nosler 33 vs 338 edge

Hunttter

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Nov 18, 2016
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looking for info for the nosler 33 but not off the shelf ammo but handholds and custom chamber. how would it compare to the 338 edge. ya know the it shorter and all that i just would like the info for like a 300gr bullet. i shoot my edge with a 300gr berger at 2810fps. but the bullets are at 3.92". looking at using or like to use the wyatt drop box of 3.85". just looking for anyone who has had one built and what ballistics you are getting. thanks.
 
I haven't tried the 300 berger in my 33 yet, but that is what I run in my 338 edge ai. I run mine at 4.1"oal, so its single feed only. I got my 33 right at the start of hunting season, tossed together a couple loads and went hunting, I should get back to developing a load for that rifle once the seasons over.
I think the 33nosler case is about perfect to fit in a standard length long action 700. I the 285 eld seated to rem long action specs it puts the base of the boat tail at the case shoulder junction.
 
The 33 Nosler has slightly less case capacity than the Norma. I think it's safe to say you could get a 300gr hybrid to 2650-2700 fps out of a 26" bbl. It seems slow but is still very potent out to 1k and further.
 
It seems like 33 nosler is just 338 rum with a short throat. Bullet seated deep past the shoulder, a 338 nosler with a longer throat is going to run into the same mag lengh issues as all the other big 338's, If you've got an edge and reload for it, the 33 nosler seem's silly.

If you want a mag lengh 338 get a 338-375 ruger. after this edge, I plan to rechamber my other 110 into one of those.
 
Well, like all such questions it depends.

I have a 338/26-Nosler (a little more case capacity vs a 33N), a 338 Edge, 338-378 . I've had 338 WinMag.

If you put a 28" barrel on it you might make 2750 without killing your brass to fast. It will fit in a 3.6" magazine like a 300 RUM magazine.
 
Actually the 33 is a shorter case, to fit into a rem long action the bullet can be seated quite a long ways out. A 285 eld seated with the boattail even with the neck shoulder junction is almost perfect in a standard rem long action.

It seems like 33 nosler is just 338 rum with a short throat. Bullet seated deep past the shoulder, a 338 nosler with a longer throat is going to run into the same mag lengh issues as all the other big 338's, If you've got an edge and reload for it, the 33 nosler seem's silly.

If you want a mag lengh 338 get a 338-375 ruger. after this edge, I plan to rechamber my other 110 into one of those.
 
IMG_0861.PNGFrom left to right
338 edge
300 ultra
26 nos
33 nos
300wsm
223wssm

The 33 is a good bit shorter than a ultra mag case, tried to load the pic of a 285 eld but that pic wont go...
 
IMG_2646.JPG
It seems like 33 nosler is just 338 rum with a short throat. Bullet seated deep past the shoulder, a 338 nosler with a longer throat is going to run into the same mag lengh issues as all the other big 338's, If you've got an edge and reload for it, the 33 nosler seem's silly.

If you want a mag lengh 338 get a 338-375 ruger. after this edge, I plan to rechamber my other 110 into one of those.

the 375 Ruger case is .120" longer than the 33 Nosler and when seating bullets to the factory spec of 3.340" , the Ruger case will have .120" of bullet deeper in case , losing much needed powder space,

seating bullets to neck shoulder junction via a longer throat the 33 Nosler will have an even shorter coal , the ruger has a .025" shorter neck and will have .145" longer coal loaded ammo over the 33 Nosler,

if your next 338 cal build is biased on ammo length then the 338-375 Ruger is a terrible choice over the 33 Nosler
 
IMG_2651.PNG
The 33 Nosler has slightly less case capacity than the Norma. I think it's safe to say you could get a 300gr hybrid to 2650-2700 fps out of a 26" bbl. It seems slow but is still very potent out to 1k and further.

The 338 Norma Mag has 12 gr more case h20 capacity over the 33 Nosler in a case length only .032" longer,

the beefier 338 Norma case when improved adds an additional 10 gr and drives the 325 gr Chinchaga bullets at 2725 fps, 300 gr Berger OTM at 2860 fps, 285 gr ELD Match at 3050 fps, and the 265 gr Barnes LRX at 3100 fps

26" 5R 9.3 tw Rock Creek barrel

just did extensive testing this summer with multiple bullets and powders followed up by testing the 325 gr Chinchaga bullet in Sept. on black bear at 530 yards and a nice bull moose at 488 yards... not really long range but whacked the snot out
IMG_2650.jpg
of both

338 Edge with 30" barrel performance in a 26" barreled detachable magazine fed rifle at just over 9 lbs , absolutely love it !
 
SL,
You get 190fps gain with 285gr ELD-Ms versus the 300gr OTMs? At roughly equal operating pressure?
That's a much larger increase than seen in 338 Lapua Improved.
I'm going to shoot some 285s in my Lapua Rogue, but don't expect 200fps increased MV.
Your 338 Norma Imp looks to be a high efficiency cartridge in a compact package. I like it...
 
image.jpeg
Sometimes the day job interferes with testing but the ladder tests continue through the night with 20v Dewalt cordless battery lights in a remote gravel pit

I underestimated the Barnes 265 gr LRX coated with WS2, ran out of test loads, 100 mph'd it home and loaded up a handful more to see where it will run into pressure with Reloder 26 powder, ( man, I really need a Punisher battle van with all my reloading/shooting gear in it) tight bolt lift was noticed at 93.0 gr and 3134 fps , later that week I backed off 2 gr to 91.0 gr of RL26 and loaded 20 rounds that averaged 3063 fps with no pressure signs and 3 shot groups went into neat triangular patterns in 3/8" average with few groups smaller, the 265 gr LRX bullets really suprised me, never expected them to group that well

I'd loaded all of the 275 gr Swift AFrame bullets I had in my 338 Edge as brown bear "back up in the mag" ammo and did not have any left, substituted with the 265 gr LRX for my 338 PRO and the LRX was awesome
 
Thanks for the correction Swamp. I had a 28 nos case in my hand at the time I posted that which as you know holds slightly more powder. I have always been intrigued by the 338 Norma but my 338 edge imp is doing just fine for now as a single shot. I can see where having a repeater off the Norma case would come in handy though in bear country where you live.
 
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