Which 338

[freebird63]

I am trying to decide on which 338 to consider having built?
I really don't know much about all the different choices out there. I know of the 338RUM, 338 Edge, 338 Lapua magnum, 338 Norma magnum and have heard about a 338 Lapua AI.
So if a person wanted a gun that would destroy elk out to and past 1000 yards, but is also really interested in shooting steel targets out to and beyond a mile, which one....what are the pro's and con's of each one and where might I find more info on these plinkers. Thanks a bunch
Chuck

 

[shoot1760]

Re: Which 338

I personally have two 338 edges. Shawn Carlock builds this gun in Idaho and he offers long range shooting courses in the summer.

Most in my circles shoot either the 338 lapua or the 338 edge. Most shoot the 300 gr SMK as well. These guns shoot between 2800 and 3000 fps. This is a wicked combo on ELk to 1,000 yards. My 15 yr old boy dropped his first bull elk last year with my gun at 940 yards..He's hooked.

I personally think the limits on my edge are right around 1,300 yards. Yes we have shot it to 1 mile, but the wind can really play games with you out past 1,300 yards.

For these longer distances, many are shooting the chey tac and some are necking this to 338 and others are necking this to 375.

If you're really not going much beyond 1000 yards, stick with the edge or the lapua. But if you want to streach it out there, look at a take off from the chey tac.

Im currently building a 375 snipe tac which is the chey tac improved. This gun really starts to shine where the lapua and edge are at their upper limits.

I like the edge for practice and the snipe tac for the real long range stuff. You just need to decide what range you wish to kill at and go from there.

The lapua brass is more money than the edge brass, but the chey tac brass beats em all...(more money)

cheers,
zman

 

[redbullitt]

Re: Which 338

I have a lapua myself, but wouldn't hesitate to run an edge. A mile is really getting out there for either one I think, but it's quite doable.
I like the edge if you are staying 338, especially considering brass cost. It just comes out to what you like and what you can pay for.

If cost were not an issue for me, I would go 375 all the way. BUT until those hot coeds bring my lottery check, I am gonna stick to the RUM, edge, or the Lapua.

 

[psinclair]

Re: Which 338

I run the Lapua. The brass is spendy but its also very durable. I have some that have 12 loadings on them...

 

[freebird63]

Re: Which 338

I know a mile is stetching it, for steel targets. If the shot were right on an elk a 1000 yards would work. I checked out how much that lapua brass is..WOW

 

[bward]

Re: Which 338

Lapua brass is worth every penny and will actually end up being cheaper than other brands since you can get so many reloads out of them.

 

[shoot1760]

Re: Which 338

Dude, go with the edge, you can't go wrong...Just get a good smith or someone like shawn who knows this gun. My brother can't affor it and my son is just 15 yrs old, so we all share my gun. Besides, one guys spots the shot, one guys films and the other guy shoots. We rarely shoot under 800 yards so it's nice when you dump an Elk across the canyon to have the other guy go bird dog it with a radio in hand.

We dumped 3 Elk last year from 800 yards to 940. It's a ton of work packing, but fun as hell.

Your next question will be "what scope". If you can afford it or you can sell something do so and get a NIGHT FORCE, the edge or the laupua is very deserving of this scope, you wont be sorry...8.5 by 22 and you will be in heaven.

cheers
zman

 

[freebird63]

Re: Which 338

I have never used a nightforce scope. Right now I have a sendero 300RUM with a sightron 6-24x50mm scope with the mildot and I love it. I went to Shawns website and checked his custom guns. The gunsmith I talked to here in Boise was talking some people have been building a 338 Norma mag???
I do like Shawn's guns though.

 

[V-Ref]

Re: Which 338

Your RUM will do a mile with the right bullets, and certainly has the horsepower for an Elk at 1000 yards.

Your Sendero with the Mag bolt face, does make an excellent candidate for a 338 Edge or 338 RUM build.

The 338 Norma standard reamer will put the 300 SMK with a shooting COAL of no longer than 3.6 at the lands....with the 300 gr Berger it's right at 3.7 at the lands. The Norma is better suited for a repeater setup, and shorter barrel lengths. At the same COAL, it's about 3.5 grains behind the Lapua in useable case capacity.

Ramshot Mag will be the best powder for velocity/pressure/case capacity for the Norma. H1000 is a touch quick in my rifle, and Retumbo cubes the case out before pressure/velocity potential is reached.

So the powders you like may come into play.

Lapua/Edge both like H1000 and Retumbo.

Lapua brass is pricey, but you need to look at the cost of 1000 rounds when comparing the Edge/RUM vs. Lapua. You can get many more loadings out of the Lapua brass....and it's higher quality (uniformity, toughness, etc) out of the box. Less time at the bench prepping it to BR quality if that's your deal.

Forestor makes very quality dies for a resonable price for the Norma.

The Norma brass is very high quality, and is comparable to the Lapua brass in terms of uniformity.

Lots of good choices for your 1000 yard elk rifle.

The one mile rifle.....lots of different ways to get there too.

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: Which 338

If you have a place to shoot at one mile close by and plan on doing nothing but ELR shooting AND have the loot to build ANY rifle-I'd make the step up to a 408 based round like the 338 Snipetac.I personally shoot the Lapua (about 6K times since 2004). But if I had a mile range to use frequently-I'd want more case capacity.

Shooting a 338LM at CIP length you are going to beat the 338 Norma which had the advantage over the Lapua at SAAMI lengths due to the loss of case capacity. Now with 3.8"+ I'd give the advantage to the Lapua-the brass IS THAT GOOD.

A 338 AI is going to be tougher on barrels but more is better at 1700+. Any of the round you mentioned will flatten anything walking the continent at 1000 yards.You have a lot of choices.You really have to up the horsepower to be consistent at one mile though. CLICKY for the 338 and 375 Snipetac

 

[Broz]

Re: Which 338

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: freebird63</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I know a mile is stetching it, for steel targets. If the shot were right on an elk a 1000 yards would work. I checked out how much that lapua brass is..WOW
</div></div>

freebird, I have close to 900 rounds down my .338 Lapua. I have shot it to 2100 yrds on two accations with results that I was very happy with. I shoot steel to 1500 yards on a fairly regular basis. To 1400 yards a lot!! 7" groups are pretty common at 1400. I have had two groups at 1000 go under 3" 5~6" normally. The rifle has taken a WT deer at 1137 yards and a bull Elk at 1130 yards. One cold bore shot for each.. DRT! Oh, and that Lapua brass, this is the 9th loading for it. I just did a complete inspection of it, primer pockets tight and consistant, and checked wall thickness all the way to the head. She is still good to go. So, is it expensive? Other things to consider with a .338 LM are, the option of factory loads. Common reamers. Dies on the shelf to buy. No fireforming brass.

Standard .338 Lapua for me.

Hope this helps you some.
Jeff

 

[bodywerks]

Re: Which 338

Watched my buddy punch a 6" group at 1200 with the 338LM, in less than perfect conditions. Fluke or not it was impressive. It still had a lot of energy behind it at that distance - can't see why it couldn't make fairly consistent groups at up to a mile...