338 Edge...Range Report Post #32

[LynnJr]

Brian
I noticed the gunsmith marked your barrel "338 Extreme Edge" and not "338 Edge" there is 57 grains of water difference between the two chamberings and your 91 grain load would seem to be anemic at best.
Are you using Bertram brass?

[bsumoba]

I built an almost matching pair of 6creedmoor rifles today.
Bartlein medium palmas finished at 26.5" with JEC brakes.
One on a Surgeon 591r and the other on a Deviant.

You just might be seeing a build from me in the next few months

Did you get your 6mm creedmoor reamer? I know you were still waiting for it.

Brian
I noticed the gunsmith marked your barrel "338 Extreme Edge" and not "338 Edge" what is the difference between the two chamberings?

Hi Lynn, the best I can tell is that the neck is opened up 0.0014 "and the FB is 60 thou longer. In my research, it looks like there was a "standard" reamer and a "+p" reamer and the +p had both significant velocity increases along with a significantly shorter barrel life, to the point when I was looking at smiths with 338 edge reamers, there was a smith (I believe it was Allen Precision Shooting, but don't quote me) mentioned that they had the +p reamer, but wouldn't offer it anymore due to the shorter barrel life that came along with it. I do not know what the barrel life was. I expect about 1400-2000 in this barrel, but we'll see. The barrel life calculator (I found on accurateshooter's bulletin recently) gives me estimates around 1400 rounds as well. Anyways, I cannot find a print for the +p, but I would have to make a guess that the "extreme" version is some sort of +p.

See prints below. This is all I could find. The extreme print was the print Dana @ English Rifles sent to me. I am not sure on what my finished FB dimension was since I requested a special FB to run 300gr OTM hybrids where the bullet was seated above the donut region. My overall length of my round is approximately 4.13" just touching the lands.

I know the guy that recommended me to Dana frequents the accurateshooter forum (dont remember the name off the top of my head), but his approximate OAL touching the lands was crazy...somewhere around 4.19" OAL and he supposedly jams his round 15 thou. That 60-70 thou longer than mine and I don't even know how he keeps the bullet in the case

****Just saw your revised post as I was writing mine****
Did you find a +p reamer spec? I would curious to see what the differences are. The 91gr might be a liitle low, but in the standard reamer, 91gr seemed to be where most guys were +/- 1 gr. The +p guys were much higher at the high 90's for powder using H1000.

I am using Remington branded 300 RUM brass necked up with a sinclair mandrel, weight sorted, then turned slightly to get rid of high spots. Then, I resized it in a 338 edge FL bushing die from Whidden.

[LynnJr]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.338_Xtreme

Brian
I was looking at the 338 Extreme and not the 338 Extreme Edge. Too many chamberings that sound the same. I went with the 338 Snipe-Tac and the 267 aluminum tipped RMB bullets.
We will be holding a 1 mile shoot as soon as I get the okay from my doctor on a shoulder issue.

[ar15barrels]

Did you get your 6mm creedmoor reamer?

Yes.

[JMP]

i believe you. im looking at a 6mm creedmoor build and even though the 140gr hybrid has a higher BC, you can't ignore a lower BC 105gr hybrid moving at 3100+ fps vs 2800fps for the 140gr hybrid.

You are putting a 140gr in a 6mm?

[bsumoba]

You are putting a 140gr in a 6mm?

No, I am comparing a 6mm 105gr hybrid bullet going at 3100 fps in a 6mm creedmoor vs. A 6.5mm 140gr hybrid bullet going 2800fps in a 6.5 creedmoor.

The 6mm creedmoor is much flatter out to 1K than the 6.5 creedmoor using these velocities and that particular bullet. The wind drift is also comparable with the 140gr hybrid edging out the 105gr hybrid after 1K

[JMP]

No, I am comparing a 6mm 105gr hybrid bullet going at 3100 fps in a 6mm creedmoor vs. A 6.5mm 140gr hybrid bullet going 2800fps in a 6.5 creedmoor.

The 6mm creedmoor is much flatter out to 1K than the 6.5 creedmoor using these velocities and that particular bullet. The wind drift is also comparable with the 140gr hybrid edging out the 105gr hybrid after 1K

6 and 6.5 are two different animals. I'd not be that concerned about what 6.5CD does after 1k unless you are just trying to knock over a tin can. It's a very nice, well-balanced cartridge for going to 1km.

[Cypriss32]

Very nice build. Have you considered a ATACR? They have a FFP version coming out. Im putting my HDMR and putting one my DTA next year.

[bsumoba]

Very nice build. Have you considered a ATACR? They have a FFP version coming out. Im putting my HDMR and putting one my DTA next year.

Haven't considered the ATACR only because this scope would be shared between the 338 edge (so I would be slapping this scope on when I spin on this 338 edge barrel) and my new rifle, which is still TBD. I need the first focal plane so I can hold for wind (I typically dont hold for elevation) and I am actually rarely at 21x power with my HDMR when I am shooting steel matches so doing quick engagements. Im actually usually around 8-16x power to be honest and all the targets are between 100 and 550yards.

Amazing when you start attending matches and all the stuff you read or research go out the door and you finally know what you need. I have offloaded so much stuff lately that I thought I needed and I am starting to learn not just want I want, but what I need to be successful and competitive.

[Cypriss32]

I need the first focal plane so I can hold for wind (I typically dont hold for elevation)

There is a FFP ATACR coming out in 2015. Its got like 120 Mils. I think nightforce makes a great scope. Ill say that Ive never had a issue with my HDMR's. But my nightforce scopes got there asses kicked and never had a issue. I dont even know how much the FFP ATACR will cost, but I would guess its going to be around the RAZER 2 price of 2500 ish?
Something to consider.

[bsumoba]

There is a FFP ATACR coming out in 2015. Its got like 120 Mils. I think nightforce makes a great scope. Ill say that Ive never had a issue with my HDMR's. But my nightforce scopes got there asses kicked and never had a issue. I dont even know how much the FFP ATACR will cost, but I would guess its going to be around the RAZER 2 price of 2500 ish?
Something to consider.

Just saw the bulletin on accurate shooter regarding the ATACR in FFP. Looks damn sweet! MSRP of $2900...I hope the actual retail is about the same as the vortex razor gen ii. If it is, this would be a serious contender!

Guess I will have to wait a few months and see how the dust settles on the reviews of the new NF scope before pulling the trigger.

[flyer898]

Why the .338 Edge instead of the .338 RUM or .338 Lapua?

[JMP]

Why the .338 Edge instead of the .338 RUM or .338 Lapua?

I think folks use the .338 Edge for size constraints (bolt, etc.) rather than a dedicated .338 Lapua action since it needs a larger bolt, etc. It's a bit more efficient case, but it's a lot easier to run .338 Lapua. You can just buy Lapua brass, Redding Comp dies, and be done with it.

[bsumoba]

Why the .338 Edge instead of the .338 RUM or .338 Lapua?

It is easier to find 300 RUM brass to neck up to 338 edge. 338 edge uses a standard mag bolt rather than a lapua mag bolt. This is not an everyday cartridge I will be shooting and is a switchbarrel for me. When the barrel goes south, the mag bolt stays with me and gives me options to go to a mag cartridge like the 7 SAUM, 300 WSM, 7/300 Mag, 300 Win Mag...you get my drift. A lapua bolt does not give me this flexibility.

I think folks use the .338 Edge for size constraints (bolt, etc.) rather than a dedicated .338 Lapua action since it needs a larger bolt, etc. It's a bit more efficient case, but it's a lot easier to run .338 Lapua. You can just buy Lapua brass, Redding Comp dies, and be done with it.

If you want a dedicated ELR rifle, then maybe the 338LP or one of the cheytac's might be a better option.

For me, if I do get into that game, I would be building myself a dedicated rifle for that in the future. Probably something like the HTI rifles in a cheytac type round.

[bsumoba]

* updated with pic on post #1.

shot it a couple times with my f-open stock just to mess around with it and get some speeds. I got my mcmillan A-5 and just need to finish the bedding which should get done this week.

I will be taking this out to metcalf 200 yards this weekend to get some rounds down it and start preliminary load development.