338 build advice

[Rusty85]

33 Nosler would be my choice with your bullet weight range. I'm running 250 EH in mine with H1000 at 2910 and a 26" tube at a COAL of 3.567".

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

My 33 Nosler was awesome with 230sELD-x / 250 elite hunters--I ran it out of a 375 HH box seated at 3.53-3.55 if I would do one thing different I'd do a 22 in barrel instead of 26...

 

[Wolf76]

I run a 338 edge with a 26" HCA barrel. 260 hammer@3K is no joke. my entire set up is under 10#.
Would take the edge for more brass options.
Gun also shoots 300 Berger's/ accubond about 2800.
Many good options, but the 300 rum isn't going away and 338 edge is being made by ADG... so there's a plan B if brass gets scarce.

 

[CApighunter]

I'm thinking I want something with more case capacity than a Nosler, as I have an ultralight 338-06 that pushes 205 hammers at 2810. Ideally I'd like to shoot a 250-265 class bullet around 3000+

 

[bdlesh]

I do reload, and am not opposed to wildcats, but I'd prefer not to fire form. Originally I was thinking of a 338 Sherman Mag (300prc based) but I can likely get similar in performance buying brass off the shelf with the RUM.

You can get factory stamped brass now for the Sherman 338 ss and max.

 

[bdlesh]

View attachment 220043

Sherman Wildcats will be offering FULLY FORMED ADG brass by Nov 1.
This will include 30 degree SST lines and 40 degree in SS And Max lines.
Some head stamps will require necking up or down but no trimming, turning etc required. View attachment 220043

 

[Marine sniper]

I have 4, 338's. 338-06 / 2, 338 LAI and a standard 338 Lapua. I think the 338's are THE elk hunting diameter. The bull in the pic was killed with my 338 LAI; 270 ELD-x's at 2950 out of a 24 in barrel on election day. 315 yards, 3 inch entrance hole in the ribs and 3 feet of penetration; bullet broke the back above the hips and lodged in the hide, elk dropped, kicked and died.

If I were in your shoes I would go with a cartridge that you can take full advantage of the powder capacity as it relates to AOL, seating depth, mag length, etc.

IMO; the 338 Norma is the best compromise, Edge is good, Lapua is good, LAI is about 150 fps faster than a standard Lapua. On a standard bolt face the 338 Gibbs is awesome.

 

[CApighunter]

I run a 338 edge with a 26" HCA barrel. 260 hammer@3K is no joke. my entire set up is under 10#.
Would take the edge for more brass options.
Gun also shoots 300 Berger's/ accubond about 2800.
Many good options, but the 300 rum isn't going away and 338 edge is being made by ADG... so there's a plan B if brass gets scarce.

That's impressive for a 26 inch tube, I was shying away from the edge because I didn't want the typical 28-30 inch barrel I see most people have. Now I'm not as sure haha

 

[Wolf76]

That's impressive for a 26 inch tube, I was shying away from the edge because I didn't want the typical 28-30 inch barrel I see most people have. Now I'm not as sure haha

The 300 gr Bergers and accubonds run closer to 3.9" coal and actually hit my gong harder than the hammer bullets. But the trajectory and slightly lighter recoil make the hammer bullet my first choice.
Here's something to consider....a 300 WM loaded with a 215 Berger has enough energy to kill an elk out to 800+ yards. All these full power 33 cals have even more HP. Most hunters limit shots on game to 600 or less, even if they practice at 1000+ yards. With that in mind, they all get the job done with authority (assuming proper shot placement and bullet selection).
My gun is a trued 700 with a Wyatt's mag extension (3.95" ish COAL), which makes it a repeater and doesn't steal powder capacity. 1-2" of barrel length is fairly inconsequential in terms of fps after a certain point, but it becomes significant carrying it thru the scrub oak and timber.
When comparing the cartridges, they'll have + -. Just be honest with yourself about the actual application - will 100-200 fps make any real difference in terminal ballistics at your likely shot distances? Do you need a 300 gr bullet or does the 250 gr keep up with it while providing flatter trajectory?
For me having good brass availability, repeater, and standard components became more important when I answered the above questions.

 

[Skinem]

Sounds like a fantastic build ! I would opt for a Nightforce NXS .. Should be awesome on elk

 

[Jared Ray]

Contact Shawn Carlock with Defensive Edge and he could guide you in the right direction

 

[Timnterra]

If your max range is 700 I think the top two contenders would be the 33 nosler and the 33-300wsm. Both should give good velocity and fit in a long action with no lost case capacity on the wsm and minimal on the Nosler.
For myself I am currently building a 338 Rum with the intent of shooting 300gr Berger elite hunters, but I'm not trying to make it light weight and I want to shoot it beyond 700yds. My objectives are slightly different.

 

[trhall]

I have 4, 338's. 338-06 / 2, 338 LAI and a standard 338 Lapua. I think the 338's are THE elk hunting diameter. The bull in the pic was killed with my 338 LAI; 270 ELD-x's at 2950 out of a 24 in barrel on election day. 315 yards, 3 inch entrance hole in the ribs and 3 feet of penetration; bullet broke the back above the hips and lodged in the hide, elk dropped, kicked and died.

If I were in your shoes I would go with a cartridge that you can take full advantage of the powder capacity as it relates to AOL, seating depth, mag length, etc.

IMO; the 338 Norma is the best compromise, Edge is good, Lapua is good, LAI is about 150 fps faster than a standard Lapua. On a standard bolt face the 338 Gibbs is awesome.

Beautiful bull and thank you for your service brother!

 

[CApighunter]

Sounds like a fantastic build ! I would opt for a Nightforce NXS .. Should be awesome on elk

Thinking something along the lines of a 3-15x50 NXS, 4-16x50 F1 SHV or a 4.5-18x44 LRTS Bushy depending on how the budget is looking.