Go to apsrifles and look at the 338 offerings that Kirby Allen can custom make for you. I don't there's anyone on this forum that would disagree that Kirby knows his stuff and produces excellent rifles. He built my 338 Allen Xpress which is a 338 Lapua case fireformed to hold roughly 10 more grains of powder than a standard Lapua case. At 106grs of RL 33 it'll launch a 300gr Berger @ 3050fps at sea level and mines deadly accurate. Go to his website , see what's offered and then talk to Kirby (email is best) and based on your criteria he'll spec a custom rifle out for you.
338 RUM, Edge or Lapua?
- Thread starter One Hole
- Start date
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I think you would be happy with any of the cartridges. Barrel length, stock and other aspects of the gun are more important. About 5 years ago I purchased 338 Lapua that I'm very happy with. I've shot multiple mule deer, coues, pronghorn, elk and oryx with it. 300 gr Berger's are the only bullet I've ever shot out of it. With a break, the recoil never bothered me but I was shooting a 300 win mag without a break that weighs around 7.5 lbs for 20 years before I purchased the Lapua. My Lapua kicks less than my old 300 win mag. My gun with suppressor, bipod and 5 rounds in the magazine is over 14lbs. I did pack it on my back for an elk hunt when I didn't see my truck for a week and the weight didn't bother me. It isn't a great gun to pack around all day with a shoulder sling. I use either a pack with a gun scabbard or kifuru gun sling while hunting. To me the weight is often worth it because it is easier to call the wind than any of my other guns. I also don't have to worry about the bullet having enough energy to cleanly kill an animal at longer ranges.
The best upgrade I've put on it is a suppressor. A big 338 with a break can be uncomfortable to shoot multiple shots because of the percussion caused by the break.
The best upgrade I've put on it is a suppressor. A big 338 with a break can be uncomfortable to shoot multiple shots because of the percussion caused by the break.
Brant
Member
All I can speak to is my 12-12.5 pound lapua with an apa fat bastard brake on it is about like shooting a sporter weight barreled 308 without a brake or maybe even less. It all depends on how much weight you are willing to tote around. All three cartridges when twisted appropriately will do the same thing essentially from equal length barrels.
Matt Tatum
Well-Known Member
I'm a little late to the conversation but Dave tubb has a newish round out that may be of some interest. It's called the 33xc. I have a friend that shoots it, it's a step up from the Lapua and norma cases.
thwatson2
Well-Known Member
Times have changed, but 338RUM was a real winner when I looked years ago. Lots of components, nice ballistics, cost and I don't find recoil too bad with break or can. I would consider something like the 338-378 or Edge if I was doing a custom build. But the RUM is a great shooter
Petersen
Well-Known Member
Read through comments quickly and will add my opinion on something I didn't see mentioned. Since the edge first became popular, a few slow burning powders have been added by manufacturers and this closed the gap the 338 edge had over the 338 RUM. When the edge first became popular, the standard load was H1000 to get the 300SMKs to 2800+. With other slow powders out there and properly throated 338RUMs, these custom 338 RUMS can now get 2900FPS. And with that said, with the edge being throated further out and custom mag boxes, it is doing over 2900FPS as well. in my opinion, whether you go edge or RUM, I don't think the difference is what it use to be, and you cannot go wrong either way, so long as it's being throated appropriately. And while I think a 338 lapua is very cool, not sure the added cost of components and larger action is worth it, but again, obviously a very awesome round and if I had one I'd dig it.
Put a 28+ inch fluted sendero contour on any of them with a good break and it will be an easy, shooter friendly rifle. The one I use is an edge. Currently loading with imr8133 and getting 2900 FPS with 300 grain Berger elite hunter. It drops bulls in their tracks.
Put a 28+ inch fluted sendero contour on any of them with a good break and it will be an easy, shooter friendly rifle. The one I use is an edge. Currently loading with imr8133 and getting 2900 FPS with 300 grain Berger elite hunter. It drops bulls in their tracks.
Petersen
Well-Known Member
What is the overall length on the loaded rounds? NV has a goofball cartridge length restriction,
.300 Dakota
Well-Known Member
I'm sure it's been said in here somewhere, but be cognizant of bolt face diameter and magazine length. I built an Edge on a factory magnum 700 action with 27" Brux 1:9.5 and honeycomb Kahn-Trol self-timing brake that knocks its punch out to about standard 7 Mag size. Mine is bedded into an HS stock with floor plate bottom metal- strictly a one-at-a-time port feed scenario with bullets over 225 grains. A standard .338 RUM would have been a BETTER fit, but still too long with the heaviest bullets. Having said that, it's a solid 1/2 MOA gun with multiple loads. I'm not getting the velocity I thought I would, and it seems to me the Edge is one of those cartridges that I just can't quite cram enough of the right kind of powder into under a big, long bullet to get the umph I want. I had it throated for the Hornady 285gr ELD-M, but am thinking now I should have had it throated even deeper. For what I paid to replace all the internals in the action and get it blue printed, I could have built the rifle from scratch and likely saved money - with the correct action/bottom metal length and the ability to get more Retumbo in the case.
Good luck. You'll be happy with whatever you get as long as the right person puts it together for you.
Good luck. You'll be happy with whatever you get as long as the right person puts it together for you.
cant think of a reason that a lapua has to weigh more than a rum or edge. if you build custom, less than 12 lbs should be easily done. my 375 cheytac is 13 lbs with 7x42 leaopold. cz builds their 550 in a 338 lapua. if you want to build custom tbe 550 action is a gr8 starting point.
Petersen
Well-Known Member
Looked it up, would not be legal in NV per the regs. 33xc 3.087 cartridge length.
PNWdude67
Well-Known Member
What do you consider "shootable"?? Over the last few years I have been fortunate to shoot with several of the best field bolt gun shooters in the world and not one of them would consider and .338 anything "shootable". I have conserved building a .338 SS and seeing how a loaded down .338 heavy would perform. Maybe build it on a medium or long receiver. If you want to hit plates at 1500-2500 yards it makes sense to go big with lots of powder. To hunt and enjoy shooting it I would consider a smaller case and really there's not much more a .338 will do than a 7mm when it comes to long range hunting. The new .338 bullets are very intriguing tho, so I understand the attraction.
PNWdude67
Well-Known Member
Interesting good info
gbett308
Well-Known Member
what about a 338 win mag?
