Change Calibers

[jwcoolisme]

Hi my name is Jim and I work at a sporting good store in Colville Wa. and i sell firearms. Recently I met a couple of fella's that came into the store and were talking about there long range rifles that they had. I asked what they were and they shoqwed me the 7 dakota and the 338 edge and i was pretty amazed and the quality. Now i am thinking about the 338 edge and i am wondering if i can use my Sako M-995 and convert it to the 338 edge???? It is a 338 win mag and I love the gun it is a tack driver and i love the action better than any action i have ever used. Can anyone help me with some advise???? Thanks Jim.

 

[FEENIX]

Jim,

Welcome to LRH and enjoy!

The M995 is an awesome action. I have one in .300WM. The .338 WM will do well in long range IMHO with the proper load configuration at a very rea$onable co$t to shoot not to mention barrel life. Long range shooting/hunting varies from end users. Having said that, you need to define what you consider long range. Don't gauge yourself to most of the guys here, they've been doing it for many years ... it does not happen over night. Don't fall into a false pretense that you have a LR rifle and you can shoot at LRs ... not to mention harvesting a game at that range.

I too was considering the EDGE on my M995 about 2 years ago but my gunsmith talked me out of it when I show him the group I was getting.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like an old teacher doing a lesson plan but I have a friend that spent over $3K on a custom set up but cannot shoot. The rifle was very capable but the shooter must their part.

Anyways, I'll live it up to the pros on the EDGE conversion. Lots of good folks here that are always willing and able to help out and share their experiences.

Again, welcome and good luck. Happy safe hunting/shooting.

Ed

 

[RockyMtnMT]

The 995 is a great platform to build on. My 1st long range rifle was a 995 in 30-378 Weatherby that I re-barreled in 30-338 Lap imp. I do not know how long the magazine for your rifle is to accommodate the 338 ultra case. I thing you would be ok, but I would check before you move forward. You can always run it as a single shot, which is no big deal for long range hunting.

Unless you are a real tinkerer, I would say that the 338 rum would be the way to go. Having to fire form cases is not the greatest thing in the world. I deal with several improved cases and have come to the conclusion that unless there is a significant improvement it is not worth the time. The 338 rum and the 338 edge fall into the category of not enough increase for the time spent. The edge is very popular and I am sure that there will be a different opinion right after me. But the 338 rum is an inherently accurate cartridge and is only about 100fps slower that the edge. It is also a little shorter that the edge which may help with the magazine.

Any way, if you are so inclined go for it.

Steve

 

[jwcoolisme]

Thank you all for your great advise. I might just load some new VLD's and give the a shot first. I believe with the ballistics of the 338 win mag I can make something happen. I like the heavier bulllet than a 330 win mag and other calibers. I think berger put out a 300 grain bullet this year i may try. I also think that Siera makes a 300 grain match King that does well. Maybe I just need a scope to get me shooting long distance, like a Shepard scope, I will take suggestions on scopes??? I run Leupold on most of my guns. I have been thinking about giving the ballistics to Leupold and have them make me a turent. Thanks for the help everyone, Jim.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Thank you all for your great advise. I might just load some new VLD's and give the a shot first. I believe with the ballistics of the 338 win mag I can make something happen. I like the heavier bulllet than a 330 win mag and other calibers. I think berger put out a 300 grain bullet this year i may try. I also think that Siera makes a 300 grain match King that does well. Maybe I just need a scope to get me shooting long distance, like a Shepard scope, I will take suggestions on scopes??? I run Leupold on most of my guns. I have been thinking about giving the ballistics to Leupold and have them make me a turent. Thanks for the help everyone, Jim.

What scope are you using now?

Steve

 

[jwcoolisme]

I do not have any real good scopes, as in high dollar scopes. I have a Leupold with the ballistic aiming system. It has a 200 yard sight at the duplex and two dots under the crosshairs that would be 300 and 400 and 500 at the top of post. A friend of mine has a program that if you give him the caliber and ballistics of your bullet he can tell you how many inches high at 100 yards to set up for 200 yard sight in. I think my Barnes tsx 210 grain bullets were getting around 2800 to 2900 fps and I had to hold 2.335 inches high @ 100yards to sight in for 200 yards. I set it up like that and it seemed to work very good. I use IMR 4350. I surley dont need a 300 grain bullet to hunt with, but if i can get better flight and better ballistics i will change. If i try I can get around one inch groups out to 300 yards.gun)