338 Edge vs 338 Lapua ??

[NorthernSniper]

Well I'm a real busy guy these days but I do get to day dream about my next project once in a while. I'm curious if anybody can tell me what the advantages would be of going with the 338 Edge or the 338 Lapua would be? Why go to the extent of creating a whole new 338 if the Lapua gives the same performance? Less recoil with the edge? Better accuracy? Ackley improved style case shoulder? Don't get me wrong I'm not critisizing just would like to know what the possible bonuses would be by going Edge and that I may just do! thanks for any info!

 

[Wild_Bill]

in one word COST

The Lapua requires a larger action the cases are 3 times the cost and the performance of the two is the same. The easiest way to get a high capacity 338 is to build an Edge on a Rem magnum action if you have a sendaro on hand with a 338 Ultra barrel you can just have the barrel rechambered and you have an edge. To build a 338 Ultra you require a larger action designed for the Lapua case some do the mod to a Rem action but i dont think it is safe and the extra cost to have the conversion done is a waste when the Ultra mag case will fit the action. The only advantage of the 338Lapua it the brass Quality but if you sort the Rem brass it is verry good. I am building a 338-300 Ultra improved at the moment for the exact reasons stated above.

Hope it helps out

Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[davewilson]

needing a larger action for a lapua is more myth than fact.the US military even builds the lapua on a rem action and i dought if that would happen if it was even close to not being safe.cost is definitely a factor.if you're already set up for an ultra mag,which i am,there are several other extras.a lapua requires bolt face mods,new sheel holders,priming tools,de-priming,new holder for neck turning.at least for me,there's a bunch of little extras required to get these things loaded because of the extra diameter on the base of the case.the brass is the best.but an ultra case has more capacity than the lapua.not much but an extra 50-75 fps is quite common.with federal and very soon nosler offering ultra brass, i went with the 338/300ultra over the lapua.

 

[wildcat]

NS, go with the 338 Lupa and turn it into a 338 Lupa Magnum Improved. Yes, the Lupa will be more expensive, but if you improve the Lupa it will be better than the EDGE. With the 338 Lupa Improved, you will out perform the EDGE and you will have better brass. I am having a 338 Lupa Magnum Improve built, and I will be able to shoot the 300grn MK between 3000 to 3050 fps. I know I can get 3100 fps with this round, but I think the presure would get too high.

Goodluck
Wildcat

 

[Jon A]

Wildcat, how long a barrel? Just curious.

Not that it's a big deal (since not many are weird like me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) but I positively would not build a Laupua case based rifle on an A-Bolt action. Ultra is fine though of course. Just FYI.

 

[wildcat]

Jon, I will be using a 36" Lilja.

 

[ewallace]

I have been shooting a 338 Lapua IMP for 5 years now I have had 4 custom rifles in this cartridge and would build another. The brass is excellent and have 40 firings on 50 pc of brass. I have shot 1000 yard Bench Rest with both a HG and a LG in 338 Lapua IMP with good results. My best groups in competition with my LG, 5 shots in 5" and with my HG, 10 shots in 8" both with the 300g SMK. I also use both rifles for long-range hunting I use my LG for a carry gun I used it for a 1850 meter shot on a mule deer and have shot elk with it. The HG is a bench gun and have shot varmints with it over 1500 yards and weight tail deer at 1225 yards. I am having a 338/408 built in a HG for this years elk season and hope to use it for a long-range elk this year.

 

[NorthernSniper]

What about feeding from the original magazines? Also what about using a Sako action I really like the action they use on the Hunter 75, squared reciever great recoil lug. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[1doug]

[ QUOTE ]
Jon, I will be using a 36" Lilja.

[/ QUOTE ]

so you havent shot it yet at 3050 or 3100?


d-a

 

[wildcat]

No, not yet. I am hoping it will be accurate at that velocity. I am sure it will be.

 

[joseph floerke]

I just ordered all the stuff to build a. 338 Papua should be hear in 8 months gun)

 

[Jaxdialation]

I'm going with a straight up LM.

There are a zillion proven loads for the lapua.
Anything from VV to H powders will work.

For me it's a no brainer. I'd spend way more time on
non-cartridge variables.

 

[azsugarbear]

I shoot a 338 Lapua Improved. Very close to Kirby's 338 Allen Express. Just over 2,950 fps with 300 gr. bullets using RL-33 in a 28" barrel.

I went Lapua for the brass. I shot a 277 Allen Magnum for years. It is based on the 338 Lapua case. I typically got between 14-16 loads out a piece of brass before it started to show serious signs of case head separation. Compare that to the 338 Edge using Remington brass and getting 4-5 reloads.

Brass for 338 Lapua has always been available - even during the tough times over the past few years. 300 Ultra brass is almost impossible to find. When you do find it, it goes quickly at $2 apiece (see recent sale in LRH reloading section). Remington has done a terrible job supporting its RUM offerings, while Lapua has been steady and strong in their support. For me, Lapua was the easy choice.

 

[Wachsmann]

+20 for what azsugarbear said about the brass. Its been hard to find brass over the last 2 years. I bought the cheapest reduced loaded Remington rounds just to have the brass. If I had to do it over again I would of went with the 338 lapua hands down. all the reloading stuff is just the same to me you still have to spend some money to reload either way. Also the improved version seem to be the best bang if you are going to a custom gun. But saying all this I still bought the 300 RUM because I thought I can always buy over the counter in a pinch but the pinch has really been a grand caynon and the RUM brass is hard to come by. Powder; it seems the best I have shot out of my rum is retumbo and that is hard to find. the Lapua has a lot more different powder choices that can give you descent velocity and maybe this is just because the makers did not what to try and produce as much data as possible. Who knows. Cost effectiveness etc., etc., etc.,....but the Lapua has excellent brass, common powders seem to work pretty good, and in the improved model you can usually expect right around 3000fps with the 300 grain pill.