338WM rechamber vs rebarrel

[Deleted member 46119]

First, please understand for those out there that are fond of belted mags, good on ya. I don't want another belted mag. Got one and It will get rebarreled. For now I'm enjoying it but I will be making a 338 Edge from it with a projected weight over 14lb without a scope and a 28" Bartlien barrel it's not intended to be a hunter.

Also understand I want to have 2 338's one is target/tactical one for hunting that is much lighter. Why? I'm diseased. I have 2 300RUM now as well.

The donor rifle is a Weatherby Mark V Alaskan in 338WM, 24" barrel. This is a Japan manufacture in electro Nickled finish.

So

Calibers to rechamber are 330 Dakota, 338-375 Ruger and of course 338 Edge.

If I rebarrel it will be at least 26 maybe 28. Barrels suitable are in stock and my smith is ready when I am.

I do know that a 24" 338 Edge is not going to have the velocity of a 26+ but it would reduce the number of dies I need.

 

[benchracer]

First, please understand for those out there that are fond of belted mags, good on ya. I don't want another belted mag. Got one and It will get rebarreled. For now I'm enjoying it but I will be making a 338 Edge from it with a projected weight over 14lb without a scope and a 28" Bartlien barrel it's not intended to be a hunter.

Also understand I want to have 2 338's one is target/tactical one for hunting that is much lighter. Why? I'm diseased. I have 2 300RUM now as well.

The donor rifle is a Weatherby Mark V Alaskan in 338WM, 24" barrel. This is a Japan manufacture in electro Nickled finish.

So

Calibers to rechamber are 330 Dakota, 338-375 Ruger and of course 338 Edge.

If I rebarrel it will be at least 26 maybe 28. Barrels suitable are in stock and my smith is ready when I am.

I do know that a 24" 338 Edge is not going to have the velocity of a 26+ but it would reduce the number of dies I need.

You may as well go with .338 Edge in both rifles. That will simplify things a lot. The other options you are considering don't do anything that your Edge will not.

You will probably want to go with a muzzle brake on your light rifle and plan to spend some money on some decent electronic type hearing protection.

I would also plan to re-barrel rather than re-chamber. The labor costs will be the same. I don't see the sense in paying a smith to put a factory barrel back on that may or may not shoot. Go with a custom barrel and eliminate one more variable/obstacle to accuracy and performance.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Well, since the first post, the 26 Nosler specifications were published.

I decided to see how it would work out wildcatted to 338 and 277, 284, 308, 323, 366, 375 and 416.

Apparently, I'm not the only one. After finishing the 'design' in QuickDesign I logged into the PTG website to find out how to order a wildcat 338/26 Nosler and......

They were listed in new products. Actually PTG added the .257 and omitted the .336 and .416. Ok by me.

The barrel shoots pretty good so I'm gonna rechamber.

The finish reamer has been ordered.
A resizer reamer had been ordered.
Go/No go gauges ordered.
Die blank ordered.

6 Weeks, just enough time to mess with the 338WM until I tire of it.

pBike257 makes a forming die set for magnums now so they are on the way as well.

I hope for a 200-300 fps increase over the 338WM

More than a 338WM or 338/300WSM but less than a 338 Edged.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I've wondered what I should do with my #1 in 338win for quite a while as I'm bored with the chambering. She's a fast rifle with lighter pills, putting up 2900 fps with a 225, but doesn't do worth a hoot if you put a bit more pill in her.

Keep us in the loop as you play this out; I'm all ears.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I'm only going 2750 with 225 TTSX but not interested in pushing it as I'm only shooting it for giggles until I rechamber it.

6-8 weeks wait for the reamer.

Hope my 338 Edge is done before then.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

These are not "real" 26 Nosler cases but 6 times fired 300 RUM necked to as close as I can get.

Left to right
458/26 Nosler with a Barnes TSX 300
416/26 Nosler
375/26 Nosler with a Sierra 350
338 Lapua with a pointed Hornady BTHP 285
338 Edge with a 285 seated long
338 Edge with a TTSX
338 Edge with a 285 seated to mag Len
338/26 Nosler with a 285 seated long but will fit mag Len
308/26 Nosler with a Berger VLD 210
284/26 Nosler with a JLK VLD 180
277/26 Nosler with a Barnes TTSX 130
26 Nosler with a Berger VLD 140 seated long.

There is still lots of work to do but I like the results so far.

6 to 8 weeks for reamers.

 

[MudRunner2005]

That 7mm Nosler has piqued my interest for sure... Could we get some close-up pictures of just it, or it compared to the .26 Nosler?

 

[Deleted member 46119]

That 7mm Nosler has piqued my interest for sure... Could we get some close-up pictures of just it, or it compared to the .26 Nosler?

Ok, next time I'm in the shop I'll get a pic of 6.5 and 7mm side by side.

QL says ~2950 for a long seated 180 VLD over Retumbo.

BTW: My QL model of the 26 Nosler is dead on their claims with Retumbo and their COAL.