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338 Edge On the Edge
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<blockquote data-quote="INTJ1" data-source="post: 1265341" data-attributes="member: 34312"><p>I do a LOT of reading here but rarely post. I figured it's time to pay things back a little.</p><p></p><p>My first long range (600 yds+) hunting rifle was a 338-300 RUM and had an M-70 Classic action, Wyatt's extended magazine box, 30" Benchmark HV contour barrel, McMillan Prone Stock, Nightforce NXS 8-32x56. It shot fine but weighed 18 lbs and I just wasn't going to take it very far from the truck. </p><p></p><p>I wanted my second long range hunting rig to be lighter. It is a 338 Edge and has an SS M-70 classic action, 29" Benchmark light Palma contour barrel, Winchester laminated Coyote Light stock, and a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50. This second rig weighs about 12.75 lbs. I had it built over two years ago and until last month I only had 14 rounds through it--300 grain SMKs with RL-33 .010 off the lands that didn't shoot well (3/4" 3-shot groups with decent ES).</p><p></p><p>A friend of a friend wanted to acquire a 338 Edge and was pestering me about selling it. So I took it out to the range again and tried 300 grain Bergers and RL-33 at .010" off the lands--shot 11/16" groups with poor ES. I decided I would sell it and let the next guy sort it out.</p><p></p><p>Well, my friend pushed on me a little and wanted me to load up some rounds so his friend could shoot it at the ranch. Well, I wasn't going to just pick the best Sierra or Berger load because they both had such long COLs that a loaded round could not be ejected--you had to open the floor plate and fuss with it a bit. This rifle just has a standard length magazine box and I was running it as a single shot. </p><p></p><p>So I went back to the range to test the known accuracy powder, H-1000, and seated the SMKs deep enough so a loaded round would easily eject. This yielded a COL of about 3.76" and had the bullets .086" off the lands. I loaded up H-1000 with 89, 90, 91, and 92 grains with new Nosler brass. Here is how it shot.</p><p></p><p>H-1000/89: .625" for 3 at 2778 (ES 14)</p><p>H-1000/90: .750" for 3 at 2790 (ES 20)</p><p>H-1000/91: .225" for 3 at 2805 (ES 3)</p><p>H-1000/92: .287" for 3 at 2823 (ES 15)</p><p></p><p>So I loaded up 10 rounds with 91.5 grains and will go bust rocks or something. I realize I'll have to tweak the load with the fire-formed brass, but this rifle is a keeper and no longer for sale. It's a sin to sell an accurate rifle, happens to be the 11th commandment............ <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>I had pretty much given up on the idea of long range hunting. I am usually stumbling around the woods and the longest shot I've had to make has only been 435 yds (Blacktail buck last year, clean first shot kill with a 7.5 lb 300 WSM). I prefer a lighter weight rifle for the stumbling around part. However, with as good as this rifle is shooting I am enthused about long range hunting again so I will likely purse it. I even bought an extended magazine box and shortened ejector from Kevin Wyatt so I can use the magazine.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee195/afp416/338%20Edge/EA877B57-9A1E-4FCB-88CE-2959DBB0F6CE_zpsnypab1jq.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p><img src="http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee195/afp416/338%20Edge/822BAAA3-27CF-4E5D-8F1F-F9145029FE40_zpsh6djp8pt.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="INTJ1, post: 1265341, member: 34312"] I do a LOT of reading here but rarely post. I figured it's time to pay things back a little. My first long range (600 yds+) hunting rifle was a 338-300 RUM and had an M-70 Classic action, Wyatt's extended magazine box, 30" Benchmark HV contour barrel, McMillan Prone Stock, Nightforce NXS 8-32x56. It shot fine but weighed 18 lbs and I just wasn't going to take it very far from the truck. I wanted my second long range hunting rig to be lighter. It is a 338 Edge and has an SS M-70 classic action, 29" Benchmark light Palma contour barrel, Winchester laminated Coyote Light stock, and a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50. This second rig weighs about 12.75 lbs. I had it built over two years ago and until last month I only had 14 rounds through it--300 grain SMKs with RL-33 .010 off the lands that didn't shoot well (3/4" 3-shot groups with decent ES). A friend of a friend wanted to acquire a 338 Edge and was pestering me about selling it. So I took it out to the range again and tried 300 grain Bergers and RL-33 at .010" off the lands--shot 11/16" groups with poor ES. I decided I would sell it and let the next guy sort it out. Well, my friend pushed on me a little and wanted me to load up some rounds so his friend could shoot it at the ranch. Well, I wasn't going to just pick the best Sierra or Berger load because they both had such long COLs that a loaded round could not be ejected--you had to open the floor plate and fuss with it a bit. This rifle just has a standard length magazine box and I was running it as a single shot. So I went back to the range to test the known accuracy powder, H-1000, and seated the SMKs deep enough so a loaded round would easily eject. This yielded a COL of about 3.76" and had the bullets .086" off the lands. I loaded up H-1000 with 89, 90, 91, and 92 grains with new Nosler brass. Here is how it shot. H-1000/89: .625" for 3 at 2778 (ES 14) H-1000/90: .750" for 3 at 2790 (ES 20) H-1000/91: .225" for 3 at 2805 (ES 3) H-1000/92: .287" for 3 at 2823 (ES 15) So I loaded up 10 rounds with 91.5 grains and will go bust rocks or something. I realize I'll have to tweak the load with the fire-formed brass, but this rifle is a keeper and no longer for sale. It's a sin to sell an accurate rifle, happens to be the 11th commandment............ :) I had pretty much given up on the idea of long range hunting. I am usually stumbling around the woods and the longest shot I've had to make has only been 435 yds (Blacktail buck last year, clean first shot kill with a 7.5 lb 300 WSM). I prefer a lighter weight rifle for the stumbling around part. However, with as good as this rifle is shooting I am enthused about long range hunting again so I will likely purse it. I even bought an extended magazine box and shortened ejector from Kevin Wyatt so I can use the magazine. [IMG]http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee195/afp416/338%20Edge/EA877B57-9A1E-4FCB-88CE-2959DBB0F6CE_zpsnypab1jq.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee195/afp416/338%20Edge/822BAAA3-27CF-4E5D-8F1F-F9145029FE40_zpsh6djp8pt.jpg[/IMG] [/QUOTE]
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