338 Ultra Mag vs 340 Weatherby

[davewilson]

RDM, you mention with an edge you have to fireform brass. my understanding is this is not the case.no pun intended. can you explain why?

[Wild_Bill]

Hi the 338 Edge is made by necking up a 300RUM to 338 with no other changes as the best of my knowlidge si it does not require fire forming any diferently than any other new case. If i was you i would look at these calibres in this order.
1. 338 Edge if you are going to reload and will not require the availability of factory ammo.
2. 338 RUM if you have to be able to use factory ammo
3. 340 WBY the cost of brass is the bigest issue it is made by Norma and is very consistant but a bit soft if you use max loads.

All of the above i do think you should hand load for anyway to get the best performance with you could not rely on going to a gunshop in the middle of no where and find a 338RUM or 340WBY there as they are not realy popular most places and only large shops would likely have a variety in stock. Also with the Edge youi can back the pressure doen a bit and still pass the velocity of the other two. If it is a custom barreled firle go this option. Now if you are looking to build a rifle i would look at buying a Sendaro II in any form of Ultra Mag send it to Shawn and have him true up the action fit a larger recoil lugg, muzzle break and barrel then sell the take out barrel. Also have him adjust the trigger and you could get an adjustable cheek piece and you would have an awsome rifle.

Cheers Bill
Australia

[jro45]

I have the 338 RUM in 700 action 26" barrel. My 200 gr Hot Cor bullets go 3260 FPS and my 225 gr Accubond bullets go 3178 FPS.I use RL25 powder
The 200 gr Hot Cor bullets shoot a 5/8" group at 200 yds and the 225 Accubond bullets shoot a 7/8" group at 200 yds.

I have heard that the WBY 340 with a 26" barrel got real close to those FPS that the RUM can shoot.

[tfjar15]

Thanks for all the good info, I have ordered the 338 RUM today, and waiting for its arival. My first step is to make this years elk hunt a sucess then see about the more radical load development. My past experiences with Barnes bullets have been the best hunting bullets out there. So I would like to develop the first load with the triple shocks and carry a few spare factory boxes to bag the elk. Then go for the long range dusted whitetail when I get back here to Texas. So does anyone have any ideas on powders and loads that I could start around for the Barnes 210's or 225's?

[sniper2]

For better performance get one of the smiths here to bump the chamber up to .338/300...I am talking about the larger bullets... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Shawn Carlock]

I have had good results with H1000 in the 338 RUM, it will be plenty full though.

[sniper2]

My .338/300 RUM will push 200 gr bullets past 3500fps with very little pressure sign, prefer the 250 SGK and 300 SMK...