The 338" calibre has some remarkable bullet choices. A 10" twist is able to stabilize bullets with .750 BC (252 gn) and even .800 BC (265 gn MTH).

I've recently noticed a new wildcat, a .338" built on the 26 Nosler.

Basically, the 26 Nosler takes the concept of a RUM case and limits it to a 'standard-length' action. A RUM case will have a body diameter of .55" over a rim of .534". The standard length case means 2.5" or 2.6".

So what can be done with such a round?

First of all, it could be fit in almost any action that takes a 30-06. Not too shabby.

Secondly, it would produce 340 Weatherby ballistics and even a smidjin more, having 4-5 grains more capacity. Not too shabby, though not a significant improvement on the Weatherby.

Thirdly, expense would be pretty low: a person could buy a 338 WinMag and have it rechambered to 338/26Nosler.

Fourthly, a 338/26 Nosler could be placed in a rifle with a longer magazine like a Win model 70 and it would then have extra room for seating longer bullets. But see below.

This got me thinking about its relationship with the RUM. It is the same kind of relationship that the 338 Norma has with the 338 Lapua. The Lapua has more case capacity. Both the Norma and Lapua sit over a "Rigby" case head, .590". But the Norma limits its case to 2.5". The idea of the 338 Norma was to provide Lapua ballistics with extra long bullets that could still be fed from a magazine. It looks like a 338 "Nosler" would do the same.

The downside of the above is that the high-BC bullets have a nose projection of 1.1 to 1.3". A "Nosler" case of 2.59" produces a COL of 3.7"-3.9" inches, requiring a CZ magnum action or larger, if wanting magazine feeding.

Since Winchester, Ruger, and other rifles will require signle-feeding of such rounds, it would seem that a "short-magazine" of 3.4" would be sufficient. Any of the cartridges could be chosen, 338 Win Mag (the golden standard), 338 on a Ruger case, 338 Nosler, and even the 338 Norma, if a bolt-face expansion and wider feeding rails were altered. However, the high BC bullets tend to weigh more, 252 grains, 265, 275, and 300 grains, so a little more capacity than the Win Mag would be good.

If I hadn't built a 338 Edge, this case may have been my choice.
I did ponder building a 338 Dakota, but the extra capacity of the 300RUM case won out.
I cannot load to have bullets in the magazine, it's a single shot only cartridge, but, I can live with that.
I do see the 33 Nosler being a good cartridge, but as is the case with most things, it's already been done, the Dakota would not be much different in performance.

Cheers.

On any rifle I'm building for myself in one of those long-rangers in 338, I always use a single shot action anyway. If you want to maximize performance with a 300 gr 338 bullet, case capacity is only half of it, the other half is the OAL of that loaded round. I have a 338 Lapua AI reamer with over a quarter inch of freebore for that very reason, and it could stand to be a touch longer.

hadn't thought about this before in relation to push-feed//controlled feed since in Africa with larger calibre we tend to use controlled-feed.

But single loading a long-nosed bullet would obviously be easier in PUSH-feed, unless the extractor is exceptionally slick when snapping over a rim.

this helps me re-think for 416 Rigbys. I will stick to magazine feeding for my CZ's, or else slick up the extractor's ability to slip over a cartridge when in front. The 375 Ruger has the same consideration, though my wife doesn't envisage shooting bullets over 300 grains.

So back to the 338, it looks like a push feed will work fine for the long 338 bullets.

Tanz,

The 338 Norma Magnum was designed by Jimmie Sloan for use in a standard 3.6" magazine with the 300gr Sierra HPBT Matchking bullet. After Norma purchased the rights to the design, the normalized the cartridge with a CIP spec of 3.681" COAL - same COAL as the 338 Lapua Magnum.

Interestingly, I've read that many users of 338 Naorma Magnum derivative cartridges use shortened Lapua Mfg 338 Lapua Magnum brass because the harder brass gives many more re-loadings.

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
Thirdly, expense would be pretty low: a person could buy a 338 WinMag and have it rechambered to 338/26Nosler.

Based on the way Nosler is thinking these days, I would likely expect a factory 338 Nosler in the near future. I totally agree with you that it's a great idea, though it's something the 330 Dakota did quite a few years ago...

How is it different from the 338 RUM?

Both Lapua and Norma bolt face diameter are much larger.

My approach is a little different so for what its worth:

Using a .375 length Blackburn box on my custom mauser and cutting my throat to match which turned out to be one caliber seating depth with the heavy bullet weights, I can duplicate a 340 wby with slightly below max loads.

I seat the 300 gr. Woodleigh and 300 gr. Nosler accubonds .338 deep in the case and accuracy is phenominal.. BTW it shoots factory, 200 gr., 210 Noslers and shorter bullets very accurately as well, so much once again for the condemned bullet jump to the lands, a suggestion that has never proven to be true with any rifles I've owned so set up with long throats and magazines.

Another vote for the 338 Edge (FL 2.85" RUM case).

I would just like to find a smith that had a good 338/375 Ruger finisher. That I could send my barrel and action to. I truly believe I could get 2600 fps w/300 gr bullet from a 24" barrel. But, it has to have a good long throat. We've discussed this before. I'm just amazed this isn't a Factory round.
If anyone knows a smith that has a 338/375 Ruger reamer. Please let.me know.

quote:

Originally posted by Cold Trigger Finger:
I would just like to find a smith that had a good 338/375 Ruger finisher. That I could send my barrel and action to. I truly believe I could get 2600 fps w/300 gr bullet from a 24" barrel. But, it has to have a good long throat. We've discussed this before. I'm just amazed this isn't a Factory round.
If anyone knows a smith that has a 338/375 Ruger reamer. Please let.me know.

Here below is one option. It was developed by a Tanzanian PH and has an adjusted shoulder-neck to give a calibre-length neck + 10%, and very slightly more taper on the body for easy extraction. The result still provides approximately 340 Weatherby capacity. The round was called 338 BOS.

Here is the link to Alan and Dan Warner

http://www.warner-tool.com/index.htm