New .338RUM

agilent_one

agilent_one

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On a whim, I recently purchased a Rem XCR in 338RUM - partially because I plan on using the action as a donor in a few years for a long range .338 edge project, and partially because I've, well, never had a .338 RUM before.

I certainly don't "need" the kind of long range thump the RUM provides, given the type of hunting that I do - but I thought I would hunt with it for a few years so I could amalgamate all the bits and pieces for my long range rig.

Overall, I was quite impressed with the rifle (being a Remington, and all) the action is sorta-smooth and the trigger is fantastic. It weighs in at ~8lb as shown. The only thing I may do is get the barrel whacked back a few inches so it doesn't handle like a CB antenna.

While I haven't got out to the range with it yet my initial trials will be with the 225gr TSX and a stiff dose of RL19.

Anybody else have one? Thoughts? Impressions?


(to add - the smaller cartridge is a 300WSM I threw in for comparison)
 
I would think a slower powder would be better. I use RL25 91gr with a 250gr in my 338 Gaillard Wildcat.

I use 88gr RL22 when I use 200gr bullets. I get very close to 3300 FPS with that load.

Alliant lists a 225gr out of a 338 RUM 91gr RL19 & 93gr RL22 at a very similar speed, so RL19 may be fine in that case?
 
Wookie316 said:
I would think a slower powder would be better. I use RL25 91gr with a 250gr in my 338 Gaillard Wildcat.

I use 88gr RL22 when I use 200gr bullets. I get very close to 3300 FPS with that load.

Alliant lists a 225gr out of a 338 RUM 91gr RL19 & 93gr RL22 at a very similar speed, so RL19 may be fine in that case?
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Yeah,

I thought about going to a slower powder, but I've got a ton of RL19 kicking around from loading my 300WSM. We'll see how she works, and what the chrony says.
 
CatfishSteve said:
That may be so but it wont touch the accuracy of the 338 Lapua mag
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In which configuration?

Are you trying to say that a rifle properly built on this action by ATRS (just an example) won't touch the accuracy of a factory .338 lapua?

Just wondering? And as an aside, just wondering what your long range shooting experiences consisted of?
 
agilent_one said:
In which configuration?

Are you trying to say that a rifle properly built on this action by ATRS (just an example) won't touch the accuracy of a factory .338 lapua?

Just wondering? And as an aside, just wondering what your long range shooting experiences consisted of?
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In short yes. as any manufacurer that makes a 338 Lapua mag is of respectable quality these days.
To my experience I did lots of research before buying my Sako M995 in 338 Lapua Mag with cutom Schilen 1 in 10 stainless fluted barrel with tuned brake. and all the experts seem to agree the 338 lapua mag is inherently more accurate than any other 338 round. although the american ones dont like to admit it cause its not an american round
Hence all the current magazines tout other 338 designs (all american)
 
CatfishSteve said:
In short yes. as any manufacurer that makes a 338 Lapua mag is of respectable quality these days.
To my experience I did lots of research before buying my Sako M995 in 338 Lapua Mag with cutom Schilen 1 in 10 stainless fluted barrel with tuned brake. and all the experts seem to agree the 338 lapua mag is inherently more accurate than any other 338 round. although the american ones dont like to admit it cause its not an american round
Hence all the current magazines tout other 338 designs (all american)
Click to expand...

You may well be correct, on comparably built rifles. The LM certainly does have a bit of an edge performance (velocity) wise. Perhaps we'll have to continue this conversation one I get the LR rig built, as for now - she's just a stock hunting rifle.
 
I have a Remington 700 LSS in .338 ultra mag with a 26" barrel. Incredibly accurate. I have chronied my loads and it is definitely worth having the longer barrel - don't chop yours!! I have shot elk at distances that I won't admit to on this forum and it has literally decked them. Fantastic calibre. I exclusively use H1000 and have found it to be very consistent in this calibre and produces top velocities.
 
agilent_one said:
You may well be correct, on comparably built rifles. The LM certainly does have a bit of an edge performance (velocity) wise. Perhaps we'll have to continue this conversation one I get the LR rig built, as for now - she's just a stock hunting rifle.
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absolutely my rig is still in the tweaking phase right now once I get some holes punched I'll put up a thread. I'd keep all the lengh I could get ifn I was you.
 
Potato potatto...So what a Lapua built by the same caring hands may be a 0.200" rifle and an Edge a .202" rifle. Under field conditions you would likely never tell the difference, I guess it would depend if you are going to have a range queen to talk about and sit at a bench or a rifle to use under field conditions. For banging rocks at 1500 would you notice a difference?

Some gunsmiths won't build a Lapua on a 700 action and some will, not much of a rim left on the bolt face and some talk about bolt lug setback on stainless actions. Personally I would go for an edge, but thats just my choice.

Either way your 338rum is a heck of a longrange chambering itself. Enjoy blazin' away
 
It's a hunting rifle...Anyone that thinks that a 338LM is going to be so much more accurate than a .338 RUM or 338 Edge that it makes a difference on killing a moose is dreaming.....:rolleyes:
 
Gatehouse said:
It's a hunting rifle...Anyone that thinks that a 338LM is going to be so much more accurate than a .338 RUM or 338 Edge that it makes a difference on killing a moose is dreaming.....:rolleyes:
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Precisely.

Until it gets a loooong custom barrel, stock, brake and a big-ass nightforce mounted on it I intend to use it just as I would a 338WM.

Hence possibly shortening the pipe, the rifle seems far too long to handle well.
 
CatfishSteve said:
That may be so but it wont touch the accuracy of the 338 Lapua mag
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Sorry, but don't be such a sheep.....That is marketing hype at its finest.

I have two rifles in 338 Edge. One is a 8.5 lbs hunting rifle and the other is a 18 or so pound A-5 rifle. The hunter routinely shoots 3/4 inch groups at 200 yards...sometimes quite a bit better. It is the most accurate hunting rifle I have ever owned and this includes a TRG (hunter) in 338 Lapua.

The heavy rifle routinely shoots sub 1/2 minute and 1/4 minute groups are frequent enough that I know the only thing stopping the groups from getting smaller is me.
My buddies TRG 42 can only dream of this sort of accuracy. I'm sure a custom rifle would be just as accurate, but any accuracy gain would be measured in decimal points. The Lapua's big asset is the near perfect brass...End of story.

My 338 Edge hunter started life as a 338 Ultra. If you like fast 338's you will love this one.
If I could give you one simple (and fast) accuracy load (work up carefully)it would be a 225 partition over 76 grains of RL-25. The result is usually better than sub-moa groups and just under 3200fps....6 rifles (factory and custom) same results.

Good luck with your new toy agilent_one!
 
Now I've got to ask why not build it in 338 ultra the ultra mag line has proved to be extreamly accurate ?????
 
DEZ said:
Now I've got to ask why not build it in 338 ultra the ultra mag line has proved to be extreamly accurate ?????
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Good point.
The 338 Ultra is pretty much perfect as it is.
To be honest I built the hunting Edge so I wouldn't have to screw with another die set and so I could use Nosler Brass (good stuff).
Remington brass is pretty poor as delivered, but with a bit of prep and sorting I've made some very small groups. At normal hunting ranges it really doesn't matter.

To the hunter with a 338 Ultra the 338 Edge really doesn't offer a significant upgrade. At very long range I find the biggest restriction to be the hunting rifle platform itself...Not the not cartridge related ballistic performance.

I like the 338 Edge in a long range heavy rifle because those rifles generally shoot 300gr SMK's and the extra velocity translates well at extreme range. Not to mention using the Nosler brass.

FWIW the 338 Edge is good for about another 100fps (and a corresponding increase in recoil) over the 338Ultra.
 
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