338 edge or improved ?

sdeering

sdeering

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I have most of the goods to make an 338 edge. Will be shooting 300s mostly. I think I ordered 1-10 or 1-9.5 progressive. Its been a wile since I ordered them. :p One will be a rem 700 trued action. The other for a friend not sure what action he is going with.

I will be ordering a chamber reamer and possibly the sizing die reamer to make the sizing dies from PTG.

What rout would you go? 338 edge or the improved version. I read the improved is mostly for reducing brass stretching. Makes the brass last longer.
Is the improved that much better?

Thanks for any help.
Stephen
 
I see no reason to go improved.
Just a giant PITA for no real world gain....Supposedly the AI lets trim your cases a few less times, but I for one would rather trim ten times to fire forming once.

Best of luck.
 
I use ALOT of improved cases and really like them. They will reduce case stretching and in a boomer that is a wonderful thing. Assume you are single feeding this bad boy. If mag feeding, go reg Edge.

Rem brass is accurate but not the strongest alloy going. The improved shoulder will help keep case growth in check.

You can fireform as you shoot the rifle. If you work up a fireforming load, they are typically just as accurate as the full meal deal. Just slower.

Or you can do what I do and form using a light charge of pistol powder and cornmeal. How many cases are you actually forming?

Yes, it takes an extra trip to the range but I know you will enjoy dealing with an improved case in a boomer.

The big one is if can you get a sizing or body die for the improved case? If this is going to be a super expensive, 5 month custom ordeal, just use the reg edge. At least you can just mod a 300RUM sizer and go for it.

There will be a bit more speed available mostly because of the case stretching being better controlled. Say 100fps, give or take.

Jerry
 
Thanks for the replies fellas. I am leaning toward the improved case.
On the number of rounds to form Im guessing 25 or so to start out. I think I have 100 or so 1/2 rem and 1/2 nozler.

Jerry, have you herd of anyone using hydraulic pressure to form instead of powder? Not that I am against fire forming. I just have an idea. Neck up first then put an old primer in, hold brass in sizing die and use a fitting on the top that seals in the neck and force the case out with oil under pressure, with something like a hand porta-power pump. Problem #1 would be preventing the primer from being pushed out, a special shell holder would be needed. Problem #2 would be will the brass be fully formed after.

Stephen
 
sdeering said:
I have most of the goods to make an 338 edge. Will be shooting 300s mostly. I think I ordered 1-10 or 1-9.5 progressive. Its been a wile since I ordered them. :p One will be a rem 700 trued action. The other for a friend not sure what action he is going with.

I will be ordering a chamber reamer and possibly the sizing die reamer to make the sizing dies from PTG.

What rout would you go? 338 edge or the improved version. I read the improved is mostly for reducing brass stretching. Makes the brass last longer.
Is the improved that much better?

Thanks for any help.
Stephen
Click to expand...

I have built many of both. The ONLY advantage is brass life.
Case capacity is the same given that the RUM cases are nearly straightwalled anyway.
 
I have heard of hydrualic forming and Hornady will even make you a set but for the cost, it just didn't make any sense to me.

I form hundreds of brass for my F class rig using the pistol powder/cornmeal method and it costs pennies per.

With something like the Edge and maybe 50 to 100 cases, it just isn't worth the headache.

Then there is the issues of the actual fluid being used. Yes, water works great but if you use anything with some oil in it, how do you ever get it out?

Just too much additional gear and fuss for my interest.

Jerry
 
sdeering said:
Thanks for the replies fellas. I am leaning toward the improved case.
On the number of rounds to form Im guessing 25 or so to start out. I think I have 100 or so 1/2 rem and 1/2 nozler.

Jerry, have you herd of anyone using hydraulic pressure to form instead of powder? Not that I am against fire forming. I just have an idea. Neck up first then put an old primer in, hold brass in sizing die and use a fitting on the top that seals in the neck and force the case out with oil under pressure, with something like a hand porta-power pump. Problem #1 would be preventing the primer from being pushed out, a special shell holder would be needed. Problem #2 would be will the brass be fully formed after.

Stephen
Click to expand...

I have a set for my 338LAI and figure it was $200.00 wasted
I can only get about a 90% case form with the Hydro Dies.
The COW method is still the best I feel.
I recently tried using kids modeling clay to keep the COW in place. Works GREAT, better than wax, safer than butt wipe and easy to clean.
 
I agree with Rick on the COW method.
Building fire-forming loads that cost $1.50 each (bullet and powder alone) to get extra life out of a case that costs a dollar is lost on me?

I shoot the brass trim it once then pitch it in the dumpster when it grows enough to become a problem....We aren't talking about Lapua here.
 
I fire formed 50 edge improved brass last weekend. 25gr of greendot, top it up with COW, TP as a plug. Sure it took me a bit of time to fire form them, and one cleaning in the middle (actually the fewest cleanings I have done for 50 brass). Next time I may try modeling clay instead. But it was done pretty quick. I usually get 8ish reloads on my 300rum brass (nosler) so I expect the edge ai will be the same, that gives me roughly 400 shots from under an hours fire forming. Now I just need some more Berger Hybrids...

I don't think the added cost, and the wait, of having a custom die set made up is worth the effort for the edge AI.

Case on the left is a Edge AI after COW fire forming, partially formed case loaded with 300gr Hybrid, case on the right is a 300rum.
4f058a40.jpg
 
Hydroforming

:DI am still using the hydroforming method for my brass, hornady makes the dies, you insert a spent primter, use the special shellholder, fill with water and hit with a hammer,

You get 95% formed, and then i load with full loads for the ai. Never had a problem with accuracy nor pressure with this method.

Loading a .338 Lapua AI, with 110.5gr US869, havent had any issues at all.

I dont need to laod, COW or anything else, just form at home and load.

I do this for my .260AI, .22-250AI and the .338LAI.


A buddy and I both do this, and we have great results, dont know about ricks issues with them, but we have had no issues whatsoever, all our brass is done with it.
Brad
 
I hope the picture was usefull, you can see that you really wouldn't gain much with the improved. Only reason I ended up with the improved was I bought it for a decent price on the EE.
 
I have the first 338 edge ai that Rick at atrs built, my buddy has a reg edge,I just load reg edge rounds and shoot have not had a problem with this method.
 
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