similar? Mostly curious about recoil. I hate brakes but would brake this rifle until funds allowed for a 338 suppressor. Any flaws in my thinking above?

Thanks!

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

I built a 24" 338 NM a few years ago that ended up right around that weight. I got about 2900 with 250 Bergers
I shot it for a few months and said the hell with this..
Even using a Terminator T5 it was brutal on my neck and actually gave me head pain.
I went 30 cal and never looked back.
In my opinion lightweight and 338 is a terrible combo.

I should add that it was very accurate with every load I tried, kinda like a short mag.
If you can handle the abuse it's definitely a good cartridge, improving it would be a must to slow case growth though.

 

[AkMtnRunner]

A smaller 338 case could still outperform the 30 magnums on game at extended range, such as 338 win mag or 33 Nosler. There are such good 210-250 grain hunting bullets and those 338’s greater efficiency give them great velocity from a shorter barrel on top of obvious greater frontal area and bullet weight.

There’s been so much attention on greater extreme long distance target shooting like for the 6.5’s, 300 PRC, and large 338’s and 375’s, that the moderate and more efficient 338’s long range hunting prowess has kind of been forgotten.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I've got a standard 338 Norma. It's about 11 lbs with TBAC 338 muffler and it's a pussy cat to shoot. I'm not sure if an improved case will be a big benefit given the cost and wait time for custom dies.

If you want to hit elk as hard as you can the 300 grain bullets don't disappoint. Mine is 25" and I wish I went shorter, next barrel will be 18".

 

[JakeSCH]

It will be extremely loud. By far the biggest downside. My 338 RUM is 9 lb loaded shooting 260 gr bullets 3060 fps and I can shoot all day (if i didn't care about my barrel). A well designed stock and good brake goes a long way and I honestly prefer shooting that gun than my 7.5 unbraked 30-06.

Last year while waiting for cows to clear, my bull started to turn when i finally had a window...a steep quartering away, entered back of stomach, went through paunch, guts, diagraph, lungs, and broke the opposite front right shoulder....DRT.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I think I have a chubby. Thanks guys.

A TBAC 338 will be in my future as well.

 

[Geewhiz]

I think I have a chubby. Thanks guys.

A TBAC 338 will be in my future as well.

Aside from the purchase price, I feel confident in saying you will not regret a TBAC 338 ultra. No experience with a 338 NI. I have a 338 rum with the 338 ultra can on it and its bad to the bone. I had my mind made up to shoot the 285 eldm's for a number of reasons but for whatever reason I couldn't get them to shoot any better than about 1moa, which is fine, but not what I was hoping for in a long range precision rifle. Got ahold of some berger 300 elite hunters and was grouping at 0.3 moa right away.

Excited to hear about the build.

 

[WeiserBucks]

The TBAC 338 Ultra does a great job on the big 338s, but it's almost comical how awesome it is on smaller cartridges if you can put up with the length.

 

[Geewhiz]

The TBAC 338 Ultra does a great job on the big 338s, but it's almost comical how awesome it is on smaller cartridges if you can put up with the length.

Just for the fun of it I threw it on my 16.5" 22-250. Its a good time.

 

[sndmn11]

Will this fit in your tikka action?

338 RPM – Weatherby, Inc.

weatherby.com

 

[amassi]

Will this fit in your tikka action?

338 RPM – Weatherby, Inc.

weatherby.com

Yup
I'm generally 338 illiterate outside of some big Uber magnums but those velocities seem quite sufficient for anything

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[wind gypsy]

Will this fit in your tikka action?

338 RPM – Weatherby, Inc.

weatherby.com

It's very close in case capacity to what a 338 wsm would be and that would fit mo better.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

I think I have a chubby. Thanks guys.

A TBAC 338 will be in my future as well.

Check out this CGS 338 can
Damnit now I want a 338 again..

 

[WeiserBucks]

Everybody needs a 338 muffler.

 

[sportsmans challenge]

What did you end up deciding on?

That 23" would be a handy rifle, not sure the improved will do much more and for the price and brass forming not really worth it. I had a 338 norma and ran 300 grain bergers at 2800, but with a 26" barrel. I think you could do very well with 250 to maybe 285 grain bullets out of that and keep velocity up. Was just researching some stuff for a gun a buddy wants done and looking at maybe the 270 eldx

I have a 7-300 norma imp on a 24" now and would easily do a 22" next time, but will see how this burns up over the years.

 

[Wanabe]

A 338 NMI does very well with 250’s. My 24 inch 9.4 twist rifle loves the badlands SBD-2’s. With a G7 of .410 it’s a real wind cheater.
3000 fps for now. Working with other powders to see what I can get. My rig is 10.8 pounds and topped with a Nightforce ATACR.

 

[sportsmans challenge]

View attachment 516517A 338 NMI does very well with 250’s. My 24 inch 9.4 twist rifle loves the badlands SBD-2’s. With a G7 of .410 it’s a real wind cheater.
3000 fps for now. Working with other powders to see what I can get. My rig is 10.8 pounds and topped with a Nightforce ATACR.

Whats the rbh?

 

[Wanabe]

Whats the rbh?

Our version of modifying the 338 Norma Mag

 

[sportsmans challenge]

Who is "our" is what I am getting to

 

[Wanabe]

Who is "our" is what I am getting to

The RBH Cartridge Family

OK, finally have a chance to sit down and update everyone on the RBH Cartridge family. Here is a quick recap from the January article to […]

rbrosrifles.com