338 help deciding

[RockyMtnMT]

I have shot the planet with a .338 Win Mag but IMO 600 yards is pushing it; the Edge is far better in the wind. I shoot 300 Bergers and get 2870. I imagine the .338 RUM would be just as good (the Edge is simply a 300 RUM necked up, whereas the .338 RUM has a shoulder sightly set back).

Yep. Just size and go with no fuss. Same performance with little change in velocity. Not enough for any animal to tell the difference.

 

[HARPERC]

Thanks for that. I found an importer yesterday. In my search I couldn't find 338 Rum brass anywhere up here. Not any brand let alone ADG. As far as shipping if I'm in the states. I wish it was that easy. I'm only 15 miles north of the ND border and get things shipped to a depot there all the time. I can not be in possession of anything gun part related in the US. No brass, barrel blank, stock, scope etc. No problem once I'd get to Canada customs. But a big problem if I get checked on the US side.

Those 15 miles are huge. Otherwise we could be useful to your search.

 

[ruby76]

Like you, I wanted a 338 but not a big case such as a Lapua, RUM, etc. Went with a 338 Sherman short when it first came out, still glad I did. Now there is the max and mega to consider, on a mid or long action. I'm super happy with my rifle in its latest configuration. 22" barrel, no brake, 8 3/4 pounds all in, on a short action shooting a 210 ttsx into one ragged hole at 2835 fps.

Max would allow you flexibility to use saum brass, or get proper headstamped brass from Rich.

 

[Rum Man]

Well.sorry so late of a response ...grabbed my ice fishing gear and hit a small lake close to home . Picked up a few more bluegills for dinner !

Ok here is the 338 Rum with the 24" barrel oal. with the 250 gr berger . 3.0955 I'm running them 20 tho of the lands @ 2997 ft.per.sec with 93.2 gr.of Re-26 , sd 5 es 7

I dont run the 250 gr in any other 338 right now .
Hope this helps .

Rum Man

 

[BEEMAN]

Those 15 miles are huge. Otherwise we could be useful to your search.

If it's a reamer or dies that's no problem as those are considered tools not gun parts. Those I could have shipped to a US shipping depot I use and drive down 15 miles and pick them up.

 

[BEEMAN]

Our smith runs a 338 rum with the 260g Hammer Hunter. Seated at 3.77" oal with a stout load of rl26 running at 3000 fps. He has taken a truck load of deer, elk, and bear between 700 and 800y. One that we loaded for a customer seated at 3.785" oal running about 60 fps less with rl26. This rifle also responsible for a bunch of animals in the 800y range.

That would be a deadly combo. Should fit my Wyatt extended box as well. Think it's 3.825" internal.

 

[nralifer]

@nralifer

Assuming the 338Rum cartridge is 2.760" long, the length of the ogive and bearing surface to the top edge of the copper relief band is about 1.027" for the 250 BD2 and 1.09" for the SBD2. So if you seat the bullet such that the completely covers the band the overall length should be 3.787" for the BD2 and 3.85". The band is about 0.100" wide. Using either bullet the round will fit in an extended box with room to spare if the internal box length is around 3.95".

 

[blvette75]

Just ordered an IBI CF barrel at 23" with a 9 twist. Now I need to decide what to build. I don't need the biggest baddest 338. This guns main use will be for elk from up close to no farther than 600 yds. Rest of the components are Mesa altitude, BDL bottom metal, defiance tenacity LA Mag bolt, jewel trigger. Hoping to order a SRS brake. I'm in Canada so accessing certain things can be a problem. Was considering a 338 Mega, 338 RUM, 338 Win mag. Will be shooting an all copper bullet of some sort in the 225-250 gr, no heavier . Please Leave your opinion and why one of these or a different choice is better. Open to others that I have not listed. Hoping for a velocity in the 2850-3000 FPS range.

I rechambered my 300 win mag to a 338 win mag, for the bullets you listed the win mag will work. But I was able to lay my hands on some 265 grn long range accubonds now these shoot very accurately out of my rifle. Still need to optimize the load but through the same ragged hole at a 100 yards, in hind site probably should have went with the 33 Nosler, a bit more powder capability out of the same length action

 

[Longrangers]

I've got a 26in gun being built now...mind sharing some load notes?

N570, 215M, Norma Brass
I will have to check my logs on powder charge. I don't have it with me at the moment. I think the cutting edge 265 grain lazer may be another good one.

 

[Longrangers]

I've got a 26in gun being built now...mind sharing some load notes?

I do remember that the OAL was 4.238 for ours.

 

[TopPin]

Just ordered an IBI CF barrel at 23" with a 9 twist. Now I need to decide what to build. I don't need the biggest baddest 338. This guns main use will be for elk from up close to no farther than 600 yds. Rest of the components are Mesa altitude, BDL bottom metal, defiance tenacity LA Mag bolt, jewel trigger. Hoping to order a SRS brake. I'm in Canada so accessing certain things can be a problem. Was considering a 338 Mega, 338 RUM, 338 Win mag. Will be shooting an all copper bullet of some sort in the 225-250 gr, no heavier . Please Leave your opinion and why one of these or a different choice is better. Open to others that I have not listed. Hoping for a velocity in the 2850-3000 FPS range.

338 Rum would be my choice on the barrel Length and bullet choice, shoot the 225 gr bullet weight. You will not get enough gain out of the 338 edge over the rum. I own both and love them dearly.

 

[nralifer]

Just ordered an IBI CF barrel at 23" with a 9 twist. Now I need to decide what to build. I don't need the biggest baddest 338. This guns main use will be for elk from up close to no farther than 600 yds. Rest of the components are Mesa altitude, BDL bottom metal, defiance tenacity LA Mag bolt, jewel trigger. Hoping to order a SRS brake. I'm in Canada so accessing certain things can be a problem. Was considering a 338 Mega, 338 RUM, 338 Win mag. Will be shooting an all copper bullet of some sort in the 225-250 gr, no heavier . Please Leave your opinion and why one of these or a different choice is better. Open to others that I have not listed. Hoping for a velocity in the 2850-3000 FPS range.
[/QUOTE]

BEEMAN, with your living in Canada, I understand your access limitations. Depends on what 338 cartridges are imported and available. Commercially available ones are the safest bet. 2 come to mind. The 33 Nosler and the 338 Norma. The 33 Nosler is almost the same as the 330 Dakota which I know very well. From a 23" barrel and a 200 gr bullet is very likely to reach 3000 fps, and a 225 gr bullet might be 2800-2875 depending on the powder you have to use. A 250 gr bullet is most likely to reach in the high 2750 fps range. With the Norma and a 250 gr bullet pretty sure you could reach 2825-2850 fps and at or over 3000 with a 200-225 gr bullet. The Norma shoots about 100 fps slower than the Lapua Mag from the same length barrel. Consider subtracting an additional 25 ft/sec/inch of acceleration to get some idea what to expect from a 338Norma shooting from a 23" barrel. The 265 Nosler LRAB is a lead core jacketed bullet and is out of your specified weight range. For ranges of 600 yds or more, BC becomes a significant consideration. The 225 gr Nosler E-Tip has a G1=0.611, the Barnes LRX 250 gr has a G1=0.602, the Badlands 200 gr BD2 has a G1=0.595, and the 225 gr BD2 has a G1=0.665. Nosler products are variably available in the US, the Barnes is listed as unavailable, the 338Norma brass is available in the US, and the Badlands bullets are able to be imported to Canada through Reloading International and readily available in the US. The pic below is a hypothetical 338 Norma load from a 23" barrel calculated using the JBM trajectory calculator with an expected MV of 3150 fps using a 200 gr all copper bullet with a G1=0.595. The MV is extrapolated from that of a 338 Lap Mag 24" barrel using a 200 gr all copper bullet from data listed in the 2022 Hodgdon Annual Manual. Subtracted about 200 fps from the Magpro max charge for that bullet. The Norma case and a 200 gr high BC bullet looks to me like your best combination with all the components available in your country. Hope this info helps.[/QUOTE]

 

[nralifer]

[/

Just ordered an IBI CF barrel at 23" with a 9 twist. Now I need to decide what to build. I don't need the biggest baddest 338. This guns main use will be for elk from up close to no farther than 600 yds. Rest of the components are Mesa altitude, BDL bottom metal, defiance tenacity LA Mag bolt, jewel trigger. Hoping to order a SRS brake. I'm in Canada so accessing certain things can be a problem. Was considering a 338 Mega, 338 RUM, 338 Win mag. Will be shooting an all copper bullet of some sort in the 225-250 gr, no heavier . Please Leave your opinion and why one of these or a different choice is better. Open to others that I have not listed. Hoping for a velocity in the 2850-3000 FPS range.

BEEMAN, living in Canada, I understand your access limitations. Depends on what 338 cartridges are imported and available. Commercially available ones are the safest bet. 2 come to mind. The 33 Nosler and the 338 Norma. The 33 Nosler is almost the same as the 330 Dakota which I know very well. From a 23" barrel and a 200 gr bullet is very likely to reach 3000 fps, and a 225 gr bullet might be 2800-2875 depending on the powder you have to use. A 250 gr bullet is most likely to reach in the high 2750 fps range. With the Norma and a 250 gr bullet pretty sure you could reach 2825-2850 fps. The 265 Nosler LRAB is a lead core jacketed bullet and is out of your specified weight range also. For ranges of 600 yds or more, BC becomes a significant consideration. The 225 gr Nosler E-Tip has a G1=0.612

 

[FEENIX]

Just ordered an IBI CF barrel at 23" with a 9 twist. Now I need to decide what to build. I don't need the biggest baddest 338. This guns main use will be for elk from up close to no farther than 600 yds. Rest of the components are Mesa altitude, BDL bottom metal, defiance tenacity LA Mag bolt, jewel trigger. Hoping to order a SRS brake. I'm in Canada so accessing certain things can be a problem. Was considering a 338 Mega, 338 RUM, 338 Win mag. Will be shooting an all copper bullet of some sort in the 225-250 gr, no heavier . Please Leave your opinion and why one of these or a different choice is better. Open to others that I have not listed. Hoping for a velocity in the 2850-3000 FPS range.

BEEMAN, with your living in Canada, I understand your access limitations. Depends on what 338 cartridges are imported and available. Commercially available ones are the safest bet. 2 come to mind. The 33 Nosler and the 338 Norma. The 33 Nosler is almost the same as the 330 Dakota which I know very well. From a 23" barrel and a 200 gr bullet is very likely to reach 3000 fps, and a 225 gr bullet might be 2800-2875 depending on the powder you have to use. A 250 gr bullet is most likely to reach in the high 2750 fps range. With the Norma and a 250 gr bullet pretty sure you could reach 2825-2850 fps and at or over 3000 with a 200-225 gr bullet. The Norma shoots about 100 fps slower than the Lapua Mag from the same length barrel. Consider subtracting an additional 25 ft/sec/inch of acceleration to get some idea what to expect from a 338Norma shooting from a 23" barrel. The 265 Nosler LRAB is a lead core jacketed bullet and is out of your specified weight range. For ranges of 600 yds or more, BC becomes a significant consideration. The 225 gr Nosler E-Tip has a G1=0.611, the Barnes LRX 250 gr has a G1=0.602, the Badlands 200 gr BD2 has a G1=0.595, and the 225 gr BD2 has a G1=0.665. Nosler products are variably available in the US, the Barnes is listed as unavailable, the 338Norma brass is available in the US, and the Badlands bullets are able to be imported to Canada through Reloading International and readily available in the US. The pic below is a hypothetical 338 Norma load from a 23" barrel calculated using the JBM trajectory calculator with an expected MV of 3150 fps using a 200 gr all copper bullet with a G1=0.595. The MV is extrapolated from that of a 338 Lap Mag 24" barrel using a 200 gr all copper bullet from data listed in the 2022 Hodgdon Annual Manual. Subtracted about 200 fps from the Magpro max charge for that bullet. The Norma case and a 200 gr high BC bullet looks to me like your best combination with all the components available in your country. Hope this info helps.[/QUOTE]
[/QUOTE]

[/
BEEMAN, living in Canada, I understand your access limitations. Depends on what 338 cartridges are imported and available. Commercially available ones are the safest bet. 2 come to mind. The 33 Nosler and the 338 Norma. The 33 Nosler is almost the same as the 330 Dakota which I know very well. From a 23" barrel and a 200 gr bullet is very likely to reach 3000 fps, and a 225 gr bullet might be 2800-2875 depending on the powder you have to use. A 250 gr bullet is most likely to reach in the high 2750 fps range. With the Norma and a 250 gr bullet pretty sure you could reach 2825-2850 fps. The 265 Nosler LRAB is a lead core jacketed bullet and is out of your specified weight range also. For ranges of 600 yds or more, BC becomes a significant consideration. The 225 gr Nosler E-Tip has a G1=0.612

Excellent! I particularly like your comment on the .338 NM cartridge. My .338 NMI is near completion, and I will explore the 250-300g options. I also like my brass choices and availability; Lapua and Peterson.