ndbwhunter
Member
What are you thoughts on these calibers?
Pros and Cons?
Pros and Cons?
.338 Lapua vs. .338 Edge
- Thread starter ndbwhunter
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Long Time Long Ranger
Well-Known Member
Ballistics are identical. Go with the Lapua for the shorter case and several other benefits if money is not a factor. If your looking to save money go with the 338-300 ultramag. Both are awesome accurate and equal in velocity.
ndbwhunter
Member
From what I have seen there is very little difference when comparing the price of the rifle. I found a shop that builds strictly lapuas and the price was real similar to the .338 edges that I have seen. Is the reloading more expensive because of the modifications to the case?
Broz
Well-Known Member
I have 800 plus rounds through my 338 Lapua. I have several friends with the 338 Edge. As stated the ballistics are very similar.
The 338 Lapua I was able to buy dies off the shelf.
As far as loading costs, some will say the 338 Lapua is more expensive to load for due to the cost of the Lapua Brass. But the Lapua brass is of very high quality. I have 8 reloading on the 100 I started with and now some have 9. The primer pockest are still tight, and all feel the same when priming. I just checked the inside on several for wall thickness and found it to still be ok. I have not seen edge brass get close to this. So which is higher ??
Both are great rifles, you might want to look into what action it will take for your rifle. Some are better than others when going Lapua. I used a SS Weatherby Mark V and this rifle in very accurate.
Jeff
The 338 Lapua I was able to buy dies off the shelf.
As far as loading costs, some will say the 338 Lapua is more expensive to load for due to the cost of the Lapua Brass. But the Lapua brass is of very high quality. I have 8 reloading on the 100 I started with and now some have 9. The primer pockest are still tight, and all feel the same when priming. I just checked the inside on several for wall thickness and found it to still be ok. I have not seen edge brass get close to this. So which is higher ??
Both are great rifles, you might want to look into what action it will take for your rifle. Some are better than others when going Lapua. I used a SS Weatherby Mark V and this rifle in very accurate.
Jeff
I am on the 8th load with some of my edge brass and have had no issues with the Remington Brass. If your chosen smith prefers one over the other, that is what i would choose. Case in point, Shawn carlock was building mine, so I never considered the Lapua (atleast not a lot!)because the edge is his baby. also, the edge can be built on a rem 700 action, not 100% sure, but dont think its recomended with the lapua.
either one would be a good choice!
either one would be a good choice!
Long Time Long Ranger
Well-Known Member
ndbwhunter, By cost I mean if you have a standard mag action then get the 338 RUM or 338-300 ultra barrel from Pac-Nor, screw it in and your good to go. Much cheaper than doing the Lapua unless you happen to have a wby mk 5 action or sako designed for the Lapua. Back in the 90's when I worked quite a bit with 338's off the Lapua and ultramag case the 338-300 ultra was the go to cartridge if a guy had a standard mag action and wanted a big 338 because he could do it cheaply. That was the beauty of the 338-300 ultramag. But if you are spending the money for a custom rifle the 338-300 ultra would not be a good choice because there are so many better choices if you want to spend custom dollars. In 2001 the 338 ultramag came out filling the same niche as the 338-300 ultra so not much need for that one anymore although I realize the fad of owning one seems to keep it alive for some reason. Just to many better choices out there in a custom. In the late 90's I spent a lot of time developing a great 338-300 ultra and built near a hundred of them back then. The introduction of the 338 RUM filled the same niche in an inexpensive rifle and with better choices in a custom me and most others dropped the 338-300 ultra in 2001.
With all the work I did back then shooting all the big 338's if you averaged all the data the lapua was probably 50 fps faster but so negligible I say they are equal along with the 338 RUM. If you did 10 of each there would not be 100 fps difference in the average accuracy load velocities between the three in same length barrels. If 100 fps makes a difference to a guy then get a big gun like one off the 378 wby or full length 416 case and go well beyond these three.
I have been there, done that and got the ball cap, tee shirt and coffee mug. Few people have the experience with specializing in the big 338's over the past 35 years as I have. I was there testing way before the 338's got to be the thing to have.
For some reason the ultramag case is extremely accurate in 30, 8mm.338, 358 and 375 calibers. It is just a natural and that maintains the popularity of the cartridge. But the Lapua is just as accurate and so are some others.
With all the work I did back then shooting all the big 338's if you averaged all the data the lapua was probably 50 fps faster but so negligible I say they are equal along with the 338 RUM. If you did 10 of each there would not be 100 fps difference in the average accuracy load velocities between the three in same length barrels. If 100 fps makes a difference to a guy then get a big gun like one off the 378 wby or full length 416 case and go well beyond these three.
I have been there, done that and got the ball cap, tee shirt and coffee mug. Few people have the experience with specializing in the big 338's over the past 35 years as I have. I was there testing way before the 338's got to be the thing to have.
For some reason the ultramag case is extremely accurate in 30, 8mm.338, 358 and 375 calibers. It is just a natural and that maintains the popularity of the cartridge. But the Lapua is just as accurate and so are some others.
coyotezapper
Well-Known Member
Broz,
Sorry to get off subject but I have a question for you. I just picked up a Rem 700P in 338 Lapua and I will be shooting the new Berger bullet and I was curious to what powder you are using and what seems to be the favorite with other Lapua shooters? It seems everyone is using either H1000 or Retumbo but I thought US869 might be a sleeper as it shines with heavy for caliber bullets and Hodgdon claims it is not sensitive to temperature changes.
Broz
Well-Known Member
I am using H-1000 in my Lapua. It has become my favorite powder for several rifles.
Jeff
coyotezapper
Well-Known Member
Hired Gun
Well-Known Member
I believe you will find the US-869 a little too slow for the 24" barrel on the 700P 338 Lapua.
How are the ballistics identical?? Edge case capacity is 122. The Lapua is 114... Only way they are identical is if the Lapua is being loaded HOT!!
D
Deleted member 46119
Guest
+1 what he said.
I love my 338 Lapua. I use mine mostly for hunting and a lot of practice hunting. I built one off a Remington 700 action with a PTG bolt. It weighs about 7.4 lbs bare but is still pleasurable to shoot with a break. i went with a Lapua because I had lots of brass and dies from a previous rifle. I figured I would save $500 and I had lots of rem 700 parts so it seemed like a good fit.....right up till I tried to put 3 in the magazine....I am using a bdl magazine(wyatts extended) and I can only squeeze in two. I am sure I could fab up a new mag box to fit more, just takes some time. If you are running a detachable mag....they both are way too much fun to shoot. Seems like Lapua brass is more available at the moment. If you are going lighter weight and running a std mag, i would lean toward an edge and not have to touch the action to get it to feed.
Franklin
Well-Known Member
Just to clarify for those that don't know, the 338 edge has a capacity of 115-116 depending on what brand case is used. I don't know where 122 came from, but it is wrong.
