338 lapua in rem model 700

[guntech]

So, tell me, does the reamer for this have an extended pilot for this purpose or do they just dangle the ordinary reamer into the chamber and hope it finds it's center?

It is not a matter of a the reamer finding the center, it will do that if the existing chamber is already centered on the bore. If one single point turns a hole centered on the bore - a reamer will follow that hole as well. It would require no pilot at all to do that. For a reamer not to follow an existing hole would require quite a bit of side pressure holding it off center.


A loose fitting pilot is actually better than tight fitting pilot if your set up up is accurate.

It does not matter if you prefer to use extended pilot reamer or not. It is the end product that matters and you can achieve an excellent chamber with what ever method you use if your set up and method are sound. An extended pilot reamer is not a necessity.

 

[tiriaq]

Phil - Thank you for clarifying the situation respecting availability of these rifles.

Glock - How much chambering have you done?

 

[long bow]

Rem 338LM

25645 product code.....700P MLR is the model
The first fifty-one were sent to Austraila
Oversized 700 action with larger than standard tapped holes for scope mount and also side tapped holes for a rear sight similar to an M24.
Sako style extractor.

 

[Glock-a-maniac]

Phil - Thank you for clarifying the situation respecting availability of these rifles.

Glock - How much chambering have you done?

Valid question: None. I'm still learning how a reamer reacts to an excisting chamber. This is the beautiful thing about the forum. If you say it works without an extended pilot, then I'll have to trust you. Still no one has commented on cutting a bigger chamber for a 26" barrel.

On another note, same topic, I got a chance to witness a brand new HS 338 being capped off today. From my understanding, even with the 250gr bullets, recoil sounds like a b!tch. Upgrading muzzle break might be an option. I guess it's a good thing the end of the barrel is threaded at least.

 

[Mutt-roc]

hey glock
chad said that was quite the bang that came off his gun even with hearing protection. sorry i couldnt make it out today the wife had me doing a bunch of bull#### before i take off to conklin. i cant wait to get my 308 back. talk to u guys soon.

mutt

 

[catnthehatt]

Still no one has commented on cutting a bigger chamber for a 26" barrel.
.

A person may want a bit more jam than a standard 338 Lapua in an unbraked sporter .
There are lots of fellas who shoot the factory Sako TRGS's without brakes but hunt with them , not target work. Hence, the 26" barrel.
Cat

 

[Dave42]

For anyone that's thinking of getting a buddy or gunsmith to enlarge their chamber to Ackley Improve it, IT DOESN'T WORK!!! THERE'S NOTHING FOR THE REAMER TO BE GUIDED BY. Besides, you have a 26" barrel. How much of a flame do you really want coming out the end of your barrel.

I know the subject has passed but I shared your concern before rechambering a factory .270win to a .270 Gibbs. I had nothing to lose (except a factory take off barrel) so I gave it a try. While reaming I constantly checked with a bore scope to see what the cutting looked like. I know it is not the same as a measurement but it looked very concentric to me. Even if it is slightly off center at first once the pilot does make contact with the lands there was still around 1/2" to 3/4" travel to help true it up. I'm no professional gunsmith, but the results speak for themselves. The gun gives a solid 3/4 MOA performance and has added 200fps to the punch. (remember this is a factory barrel)

I have since rechambered a .260rem to 6.5/284, which is much worse. It started cutting just about as soon as the shoulder of the reamer entered the old chamber. I did not inspect as I cut this time but again the accuracy results were excellent however due to other issues the gun was a bit of a flop. Since then it has become a very nice custom barrel 6mm rem.

As far as barrel length is concerned I agree 100 percent. For the cost of having the barrel rechambered to an AI, I would spend a little extra and get a 28"+ custom barrel. The whole reason for going to the AI is to gain velocity. As a matter of fact with the costs related to switching to the AI it might even be cheaper to stick with the standard cartridge and just get a longer barrel.

Dave

 

[catnthehatt]

Improved cases also give better life as a rule, which is why I use them.
Cat

 

[Glock-a-maniac]

I agree with the case life on an AI but when you're burning 110gr of one of the slowest powder being US869, I garranty you're going to have one hell of a fireball with a 26" barrel. That was my original point.

 

[Glock-a-maniac]

I know the subject has passed but I shared your concern before rechambering a factory .270win to a .270 Gibbs. I had nothing to lose (except a factory take off barrel) so I gave it a try. While reaming I constantly checked with a bore scope to see what the cutting looked like. I know it is not the same as a measurement but it looked very concentric to me. Even if it is slightly off center at first once the pilot does make contact with the lands there was still around 1/2" to 3/4" travel to help true it up. I'm no professional gunsmith, but the results speak for themselves. The gun gives a solid 3/4 MOA performance and has added 200fps to the punch. (remember this is a factory barrel)

I have since rechambered a .260rem to 6.5/284, which is much worse. It started cutting just about as soon as the shoulder of the reamer entered the old chamber. I did not inspect as I cut this time but again the accuracy results were excellent however due to other issues the gun was a bit of a flop. Since then it has become a very nice custom barrel 6mm rem.

As far as barrel length is concerned I agree 100 percent. For the cost of having the barrel rechambered to an AI, I would spend a little extra and get a 28"+ custom barrel. The whole reason for going to the AI is to gain velocity. As a matter of fact with the costs related to switching to the AI it might even be cheaper to stick with the standard cartridge and just get a longer barrel.

Dave

That's interesting to hear results from hands on experience.

 

[tiriaq]

Assuming that the barrel is properly set up in the lathe, so that the axis of the bore and chamber are coaxial with rotation of the spindle, and the reamer is held true as well, the reamer will pick up and start to cut in a concentric manner, no matter which part of the reamer contacts which part ofthe chamber. It will be self centering. If it is not properly centred, and is running out by the time the pilot reaches the throat, it ain't going to get pulled into line. A reamer isn't going to cut around a curve.

 

[Why not?]

I agree with the case life on an AI but when you're burning 110gr of one of the slowest powder being US869, I garranty you're going to have one hell of a fireball with a 26" barrel. That was my original point.

You're going to have one with a 28 1/2" barrel as per your specifications, as well.

....would it have killed them to add another 2.5" to the end of the barrel???

Ted

 

[RePete]

Well, I don't think so.

US Manf now making 338 Lapua Magnum ammo:

Black Hills, Hornady, Nosler, and Rem. I am sure that Winchester/Olin is in there somewhere. Then of course you have to include Sierra for bullets.

Me thinks that any of the manf above would have the ability to make milspec brass.

Component brass is only available from Lapua and Norma but I am sure all the above will be spitting out brass in 2008.

This may very well be the year you see a Rem700 in 338LM. Bottom metal is available!.

Jerry

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?tabid=3&categoryid=9522&categorystring=653***690***

For reference purposes only...

Jerry:

Black Hills uses Lapua brass and uses the 250gr Sierra bullet and is a $100/20 US - saw them in PA last September.

I have a box of Hornady here, it is Hornady headstamp. Again $100/20 Cdn.

As for the rifle, it only availible in Australia at this time and in very limited quantities, and Remington have said that it won't be released in the US until 2009.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Repete, I suspected from the pricing. However, with Rem making rifles and others to follow as popularity rises, all the ammo makers will jump on the bandwagon.

Hornady is usually the first as they have seen how profitable it can be to be at the front of the pack with different ammo/bullet/concepts.

Nosler is making ammo and as far as I know does not make brass. If my info is correct, Win made brass from their custom lines so wouldn't surprise me that Win is also making brass for their Lapua. That will likely mean component Win brass is not too far into the future.

Rem is coming out with ammo likely in time with their rifle release. That has been their biggest folly over the years. Making a rifle with no ammo. Making ammo for no rifle. I am sure they will make component brass.

IF there is enough demand, offshored imports will start coming in. The Isrealis, Brazilians, and Eastern Europeans are very quick at tooling up if there is demand.

I suspect that if not this year, by next, Savage will also release info on a 338LM platform. They would need almost no redesign of the 110 as it has already housed LARGER cartridges. Just decide to do it and spin on the pipes.

The main question is whether demand will be there. Alot of wait and see in the industry. Right now the market pricing for this cartridge is well above what most shooters will tolerate. If larger volume happens and prices fall, popularity has the chance of really taking off.

glock, there are many super sized magnums that have lived 'happily' with 26" pipes. Considered the longest common length by hunters, rifle manfs really don't want to go longer.

Cartridges like the Lazz, and Wby have been burning upwards of 125/130gr of powder in 26" pipes. Effecient.....Not in your life. But then enormous booms for another 150fps seems to be an American reality.

A 338 LM will work well in a 26" pipe. Will give more performance then the next smaller case - 340Wby and equal to the similarly sized 338RUM.

Improving the case WILL allow for more performance. Does that increase in performance amount to much? About 100fps but that is about the same as most improved modern cartridges. For some, saying they have 3100fps instead of 3000fps IS a big deal (the 'mine is bigger then yours' syndrome)

I look forward to seeing what happens at SHOT. The 338 LM has been a brides maid for decades. Just about everyone else, besides the US, has seen its values in the working world. If the US decides to use it in large quantities, the options for rifles and gear will be almost limitless.

Fun, fun, fun...

Jerry

 

[Max Owner]

This thread took a major hi jack.

Phil's reply was the only one required here.

Maybe we need to write Remington and let them know that there is a demand for their version of a 338. For $1250 retail, it would sell like 90. Considering a TRG is in the $2900 to $3300 range.

 

[Allen Gun Works]

I agree, at $1250 count me in for sure. I couldn't build one for that!!!

 

[Airborn_69]

I believe he is just repeating what Remington is telling people through their distributors. I doubt very much that anyone is consciously lieing. Having said that, Rem has been announcing this rifle for 3 years now, so I wouldn't hold my breath. - dan

I was there when the Gravel boys told us the same story at WSS & then they never delivered.

 

[RePete]

Gerry:

You're right about being a bridesmaid but for the last 3-5 years it's started to come into it's own, due to the British, Americans and Canadians Militaries using it as a sniper round.

 

[peterdobson]

I have a list from 2005 of countries using Lapua .338LM sniper ammo.- it's 47! This is before Canada and others. As mentioned, being first with milspec has been a huge success for Lapua. Bridesmaid? RUAG is the only serious competition in military. The lesser-quality American ammo manufactuers may get on the bandwagon, but internationally will go nowhere.

Regards,

Peter

 

[catnthehatt]

I agree with the case life on an AI but when you're burning 110gr of one of the slowest powder being US869, I garranty you're going to have one hell of a fireball with a 26" barrel. That was my original point.

No m,ore flash than a boatload of BLc2 in a 18" barreled 788 in 308,
or the 350 Rem mag in a 600, a 28" barreld , 58. cal round ball with 130 grains of FFG, or a 24" barreled guide gun with 70 grains of FFG .
Muzzle flash is not a consideration in most applications...
Cat