338 Excalibur Who has experience with one.

[HuntFarther]

I have my barrel coming who else wants in on getting going. I ordered a broughton 1-9.3, 30" in the 12.4 palma taper. This is what Tim at broughton said he would do. I don't really want any longer barrel, and I am going to try and run it just under the 16 pounds cause I hunt Idaho a lot.

 

[SLEDGE HAMMER]

Weighed some of the Jamison 338 Excalibur brass today couldn't find any more than 1.5 grns difference witch is good for such a large case,Stillar Tac 338 is on its way Lilja 32''straight taper flutted was ordered last November,Stocks been ordered from McMillan, A5
I'v got a reamer and gauges,and RCBS are suppose to be making the dies.
By the time its built i should have worked out how to post pics.gun)

 

[HuntFarther]

I am excited for you. I am just worried if it works like I am sure it will, that I won't be able to come up with enough components to build any more.

 

[SLEDGE HAMMER]

Yeah right, How many do you want ?

 

[pyroducksx3]

Why the Excalibur vs the 338 snipetac or 338 AM? I am interested in building a 338 as well and am looking at the options but I keep coming back to the 338 Lapua AI. I was really interested in the 338 Excalibur but after seeing brass prices and dies costing as much or more than the 408 based cartridges plus it didn't seem worth it when I could get more performance for cheaper and with components more available for the 408 based stuff.

 

[SLEDGE HAMMER]

Why the Excalibur vs the 338 snipetac or 338 AM? I am interested in building a 338 as well and am looking at the options but I keep coming back to the 338 Lapua AI. I was really interested in the 338 Excalibur but after seeing brass prices and dies costing as much or more than the 408 based cartridges plus it didn't seem worth it when I could get more performance for cheaper and with components more available for the 408 based stuff.

For starters I dont think I'd be doing this if the cost of components was going to worry me,and in a single shot the 408 action is nearly twice the weight,I know that you can get a 338 Snipetac built at around the 15 Lb but do they shoot ?
I was going to go with a 338-378 Kahn and like the 338 lapua A I I think fire forming cases is a waist of time,I have a 338 Rum so I wanted to go up a notch.
If the Excalibur was more popular maybe you could get the dies of the shelf ?
After reading What Darryl Cassel & Long Time Long Ranger & Dan Lilja and many others have written on the 338-416 Rigby Improved the Excalibur should be great for what I want and its not what everyone else has.
Hope that helps

 

[HuntFarther]

For starters I dont think I'd be doing this if the cost of components was going to worry me,and in a single shot the 408 action is nearly twice the weight,I know that you can get a 338 Snipetac built at around the 15 Lb but do they shoot ?
I was going to go with a 338-378 Kahn and like the 338 lapua A I I think fire forming cases is a waist of time,I have a 338 Rum so I wanted to go up a notch.
If the Excalibur was more popular maybe you could get the dies of the shelf ?
After reading What Darryl Cassel & Long Time Long Ranger & Dan Lilja and many others have written on the 338-416 Rigby Improved the Excalibur should be great for what I want and its not what everyone else has.
Hope that helps

I am with you on this one. The reason I am looking so hard at the Excalibur is I don't want the additional weight of the cheytac and I want more than the edges and lapua ai. I really do not want to spend time forming all the cases. Just want something simple that will do 3100 with the 300 bergers.

 

[vikingsniper]

Why would the cheytac be so much heavier?

 

[HuntFarther]

With the bigger action usually rung a bigger diameter barrel. I would also run the shank longer to be easier to turn off and set back a time or two. I would for sure run a longer barrel than with the Excalibur. I hunt Idaho a lot and you have to have a gun with everything on it less than 16 pounds. That could be really tough to do and have a fun shooting gun that is using 143 grains of powder. The Excalibur has expensive brass but does everything for me that I like besides that.

 

[264WM]

Does anyone make barrels in the 338 Excalibur for the 1917 Enfield?

 

[mustang58]

Cold Trigger Finger did they quit making that cartridge or is it that RWS brass is no longer available?

 

[HuntFarther]

Does anyone make barrels in the 338 Excalibur for the 1917 Enfield?

I am not sure, but seems there has to be someone that could do whatever we want that is possible anymore.

 

[HuntFarther]

Cold Trigger Finger did they quit making that cartridge or is it that RWS brass is no longer available?

I don't even think a square is doing anything, the numbers I called suggest they closed down.

I have not come across rws brass. I have only found jaminson and quality brass.

 

[Sling]

I had a 338 Excaliber for 4yrs. Shot very accurately out to 2449yds. Problem was A-Square brass sux. Then I had Jamison to make my brass. Jamison brass was very good but I discovered a problem with this cartridge. Even with mild loads, sticky bolt was a problem. After discussing this with my gunsmith (Vestals Custom Rifles), they also had same problem. Not enough case taper. After talking to other Excaliber shooters, they all had same problem. Cases of this size should have at least .010-.012 taper per inch for easy extraction. Kirby Allen discussed this problem in another thread. Instead of building a 338 Excaliber, go with 338 Yogi (338 Imp). It will still push a 300gr @ 3000, 3100 is possible with RL 33, with easy extraction.