So are the factory Rem 700 338 lapua rifles unsafe? Wouldn't they do alot of testing before they put out a production rifle in 338 Lapua?
It is not because it is unsafe, It is because when you place a M 16 or simular extractor on a
large case head you have to thin the extractor so much it makes it marginally weak. The bolt
lugs on the Remington will take the SAMMI pressures of the Lapua but if you load hard you
may have extractor problems.
Remington makes a 338 Lapua on there 700 but they use the Remington extractor and it fits
in the 700 bolt (Barely).
It is just a better idea in my opinion to go with a larger diameter bolt if the external extractor
is used.
If you have to use the Remington consider the 338 RUM (It is the ballistic equal to the Lapua
with Maximum SAMMI Pressures) and it uses a standard magnum bolt face, and any type of
extractor will work.
I use a lot of Mark 5 actions for the larger case heads,(.579 to .602) and use the standard 378
Weatherby extractor with little or no changes to the extractor.
J E CUSTOM