338 edge & 338 lapua

[cavtrooper94]

Please be easy on me I'm new to these big 33's. what is the difference between a 338 Edge and a 338 RUM. If I was going to rebarrel a 700P should I use a 300RUM or 338 RUM ? Could I rebarrel a 700P 338RUM to 338 lapua. which is better 338 Edge, or 338 lapua?

 

[Ridge Runner]

The 338 edge is a 300 rum expanded to 338, which is .100" longer than the 338 RUM
The 338 lapua will fit in the 700 action but you need to use a sako type extractor.
Which is better? have no idea, the lapua brass is stronger, more consistant, but also more expensive if it were mine I'd go 338 Allen Xtreme, a 338 lapua imp. so to speak.
RR

 

[AJ Peacock]

Please be easy on me I'm new to these big 33's. what is the difference between a 338 Edge and a 338 RUM. If I was going to rebarrel a 700P should I use a 300RUM or 338 RUM ? Could I rebarrel a 700P 338RUM to 338 lapua. which is better 338 Edge, or 338 lapua?

Here are some really short answers (lot of discussion of this subject in the search area),

Edge is about 1/10" longer than the RUM for an increase of around 7-8% capacity increase. Maybe 80-100fps increase with heavy bullets (300gr) and long barrel 28" or longer.

the Lapua and Edge have about the same performance, but the Lapua needs a larger boltface and in my opinion needs a bigger action (more $$$). The Lapua has better brass available.

AJ

 

[cavtrooper94]

Will the 338 RUM handle a 300gr SMK? If so that looks like the poor mans way to me.

 

[Kalashnikov]

the Lapua and Edge have about the same performance, but the Lapua needs a larger boltface and in my opinion needs a bigger action (more $$$). AJ

What is your opinion based on re: needing a bigger action than the M700 for the 338 LM ?
My M700 338 LM seems to work just fine. What am I missing ?

 

[AJ Peacock]

What is your opinion based on re: needing a bigger action than the M700 for the 338 LM ?
My M700 338 LM seems to work just fine. What am I missing ?

It is only based on the amount of bolt shroud around the head of the cartridge. It is my opinion only, that's why I underlined and italicized it. I'm not a gunsmith and I know the Rem 700 is used all the time. If/when I get a 338Lapua, it will be on a larger action. No harm intended.

AJ

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

AJ has excellent advice. Performance wise you or the animal will not know the difference between the three. I would go with the one I could get into the cheapest. They are all very accurate. AJ is right on the money with the 700 action. I would do the ultramag because it is a much better fit for your action. I have all of those and enjoy shooting all of them. This is what my guns will do so you decide. 300 ultramag with 200/208 grain with .588-.675 high BC bullets get over 3200 fps. Very good long range performer. 338-300 ultramag with 300 matchking at .765 bc or whatever it is will shoot 2750-2825 fps with best accuracy. I shoot the 225 accubond .550 bc now for best results at 3325 fps. If I shoot the 300 I go to one of my big 338's that will push the 300 faster. My 338 lapuas will shoot the 300 matchking at 2850 fps and the 225 AB at 3375 fps out of a 26" barrel. The others are 28". Of these the 300 ultramag is probably the best shooting rifle out to a half mile and will kill anything. The 338's will just knock the absolute P out of stuff though.

 

[Crane]

Jim Borden of BORDEN RIFLES agrees with A.J.'s assessment and will not build a Lapua based round on a Remington action or comparatively sized bolt face; we had quite a discussion on the subject.

 

[Kalashnikov]

Jim Borden of BORDEN RIFLES agrees with A.J.'s assessment and will not build a Lapua based round on a Remington action or comparatively sized bolt face; we had quite a discussion on the subject.

I am certainly not here to defend the M700 Action for a .338 LM, it seems to work fine for me and I am satisified with that. If mine fails, I'll be the first one telling everyone all about it. However, it would be interesting to hear about some actual M700 action failures, if they exist.

But, of course Jim Borden won't recommend the use of a M700 action...

 

[jmden]

The way I've heard it from a couple of very reputable smiths that frequent this site is that due to the larger case head of the Lapua, more force is exerted rearwards by the larger case head against the bolt lugs. 65K psi pressing back against the larger casehead of the Lapua gives said pressure more surface area to push back against, and thus more overall rearward force, than the standard magnum sized casehead of the RUMs.

It is the strength of the bolt lugs that is in question, generally, to my limited understanding.

Many smiths will not build a 338 Lapua for you on a stainless 700 action for this reason. They think the stainless bolt lugs do not posess enought of a shear strength safety factor. They may not want to be, in any way, responsible for a bolt sticking out of your head.

Some will build on a stainless 700. Some folks on this site have 338 Lapuas on stainless 700 with stainless bolt, I believe, and report no problems.

I think that most smiths will build a 338 Lap on the standard 700 chrome moly receiver as it is stronger than the stainless.

A compromise that I talked to one smith about was to use a stronger aftermarket (PTG, for instance) chrome moly bolt in a stainless 700. The aftermarket bolt from PTG being stronger than the stock stainless 700 bolt.

I agonized over all this info for some time and finally ended up going for a BAT HR PIC action for the Lap Imp 338 AX (Allen Xpress). Integral recoil lug and 20 MOA base in a fairly lightweight 31 oz. package.

I'm no smith, but have been where you are and looked at this from every angle I could conceive of and finally bit the bullet and spent the cash.

Good luck--Jon

 

[Shawn Carlock]

I don't want to get into the Rem 700 / Lapua debate (it gives me a headache) but just so you know the bolt head on Rem actions is the same on the CS and the SS, only the bolt body is SS. It is true that the larger the case head the more thrust on the bolt and lugs. This will give you less safety room if you do something retarded, but if you do something retarded.......

 

[jmden]

I stand corrected. Thanks for clarifying that, Shawn.

 

[trueblue]

For the action you have, I would get a set of 338 EDGE dies from Shawn, and do the 338 edge. with a 28-30" barrel.

 

[jmden]

I don't want to get into the Rem 700 / Lapua debate (it gives me a headache) but just so you know the bolt head on Rem actions is the same on the CS and the SS, only the bolt body is SS. It is true that the larger the case head the more thrust on the bolt and lugs. This will give you less safety room if you do something retarded, but if you do something retarded.......

Shawn,

Don't mean to further your headache, but...(take two extra strength excedrin before replying )

Just to make sure I/we have this straight, please clarifiy as I guess I must've remembered incorrectly above.

What is the 'issue' in particualr the stainless 700 action? Stainless action lug 'setback'?

And, some smiths feel the bolt/action lugs in the 700 action in general (SS or CM) are not big/strong enough to have the safety factor they would like?

Thanks,

Jon