New Gun

I am itching to build a new rifle or potentially get one from a manufacturer. I am a lefty so my options as far as stock go are limited but not impossible.

Currently I own a Montana Rifle Company Model 1999 in 28 Nosler that has been flawless and I love it for all size of game.

I also have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 30-06 and I've looked at rechambering into a Sherman Mag or something along those lines.

Considering my 28 can handle just about anything and I'm itching to build or get something bigger I am thinking that I should get something in the 338 cal range.

Has anyone have any experience or advice on 338 Cals? I would look at going with a suppressor. I like the idea of a 338-378 Weatherby in an accumark or maybe a custom build of a 338 Edge or 338 RUM.

Mostly my wants to shoot a big heavy bullet to long range is the goal. I'm thinking 250 grains minimum

My 338 RUM build went well. I just don't shoot it much lately. Stiller magnum action, Bartlein 3B 26 inch barrel, Greyboe terrain stock, Timney trigger, and a NXS 5.5-22x50 on top. Fairly light weight and packs a punch. Was the easy bottom of the big 338s. Cheaper action, good brass and near identical ballistics with 250 gr bullets as the Norma and Lapua.

I can't believe that no one chambers this in a factory produced rifle……at least that I know of.

It was one of the finest factory .338's mass produced. I also can't believe that it didn't have a bigger demand from the hunting public. memtb

I have put together lots of 338 Rums and 338 Edges .
If you have a stash of 300 Rum brass go with the 338 Edge .
If your starting fresh jump on the 338 Rum .
I'm pushing the 250 gr berger at 2987 ft.per.sec right now in a 24" carbon barrel, Remington action . It will rival the 300 gr. at 1000 to 1200 yard range . But the 300 gr will charge ahead past that distance .

I'm thinking your building this to hunt with.
If it's a strictly long range set up then run the 338 Edge and a 30" barrel .
Mine has been out to 3027 yards so far .
This new 338 Edge is pushing the 300 gr bergers @ 3010 as of last Saturday! Its setting at 15.2 pounds scoped .

If I was starting all over with a 338 build the Rum would be my choice !
Oh no experience with the PaPua !
Good Luck in your choice !

Rum Man

Aking said:

Has anyone have any experience or advice on 338 Cals? I would look at going with a suppressor. I like the idea of a 338-378 Weatherby in an accumark or maybe a custom build of a 338 Edge or 338 RUM.

Mostly my wants to shoot a big heavy bullet to long range is the goal. I'm thinking 250 grains minimum

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If you go the .338-378, .338 Edge, or .338 LM route, make sure your action can accommodate a 4" COAL to take full advantage of the long, heavy, high BC bullets. I went with .338 Thor (NMI) on my lady custom build. Good luck!

My Vote is 338 Edge.
Peterson and ADG is making brass.
Easy button and yes extend the box.
And a 15lb rig, you will appreciate.
My 300RUM with 29" is 15 complete with scope.

Well, good luck in your endeavor, I rebarreled mine to 338 win mag, should have went with a 33 Nosler. If I would've had my action machined to accept DBM I would have went with one of your other choices 338RUM or the Weatherby or the lapua or the edge, would have went with the Lapua. They were all great choices when comparing the ballistics. I didn't think in terms of long range when I did this. But bought the tools to do the barrel swap myself as the smith waiting time was pretty long.

The old savage shoots the 265 grn accubond LR very accurately with hand loads. These shot through the same hole at 100 yards and 200 yards about .380 inches. The range I go to only goes to 300 yards so don't know if at distance if the load would have fallen apart. This was my first caliber larger than the 300 win mag and as always is a really fun caliber to shoot. Probably Needs a new stock as my front sling screw got pulled out of the wood stock with the heavier recoil shooting off a bipod. Have fun and be safe.

Aking said:

I am itching to build a new rifle or potentially get one from a manufacturer. I am a lefty so my options as far as stock go are limited but not impossible.

Currently I own a Montana Rifle Company Model 1999 in 28 Nosler that has been flawless and I love it for all size of game.

I also have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 30-06 and I've looked at rechambering into a Sherman Mag or something along those lines.

Considering my 28 can handle just about anything and I'm itching to build or get something bigger I am thinking that I should get something in the 338 cal range.

Has anyone have any experience or advice on 338 Cals? I would look at going with a suppressor. I like the idea of a 338-378 Weatherby in an accumark or maybe a custom build of a 338 Edge or 338 RUM.

Mostly my wants to shoot a big heavy bullet to long range is the goal. I'm thinking 250 grains minimum

Click to expand...

Recently I had a somewhat similar thought process, looking at various .338 calibers for a new suppressed rifle. You likely have different criteria: I wanted the option of a subsonic first shot within 100 yards but also able to go out to 600 yards with supersonic ammo by default. You probably want to shoot longer.

I was surprised after I had settled on a .338 caliber that a) the ballistics were not that much better on Elk size game than .375 H&H within 600 yards and b) once I factored in subsonic bullet options, the .375, particularly with the REX Maker bullets, made more sense for me.

Based on advice from this great forum, I bought a new threaded barrel from J. Sip for my Blaser R8 instead of a new rifle.

Best of luck, I enjoyed going through the process and can't wait for the suppressor to get 'out of jail' to try out the whole solution.

Please keep us updated-please let us know what you decide to build; and how it shoots.

What would be your range (distance) goals? I have a plain vanilla 338lm (24") that's just fine for what it is. Are you wanting speed or fine with the 2,600-2,900 fps range for 300gr pills or wanting more speed w/o having a 30"+ barrel? Not familiar with any other than the 33n or 338-378wby cartridges. May neck down a 408ct to 33cal for a hotrod (but it could be 1 of those other cartridges I'm not familiar with). I don't plan on needing an anneal machine or specialized dies to process. I like the easy buttons.

Here is a good read for you. Dallas is the man I would listen to…especially if you want to go suppressed.

This is a 338 edge 30" Proof 1/10 twist . I ran H-1000/ 300 gr bergers @ 2884 ft.per.sec. it was 10.2 pounds .
Boom ! Last Elk at 1244 yards !

Rum Man

Frank in the Laurels said:

.....the .338 Edge has the EDGE !!

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Looking for the groan emoji.. lol