.338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

[fcsurvivor]

Just wondering about your opinions on this. I am having a new rifle built. I have decided on a .338, but not which one. I have it narrowed down to two. Either the .338 Lapua, or the .338 Rem Ultra.
What are the experts opinions here?

 

[cooperjd]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

certainly no expert, actually pretty new...
but i just picked up a .338 ultra mag. it would seem that the rifles are cheaper, the ammo is cheaper, but the performance is very similar. mine will be a long range hunting rifle though, and not one of the precision rifles seen on here.

 

[rlr]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

I've got the Lapua, built on a Remington action, and love it! Works great, shoots great!

Ammo is probably a little higher, but if you reload, it brings the overall cost down substantially. I use both Lapua and Jamison brass, and find them to both perform equally well.

Don't have any experience with the Ultra Mag to compare to.

 

[steve123]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

338L for the Lapua brass alone. Not only is the brass strong but uniform.

One thing I can't stand is primer pockets loosening up after 3-4 firings.

 

[mcfred]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

I'm no expert but I've got a .338 Edge (.338/300 RUM). It does very well for the amount of effort I put into the build. Zero performance loss over the Lapua, a few different sources for 300RUM brass at ~$1 a piece, safe to run high pressure in a Rem M700 LA, dies available too. 300 SMKs at 2700-2800fps with a 25" bbl.

What's not to like over the Lapua?

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

Are you building a hunting rifle, a plate rifle or a target rifle? What are your expectations?

 

[SCOTTx88]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: McFred</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm no expert but I've got a .338 Edge (.338/300 RUM). It does very well for the amount of effort I put into the build. Zero performance loss over the Lapua, a few different sources for 300RUM brass at ~$1 a piece, safe to run high pressure in a Rem M700 LA, dies available too. 300 SMKs at 2700-2800fps with a 25" bbl.

What's not to like over the Lapua? </div></div>

Same here.

 

[excaliber]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

338 Lapua. If you build a rifle, go with something you can buy quality brass for.

 

[fcsurvivor]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

I have my current LR rifle in .260 Rem. It is great to 1000yds, but I would like something that is going out to 1500-1700 and have something left when it gets there. It looks like the .338's should do that, but I havn't been able to shoot one yet. Don't really want to go to the .408 Chytac or the .416 Barret, but if thats what is required for 1700, then that may be what I will have to do. I'm just hopeing that the .338's will handle these ranges.

 

[lencomatt]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

What about the Weatherby 338-378? That was designed for theranges you're talking about.

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

If you want a mag fed long range 338, take a look at the 338 Norma.

 

[Wild_Bill]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

first off what action are you going to build the rifle on? if it has a .700 bolt diameter build an edge or ultramag. the 338 edge is an easy build on a rem 700 with a seekins DBM you will have a great performer and it will get you to 1700 yards with plenty of energy.

If you are building on a larger action with a .750 bolt then either will work.

Be carefull building a 378 based wby or lapua on a standard rem action their lapua actions are slightly dirrerent in steel structure and strength the rem action is marginal if you start to push the handloads a lot. The rem action will handle the back thrust of an ultramag case so that would be my pic if you are basing the action of either.

but either will do the job you require if you can however get a like new sendero in 338 ultramag most of those realy shot well and would be a great rifle to start with.

 

[fcsurvivor]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

I was planning on a Savage repeater action. If I was going to do a .378 based cartridge I have a Mark V action that was in .378 that I have been saving for that type of a project. The way it looks right now , I will build a .338RUM as I would like to stay with a factory loaded cartridge. I do reload, and will shoot my own loads, but I need it to be a factory loaded round.
Any suggestions on barrel twist for the heavy bullets?

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

Most run a 9.3 or 9.4 twist for the 300's.

 

[Wild_Bill]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

a stated above a 9.3 of 9.4 twist will work fine. make sure you have the barrel fitted like other actions WITHOUT THE BARREL NUT it will give you a safer rifle with more material around the chamber.

 

[bushido2222]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

I'm running a 338 ultra with 300 SMK's at 2780 fps in a 28" barrel...This gives me terminal ballistics at about 950 yards (1800 fps @ 45 degrees @ 3200 elevation) stays supersonic till past 2000 yds...I am running an extended box magazine (3.8") ...Dan

 

[fcsurvivor]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bushido2222</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm running a 338 ultra with 300 SMK's at 2780 fps in a 28" barrel...This gives me terminal ballistics at about 950 yards (1800 fps @ 45 degrees @ 3200 elevation) stays supersonic till past 2000 yds...I am running an extended box magazine (3.8") ...Dan </div></div>

Thanks for the rangeing info 2222 that is what I have in mind for my build. I have a .260, but I want to play out from 1200- 2000yds. I guess I am one of the fortunate few who live in an area rural enough that I can shoot these distances anytime I want and within 4 miles of my house.

What action is your Ultra on?

 

[bear58]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

I just had Phoenix Custom Rifles build me a 338 RUM on Remmy action with a Sedero barrel 25" and 1:10 tw. Shoots 300 gr, SMK pretty good, but seems to like the 250 gr. SMK's a little better. Going to try some 300 gr. Berger OTM's.
PCR does great work. They also did action work and other modifications. You'll like the 338 RUM.

 

[lonegunman762x51]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

Would there be a twist preference? I have read that 1-10 twist will not stabilize 300SMKs, Douglas does a 1-9.5 variation and Shilen does a 1-8, would either of them be better?

 

[frankythefly]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

.338 Lapua, when I choose calibers now I make sure that I can get Lapua or at the very least Norma brass. I shot with a guy at a local range who was shooting 1500yds with a .338 Edge he believes that to be the best .338 caliber. Again I would elect to get a caliber that I could get good brass.

 

[mtscott]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

I have and I am very fond of a .338 Lapua Magnum. A 1 in 10 will stabilize a 300 SMK.

 

[kjh762]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

Played with the 338-300 Ultra. Was doubtful about it until then. One swipe through die, loaded up 250smk and got half inch groups at 3200fps.

 

[bowstryder]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

My vote is also for the Lapua. Yes the brass is A LOT more on the front end. However, you can get 15 loads out of each piece if you anneal. Look at remmy brass, a full tilt load, you may see 3 or 4 loads before the primers just fall out and/or the necks start to come apart. I am not saying the cartridge is better than the edge. But the lapua case is soooo overbuilt. Figure 10 reloads and each shot is just 25 cents for brass. Just a thought.

 

[excaliber]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

10 twist works. We have shot the 300gr Bergers out of a 338 Excaliber and 338 Titan out to 2449yds with great success. We used Schneider barrels.

 

[Steelhead]

Re: .338 Lapua or .338 Rem Ultra

I'm on 5 loadings with my Remington brass for my 338 Edge and it's still just as good as when I first bought it. Been thinking about annealing them, but thus far I haven't needed to.

Nosler also makes 300 RUM brass, but I haven't seen much advantage from the guys who are using it.

I will agree that Lapua brass is excellent, as I use it in my .308's, but for everyone to "poo poo" on the 338 Edge because of brass....well, they just don't know what they are missing.