.338 RUM, Edge, Lapua Carry Rifle?

[Buano]

Looking to buy/build a long-range elk/muley (moose/bear) carry rifle in .338, RUM, Edge, or possibly Lapua. (I lean towards the Edge.) Most rifles I've seen in these calibers are hardly "carry rifles" and I will be walking mountains. What is the consensus as to what I should consider in either a standard offering or a custom? I'm not poor but (sadly) price does matter. A good muzzle-brake for light rifle in these chamberings (earplugs) & a great trigger are my only absolutes. I prefer the Winchester/Ruger style safety. I would be upset if I couldn't beat .5 moa & would want to be under .3 moa.

I don'r have a donor action so I would have to buy everything.

Thoughts on Christenson rifles? Can I spec out a light, custom-built rifle cheaper than a Christenson that will perform as well or better?

 

[Michael Eichele]

I can personally testify that you dont want to get an edge much under 10.5#. I have had mine as low as 10#4oz. scoped. It is hell on the shoulders I assure you even with a good brake.

That said, my 338 edge sports an ABS barrel, nightforce 5.5-22x50 and weights 10#11oz. on the nose. It is as accurate a rifle as any 308 I have ever had. I concider this to be a 'carry' rifle.

Let us know what you decide.

The pic below shows the mark4. She currently wears the NF

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

To have the best chance of getting that kind of accuracy you are looking at a custom rifle. Performance wise all three of the ones you listed are virtually identical. They all three can be built to shoot very well with a 26" barrel which would come closer to meeting your carry rifle weight. If you want increased performance you can increase your fps by 200-300 fps by going to the Excalibur or something off the 378 wby case. More recoil though in a light rifle. I have a rem 700 in 338 RUM. It is light and will easily take large big game at 1000 yards. I accurized it and 1000 yard accuracy is there.

 

[Buano]

I can personally testify that you dont want to get an edge much under 10.5#. I have had mine as low as 10#4oz. scoped. It is hell on the shoulders I assure you even with a good brake.

That said, my 338 edge sports an ABS barrel, nightforce 5.5-22x50 and weights 10#11oz. on the nose. It is as accurate a rifle as any 308 I have ever had. I concider this to be a 'carry' rifle.

Let us know what you decide.

The pic below shows the mark4. She currently wears the NF




I have no problem carrying a 10, (or even 11) pound rifle when talking about any of the .338 super-mags. I have a lot of problem with carrying a 16 pound rifle up & down mountains for a week straight.

If I went as light as the Christenson I presume I would have to add mercury recoil arrestors in the stock. In some ways this sounds silly, pay for a super-light rifle & then add weight back to make it shootable. It does make sense to make the parts that can be lighter without hurting accuracy light so that other parts, where weight really helps, can be heavier & still have a carry rifle. I expect to mount a Nightforce scope on whatever .338 I get.

 

[signature542]

Hi,

I have been considering this very issue myself. The next one will defintely have a 26 inch Carbon wrapped APS barrel. Currently my Edge has a 30 inch Lawton Fluted Sendero profile which isnt the lightest!

I have also shot a 300 win mag C/Arms in their middle spec model and it shot very well despite the critics even with factory ammo. I feel the Carbon one extreme would perform very well. I have no doubt it would shoot 1/2 MOA and I am in another country so we always pay more despite current dollar parity. I'm use to it!
C/Arms have launched into Australia now.

No doubt a carbon wrapped 26 inch barrel is the go and if I had my time again I'd pay the extra for the APS with possibly a Rock Creek barrel . Nothing wrong with a stock 338 RUM in a 26inch barrel. I suppose you could always fire 250's for a bit of reduced recoil.

A buddy is currently chambering a 7mm RM to 338 RUM with a 26 inch pacnor No4 so that will be interesting to see how that goes in comparison. He will be fitting a DE brake.

I have also owned and shot a few Weatherby Accumarks in 30/378 and 338/378.
Dont let anyone tell you they cant perform well with carefully worked up handloads.
I virtually put 3 in the one hole with the 30/378 at 100 yards with 210 Bergers.
The only mods are Timney trigger and a decent bedding job to the B&C stock. Seat the bullet to mag length and with the right load above what the books say they shoot!

The 338/378 brake needs to be better and we did get at tad better recoil reductions with the V port vaporiser. However we feel we ned a better brake again . It will deliver 1/2 MOA with 300gn SMKs in a 9lb bare rifle. On my Edge I have had the new mini extreme fitted but I havent fired it yet with this brake.

You are lucky you have such a big choice and numerous smiths in the US.

 

[Boss Hoss]

Mine is a 338 Slowpoke built by Speedy which is based on a 338 Lapua as the parent. Used a Stiller action, Krieger 26 in tube fluted (makes it easier to carry Ross Seyfried style) with no brake, HS stock, HS detachable mag, Jewell trigger, Rings and bases are John Lowe (Speedy design also sold by Sinclair) and topped with a USO 30mm tube with Low profile eyepiece, objective and turrets. Rifle is bead blasted to match all surfaces.

 

[TMR]

I have built several Edges that come in at the 12lb mark with a NF. Here is the breakdown:

Remington or Custom clone action
Broughton Sendero contour 28" fluted
HS Varmint or Manners T2 stock w/90% shell
BDL
Jewell
NF ultralight rings
5.5-22x50mm NF scope

This will get you right at the 12lb mark without a bipod attached.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Buano, If you don't mind carrying an 11 pound rifle you can do that in any of the big 338's excluding the chey-tac or larger based ones. You are not bound to the slower ultramag and Lapua based cartridges. Now that excalibur brass is easily available it is hard to beat for a big 338. Basically the same powder capacity as the 338-416 imp wildcat which is a little more than the 338-378 wby case. It will get you on average 200-300 fps more velocity than the three you mentioned and all are just as accurate. I can assure you there is quite a difference between hunting with my 338-378 wby at 3060 fps vs. my two 338-300 ultramags or edge at 2830 fps. The extra velocity makes a difference at extreme ranges. The Excalibur will slightly outperform the 338-378 wby.

You might want to look at the 338 Norma in a 26" barrel which is also a shortenned Lapua similar to what Boss Hoss mentioned. Many shooters are having good success with those in short, light rifles. Again basically the same velocity as the three you mentioned.

 

[B23]

If you're going to be keeping your barrel length to a maximum of 26in. you will get the most bang for your buck with a 338RUM. In that barrel length a 338RUM will barely, at best, be outrun by the bigger 338's and with considerably less powder when compared to some.

 

[Boss Hoss]

Buano, If you don't mind carrying an 11 pound rifle you can do that in any of the big 338's excluding the chey-tac or larger based ones. You are not bound to the slower ultramag and Lapua based cartridges. Now that excalibur brass is easily available it is hard to beat for a big 338. Basically the same powder capacity as the 338-416 imp wildcat which is a little more than the 338-378 wby case. It will get you on average 200-300 fps more velocity than the three you mentioned and all are just as accurate. I can assure you there is quite a difference between hunting with my 338-378 wby at 3060 fps vs. my two 338-300 ultramags or edge at 2830 fps. The extra velocity makes a difference at extreme ranges. The Excalibur will slightly outperform the 338-378 wby.

You might want to look at the 338 Norma in a 26" barrel which is also a shortenned Lapua similar to what Boss Hoss mentioned. Many shooters are having good success with those in short, light rifles. Again basically the same velocity as the three you mentioned.

Actually the 338 Slowpoke has about 6% greater capacity than its parent.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Boss Hoss, I have not shot your version but was just going from your previous posts about your rifle. Sounds like a really good one. Would like to hear more about it.

 

[bailey1474]

Its hard to build a true LR rifle, especially in one of the 338s under 12 lb. Just build what you want and deal w/the extra weight, knowing that if you see it, you can kill it!! Just my opinion but I don't think you gain that much w/the ABS bbl. ALOT of expense for no more than you gain. Just have it fluted and there won't be much difference in weight.

 

[jwp475]

Its hard to build a true LR rifle, especially in one of the 338s under 12 lb. Just build what you want and deal w/the extra weight, knowing that if you see it, you can kill it!! Just my opinion but I don't think you gain that much w/the ABS bbl. ALOT of expense for no more than you gain. Just have it fluted and there won't be much difference in weight.

BJ is correct. If you go for a carbon wrapped barrel get the ABS, they use a carbon fiber that dissapates heat faster than bare steel, not all carbon fibers will do that

 

[B23]

I've looked into a ABS/Bettin carbon wrapped systems and though, IMHO, they offer a better product than the other carbon wrapped barrels the down side is you won't get as much of a weight savings.

Mr. Bailey is correct, a fluted, usuable sized contour barrel won't weigh that much more than a ABS wrapped barrel.

Some of the other companies that do carbon wrapped barrels turn the barrel down much thinner. I guess it's debatable on how thin is still ok but i'll take my chances with the heavier ABS or Bettin wrapped barrels over the others.