Thinking about building a 338 of some sort

I have resisted the urge to build a .338 of some sort for several years, mainly because I just could not see the need. Now I have the bug. So, I am just getting started with the planning process. I have kind of narrowed it down to the Edge and RUM. Since I am not very familiar with either case, I don't know which would be best to build. I see that RUM brass seems to be a little more readily available. I will be building off a Rem 700 action, since I have one sitting here waiting. I want to build this as a hunting weight rifle. That being said, it will probably mostly be shot at the range. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I don't have either of them, but it seems like the Edge really shines with a longer barrel while the RUM does well with a 26".

I don't know if that will sway your choice either direction, but 26" blanks are a little easier to find on the shelf ready to go .

WeiserBucks said:

I don't have either of them, but it seems like the Edge really shines with a longer barrel while the RUM does well with a 26".

I don't know if that will sway your choice either direction, but 26" blanks are a little easier to find on the shelf ready to go .

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That is good to know and very well may help make my future decision.

The performance between the RUM and Edge will be within about 100 fps with the advantage going to the Edge. There's really only an 8-10gr difference in case capacity depending on the brass used. When both the RUM and Edge cases are loaded to the same OAL the difference is a little bit less than that since a bullet will be seated deeper into the RUM case at any OAL and taking up some of that extra case capacity.

The RUM has more options for dies, but the Edge can be loaded with standard RUM dies and a 375 RUM die to sized down the case web if necessary. Properly head stamped Edge brass is more expensive and a little more difficult to source some times but that's only an issue if you need the proper head stamp.

I've owned both the Edge and the standard RUM and I'd just go with the standard RUM throated for the bullet you like to shoot in most circumstances just to keep things simple.

Planning the same thing for this winter. I think I've decided on going with the 338 rum

laker said:

Planning the same thing for this winter. I think I've decided on going with the 338 rum

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I think that is where I am starting to lean.

yorke-1 said:

....I've owned both the Edge and the standard RUM and I'd just go with the standard RUM throated for the bullet you like to shoot in most circumstances just to keep things simple......

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My partner has an "EDGE", I have the RUM, virtually identical rifles, and I really don't see a difference in performance. Perhaps a rifle set up for, single loading, longer barrel with heavy bullets the EDGE may stay supersonic a little longer. Ours are fairly standard configuration.

I think the difference has been in the supply side, which has switched back and forth a bit.

If I wanted more than the RUM, I'd get a bigger action, and jump to the bigger .338 wildcats.

New guy here... I somewhat of a 338 fan myself and had built up a 338 WM with a custom Kreiger some time ago. The day came (naturally I suppose) that I wanted more speed. Problem was that I didn't want to spend the money for a new reamer and loading dies. I already had a new Kreiger 5R blank and 338 WM and 300 WM reamers so I decided on building a 338/300 Win Mag. The only thing I ordered was separate 338 necker and throater reamers. I started the chamber with the 338 reamer ( probably didn't need to) and went about half way. I then swapped the 338 pilot to the 300 reamer and finished the chamber to headspace. Then came the necker and throater reamers. I throated the chamber out to give an OAL with 250 gr SMK's about 3.730" and had to use 3.850" detachable bottom metal to finish the project.
I'd already made a body die from a 338 WM sizer die cutting it off at the shoulder and then taking enough off the bottom to run it a little further up into the die. After sizing the body I adjust my current 338 WM sizer up to just bump the shoulder. I then seat the bullets with a standard 338 seating die.
By virtue of the extra powder capacity and long throat I've been able to gain nearly 200 fps over my old 338 WM. With 250 gr SMK's I am getting 2,950 fps and was a happy camper with the success of the project. 300 Win Mag brass is much more available and cheaper and I feel I'm within spittin' distance at the least of the RUM and Lapua. And 1/2 MOA performance topped it all off. My load is 80.0 grns of H4831SC.

Have 338 Win Mag, 340 WBY, 338 Edge, 338 Norma Mag and several versions of the 338 Norma Mag Improved along with a few other bigger, meaner dogs in 338 cal,

Go with a 338 Norma Mag, it's the most practical of the factory 338 boomers, Lapua brass coming soon, Petersen and Norma make it as well

Or just one simple pass with a 338 cal expander in a 300 Norma Mag case made by Lapua, Peterson, Norma
have done it and works great

later on you can always run a 338 NM Imp reamer into same barrel and keep on shooting with improved performance without changing a thing on your rifle

The edge makes more sense than the rum. The extra 90 thousandths in case length is all powder space. 300 rum brass is readily available and super easy to neck up. Just make sure you use the wyatt's box extender that allows 4" COALs.
Norma makes great 300 rum brass and is reasonable.

I had a single shot 30" barreled Edge and bought a 26" RUM (repeater) to get a more portable package with what I figured would be "like" performance. Turns out both ran 300 grain bullets 2800-2850, depending on the lot of H1000. Kept the RUM and sold the Edge, why have two rifles (one being 4 pounds heavier) with the same performance with only a few grains powder difference? The RUM is on its third barrel and it has averaged 2750-2800 fps. The Edge should get you a little more velocity on average. If I were to go with it again, I would go with a long fast twist barrel throated deep to take full advantage of whatever little "edge" it will give you. Anything with more horsepower (bigger) would mean a different action in my opinion.

Bravo 4 said:

...... The Edge should get you a little more velocity on average. If I were to go with it again, I would go with a long fast twist barrel throated deep to take full advantage of whatever little "edge" it will give you. Anything with more horsepower (bigger) would mean a different action in my opinion......

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I've maintained the name comes from being the outside EDGE of what we can do with a 700 Remington.

Even though I prefer my 338 PRO (338 Norma Improved) over my 338 Edge, I'm going moose hunting with the Edge one last time before I rechamber it to my new wildcat the 338 Razor (an improvement over the Edge, a 338 Razor Edge, ha)

Anyway, the 5 shots = one hole load that has worked for me is shown on the photo, leaving for a week of hunting moose in 1 hour and have 10 rounds with me, the 5 CEB 265 gr MTH rounds are for single shot use and the other 5 are 275 gr Swift AFrame bear defense loads that feed perfectly from the box, both have identical powder charges of Reloder 26

Love the 338 Edge and have taken a bunch of moose and bear with it in Alaska but time to move on

HARPERC said:

I've maintained the name comes from being the outside EDGE of what we can do with a 700 Remington.

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They had factory 338 lapua 700s. What is the difference between 62K bolt face pressure from a 300 rum, 375 rum, and a 338 edge?
Not trying to start anything, sincere question.