338 musings

RUPZUK

RUPZUK

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This may be in the wrong forum, but it seems the best answers come out of here...
I've been researching various 338 caliber cartridges and can find little to no differences between them but I believe there must be a difference I'm missing.
They are:
338 RUM
338 EDGE
340 Weatherby
The differences seem almost nil to me.
And in a shorter barrel (24") how far ahead are they over the 338WM?
And why is the 338 Lapua considered the end all be all?
Hopefully someone can educate me on this before I spend money.
Thanks
 
Wby is about 2900 fps with 250 gr bullets. 338 Win Mag does around 2700. 338 Rum adds 100-150 fps to that (the Wby speeds I mean). 338 Edge another 50 fps or so to that. 338 Lapua =338 Edge ballistically, but.......because various military orgs use the Lapua, it is much, much more tacticool. That's pretty much it. All depnds on what you want to do with the rifle. For hunting, hard to beat the 338 Win Mag ammo availability. I happen to think that the 340 Wby is a great all around hunting rifle. If you need to flatten your trajectory slightly, you move up that scale, and bring more money. I own 338-06 (std and AI versions), 338 WM, 340 Wby and 338 Lapua (hey, 20 years ago or so I believed the hype too). I've used the 338 RUM, 338-378 Wby, 338 Imperial, and a 338-416 Rigby Improved wildcat that was a lot of fun. They all benefit from longer barrels, but the bigger cases more so. If you're looking for a hunting rifle, I suggest the 338 WM. If you want to play at LR targets (and yes, you can hunt with them as well), then economically the 338 edge probably gets you the most for your money. FWIW - dan
 
The differences are just minimal ballistically, but then the same is true for a half-dozen or so 30 cal cartridges too.

I have an intuitive preference for the shoulder design of Weatherby cartridges, but I dislike belted cases. I think the Edge is a terrific cartridge with the brass being its achilles heel.

The lap Mag combines great brass, great brass life and good ballistics - but with the need for a 416 Rigby bolt face.

Each cartridge has its good and bad points. I think the Edge is the most practical of the big 338's

The day Lapua starts making brass for Remington Ultra Magnums and Short Ultra Magnums is the day you see the paradigm shift completely in 7mm, 300 and 338 magnum cartridges.
 
SDM... is that the Swamp Donkey Magnum?

NASS developed the 338 Imperial Magnum based on the 404 Jef. Case and I hear it is quite a shooter. CGN "Banished" is the progenitor of that one.
 
Obtunded said:
SDM... is that the Swamp Donkey Magnum?

NASS developed the 338 Imperial Magnum based on the 404 Jef. Case and I hear it is quite a shooter. CGN "Banished" is the progenitor of that one.
Click to expand...

I worked up loads for one of those. It is a good cartridge, basically what Rem copied when they made the 338 RUM. There is also the 8mm Rem Mag necked up to 338 (338 Jarrett, I believe) and improved slightly. In the real world there isn't much difference, but if it wasn't important to us, we wouldn't be Gun Nutz, would we? - dan
 
Great info guys, I never expected such a response so quick.
But, I gotta ask...
Just what is the difference between a 338RUM and a 338 EDGE?
I believe the case of the EDGE is a necked up 300RUM, but isn't that basically what a 338RUM is?
Plus, am I right in thinking longer barrel = 26" or are you guys thinking longer yet.
And yes, I'm primarily after a hunting rifle, but I can't find what I want commercially at the moment so I'm weighing my options and thinking of going down the custom bolt gun path..
Thanks for all the insight.
Rick
 
The edge is a necked up 300RUM case and it is actually longer than the 338RUM case which was shortened by .090" from the 300 , hence its preference.

26 will work fine, but for maximum efficiency and velocity, 28-30" is better
 
I like the Edge for a long range rifle...Nosler brass, pushes the 300SMk a little harder, and fits in a standard action. Mine shoots better than I can.

In a hunting rifle I like the 340Wby best...The 340 is enough gun....without ripping your head off.

That said I'm packing a 338Edge in my hunting rifle this year....225gr Accubond at 3300fps....Can't help myself :redface:

Beginners need not apply. :eek:
 
Lapua never did make 300 Win Mag. It was subcontracted and I, as well, wish they would make it.

They take about 3 years to get a new product to market. There will be a new product for them announced at the Shot Show.

Regards,

Peter
 
peterdobson said:
Lapua never did make 300 Win Mag. It was subcontracted and I, as well, wish they would make it.

They take about 3 years to get a new product to market. There will be a new product for them announced at the Shot Show.

Regards,

Peter
Click to expand...

Press conference in the lobby of circus circus?:D
 
there is also that 338 Norma Mag case out there.
i have a 24 inch rem 700 in 340 bee, i can get 2800,(250AB) out of that pipe and it is not free bored.the mag alloows me at 3.722(1in the pipe 1 in mag) and 3.90 to the rifling.It makes for an excellent carry rifle.
all in all u just keep getting a little more velocity with the litttle more space in the case.
 
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RUPZUK said:
And yes, I'm primarily after a hunting rifle, but I can't find what I want commercially at the moment so I'm weighing my options and thinking of going down the custom bolt gun path..
Thanks for all the insight.
Rick
Click to expand...

Are you looking for a regular hunting rifle in .338" or are you thinking of a LR rifle? If it's LR you want then you'd be best served with a custom rifle and either the Edge or the Lapua or Lapua AI (L.Imp I calls it but it makes Timmins CRAZY!). The only downfall to the Lapua is it's tougher to fit in a Remington action. Remington does it, but I'm not convinced that their MLR is worth owning. You really need a barrel from 28"-30" to take advantage of all the case has to offer.

If you want a regular 338 for hunting as most folks do, buy a 338 Winchester. The 340 Wby gives you more horsepower, but factory ammo and brass bearing the name "Weatherby" on the headstamp are rudely expensive.
 
[QUOTE=BigUglyMan;3774669the Lapua or Lapua AI (L.Imp I calls it but it makes Timmins CRAZY!).

So only you will know what I mean if I say " I have Rick's L.IMP ?? :D
 
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