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.338 calibers
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<blockquote data-quote="Fiftydriver" data-source="post: 616664" data-attributes="member: 10"><p>I can only talk about the 338 wildcats I have designed or worked with extensively.</p><p> </p><p>338 Edge/338 Lapua</p><p>I include these two because when both are loaded to the same pressure they are ballistic twins simply because they have nearly idential case capacities, within 1-2 grains on average most of the time. In a 30" barrel length, you will see 2850 to 2900 fps with conventional length throats in a 1-10 twist barrel with a 300 gr SMK which we will use for a standard. Now, you can seat the bullets out very long in the Edge and improve its performance level compared to a short throated 338 Lapua, same can be done vice versa. You can also load up the 338 Lapua to MUCH higher chamber pressures then the Edge can be loaded to to make it appear to be much higher performance then the Edge, that simply is not true when both are loaded to the same 65,000 psi as they should be.</p><p> </p><p>338 Ultra Maxx</p><p>This is a wildcat I designed sort at a request of a customer who already owned one of my 270 Allen Magnum which is a 300 RUM necked down and improved with my ALLEN MAGNUM case design. Simply put, the 338 Ultra Maxx is nothing more then a necked up to 338. Doing this moves the shoulder location forward even compared to where a 338 Edge Improved would be. Case capacity is 5-6% more then the Edge and Lapua class rifles with same length throat. Performance increases with Rem brass are somewhat limited at 50-60 fps over the Edge. Using Federal brass the 338 Ultra Maxx has proven it will add close to 100 fps but to be fair, if the Edge is loaded on Federal brass the advantage drops back to 50-60 fps. My idea for the Ultra Maxx was not really to beat the performance of the Edge or Lapua but instead to match that performance with longer case life working at slighly lower pressures. Is it worth it to the customer to fireform for this slight increase in performance, thats up to the customer.</p><p> </p><p>338 ALLEN EXPRESS</p><p>The design goal of this wildcat was not to beat every other 338 magnum on the market but instead to just bring a few tweaks to this performance range for a better designed round. The 338 Allen Xpress is based on an improved 338 Lapua case design. 338 Lapua factory ammo can be safely fired in the 338 AX and generally shoots very well. Performance wise, the 338 AX will match or slighly exceed the 338-378 Wby, 338 Kahn, 338 Lapua Improved and Lazzeronis Titan but it does this using less powder and in a shorter overall length.</p><p>It is closest compared to the Titan and Lapua AI in dimensions but its shorter then the Titan and has a couple design specs that make it different then the AI. First, it has a bit more body taper then a true AI design so that it can be used at higher working pressures and still have perfect extraction performance. It also has a slightly shallower shoulder angle which allows it to feed smoother then a full AI case design.</p><p> </p><p>Performance wise, again, all of these are in the same class, ranging from 2900 to 3000 fps with a 300 gr bullet weight in 30" barrel lengths. The main advantage the 338 ALLEN XPRESS has over most of the others is its parent case which nothing else really compares to in many ways inspite of some of the other cases costing DRAMATICALLY more for less strength and consistancy.</p><p> </p><p>Another advantage is that you can get the 338 AX performance in a short 3.670" OAL if you decide you want to use a standard length mag box.</p><p> </p><p>338 Raptor</p><p>Originally designed off the 338 Excalibur case made by Jamison International, I have now redesigned the 338 Raptor to use a unique case and working with Bertram Brass to make brass for my round. This is an ongoing adventure and hoping this summer will have brass in hand. The new case design is the same diameter as the 338 Lapua and the same length as the 408 CT at roughly 3.050" case length. I kept the neck length and shoulder design the same, added a slight bit more case taper for great extraction with this very long case length at high pressures, the main difference, a dramatically lengthened case body which will offer around 8-9% capacity over the original design. This will put usible powder charges into the low 130 gr ranges which compares to 98 to 102 grains for the 338 AX and 145 to 150 grains for the 338 Allen Magnum. Again, this is a work in progress. It was fully developed using the Jamison brass and then they went belly up so we had to change gears. Bruce Bertram tells me that his brass is being tested at pressures over 70,000 psi with great case life. This is far higher then we will load the Raptor to but if it does offer this level of strength, it will be on par with the Lapua brand 338 Lapua brass. Will be very impressive.</p><p> </p><p>338 ALLEN MAGNUM</p><p>This wildcat is based on the 408 CT, necked down, shoulder location relocated to increase body length, case body taper reduced and shoulder angle increased to my AM configuration. This IS the largest 338 wildcat based on the Chey Tac parent case as far as capacity. Again, I was not looking for BRAGGING rights, I simply designed the highest performing, practical 338 magnum on the market, that is a requirement for a round to be labeled as an ALLEN MAGNUM, has to be the top of the pile. The 338 AM can be loaded to 60,000(VERY MILD) and still add 200 fps over the largest commerical 338 magnums including the 338-378 Wby and the Titan. Now load it up to its top comfortable working pressures and you get a SOLID 300 fps advantage with same length barrels, go with a proper barrel length in the 32-34" range and you can see up to 3400 fps depending on how hard you want to push this big wildcat. I generally load it to around 3300 fps with best accuracy results and longest barrel life.</p><p> </p><p>I am also working with Bertram brass to make my my 338 Allen Magnum brass as well and he tells me that with the strength of his brass (Same as the old TTI brass) that I can expect to see 75 to 100 fps increase in performance with same number of firings per case...... It would be great to get back to that performance we had with the old TTI cases. We will see, again, this custom brass thing just takes time but working on it.</p><p> </p><p>I offer formed brass and loading die sets for all of my wildcats so there is no case forming needed, no special form dies needed, I also offer load data feely for each rifle. This load data is developed with each specific rifle and is the same load used to accuracy test and prove each rifle capable of 1/2 moa accuracy potential before it ships. I also back each rifle 100%.</p><p> </p><p>All of the 338 magnums listed on this post and other posts will get you want your looking for DEPENDING on exactly what your looking for. If you want a rifle to pack in the mountains all day for 600-700 yard shooting the 338 ALLEN MAGNUM would be a silly choice. I talk customers out of my wildcat chamberings 2 to 1 compared to those that actually get rifles in my wildcats. In many cases, there are better choices then my wildcats and my job is to recommend the best choice for THEIR application, not my ego, thats why my APS wildcat rifles make up around 20% of my total rifles shipped annually. If a 338 Lapua or 300 RUM is a better fit for the customers goals, I will flat out tell them that. They need to be happy with the rifle and a happy customer is FAR more important to me then what chamber is in the barrel.</p><p> </p><p>Figure out your specific goals for your rifle, decide which would serve you best and most importantly, find a builder with a great reputation for providing what you want in your rifle.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fiftydriver, post: 616664, member: 10"] I can only talk about the 338 wildcats I have designed or worked with extensively. 338 Edge/338 Lapua I include these two because when both are loaded to the same pressure they are ballistic twins simply because they have nearly idential case capacities, within 1-2 grains on average most of the time. In a 30" barrel length, you will see 2850 to 2900 fps with conventional length throats in a 1-10 twist barrel with a 300 gr SMK which we will use for a standard. Now, you can seat the bullets out very long in the Edge and improve its performance level compared to a short throated 338 Lapua, same can be done vice versa. You can also load up the 338 Lapua to MUCH higher chamber pressures then the Edge can be loaded to to make it appear to be much higher performance then the Edge, that simply is not true when both are loaded to the same 65,000 psi as they should be. 338 Ultra Maxx This is a wildcat I designed sort at a request of a customer who already owned one of my 270 Allen Magnum which is a 300 RUM necked down and improved with my ALLEN MAGNUM case design. Simply put, the 338 Ultra Maxx is nothing more then a necked up to 338. Doing this moves the shoulder location forward even compared to where a 338 Edge Improved would be. Case capacity is 5-6% more then the Edge and Lapua class rifles with same length throat. Performance increases with Rem brass are somewhat limited at 50-60 fps over the Edge. Using Federal brass the 338 Ultra Maxx has proven it will add close to 100 fps but to be fair, if the Edge is loaded on Federal brass the advantage drops back to 50-60 fps. My idea for the Ultra Maxx was not really to beat the performance of the Edge or Lapua but instead to match that performance with longer case life working at slighly lower pressures. Is it worth it to the customer to fireform for this slight increase in performance, thats up to the customer. 338 ALLEN EXPRESS The design goal of this wildcat was not to beat every other 338 magnum on the market but instead to just bring a few tweaks to this performance range for a better designed round. The 338 Allen Xpress is based on an improved 338 Lapua case design. 338 Lapua factory ammo can be safely fired in the 338 AX and generally shoots very well. Performance wise, the 338 AX will match or slighly exceed the 338-378 Wby, 338 Kahn, 338 Lapua Improved and Lazzeronis Titan but it does this using less powder and in a shorter overall length. It is closest compared to the Titan and Lapua AI in dimensions but its shorter then the Titan and has a couple design specs that make it different then the AI. First, it has a bit more body taper then a true AI design so that it can be used at higher working pressures and still have perfect extraction performance. It also has a slightly shallower shoulder angle which allows it to feed smoother then a full AI case design. Performance wise, again, all of these are in the same class, ranging from 2900 to 3000 fps with a 300 gr bullet weight in 30" barrel lengths. The main advantage the 338 ALLEN XPRESS has over most of the others is its parent case which nothing else really compares to in many ways inspite of some of the other cases costing DRAMATICALLY more for less strength and consistancy. Another advantage is that you can get the 338 AX performance in a short 3.670" OAL if you decide you want to use a standard length mag box. 338 Raptor Originally designed off the 338 Excalibur case made by Jamison International, I have now redesigned the 338 Raptor to use a unique case and working with Bertram Brass to make brass for my round. This is an ongoing adventure and hoping this summer will have brass in hand. The new case design is the same diameter as the 338 Lapua and the same length as the 408 CT at roughly 3.050" case length. I kept the neck length and shoulder design the same, added a slight bit more case taper for great extraction with this very long case length at high pressures, the main difference, a dramatically lengthened case body which will offer around 8-9% capacity over the original design. This will put usible powder charges into the low 130 gr ranges which compares to 98 to 102 grains for the 338 AX and 145 to 150 grains for the 338 Allen Magnum. Again, this is a work in progress. It was fully developed using the Jamison brass and then they went belly up so we had to change gears. Bruce Bertram tells me that his brass is being tested at pressures over 70,000 psi with great case life. This is far higher then we will load the Raptor to but if it does offer this level of strength, it will be on par with the Lapua brand 338 Lapua brass. Will be very impressive. 338 ALLEN MAGNUM This wildcat is based on the 408 CT, necked down, shoulder location relocated to increase body length, case body taper reduced and shoulder angle increased to my AM configuration. This IS the largest 338 wildcat based on the Chey Tac parent case as far as capacity. Again, I was not looking for BRAGGING rights, I simply designed the highest performing, practical 338 magnum on the market, that is a requirement for a round to be labeled as an ALLEN MAGNUM, has to be the top of the pile. The 338 AM can be loaded to 60,000(VERY MILD) and still add 200 fps over the largest commerical 338 magnums including the 338-378 Wby and the Titan. Now load it up to its top comfortable working pressures and you get a SOLID 300 fps advantage with same length barrels, go with a proper barrel length in the 32-34" range and you can see up to 3400 fps depending on how hard you want to push this big wildcat. I generally load it to around 3300 fps with best accuracy results and longest barrel life. I am also working with Bertram brass to make my my 338 Allen Magnum brass as well and he tells me that with the strength of his brass (Same as the old TTI brass) that I can expect to see 75 to 100 fps increase in performance with same number of firings per case...... It would be great to get back to that performance we had with the old TTI cases. We will see, again, this custom brass thing just takes time but working on it. I offer formed brass and loading die sets for all of my wildcats so there is no case forming needed, no special form dies needed, I also offer load data feely for each rifle. This load data is developed with each specific rifle and is the same load used to accuracy test and prove each rifle capable of 1/2 moa accuracy potential before it ships. I also back each rifle 100%. All of the 338 magnums listed on this post and other posts will get you want your looking for DEPENDING on exactly what your looking for. If you want a rifle to pack in the mountains all day for 600-700 yard shooting the 338 ALLEN MAGNUM would be a silly choice. I talk customers out of my wildcat chamberings 2 to 1 compared to those that actually get rifles in my wildcats. In many cases, there are better choices then my wildcats and my job is to recommend the best choice for THEIR application, not my ego, thats why my APS wildcat rifles make up around 20% of my total rifles shipped annually. If a 338 Lapua or 300 RUM is a better fit for the customers goals, I will flat out tell them that. They need to be happy with the rifle and a happy customer is FAR more important to me then what chamber is in the barrel. Figure out your specific goals for your rifle, decide which would serve you best and most importantly, find a builder with a great reputation for providing what you want in your rifle. [/QUOTE]
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