340 Weatherby vs 338 WM vs Wildcat

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So inspired by the other thread(9.3x62vs 375 HH vs 375 Ruger).

I have a 338 WM in a Browning Bar. Just acquired a Model 1917 sporter also in 338 WM, thinking of rebarreling it. I have owned a 338 lapua in a Sako 995.

So what i am looking for is a suggestion on rechambering for the Model 1917. Looking for a intermediate between the Lapua/Edge and the 338 WM. Thought of the 375 Ruger necked to 338/375 Ruger and checked the Wiki for case capacity. Its case capacity (375 Ruger) is almost the same as the 340 Weatherby. Right about 99gr of H2O.

I have only ever owned one Weatherby a 300 in a M700 lightweight. Never loaded for it. What are the issues with loading for the Weatherbys, are there any advantages to going to the 375 ruger necked to 338 over the 340 wea.

The M1917 is a heavy rifle and the new rifle would get a medium profile 26" barrel with a break. I own a 375 Rum so am not looking at any other 375 caliber. Just having two 338 WM seems redundant. There is a company in the states that converts 338 Bar to 416 Taylor, but the cost is about $1800 USD ++. So i am thinking that leaving the Bar alone and making the M1917 plug a in between.

I know there is one member that shoots the 340, and then Gatehouse the fan of the 375 Ruger. Thoughts.
 
I have a 340 and so far I'm liking it a lot, shooting 225gr barnes tsx at about 3050-3100 fps, i would have to check my book for an exact velocity. I've never had or shot a 338 win mag but you should pick up quite a bit by going to the 340. As far as components go i lucked out and found a bag of 50 norma brass at a local gun shop and bought 3 boxes factory stuff so i should be set for brass for quite a while. Brass can be made from 300 or 375 h&h however I've never tried it. hopefully cfbmi sees this and chimes in, he's a pretty big promoter of the 340
 
The .340 WBY is an excellent .338 caliber for hunting... tough to beat in actual use. It performs well in a 26 inch barrel.
 
Ya that was the guy. Wanting the downrange performance of the 338 projectiles, without the extra blast and having small children carried downrange. The Lapua was the definition of overbore. My 375 rum really does not have any long range projectiles, most long range stuff is pure target stuff and designed for the Chey tec. Bought a lot of 338 projectile that is too large for the 338wm.
 
the 338 win mag really doesn't run much faster than a 338-06, maybe 75 fps faster. if i wanted something to run in the 2700ish fps range id run the 338-06 and use inter bonds or accubonds or maybe partitions in a 225grn weight but thats just me. once you bump up to the 340 you run 350-400 fps faster than the win mag, but that doesn't come without a cost, i have a brake on my 340 for a reason, its not much fun to shoot off the bench, however it lays the hammer on animals. as far as the 338-375 ruger would go I'm not sure what it would run or if anyone on heres made one yet.
 
One thing to keep in mind is the 338 WIN MAG and 340 WBY MAG have different COL specifications. Depending on how the M1917 was converted, you may need a longer magazine and some feedway work. Similar issue with the 338-375 Ruger as it is wider than the 338 WIN MAG, but that will likely only need some work on the rails and maybe a bit of mag box widening.
 
I was looking at this, and pm'ing with Guntech. I think i would be looking at a prohibitive cost to go 416. Simpler to just buy a 416 Ruger that someone is flipping. Likely $500+ for a barrel, 300+ for the work. The two 338's are based on the H&H case, but the 340 is .32 " longer in body. So it should be reaming the existing barrel, and some feed adjustments. Not sure how much adjustment would be necessary for the length, or if the mag box will take long COAL's. This action has been used for some pretty overbore african calibers.

Three questions that only i can answer. Should i do it, is the cost justifiable, or should i just leave the rifle alone and buy a different rifle already chambered for the 416 or weatherby.
 
I wanted to build a 338-375 rugger as well... C-fbmi and I have been talking about it, and he may even have the reamer made. I have a gun in mind. According to him, the 375 ruger will fit in a standard long action, and if the action is chambered for a 338 win mag, it should feed just fine as the belt on the 338 is the same as the case diameter of the 375 ruger.
 
11-23-2015, 10:42 PMbearkilr
Quote Originally Posted by 7 REM MAG View Post
the 338 win mag really doesn't run much faster than a 338-06, maybe 75 fps faster.
Wishful thinking. I'm guessing you're a fan of the 338-06?

I did a quick internet review of published load data, 338-06 looks to top out around 2675-2700 with the 338 with topping out around 2800. Sorry I missed 25-50 fps. Still doesn't equate to much in the real world
 
7 REM MAG said:
I did a quick internet review of published load data, 338-06 looks to top out around 2675-2700 with the 338 with topping out around 2800. Sorry I missed 25-50 fps. Still doesn't equate to much in the real world
Click to expand...

Most load data has the WM doing 150-200 fps faster than the 338-06 and my personal experience over a chronograph shows this to be true. Use heavier bullets like 250 gr. and up and the spread becomes even more.

I'm not really sure when the velocity difference "equates to much in the real world". I suppose the 338 Federal is the same as the 338-06 then, and consequently the same as the 338 WM. ;)
 
In my Pming with Gun tech, i think the value of the gun makes most "fixes" for a non existent problem unrealistic. The other 338wm in Bar, i received on a BD that ends with a zero. So that one is not going anywhere.

Think i will do more load development for the M1917. Actually not a bad shooter, and because of its weight it is not at all bad for recoil. It is also converted by a deceased, rather known gunsmith. So it might be a sin to mess with it. I think i will look for cheap "solutions" by hunting for appropriate barrels on the EE....lol.
 
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