I'm looking to make a 1000 yard tactical rifle. I'm choosing the 338 RUM because I have the action (Remington 700) and its a lot cheaper to shoot than the 338 Laupa. I want the rig to way aprox 11-12 lbs without a scope. I need some recommendations on barrel contour and muzzle brakes. I'm going with McMillan A-3 stock.

You cant go wrong with a Remington Sendero contour. That being said if you really want a LR 338 why not go with the 338 Edge? My 338 Edge has a 30in Pac-Nor #7 contour.

For muzzle brakes you want a design that does not have holes or baffles on the bottom. Otherwise it blows a bunch of dirt/grass/sand up at you and the gun. Nothing is worse than having to clean off your scope ever few rounds.I would suggest the following

SSG X-treme Brake
APS Painkiller brake
CSR 4 Port Muscle Brake

I'd also recommend a Sendero contour, and I'd recommend the Edge as well.

For brakes I'd check out straightshotgunsmithing for the Xtreme brake, APA for their Fat and Little Bastards, and Kirby Allen for a Painkiller brake. All are excellent.

A shorter cartridge might allow you to seat bullets out closer to the rifling and work through the mag. It is an accuracy thing. Perhaps a .338 short mag.

quote:

Originally posted by gwahir:
A shorter cartridge might allow you to seat bullets out closer to the rifling and work through the mag. It is an accuracy thing. Perhaps a .338 short mag.

So will using a reamer with a short throat section, ground with a custom length throat, or even better one designed to be used with a separate throating reamer.
Oh the choices we have to make, and details we need to cover, when building a rifle.

What is the advantage from going with a 338 RUM verses a 338 Edge???

I have shot several different brands of muzzle breaks over the years.

The most effective IMHO is the KDF, installed in Seguine TX.

However IF I was going to shoot the rifle prone on the ground most of the time I would ask Phil if he could make his KDF brake with NO holes on the bottom of the break, as not to kick up dirt, dust, leaves, snow etc.

Another option is Magna Port.

It is not as effective in reducing recoil as the KDF. [A 300 WBY Mag with a KDF kicks less than a 308, a 378 WBY with a KDF, kicks less than a 300 Win Mag], but with Magna Port the hard rear slap is lessened, and muzzle rise is cut down to near nothing.

I have Magna Port on 300 Win Mag and 375 H&H Blaser R 93 barrels, and I really like it.

With any of the muzzle breaks you NEED ear protection all the time, I do not find Magna Port to be any louder, in the field, than a regular barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by hglass:
What is the advantage from going with a 338 RUM verses a 338 Edge???

Case capacity. The 338 edge is more specialized for heavier bullets.