700P 338 LM Custom

[Parker-Hale Mike]

One nice thing about those that travel to hunt not having a Wildcat cartridge. I have seen people travel before to the states either Alaska or south of the 49th and have either a border or airline issue and have to buy ammo at the other end. Good luck with a wildcat if that happens.

 

[dpopl8r]

You have really lost me here. What potential extraction problems??
The AI versions extract EXACTLY the same as the SAAMI spec chamberings.
Barrel life is not influenced at all by the AI chambering, how hot you allow the rifle barrel to get has far more impact on barrel life. Not sure where you are getting your intel from.

Re: the barrel life, like I said, too many variables to make that a concern. As mentioned, this is likely an artifact of a long history of hot-loaded AI's.

Re: feeding and extraction. I had a 6 mm Rem AI, with which I have had chambering and extraction problems when hunting and shooting in the dusty, windy prairies (conditions I often find myself in). I have also read of similar issues with other AI chamberings due to their minimum body taper and steep shoulder (and likely from being run at high pressures/velocities). Compare this with the shallow shoulder and higher body taper of most significant SAAMI chamberings such as the parent 375 H&H, as well as all military cartridges including the 338 Lapua (following extensive R&D), and it is easy to define the specs employed to promote reliable feeding and extraction, under all adverse field conditions. I cannot comment on the smooth feeding of your AI chambering, so I'll take your word for it.

So, based on my intel, for my LR field rifle that may go days and weeks of being dragged through the prairies, strapped to my quad, or laying prone in a dry and cracked stubble field, I'll stick to the SAAMI chamber, and IMO one less potential variable.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Re: the barrel life, like I said, too many variables to make that a concern. As mentioned, this is likely an artifact of a long history of hot-loaded AI's.

Re: feeding and extraction. I had a 6 mm Rem AI, with which I have had chambering and extraction problems when hunting and shooting in the dusty, windy prairies (conditions I often find myself in). I have also read of similar issues with other AI chamberings due to their minimum body taper and steep shoulder (and likely from being run at high pressures/velocities). Compare this with the shallow shoulder and higher body taper of most significant SAAMI chamberings such as the parent 375 H&H, as well as all military cartridges including the 338 Lapua (following extensive R&D), and it is easy to define the specs employed to promote reliable feeding and extraction, under all adverse field conditions. I cannot comment on the smooth feeding of your AI chambering, so I'll take your word for it.

So, based on my intel, for my LR field rifle that may go days and weeks of being dragged through the prairies, strapped to my quad, or laying prone in a dry and cracked stubble field, I'll stick to the SAAMI chamber, and IMO one less potential variable.

I certainly agree that the potential for "feeding" issues is higher with straighter walled sharp shoulder angle calibers. I has to really pay attention to what mag type and how the ramp is contoured to ensure smooth reliable feeding, but it is possible to do.
Extraction I have not experienced any issues with and have built many many AIed caliber rifles over the years, but a guy has to go with his gut. You have had issues so went with your experience, which I totally understand. I owned 1 GM product in my life and it was a total lemon, so have never bought another.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

One nice thing about those that travel to hunt not having a Wildcat cartridge. I have seen people travel before to the states either Alaska or south of the 49th and have either a border or airline issue and have to buy ammo at the other end. Good luck with a wildcat if that happens.

Mike you have a valid point in a true wildcat. Years ago I made a big 30 cal magnum, parent case was 8rem mag, necked down to 30 cal then a 40 degree shoulder added to a nearly straight walled case. It truly would have been impossible to find any commercial cartridge that would even have come close to being operational. Closest thing that would have worked would have been 300H&H but I expect that 100% case failure would have been the result.

When I took my 338LAI to Africa I put 50% of my ammo in my luggage and the other 50% in my Dads to help ensure no problems like no ammo because of no luggage that airlines seem to always manage when it really does matter that your luggage gets there with you.

The AIed versions of most calibers negates the valid ammo issue you raised to a large degree, I can fire standard 338 Lapua ammo in my LAI with no problem, the only thing that changes is point of impact, the accuracy is the same for hunting purposes.
My handloaded 338LAI is capable of 1/4 moa, with shooting factory Lapua ammo it opens up to 3/4 moa and shoots 2.5" lower which is acceptable to most for hunting purposes.
I have several other AIed chamberings that also do this, notably 257AI, 30-06 AI , 260AI and 223AI

 

[dan belisle]

Dan I can ASSURE you it was cut correctly. The reamer and go gage were a matched set from Mansen. I allow .001 maximum tolerance on the go gage for the bolt to close on. This was not a rechamber job.

The problem was powder charge related.

Hydroform dies do solve all the AI forming issues rather nicely as there is NO guesswork in how much of what powder and how much tamping of the COW etc to get a nice shoulder set. Placing the formed cases in the oven at low heat to evaporate the water used that is left in the cases solves the issues associated with the use of oil to form with.

Thanks Rick. If you say so, I believe you. - dan

 

[PEI ROB]

I hydraulically form cases using oil, found it much easier to form but not so nice to clean. To me, the extra cleaning time was worth it. One piece of advise you can do what you like with, is to fire the new cases as soon as possible after loading and keep the tips pointed down. Had a bunch of killed primers from oil residue.

 

[Glock-a-maniac]

I've been running an AI'd 338LM for over 2 years now and put close to 1500rnds down range. I'm running my rifle on the upper side of pressure and as long as the action you're using has a decent extractor claw like the Remingtons, Sako and some others you're fine. I think a large part of what gets pushed on customers is what someone has in stock like when Sako still had a bunch of the slow twist barreled 338LM in stock. They were the best thing ever while only being able to shoot the 250gr bullets. Once that run of barrels was gone, suddenly the 1:10 twist barrel TRGs were far better because of being able to stablize the 300gr much higher BC bullets that were available.
The Ackley Improved 338LM has so many upsides while still being able to buy off the shelf ammo and, in a pinch, shoot it out of your gun. The difference between the 2 casings boil down to whether the person reloads or not. If the person doesn't, then standard is fine. If the person fully plans on reloading, then it's a no brainer. Casing life is greatly increased, reload prep is minimized, performance is maximized and the gun isn't sacificed. Gaining 250fps at the muzzle using the same bullet at no extra cost for chambering is definitely, in my opinion, worth one day of fireforming.