Lapua vs. 338 RUM
- Thread starter Papaclaude
- Start date
It definitely doesn't last as long as Lapua and for the most part it's crap. You must sort the brass for ultimate accuracy
The one cartridge you may want to look at is the 338 Edge. It is a 300RUM case (slightly more capacity than the 338 RUM) necked up to 338 and it is very close to the Lap Mag.
The Lapua uses a different bolt face than the RUM, which uses a standard magnum face. If you are starting from scratch, I'd personally use the Lapua. I have a dictum that if Lapua doesn't make brass for it, i don't use it.
The one cartridge you may want to look at is the 338 Edge. It is a 300RUM case (slightly more capacity than the 338 RUM) necked up to 338 and it is very close to the Lap Mag.
The Lapua uses a different bolt face than the RUM, which uses a standard magnum face. If you are starting from scratch, I'd personally use the Lapua. I have a dictum that if Lapua doesn't make brass for it, i don't use it.
If you go with 338rum, spend the time to debur flash hold from the Inside, trim to proper length, and you will get the accuracy, as far as how long it last will depended on how hot you load, if you wanted to pay 3 to 4 time the amount and get the Lapua then go for, but then you will spend more money on the gun also, 338rum is a cheap man 338lapua, and it work, by the time you have worn out the barrel, the amount money spend would still be way less, and as far as Accuracy go, spending the time to prep you brass and refine the load will pay off. there is more then one way doing thing, I am sure they all work. I rather spend the time to make it work then paying thought the roof, JUST BECAUSE SOME GUY SELLING 338LAPUA BRASS SAY IT BETTER DOESN'T MEAN SO.
I have had incredible accuracy with my .338 RUM without much handloading experimentation. It is by no means a target rifle, but I seem to be able to drill virtually one hole groups with about any load that I have the nerve to shoot. Recoil is exhilarating and thus groups open up more from flinching than from a hot barrel.
When You go to Purchase a Car like Honda or Toyota or even BMW, they all say that their car are the Best, but it only man made produce, they all have there problem, do the research will pay off, but dont rely on the guy word, specially one who selling it!...
I drill many, many one hole virtual groups while I sit in shopping mall waiting for wife to be finish shopping.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Remington brass will shoot with anyone's once tweaked, but Lapua brass does provide some tangible benefits for the shooter willing to pay for it. I freely admit though that I chose the .375 Ultra over the .378 Weatherby due to my unwillingness to once again pay Norma's price for the large cases after owning a .416 Rigby.
Lapua's primer pockets tend to be tighter out of the box, and stay tighter throughout the life of the case, resulting in longer case life. My culled .375 Ultra brass has almost without exception been due to expanded primer pockets, rather than any other malady, and many have been culled after a depressingly few reloads. Lapua flash-holes are drilled which, at least in the case of the .243 and .308, the two rounds I have switched to Lapua brass for, effectively eliminates the de-burring and uniforming step. Remington brass can stand to be annealed after the first firing, whereas the Lapua brass is factory annealed, which probably helps keep the necks more concentric during the drawing process, limiting if not eliminating the need, for those who seek absolute precision, to turn the necks. Lapua's bullet pull uniformity tends to be better for the first few reloadings, but not when the Remington brass is annealed.
Ballistically they are identical. The RUM is cheaper to buy and feed. Doesn't have the wannabe sniper flavor that the Lapua has though (and yes, I own a Lapua, have had one since the 90's). You will invest more time in brass prep for the RUM, don"t know if that's a plus or a minus for you. - dan
Glock4ever
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
Gunboy: Lapua brass is better then Rem/Win/Federal Brass. How do I know? I used to do all the things you mentioned (uniform primer pockets, deburr flash holes, and even out the necks). What a pain in the ass that is! After you are done all that work to save a few cents on a piece of brass, you still end up with brass that isn't as concentric as Lapua (Case walls are not even). Before you complain about the cost of the brass - consider how much time you waste (time is worth something isn't it?) how many pieces of brass are discarded (I used to weight sort) and all the extra costs for the equipment that you have wasted to make brass that isn't even as good as the stuff that comes straight out of the box from lapua... BTW I don't sell Lapua/Norma Brass.
- Location
- calgary alberta
I was looking at the ballistics of the 338 lapua and 338 Rem. Ultra mag and they seem to be fairly similar. Does the Lapua have an edge on accuracy or would one be as good as the other for a long range rifle?
The differences would be more noticable if the intended use of the rifle in either caliber were for target or extreme long range hunting uses. For normal hunting purposes the differences would not be as noticeable.
The Lapua brass IS far superior to Remingtons brass, but is 4 times the cost.
Balistically they are close, within a hundred or so FPS.
The RUM was designed as a hunting caliber with no military usage.
The lapua was designed as a long range intervention caliber and the parameters dictated a higher degree of inherrant accuracy, hence the engineering of true match grade brass, that comes factory annealed necks, flash holes uniformed, deburred and holes drilled rather than punched. The necks are consistantly under .001 in thickness variation, non of which can be said for Remingtons brass, but in fairness they never claimed it to be match brass.
If the use is for average hunting the RUM will work fine, if you want the most consistancy for the least amount of brass prep, the Lapua would be the better option.
Can the RUM shoot as well as a Lapua does? Certainly but it takes ALOT more work to attain the overall quality and consistancy that Lapua brass delivers out of the box.
As Ian pointed out the Lapua has a lot larger bolt face, so if building a 338 Lapua you are limited to a degree in what actions will readily work, whereas the RUM uses standard magnum boltface actions which are everywhere.
6mm Shooter
CGN Regular
- Location
- White City, SK
I select chambers based on the fact that I can use Lapua brass.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I sure hope that says "STFU GunBoy we're tired of your uninformed ranting".
