338 Lapua ?

[roshjohn]

A friend is selling his Rem 700 BDL in 338 RUM. The barrel is worn out and he'll sell it to me cheap. If I buy it can it be converted into a 338 Lapua. Is the action strong enough to handle the 338 Lapua.

Thanks

 

[Eaglet]

A friend is selling his Rem 700 BDL in 338 RUM. The barrel is worn out and he'll sell it to me cheap. If I buy it can it be converted into a 338 Lapua. Is the action strong enough to handle the 338 Lapua.

Thanks

To my understanding, most gun smiths in this site will advice you against it. Many of them would be happy to build you a 338-300 RUM (338 EDGE) which is suppose to have just an edge over the LP using the 300 gr. SMK.

 

[J E Custom]

To my understanding, most gun smiths in this site will advice you against it. Many of them would be happy to build you a 338-300 RUM (338 EDGE) which is suppose to have just an edge over the LP using the 300 gr. SMK.

+1

The reason is not strength but bolt face size. If you open up the Remington and most other
bolts to accommodate the larger case head of the Lapua .588 and other large case heads (over
.600) the extractor becomes fragile because it has to be thinned to fit in the bolt. also the ring
arround the bolt is almost removed (Bolt Dia. is arround .700).

For the Lapua sized cases I recomend the Weatherby or custom actions with larger bolts and
longer magazines.

The SAAMI 338 Lapua does not have the case capacity of the RUM or the EDGE and has
no benefits other than better brass over the RUM and EDGE.

So if a person just wants a Lapua then I recomend going with a 338 Lapua improved and then
it is worth the cost and effort and will match or exceed the performance of the RUM or the EDGE.

If you are into reloading and fire forming then it is one of the best 338 rounds out there. Other
wise the RUM is strait forward and will perform well beyond the ability of most under hunting
conditions.

This is just my opinion for what it's worth.

PS: after posting I noticed a factory Remington for sale under the Guns for sale thread that is new.
it might be worth looking into.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Kevin Cram]

I have to agree with the others. I wouldn't have ever build a 338 Lapua on a Remington simply because of the bolt face diameter, but I just ran a cross a new replacement bolt for the Remington 700 long action by Competitive Edge Gun Works that has a special extractor, has a 338 Lapua bolt face and has plenty of meat left. I'll be building a 338 Lapua using this bolt in the near future, so hopefully it works well. Here's what it looks like.

 

[Rimfire]

A friend is selling his Rem 700 BDL in 338 RUM. The barrel is worn out and he'll sell it to me cheap. If I buy it can it be converted into a 338 Lapua. Is the action strong enough to handle the 338 Lapua.

Thanks

Yes but it is much easier to open up a standard bolt face. I would get a PTG bolt comes with a M-16 style pinned extractor and your smith can order the bolt to be as tight a fit as you want. I am running one in my 700 in 338 Norma same bolt face as Lapua.

 

[J E Custom]

I have to agree with the others. I wouldn't have ever build a 338 Lapua on a Remington simply because of the bolt face diameter, but I just ran a cross a new replacement bolt for the Remington 700 long action by Competitive Edge Gun Works that has a special extractor, has a 338 Lapua bolt face and has plenty of meat left. I'll be building a 338 Lapua using this bolt in the near future, so hopefully it works well. Here's what it looks like.

Kevin is that extractor under the bolt lugs?

Looks very interesting . If you can, could you post a close up of this bolt and the extractor?

Thanks ; It is never to late to learn something.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Kevin Cram]

This was a stock photo I pulled off midway's website. From what I understand it is a pinned m16 extractor but at the 3 o'clock position. I'm assuming the slot is edm'd into the bolt. I haven't got one in hand yet but when I do I'll post some better pics.

 

[B23]

Do you have any idea what this bolt from Midway USA or even the PT&G bolt will add to the cost of the build????

Thanks

 

[yobuck]

after all the dust settles, and cost for bolts, truing, and original action cost are considered, does all that save much over cost of a custom action?

 

[B23]

This is why I was asking about the cost of the aftermarket bolts. I'm going to just guess and say $300ish for an aftermarket bolt and by the time you add that cost to the build you would most likely be money ahead going with a custom.

I have a 6-284 on a Rem 700 that I have close to the same amount in as I would if I went with a custom. Now I know I didn't have to put a jewel trigger in it or have it pillar bedded or even trued for that matter but I was looking to make it as good as I could and it shoots GREAT but at the end of the day it's still just a Rem 700 that I have a bloody fortune in.

 

[JUDD]

The bolt is 200ish from midway. I can see the sense of doing this if you already have a remmy la laying around which Kevin does but if you don't it would be cheaper to go custom.

 

[Rimfire]

PTG bolt body lists for $106 with no charge for any OD you want

Extra charge for
Flutes, Cone face

Same bolt you might get in a custom depending what brand you go with.

I had a trued Rem action so it was well worth getting a PTG Bolt tight fit with a Lapua face.

 

[trueblue]

roshjohn,
Put a custom barrel on it and keep it as a 338 RUM, or use the action to build a 338 EDGE.
No advantage to go to the Lapua with the parts you have.