Which .338

[Wapiti1]

Got a new scope from Black Friday that needs a rifle to ride on. Have a couple of #4 contour .338 barrels 1:10 twist sitting in the shop. They would finish at a max of 27", but I'll probably cut it to 26" plus a brake.

Most likely, I'll stick to bullets in the 250-265gr size.

Two action options, one up to 3.6" COAL, the other up to 3.8" COAL (after some machining). Probably set them up as single shot. Might get ambitious and fab a mag box and follower to hold 2 down.

I'm doing the machine work, so any options, like custom throating, are on the table.

What are the cool kids shooting these days in a .338? The only one I won't consider is a Lapua or other Rigby cased .338. These actions aren't appropriate for that diameter cartridge.

Jeremy

 

[FURMAN]

After ruling out a Lapua you’ve really narrowed it down to the Edge or RUM. I would go Edge.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Wapiti1]

That is what I was thinking, but wasn't sure if there was something out there I was missing.

Jeremy

 

[Alaskanopolis]

338 Federal, just because.

 

[CBECK61]

Curios more than anything on peoples thoughts of the 33 nosler vs 338 rum. If my basic understanding is correct it may be easier to run a mag or floor plate on the Nosler because of the OAL. I don't play in the 338 world but defiantly curious.

 

[LightFoot]

My thoughts are 33 Nosler. I would use it as my "everything in Alaska" rifle.



>>>----JAKE----->

 

[FURMAN]

Case capacity rules when all out performance is the concern.

 

[SDHNTR]

I’d love a .338 UM built on a M70 action.

 

[CBECK61]

338 Norma worth looking at? I know a ton of guys who love the 300 norma but I've stayed away from the 338 world.

 

[FURMAN]

He does not want a Lapua bolt face cartridge.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[BAKPAKR]

The Hodgdon site shows it takes 17 more grains of Retumbo in the RUM to gain 140 fps over the Nosler. That seems like a pretty significant increase in powder for not much gain in speed.

 

[FURMAN]

This is in the long range forum. Performance rules. The efficiency argument really has no bounds. We could say the same about the 338 WM, then a 338 WSM, then... Typically the smaller the case the more efficient. If we were talking about shooting 200 yards I would say who cares pick one and go shoot. In long range performance rules. There are very few exceptions. The other huge issue with the Hodgdon site is those are to SAAMI specs and I don't know anyone personally who would build a RUM to SAAMI specs. The OP also mentioned single shot so it seems that he will not be loading it to the weak SAAMI spec. 140 FPS is HUGE in long range. Honestly I would not even build a Nosler to the absolutely ridiculous SAAMI spec of 3.4". Nosler did make some great cases but they blew it on SAAMI chamber specs because they can't figure out that very few people, relatively speaking, want a 3.4" "long action" in the year 2019.

 

[Wapiti1]

Of the two actions I have, one is a Savage 116 (stainless 110), and the other is a bit off the wall these days, a M1917 Enfield. I made tooling to true the Enfield, very versatile action, but a lot of machine work.

I don't think either is appropriate for the Lapua sized case since they are 0.7" bolt diameter actions. I really want a bigger diameter bolt and receiver for the Lapua pressures. That is just my opinion, I know it has been done.

Let's be honest, my intentions aren't pure and I will be violating the pressure specs. Some safety margin is needed.

Looks like a horserace between two: RUM or Edge. Advantages/disadvantages to one or the other?

Jeremy

 

[FURMAN]

It seems as if the 300 Berger accuracy node will be within 50 FPS of each other with the edge being faster and/or lower pressure. To seat correctly both will need single fed. Adg and Bertram both make brass for the edge. I don’t see any downfall.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Rusty85]

33 Nosler if your looking in that bullet weight class and COAL. My 33 is built on a trued 700 and 26” tube with 250 Elite Hunter loaded at 3.567” is getting 2850 and could go hotter but accuracy fell off. I know the RUM and Edge are faster and I’ve owned two RUM’s and still have a full custom Edge built by DE but for some reason I always reach for the 33 out of the safe now. My Edge shines with the 300 EH, I’ve never shot a 250 out of it so I have no side to side comparison between the two cartridges and a 250 weight class bullet. But at the end of the day I feel both chambers have their place.

 

[Wapiti1]

Did some more research. The Edge looks like the one to go with.

Now to find the right stock and make some chips.

Jeremy

 

[longbarrel]

I did my testing of .338s in the 1980s so just compare by case capacity to today's favorites. I found that for a 24" to 26" the .340 Wby gave some (100-150 fps) velocity improvement over the Win Mag. The .338-378 gave another 150-200 fps with 27" but with a lot more powder, say 110 gr vs. 83 gr. To use the large capacity cartridges, a long barrel helps a lot to burn the charge, say 31" or more. Going from 27" to 31" added 200 fps to the .338-378. In fact, a 29" gave the .338 win mag 2900 fps with 250 gr Hornadys at 3.48" COAL (somewhat longer than average throat, 75 gr Rel 22). I ended up liking that last combination a lot, and getting around 1/2 minute of angle accuracy at 400 yd with a Douglas stainless barrel.

 

[Wapiti1]

I already have the barrel and the farthest I can stretch it is 27". It was for a project that did not get financed by the fellow that wanted it. Maybe I'll pick up a longer tube at some point. I do have a .340 Weatherby with a 26" barrel, but it isn't really setup as a dedicated LR rifle.

This will be a more purpose built LR rifle to have some fun with.

Jeremy

 

[longbarrel]

Just my opinion fwiw:
Since this rifle won't be the ultimate wazoo ultra long range beast, I would look at the more moderate cartridges, including win mag, RCM, 338-06 and set a range goal--say 500 or 600 yards, with practice to know its trajectory well. My 29" 338 win mag was accurate and effective on elk at a real 800 yards with the Hornady 250 spire point, but realize too that it took about 1.2 seconds to get there and dropped around 10 feet iirc from its zero at 400 yd.

 

[jacknifejc]

I prefer the 33 Nosler to the 338 RUM. I have both. However, I like the 338 WM better than both.