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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Advice required on which 338.
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<blockquote data-quote="Fiftydriver" data-source="post: 220324" data-attributes="member: 10"><p>Long Ranger,</p><p> </p><p>Not sure how your getting this level of performance increase. I have built dozens of 338 Kahns which is an improved 338-378 and in a 34" barrel, you will get 3100 fps MAX. Thats being able to reload your brass. Wby brass is quite soft and will not take the pressure that the Lapua case will.</p><p> </p><p>I have never seen where the 338-378 could vastly improve on a round such as the 338 Lapua improved and on average in same length barrels it will add around 100 fps to the Edge and standard Lapua.</p><p> </p><p>THere is no way to get 250 to 300 fps with the Wby compared to what the 338 Edge or Lapua will get. The 338-378 Wby will not get you 3100 fps with a 300 gr SMK in a 28-20" barrel without dramatically sacrificing case life and it will never get you 3200 to 3250 fps ever safely.</p><p> </p><p>The 338 Lapua improved and my 338 AX will match or even exceed the 338-378 Wby with same bullets and same barrel lengths and do so with around 10 grains less powder and also do wo with much better brass and less costly brass and with longer barrel life, how? Because the Lapua case can handle so much more pressure.</p><p> </p><p>The 416 based wildcats are really not what they used to be. Brass is terribly expensive and no stronger then the Wby brass.</p><p> </p><p>All in all, if you want a higher performing 338 then the Edge or Lapua, the next practical step up for me is the Lapua Improved or my AX. I seldom give the Wby a second thought and thats after many years of using it in the Kahn form. Its a great round but offers no advantage at all over the Improved Lapua designs and has several draw backs in comparision.</p><p> </p><p>There are alot of different 338s out there and I believe most of them have been talked about. The Wby gets left out alot because it has so many disadvantages compared to the Lapua designs. 20 years ago, I agree, it would have been the best choice, times have changes and with the Lapua case easily attainable and at lower prices then the Wby case by far and VASTLY superior strength, there is really no comparision.</p><p> </p><p>Just for comparision, the 338 Allen Xpress will give you just shy of 2900 fps with a 300 gr SMK and in a 26-27" barrel length. In the same length barrel, I have not seen a 338-378 that would exceed this in any way and even matching this level of performance primer pocket life was very short in the Wby.</p><p> </p><p>Not trying to start a fight, just from what I have seen shooting the Wby alot and the Lapua based rounds alot, there is no comparision between the two, Lapua based hands down.</p><p> </p><p>Certainly it offers a bit more velocity over the Edge or standard Lapua but I have never seen much more then 100-150 fps, nothing similiar to 250 o 300 fps increase, even if the big Wby has 6 to 7" longer barrel length it will not get this level of increased performance. Just what I have seen shooting dozens and dozens of both chamberings.</p><p> </p><p>As far as most shooters jumping on the Chey Tac band wagon, that is hardly the case, certainly they are getting more popular but I have dozens do hunters come to me wanting the 338 Allen Magnum and 90% of those end up with rifles such as the 338 Edge, Lapua or my AX instead of the Allen Magnum simply because the others serve their needs better. Yes the 338-378 Wby is in this same high performance class but its just got to many flies on it compared to other newer designs.</p><p> </p><p>Just my opinion, no flame intended in any way.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fiftydriver, post: 220324, member: 10"] Long Ranger, Not sure how your getting this level of performance increase. I have built dozens of 338 Kahns which is an improved 338-378 and in a 34" barrel, you will get 3100 fps MAX. Thats being able to reload your brass. Wby brass is quite soft and will not take the pressure that the Lapua case will. I have never seen where the 338-378 could vastly improve on a round such as the 338 Lapua improved and on average in same length barrels it will add around 100 fps to the Edge and standard Lapua. THere is no way to get 250 to 300 fps with the Wby compared to what the 338 Edge or Lapua will get. The 338-378 Wby will not get you 3100 fps with a 300 gr SMK in a 28-20" barrel without dramatically sacrificing case life and it will never get you 3200 to 3250 fps ever safely. The 338 Lapua improved and my 338 AX will match or even exceed the 338-378 Wby with same bullets and same barrel lengths and do so with around 10 grains less powder and also do wo with much better brass and less costly brass and with longer barrel life, how? Because the Lapua case can handle so much more pressure. The 416 based wildcats are really not what they used to be. Brass is terribly expensive and no stronger then the Wby brass. All in all, if you want a higher performing 338 then the Edge or Lapua, the next practical step up for me is the Lapua Improved or my AX. I seldom give the Wby a second thought and thats after many years of using it in the Kahn form. Its a great round but offers no advantage at all over the Improved Lapua designs and has several draw backs in comparision. There are alot of different 338s out there and I believe most of them have been talked about. The Wby gets left out alot because it has so many disadvantages compared to the Lapua designs. 20 years ago, I agree, it would have been the best choice, times have changes and with the Lapua case easily attainable and at lower prices then the Wby case by far and VASTLY superior strength, there is really no comparision. Just for comparision, the 338 Allen Xpress will give you just shy of 2900 fps with a 300 gr SMK and in a 26-27" barrel length. In the same length barrel, I have not seen a 338-378 that would exceed this in any way and even matching this level of performance primer pocket life was very short in the Wby. Not trying to start a fight, just from what I have seen shooting the Wby alot and the Lapua based rounds alot, there is no comparision between the two, Lapua based hands down. Certainly it offers a bit more velocity over the Edge or standard Lapua but I have never seen much more then 100-150 fps, nothing similiar to 250 o 300 fps increase, even if the big Wby has 6 to 7" longer barrel length it will not get this level of increased performance. Just what I have seen shooting dozens and dozens of both chamberings. As far as most shooters jumping on the Chey Tac band wagon, that is hardly the case, certainly they are getting more popular but I have dozens do hunters come to me wanting the 338 Allen Magnum and 90% of those end up with rifles such as the 338 Edge, Lapua or my AX instead of the Allen Magnum simply because the others serve their needs better. Yes the 338-378 Wby is in this same high performance class but its just got to many flies on it compared to other newer designs. Just my opinion, no flame intended in any way. [/QUOTE]
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