NE Oregon shooter here

[Conagher]

Hello,

I've been shooting and hunting with rifles for most of my life. I figured I'd join this great site that has lots of information and advice on long range hunting and shooting.

I'm at a dilemma though. I'm wanting to get into a .338 rifle and I can't decide on which one to get?

A good friend of mine built a .338 Edge a long time ago on a Winchester model 70 action. He lengthened out the mag box and he says the rifle feeds great without any issues, and it shoots great as well.

I was also looking at the .338 RUM, but brass is really scarce right now for that caliber. If the brass was more readily available, I'd get a .338 RUM again in a heartbeat.

I really want a .338 Lapua since my Mother's side of the family is from Finland, but the cost of Lapua brass or ammo is quite high compared to .300 RUM brass for the Edge setup.

I want the rifle to be my long range hunting and shooting weapon. I would like to shoot out past 1000 yds with a caliber that is meant for that kind of distance shooting.

Any help on my decision would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[winmag]

Hello,

I've been shooting and hunting with rifles for most of my life. I figured I'd join this great site that has lots of information and advice on long range hunting and shooting.

Like the handle.
Where at in N.E. Oregon?

 

[Conagher]

I'm over by Pendleton in a small rural town called Weston. My family was among some of the first Finnish settlers on the mountain here in the 1880's.

We have elk, deer, bear, cougars, bobcats, antelope, and coyotes to hunt in areas in this corner of the state.

 

[winmag]

I'm over by Pendleton in a small rural town called Weston. My family was among some of the first Finnish settlers on the mountain here in the 1880's.

We have elk, deer, bear, cougars, bobcats, antelope, and coyotes to hunt in areas in this corner of the state.

Ya, I'm origionally from Baker, Haines, & Halfway, played football against Milton Freewater, rodeoed in Lewiston/Asotin, & regional finals in Hermiston, for TVCC while in college, had too good a time at chief drunk days in Joeseph, hunted Imnaha, & was thuroughly flaborgasted by the let er buck room in Pendelton, & Crabby's a time or two, even got into a "contest" with a big Indian at Happy Canyon, so Im pretty familiar with your part of the world.
I actually helped a buddy, pull a Charlois calf out your way when I was visiting my (then girlfriend at Bmcc college) that was in back in 96??
I'm married, and daddy of three now, so my wild days are done, & I'm completely domesticated, & dull now a days, but I never went away from my firearms Passion.

So what are you lookin to do with the 338? What are your goals? Intended range- 1k for what? Deer, elk, paper/steel...? Easier to more accurately give advise with more info on your intended use.
You hit the nail on the head as far as brass availability goes, but there's give & take with everything. I feel your pain, belive me, I shoot a Model-70 Win, 300 Wby among other things...

Well, welcome aboard. Always good to have folks from the right side of the state.

 

[Conagher]

I never seem to get any close shots at wild game any more.

Most of my shots are always 200 - 700 yds, it just depends upon what animal I'm hunting at the time.

I want a rifle that can shoot past the 1k yd mark and still be effective out past that distance.

It will be for hunting elk, bear, deer, and shooting paper, steel, etc.

I was wondering if a .338 Edge built upon a Win model 70 platform that has a lengthened magazine box and a brake will be a wise choice? Or do I need to look at a factory Rem 700 RUM rifle and modify it as time and funds allow?

 

[winmag]

Go to the gunsmithing section, & read the first post by J.E. Customs entitled "Bolt face diameters". It's a sticky (permanent thread). That'll give you an idea of likely donor actions to build off of without costing you tons of $ having a smith opening up bolt faces etc. should you choose to go that route.
Another thing you may consider, is starting with a 300 RUM, & when the barrel is toast, bumping it up to an Edge with a new pipe. For what your wanting to do, the 300 RUM is more than capable with 200+ gr bullets. There's so many to choose from now that it would be a great option for you for a current L/R rig slash future donor action for Edge without costing you a lot of extras down the road.
Look at the L/R/H classifides as a lot of members are always selling quality firearms to fund this or that, & new projects.
Also, as a turn key rig, Len Backus (the big guy here) sells customs, as do many fine sponsors here. Shawn Carlock is a member here as well, & is right accross the creek in Idaho if you want an Edge, he's the man to talk to.
Good luck

There are quite a few production rifles chambered in the RUM cartridges, not just Remy's. Rumor has it that Remington is ceasing production of the 338Rum, but so far its only a rumor, & not confirmed yet.