338 Edge and a REM 700 action

[silvercreekguide]

Im sure this has already been answered but i might as well just start a new thread. I have a Rem 700 300 win mag that I use for a long range elk rifle and i wanted to try something a bit bigger. I was thinking about turning into a 338 Edge. The action has already been blueprinted. I was wondering what all needed to be done to the action and bolt so that i can still use it as a repeater? Also, what do you all consider to be a good barrel length and twist rate? I plan on shooting the Berger 300gr vld or the 300gr SMK.

 

[geargrinder]

A Wyatt extended mag box is all you should need to do to the action. The bolt should be fine.

The 4" centerfeed mag box is very nice to use but it is a bit more work to install. The regular extended box works very well for regular length Edge loads.

 

[trebark]

Im sure this has already been answered but i might as well just start a new thread. I have a Rem 700 300 win mag that I use for a long range elk rifle and i wanted to try something a bit bigger. I was thinking about turning into a 338 Edge. The action has already been blueprinted. I was wondering what all needed to be done to the action and bolt so that i can still use it as a repeater? Also, what do you all consider to be a good barrel length and twist rate? I plan on shooting the Berger 300gr vld or the 300gr SMK.

Action: in terms of converting to 338Edge, there's nothing you need to do with your action

Bolt: Both the 300WM and the 338Edge use the same size bolt face, so no alteration to your bolt is necessary.

Repeater: SAAMI spec COAL of the 300WM is 3.340". I am uncertain of the SAAMI Spec COAL of the 338Edge although the 300RUM is 3.600". With most longrange custom rifles, the barrel is custom throated (longer than usual) so that you can seat the bullet out far enough so as to be able to take advantage of all the cartridge capacity for powder. As a result, many longrange rigs are single shot rifles. An alternative would be to have a Wyatt's extended magazine installed. This would probably strike a balance between SAAMI spec and a long throat. Hope that makes sense.

Barrel Length: no less than 28" and no need to be longer than 32". One consideration on barrel length that has nothing to do with ballistics is carry-case. A Rem700 long-action with a 28" barrel with a muzzlebrake will just fit inside a 'standard' case. I have a 300RUM with 32" case + muzzle brake and had to get a different case for the cannon.

 

[silvercreekguide]

Thank you both very much for your replys. I was thinking of going with a finished length of 30" kreiger + muzzle brake and a 1-10" twist? the case is not a problem, I have several that will fit the length.

 

[silvercreekguide]

I also have one more question. What do you think of fluting barrels? I have heard lots of pros and cons on this. I live at 9,000' and hunt in some pretty steep, rough country from 9,000'-13,000'. Would fluting the barrel take off any noticable weight or change the accuracy of the rifle?

 

[geargrinder]

No and No. But it looks really cool.

 

[trebark]

I also have one more question. What do you think of fluting barrels? I have heard lots of pros and cons on this. I live at 9,000' and hunt in some pretty steep, rough country from 9,000'-13,000'. Would fluting the barrel take off any noticable weight or change the accuracy of the rifle?

Will barrel flutes take off any noticable amount of weight? that depends on your definition of noticable. How much weight would six .25 wide x .125 deep flutes take off? Krieger could tell you, then you can decide whether its noticable.

Affect accuracy - no.

 

[silvercreekguide]

Thank You for your replys.

 

[Edd]

How much weight would six .25 wide x .125 deep flutes take off?

If they were 20 inches long, .83 pounds.

 

[trebark]

If they were 20 inches long, .83 pounds.

I would say that is significant.

 

[trebark]

Thank you both very much for your replys. I was thinking of going with a finished length of 30" kreiger + muzzle brake and a 1-10" twist? the case is not a problem, I have several that will fit the length.

forgot to respond to your question about twist....

1:10 is just right. Will shoot everything up to and including the 300grain pills

 

[Edd]

I would say that is significant.

It is significant but that is only part of the story. A 1/8" deep flute removes 1/4" from the barrel diameter. You can't use a flute that size on just any barrel contour. You can easily add more weight than that to your blank getting it to a size that would allow flutes that size.