338 EDGE/250g NP

[remingtonman_25_06]

Shot a couple loads with my DE built 338 EDGE. Just trying to get an idea on how fast I could push some 250's as I've been shooting the 300g SMK, but am thinking of going to the 250g SMK. Anyways all I had in 250g was some Partitions and I had a full pound of IMR7828 which according to QL should give good velocity.

Anyways, here is the results of the 2 loads I threw together.

 

[Charlie-NY]

Wow! 6 shots and you couldn't hit the quarter. I'd try another powder. :lol:

 

[DrMike]

6 shots and you couldn't hit the quarter. I'd try another powder.

Now, that is too funny. Some fine shooting, Remy. That'll make a rifleman envious.

 

[SJB358]

Wow, that is some great shooting RM! Plus, those Partitions have to be really buzzing out of your Edge! Scotty

 

[JD338]

Remmy,

Nice shooting. That is some serious horsepower with an excellent bullet that is up to the task.

JD338

 

[Greg Nolan]

That's smoking :shock: and accurate beyond what anyone should expect. A rifle like that deserves a name! One that puts fear in animals' hearts just by hearing it.
That's a rifle I would love to see and hear more about.
Greg

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Greg the rifle started out life as a Rem 700 BDL LSS in 300 RUM. After 2 years I put 1200 rounds through it and it was showing a significant loss in accuracy so it was time to rebarrel. Since this was going to be my main elk and bear rifle out to 1K, I wanted it to have plenty of thump when it got there. I was going to just rebarrel to the same caliber 300 RUM but instead put a 30" bbl and try to get the 200g AB to go 3300. After a little more research, the 338 EDGE or 338-300 RUM with the 300g SMK going 2800-2850fps w/the 300g SMK with a BC of .768 really caught my eye. Were still talking 2,000 ft lbs of energy at 1K with this bullet and it cuts through the wind better then anything I've shot in 7mm or 30 cal by far...

Since Shawn Carlock has a lot to do with the popularity of the EDGE and having quite the reputation for building fine shooting LR rifles, I decided to make the drive to his shop in Rathdrum, ID which is only about a 4 hour drive from my place. After a little BS'in I decided to go with a 28" HART/stainless fluted sendero contour, 1-10 twist, with DE brake. I would have him true the action/bolt, open the original LSS stock channel to accept the larger barrel, rework the factory trigger down to 1.5# if possible (which breaks like glass might I add) and have it bedded. For optics I went with a Leupold VX3, 6.5-20x50 LR, 30mm tube, Side Focus, Fine duplex in Leupolds PRW rings and bases. I also have the ACI angle indicator and scope level mounted on the Leupold. Loaded with bipod, I'm pushing 12-12.5lbs but its still packable where I take it elk/bear hunting which is some pretty steep and open canyons. That was the goal of this rifle, to have some serious horsepower available for LR that was still easily managable to pack.

I haven't put many bullets through it since I basically had 1 bullet set in mind from the beginning and it hasn't let me down yet, the 300g SMK at 2825fps is simply amazing on the 4 bull elk its put down at 500, 700, 900 and 915 yards. 92g-93g of H1000 depending on the lot with a CCI250 primer is the standby load that Shawn uses. I started load development at 92g and 93g and they both shot 1/2 MOA, I decided to go with the 92g load though as it had a little better ES. I have no problems hitting a 15" gong laying prone w/bipod in good conditions with boring regularity.

I have done limited testing with 225g AB's and 250g NP's. The 225g AB's are going 3300-3350fps with H1000, but are doing 2 in 1 out, still shooting about 1-1.25 MOA, but I know its far more capable then that...I'm not gonna lie, these 300g SMK's still seem to move me around more then I like and I think I could shoot the rifle even better if I dropped down to a 250g weight. I can still get all the performance I need with a 250g bullet out to 1K. I was thinking for the price/performance that the Sierra 250g SBT would be hard to beat. $22 for 50 bullets and a .565 BC. Either that or the 250g SMK, but they are only a couple dollars cheaper then the 300g SMK's, and there BC is right around .600 which IMO isn't all that great, and doesn't justify the price difference to the 250g SBT's...

Its a great caliber that is accurate and has some authority downrange thats for sure. I think as long as I own one I'll be able to kill anything I'll ever want and about as far out as I want, so I'm a happy camper.

This was the first trip out to 1K. Hit the 10" plate on my 3rd shot almost dead center laying prone w/bipod. First 2 shots couldn't have missed the left and right edge by maybe an inch or two.

This was the extent of load work that was involved with the 300g SMK's. These groups were fired prone w/bipod, 4 shot groups. 92g and 93g of H1000, CCI250, R-P, 3.780" 92g was the one I went with as it had little better ES. Speed was 2835fps for the 92g load, and 2860fps for the 93g load.

This is a decent group at 800 yards that went 5" for 3 shots, prone w/bipod, 300g SMK and 92g H1000.

One very unlucky coyote that met a 300g SMK at roughly 100 yards...

And my 6x6 that I shot this last year right at 500 yards, 1 shot, he ran about 20-30 yards and rolled down the hill. Again the 300g SMK did great, turned the insides to mush and left about a silver dollar exit hole through the offside shoulder after entering behind the onside shoulder.

 

[JD338]

Remmy,

You should also look at the 338 cal 250 gr AB in your Edge. The BC is .575 and would shoot pretty flat at Edge velocities.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

A very interesting cartridge, to be certain. Thanks for sharing the pictures. That was indeed a very unlucky coyote! It looks like 300 grains of MK massaged his chest pretty good.

 

[FOTIS]

Good shooting!

 

[SJB358]

Awesome pictures. Looks like a big time thumper! Scotty

 

[jmad_81]

Maybe you should sell me that one and build you a heavier one that won't kick as much LOL!