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338 Edge+P vs 338 Terminator vs 338 Norma+P

Dallas should have a lot of info for you on the 338 options. Have you considered his 338 reaper? I'm pretty sure you can get 2950 with a 300 grain bullet in that chambering. He is building me a 338 Norma improved now. I will report back with my results once I start loading.
Yeah I need to call him, got a PRC and 300 NMi in the works right now with him. His Reaper is definitely on the table and I'm pretty sure he's getting mid 2900 in a 26" barrel with the high node.
 
I settled on building a 338 RUM with a Wyatt's 4" box and having the +P treatment done to the chamber. IF my calculations are correct, I should be able to get 3000 fps with a 300 grain bullet from a 26" barrel and feed from the mag box. I really won't know until it's built. I will be shooting 250's more than the 300's but it will be hammer either way. I settled on the RUM because it was just easier to build and load for.
I am running a 338 RUM IMP +P with a 27" barrel. My accuracy node is 2775 fps with 91 grains of H1000, Nosler brass, fed mag match primers, 300 grain OTMs. I can get between 2850-2900 before I see pressure signs but accuracy goes from bugholes to about an 1" to 1.5". It is a Bartlein barrel. I don't think you will get 2900 out of 26" barrel even from an edge +p. It will be close but you will be really pushing the capabilities of the cartridge. 30" might get you there??? To me if the goal is 2900 plus with 300s the best cartridge would be a 338 Lapua AI. The OP would have access to good brass and could shoot factory ammo in a pinch. You could +p the chamber if you wanted and give room for a little higher pressure. Your only draw back would be it would most likely be single feed. I considered this when I built mine but wanted to be able to run a Wyatt's box. I shoot 265 ABLRs at 2900 and can fit 3 rounds in. At a 1000 yards we are still packing more than enough energy to kill nearly anything on the planet and the sectional density is over 300. Why would you need more? JMTs

Pics are a 5 shot group with 265s, my 6.5x284 top, 338 RUM bottom, and 300 gr 338 OTM next to a 6.5x284 norma. Both of these guns shoot 1/4 moa or better at distance. Both have 27" tubes. Both are full custom rifles, one on a savage action the other on a Rem 700.
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@Paladin300 I was trying to avoid fire forming but it doesn't look like I will get the speeds I'm wanting without running an Improved chamber. I ran some scenarios in my ballistic app to find out what my velocity and energy would be at 600, 800, and 1000 yards. If I compare those estimated velocities I would need a Berger 300 to be running a minimum 2900 otherwise there is no advantage over 300 NMi and Berger 245 going 3050. My app shows:

300 NMI Berger 245 at 3050
600 yards: 2399 fps and 3130 Ft lbs
800 yards: 2201 fps and 2634 Ft lbs
1000 yards: 2013 fps and 2203 Ft lbs

Berger 300 EH at 2800
600 yards: 2175 fps and 3150 Ft lbs
800 yards: 1986 fps and 2626 Ft lbs
1000 yards: 1807 fps and 2176 Ft lbs

Berger 300 EH at 3025
600 yards: 2369 fps and 3739 Ft lbs
800 yards: 2171 fps and 3139 Ft lbs
1000 yards: 1982 fps and 2617 Ft lbs
 
Just a FYI..the 300 gr berger works perfect at 1244 yards going 2884 ft.per.sec from the 338 Edge on Elk .
But I also see your point above . Excellent data !
I used H-1000 and now have Nv570 powder so I'm positive I can hit 2900 plus. This is with out the +P and in a 30 " Carbon barrel.


Rum Man
 
Just a FYI..the 300 gr berger works perfect at 1244 yards going 2884 ft.per.sec from the 338 Edge on Elk .
But I also see your point above . Excellent data !
I used H-1000 and now have Nv570 powder so I'm positive I can hit 2900 plus. This is with out the +P and in a 30 " Carbon barrel.


Rum Man
Has anybody listed out all the 338's in order from fastest to slowest and list case capacity with each?
 
Going to start looking for H2O capacities on each and plug them here.

Edge: 114.6 (per ADG)
Lapua: 115.5 (per ADG)
Norma: 105.8 (Lapua per LRH)
RUM: 110.5 (per ADG)
 
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My 338 nm was 108,measured h20.I wrote these over time don't know accuracy.338Allen-x-131,338/378-137,338 Raptor-153,338AllenMag-182
 
@Paladin300 I was trying to avoid fire forming but it doesn't look like I will get the speeds I'm wanting without running an Improved chamber. I ran some scenarios in my ballistic app to find out what my velocity and energy would be at 600, 800, and 1000 yards. If I compare those estimated velocities I would need a Berger 300 to be running a minimum 2900 otherwise there is no advantage over 300 NMi and Berger 245 going 3050. My app shows:

300 NMI Berger 245 at 3050
600 yards: 2399 fps and 3130 Ft lbs
800 yards: 2201 fps and 2634 Ft lbs
1000 yards: 2013 fps and 2203 Ft lbs

Berger 300 EH at 2800
600 yards: 2175 fps and 3150 Ft lbs
800 yards: 1986 fps and 2626 Ft lbs
1000 yards: 1807 fps and 2176 Ft lbs

Berger 300 EH at 3025
600 yards: 2369 fps and 3739 Ft lbs
800 yards: 2171 fps and 3139 Ft lbs
1000 yards: 1982 fps and 2617 Ft lbs
I agree. I had a 30-378 in a TRG with a 27" barrel and sold it in favor of the 338 RUM IMP +p. Even though the 30 cal is fast the 338 delivers the same energy more efficiently. 91 grains of H1000 trumps 115 grains of H50BMG all day. You give up a little velocity trajectory and wind but you gain sectional density, bc and frontal mass. Recoil is about even. For me the comparison was between the 210 ABLRs and the 265 ABLRs. Both are 1000 yard capable. There are trade offs and advantages to both. You just have to decide what your willing to sacrifice. For me it was all about efficiency. Ballistics are nearly identical with the slight edge going to the 338 beyond a 1000 yards. The barrel life of the 30 cal is another consideration as with the 28 nosler. I am sitting right around a 1000 rounds through my rifle and it shows little sign of wear. The 338 just does it more efficiently and for longer. Not a fan of changing barrels to often and I like to shoot a lot. Another point of clarification and consideration is that a +p chamber is not a pre-eroded throat as some have suggested nor does it in my experience shorten the life of the barrel. The exact opposite if anything. It is a graduated chamber that helps elevate unnecessary pressure and allows you to seat the bullet out further making room for additional powder. The 338 RUM +P, 338 edge, and 338 Lapua will be ballistic triplets with the edge going to the RUM for efficiency. You are really splitting hairs. That said I cannot shoot factor ammo in my rifle. It does not like it at all. So if you don't want to fire form I would stick with the edge. JMTs
 
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