Nearing the end of my 338 RUM build.

[WildBillG]

This build started 2 years ago. In the begining it was going to be on a Sako AV action. 2 years ago at Easter I bought 100 brand new 338 RUM Bertram brass. Last spring though I happened upon a deal for a Mk V Weatherby which I got for 650 dollars with a set of 270 Wby dies. This winter I found a gun smith who said he woould put a barrel on it from a well known barrel maker here in Alberta for 750 dollars. All I had to do was decide what I wanted the barrel to be. I decided on a 30 inch 9.35 twist barrel that would be .750 at the muzzle. I also decided to have my Cadex brake installed on it too. The middle of this week the barreled action should be back in my hands.
Then I will need a scope I am wondering should I put on a Vortex Razor LHT a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 a Sig Tango 4 4-16 or a Burris Sugnature Series 5-25x56. The Tango 4 is the cheapest at 779 and the Razor is the most expensive at 1499 the other 2 are right at 1100. Is the Razor glass worth the exta 300 dollars I am on a bit of a budget or I wouldn't care. I wabt to be able to dial don't care if it is MOA or Mils just want to be able to get the most out of my build.
I have also found a place with Berger 300 grn EOLs at a decent price for up here any way. I thought of trying the 270 ELDX but they only come 50 to a box. To tell the truth I want to shoot the Bergers any way.
If any body has any advice or thoughts please let me know thanks.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I'm not a fan of Hornady bullets, so no experience with them.
However, just for laughs, I bought 300gr SMK's for my 375 Weatherby to shoot rocks with at whatever distance I felt was LR at the time. Never shot further than about 700, had a Leupold VX III 6.5-20 x 50 sitting around and mounted it.
Had to use the B&C hash marks beyond 600, but it shot very well with those.
That was my only foray into LR with that rifle, but those SMK's were very accurate.
The rifle is a Win Model 70 Classic Stainless re-chambered from H&H and wears a HS-Precision Sporter Grey/Black Web stock. It now has it's Bushnell Elite 2-7x32 scope back on. I use it for Water Buff and Sambar deer mostly.

Cheers.

 

[WildBillG]

I haven't looked around a lot here but Seirra bullets are few and far between on our shelves. Seirra bullets have always been accurate for me when I shot them. I just don't use them that often though.
How did they hold up on water buffalo.

 

[BEEMAN]

I have a few 285 gr eldm and 100 Berger 300 gr if you're interested. Sold my 338 Edge and the guy didn't want the bullets. I also have a gen 1 PST in NF rings. Send me a PM if interested. Got positive feedback over on gunnuts. Can text pics if you want.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I haven't looked around a lot here but Seirra bullets are few and far between on our shelves. Seirra bullets have always been accurate for me when I shot them. I just don't use them that often though.
How did they hold up on water buffalo.

Sorry, never shot Water Buff with the Sierra's, just rocks and other inanimate objects.
I use 260gr Accubonds or 300gr Woodleigh on Water Buff. The 260's also get used on Sambar deer here in Australia.
Have used the 270gr Woodleigh too, but found it a bit lacking in penetration.
The Berger looks interesting, but it won't stabilise in my 12" twist.

Cheers.

 

[waspocrew]

While the Razor LHT is a great scope, I'd want a little more magnification for the 338 RUM. I have a Gen II PST 5-25 on my 338 RUM and it's been holding up very well. Of the Burris lineup, I have limited, but positive experience with the XTR Gen II 4-20x.

My 338 RUM shoots the 285 gr Amax very well with H1000. I have some 250 Bergers and 300 gr Nosler RDFs to play around with as well.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I am stupid. I thought you were talking 375RUM.
Anyway, I have several 338's, my LR rig is a CZ550 Safari Mag in 338-416 Rigby Improved. It has a 45 degree shoulder.
Nothing I have put in it has gone slower than 3300fps in it's 32" barrel. I tried Sierra SMK 250's, but it was disappointing.
It also is the only rifle I have a brake on.
I have used the 300gr OTM in it, but it had half a dozen failures beyond 800 with that bullet. Bullets didn't expand and tumbled.
Sure the animals died, but the bullet performance was way off.
Have since gone to the 265gr ABLR Nosler.
Still looking for an alternative 300gr bullet.
Would like a Cutting Edge Razor to try, but they're not available here.
I also have a few 338WM's, they like either 225gr Accubonds or 250gr Accubonds.
Have used a 250gr Woodleigh PP for water buff out of the 338WM & 338-416 Rigby Improved. They work just as well as the 375's do.
For ELR steel, in the 338-416 Rigby Improved, I am using a solid CNC turned 323gr brass bullet. I have a 9" twist and this is the longest bullet it will successfully stabilise.
This barrel is getting tired, so in the next 12 months I will re-barrel with a 8" twist and maybe go 33XC or 338 Norma Improved 35 degree. May still stay with the current chambering as I have dies and reamer, all other stuff including brass, mandrels etc.
Sorry for the mix up with calibre...brain farts happen when you hit 50.

Cheers.

 

[Cowboyblaster]

This build started 2 years ago. In the begining it was going to be on a Sako AV action. 2 years ago at Easter I bought 100 brand new 338 RUM Bertram brass. Last spring though I happened upon a deal for a Mk V Weatherby which I got for 650 dollars with a set of 270 Wby dies. This winter I found a gun smith who said he woould put a barrel on it from a well known barrel maker here in Alberta for 750 dollars. All I had to do was decide what I wanted the barrel to be. I decided on a 30 inch 9.35 twist barrel that would be .750 at the muzzle. I also decided to have my Cadex brake installed on it too. The middle of this week the barreled action should be back in my hands.
Then I will need a scope I am wondering should I put on a Vortex Razor LHT a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 a Sig Tango 4 4-16 or a Burris Sugnature Series 5-25x56. The Tango 4 is the cheapest at 779 and the Razor is the most expensive at 1499 the other 2 are right at 1100. Is the Razor glass worth the exta 300 dollars I am on a bit of a budget or I wouldn't care. I wabt to be able to dial don't care if it is MOA or Mils just want to be able to get the most out of my build.
I have also found a place with Berger 300 grn EOLs at a decent price for up here any way. I thought of trying the 270 ELDX but they only come 50 to a box. To tell the truth I want to shoot the Bergers any way.
If any body has any advice or thoughts please let me know thanks.

I would take a long hard look at the bushnell match pro 5 x 25 if I were you it's in the price range your looking at and I've been reading some good stuff about it. I'm personally just about to begin a 7mm RUM build and I'm going to go with this scope because the alternative to me is a 28 000 dollar NF.good luck with whatever you choose

 

[WildBillG]

Thanks for all the ideas from every one. This will be a hunting rifle as well as long range targets. That is the reason I liked the scopes starting at 3 or 4 power.
Maagnummaniac its ok I enjoyed reading your posts all information is good.

 

[Mike Matteson]

I am stupid. I thought you were talking 375RUM.
Anyway, I have several 338's, my LR rig is a CZ550 Safari Mag in 338-416 Rigby Improved. It has a 45 degree shoulder.
Nothing I have put in it has gone slower than 3300fps in it's 32" barrel. I tried Sierra SMK 250's, but it was disappointing.
It also is the only rifle I have a brake on.
I have used the 300gr OTM in it, but it had half a dozen failures beyond 800 with that bullet. Bullets didn't expand and tumbled.
Sure the animals died, but the bullet performance was way off.
Have since gone to the 265gr ABLR Nosler.
Still looking for an alternative 300gr bullet.
Would like a Cutting Edge Razor to try, but they're not available here.
I also have a few 338WM's, they like either 225gr Accubonds or 250gr Accubonds.
Have used a 250gr Woodleigh PP for water buff out of the 338WM & 338-416 Rigby Improved. They work just as well as the 375's do.
For ELR steel, in the 338-416 Rigby Improved, I am using a solid CNC turned 323gr brass bullet. I have a 9" twist and this is the longest bullet it will successfully stabilise.
This barrel is getting tired, so in the next 12 months I will re-barrel with a 8" twist and maybe go 33XC or 338 Norma Improved 35 degree. May still stay with the current chambering as I have dies and reamer, all other stuff including brass, mandrels etc.
Sorry for the mix up with calibre...brain farts happen when you hit 50.

Cheers.

You should try 70+yrs.

 

[skipglo]

This build started 2 years ago. In the begining it was going to be on a Sako AV action. 2 years ago at Easter I bought 100 brand new 338 RUM Bertram brass. Last spring though I happened upon a deal for a Mk V Weatherby which I got for 650 dollars with a set of 270 Wby dies. This winter I found a gun smith who said he woould put a barrel on it from a well known barrel maker here in Alberta for 750 dollars. All I had to do was decide what I wanted the barrel to be. I decided on a 30 inch 9.35 twist barrel that would be .750 at the muzzle. I also decided to have my Cadex brake installed on it too. The middle of this week the barreled action should be back in my hands.
Then I will need a scope I am wondering should I put on a Vortex Razor LHT a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 a Sig Tango 4 4-16 or a Burris Sugnature Series 5-25x56. The Tango 4 is the cheapest at 779 and the Razor is the most expensive at 1499 the other 2 are right at 1100. Is the Razor glass worth the exta 300 dollars I am on a bit of a budget or I wouldn't care. I wabt to be able to dial don't care if it is MOA or Mils just want to be able to get the most out of my build.
I have also found a place with Berger 300 grn EOLs at a decent price for up here any way. I thought of trying the 270 ELDX but they only come 50 to a box. To tell the truth I want to shoot the Bergers any way.
If any body has any advice or thoughts please let me know thanks.

I will second the 300 SMKs and they are available here. I'm having very reliable results with them!

 

[WildBillG]

Skipglo what do the 300grn SMKs cost a box and how many in a box.

 

[skipglo]

Skipglo what do the 300grn SMKs cost a box and how many in a box.

I can get them for 1.00 a piece....you can buy 1 or 300....Give me a shout if you want to get some....where are you located WB?

 

[skipglo]

This build started 2 years ago. In the begining it was going to be on a Sako AV action. 2 years ago at Easter I bought 100 brand new 338 RUM Bertram brass. Last spring though I happened upon a deal for a Mk V Weatherby which I got for 650 dollars with a set of 270 Wby dies. This winter I found a gun smith who said he woould put a barrel on it from a well known barrel maker here in Alberta for 750 dollars. All I had to do was decide what I wanted the barrel to be. I decided on a 30 inch 9.35 twist barrel that would be .750 at the muzzle. I also decided to have my Cadex brake installed on it too. The middle of this week the barreled action should be back in my hands.
Then I will need a scope I am wondering should I put on a Vortex Razor LHT a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 a Sig Tango 4 4-16 or a Burris Sugnature Series 5-25x56. The Tango 4 is the cheapest at 779 and the Razor is the most expensive at 1499 the other 2 are right at 1100. Is the Razor glass worth the exta 300 dollars I am on a bit of a budget or I wouldn't care. I wabt to be able to dial don't care if it is MOA or Mils just want to be able to get the most out of my build.
I have also found a place with Berger 300 grn EOLs at a decent price for up here any way. I thought of trying the 270 ELDX but they only come 50 to a box. To tell the truth I want to shoot the Bergers any way.
If any body has any advice or thoughts please let me know thanks.

I learned a lesson a few years back and now follow my lesson. When trying new components 50 is good...real good! I bought a Brick of Fed 210 match when they first hit the shelves...got all excited and loaded 50....my group opened from .250 @100.....To 2.5"....So now I have 950 primers I won't use...... Daaaaaahhhhh....