why not 338 rum instead of lapua

[olcrip]

looking to get another rifle build going. I am leaning toward a 338 rum instead of a lapua.
anything the has lapua on it doubles the price. as I argue with myself on this. the brass quality of lapua is what makes it hard not to go with the lapua. I use it with my 223,243,308
but I love my 300rum with a 30" bull barrel. and have a good amount brass.
what do you think? and why?

I shoot a 338 Canadian Magnum (like the 338 EDGE). I use 300 RUM Cases in a Remington 700 action. Works great with full lenght case. More capacity than the 338 RUM. To get started just neck up some 300 RUM with A 338 Rum die and only neck size. That's how I got started years ago withthe 7 STW using 7 Mag dies to neck size only.

Just my 2 cents worth.

You could use the 338 Edge dies and reamer!

 

[Erik Kiser]

Brass life and availability go to the Lapua in a big way. If I were building custom from scratch I'd go Lapua, if not custom I'd build an RUM

 

[ig25]

Does the 338 rum ,338 lapua and the 338 edge all use the same action? Only reason I ask is. I was thinking start with new 338 rum shoot it for now then mid next year finish with a 338 lapua improved or a 300/338 lapua improved. Probably take a year to get the barrel done. Was leaning to a 30" or 32" brux. Give me you honest thoughts. Good or bad

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Does the 338 rum ,338 lapua and the 338 edge all use the same action? Only reason I ask is. I was thinking start with new 338 rum shoot it for now then mid next year finish with a 338 lapua improved or a 300/338 lapua improved. Probably take a year to get the barrel done. Was leaning to a 30" or 32" brux. Give me you honest thoughts. Good or bad

The 338 Lapua needs a larger action to stay within safe pressure guidelines. The article posted on this thread by Borden Rifles explains the size and strength requirements.

http://bordenrifles.com/338_lapua.pdf

This link is from Timber338. Thanks for the info, timber.

 

[dkhunt14]

The Lapua takes a bigger bolt face and is better in a bigger action then a Rem. Matt

 

[ig25]

Well that answers that.
Thanks

 

[Topshot]

The Lapua takes a bigger bolt face and is better in a bigger action then a Rem. Matt

I disagree that it the lapua is "better".
In what regard do you consider it better?

 

[lonegunman762x51]

I actually own a 338RUM and have none of the problems listed by people who do not own them.

Brass is easy to find, you are usually limited to Remington or Nosler brass is the only problem.

Brass life is not really a problem, it lasts about as long as anything else you crush with lots of powder and a magnum primer.

It uses a standard long action, 338 Lapua takes a magnum length action with a larger bolt face.

It has exactly 1 grain difference in case capacity from a Lapua. Both the 338 RUM and Lapua have more case capacity than a 338 Edge.

If you shoot the EXACT same bullet out of any one of them at the EXACT same velocity it does the EXACT same thing.

I run a heavy Shilen barrel and typically get 3250fps with a 225 gr bullet and around 3000fps with a 250gr bullet with no pressure problems of any kind.

Not to be a stick in the mud or rain on the Edge guys or others with magical velocity or performance claims but after two years of fiddling with my gun and shooting several others I do not see a hairs breath of difference.

If you want to build an 338 RUM go ahead and enjoy it. I like mine.

 

[captacademy]

I have and shoot both the 338 Lapua and the 338 RUM, both have killed just as well out to mid 700 yards on deer and elk. I was shooting the 250 SMK's in the RUM and 300 SMK's in the Lapua. I took the 338 RUM to Africa and killed everything that I shot at with one shot, Eland, Kudu, etc,, non dangerous game. What I like about the RUM is that I don't run an AI mag, box feed. The Lapua is DBM with AI mags.

I have faith in either to get the job done on any big elk sized critter within 1200 yards, although I have not had the opportunity to take an animal at that distance, just steel. Love them both!!!!!

 

[Timber338]

I disagree that it the lapua is "better".
In what regard do you consider it better?

I took his comment to mean that the Lapua is a more suited to being built with a larger action rather than something with the same dimensions of a standard 700 action.

 

[4xforfun]

It has exactly 1 grain difference in case capacity from a Lapua. Both the 338 RUM and Lapua have more case capacity than a 338 Edge.

I am pretty sure that the Edge holds more powder than the RUM!! The cases are IDENTICAL in every way EXCEPT the shoulder on the 338 EDGE (300 RUM) is further forward , and thus, it holds more powder. The shoulder is forward so that people don't accidently shoot a 300 Rum cartridge (the parent case for the 338 Edge) in a 338 rum chamber.... it won't chamber.

Can anyone out there conferm this??

Tod

 

[SLEDGE HAMMER]

I am pretty sure that the Edge holds more powder than the RUM!! The cases are IDENTICAL in every way EXCEPT the shoulder on the 338 EDGE (300 RUM) is further forward , and thus, it holds more powder. The shoulder is forward so that people don't accidently shoot a 300 Rum cartridge (the parent case for the 338 Edge) in a 338 rum chamber.... it won't chamber.

Can anyone out there conferm this??

Tod

Thats like saying they should of made the 270 longer so you wouldnt load it in a 3006.
Pretty sure they just made the case a bit shorter for the bigger 338 weight projectiles and keeping the same coal.

But I could be wrong ?

 

[dkhunt14]

Thats like saying they should of made the 270 longer so you wouldnt load it in a 3006.


But I could be wrong ?

The 270 is 46 thousandths longer so it won't fit in an 30-06. They did the same with the WSM family of cases and others. Matt

 

[dkhunt14]

I disagree that it the lapua is "better".
In what regard do you consider it better?

The Lapua brass is like a tank. You can shoot it Many times with annealing. I have 20 firings on mine. Everybody that has an Edge or RUM usually only gets 5 loadings unless they throttle it down. The Lapua can run a 300 Berger at 2900 to 3000 with R33 and no pressure if you throat it out where it should be. That same brass can be loaded over and over. You can get 2800 and change with a RUM and 2900 and change with an EDGE but brass will start to suffer. If you IMProve the Lapua you can get 3050 plus with 300 Grain bullets. Matt