338lapua or 338 lapua improved?
- Thread starter tbrown9124
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Broz
Well-Known Member
Cool, Thanks.
BHP9
Well-Known Member
I disagree that "improved is always better", it's not. It is at times though.
I say stay with the standrd .338LM, you can buy ammo - wherever you can get it - but not the improved version.
That being said, it's what floats your boat.
I suggest you research the ballistics gains/losses and see if it's worth the costs and work to yourself.
Good luck in your endeavour.
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
You can shoot unimproved ammo in an improved rifle in a pinch. Sight it in and go, no different than loosing hand loads for a factory chambering.
Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Steve
Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Steve
BHP9
Well-Known Member
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
I think you would lose all of the above if you go from hand loads to factory loads no matter what the cartridge.
Steve
You could shoot factory loads in a 338 Laupa AI but not all of the improved versions of the 338 Lapua will allow this luxury..
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
I agree w/ that. So how many guys forget or lose their ammo? I hear this as a reason not to do a wildcat all the time, but I don't know anyone that has done this. Now that I have said this I'm sure I'll forget my ammo on my next hunting trip.
Steve
Steve
tbrown9124
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- Aug 11, 2008
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Ok now I am a bit confused as to why not all the improved versions will not allow the shooting of factory ammo? What in the dimension is different that will not allow this, I have quite a few AI versions of cartridges and have never had a problem forming brass with either reloads or factory ammo, nor have i had problems with differences in dies, I know that anyone can make a reamer print to different dimension and have it made look at the differences in 6ppc prints with varying neck thicknesses. But as for the topic of lost or left behind shells never has happened to me and i have a pile of wildcats almost everything I own with exception of mauser chamberings.
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
tbrown, you're already into the AI's, then I can see no reason not to AI the 338 Lap. Go for it and have one of the best .338's out there.
Steve
Steve
tbrown9124, Ackley designed the AI cartridges to head space on a portion of the factory shoulder other wildcat designs do not allow this and one must reduce the load and seat the bullet far enough out to head space with the bullet
tbrown9124
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- Aug 11, 2008
- Messages
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ok I know the AI's headspace differently than the standard versions, but I was thinking that for some reason that someone was saying that a standard would not cycle. I dont see the reason why one wouldnt, and as for those that think a factory loaded cartridge may not be safe, the question I have for them is why would you fire-form with a reduced load and not closer to a max load?
B23
Well-Known Member
I was on the fence for a long time but it was between a 338 LM improved and 338 edge. The lapua brass is some awesome stuff and I much prefer to use it but I ended up going with the Edge. If the 338LM used a standard magnum bolt face I would have gone with that but that super magnum bolt face doesn't give you alot of choices .
In an AI chamber one could use a near max load, but this would not be Wise if you are head spacing with the bullet jammed into the lands. If a factory round is fired in a "improved" chamber and the cartridges is not properly head spaced then you have a potentially dangerous situation
