Why 338 Lapua over 338 RUM?

[Belmont31R]

Looking at the specs they are very close. Why has the 338RUM not caught onto the LR precision crew more?

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Looking at the specs they are very close. Why has the 338RUM not caught onto the LR precision crew more?

I think its just the tactical market your looking at. As far as long range hunting goes its a very popular round. Especaly in savage and howa actions. The trend seams to be faster and faster but that all translates to $$$$. The fact is you can buy rum brass for half what you pay for the lapua stuff.

I myself have gone over this again and again in my head and when its time to move to the new barrel in my Howa it will be the 338 RUM.

[TehLlama]

It's not like the 338LM has great barrel life to begin with, the RUM seems like it would exacerbate it. Then again, anybody well heeled enough to burn out an LM barrel can probably afford that without a second glance.

I personally don't see how handloading LM doesn't keep up really well in terms of cost/performance with the RUM - but then again I don't see a requirement for most of the UM/SM cartridges that exist.

[Anchor Zero Six]

Agree the performance is there but I do think the fact that LM is a military round has cemented its foothold in the LR market. This isnt a bad thing as much info is available from end users on loads and ammo combinations. Makes establishing a base line to start much easier.

Also agree RUM is a barrel burrner and that plays in heavily when considering a round for a routine shooter compared to a once a year hunter.

On the flip side commercial RUM ammo is easier to find in the local shops than LM although usually in some flavor of a hunting round not a match load.

[NorthDakota]

I think it has something to do with the neck length, IRRC.

You might want to check out the .338 Edge: .300 RUM brass with .338 bullets, specifically the 300 grain SMKs.....

If I had the need and time, I would go down this path.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/rifles/lrr-338-edge.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU6HAIm1pX4

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

There is also a 338 EDGE +p now to 300g SMK at 3000fps

[rundm]

300gr smk at 3k is smoking. When I rebarrel, I am definatly looking at the 338 rum instead of the LM. I don't buy off the shelf ammo but in a pinch it is much cheaper than the LM. I wish that lapua would make the 300 or for that matter 338 rum cases. Right now finding remington 300rum cases is kind of hard to do. You can get them in the nosler offerings but hard to find in remington.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Nosler is every bit as good as Lapua I use both and have not seean any discernable diffrence between the two.

[Shabazz]

338 Tejas - 300 grain Berger at 3600 fps.

[dpaqu]

All kinds of weird info in this thread.

338LM has a barrel life somewhere around 2500-3000 rounds which is not bad. .338 RUM barrel life is almost the same as they both run the same amount of powder thru the same hole. .338 Edge is the same as a .338 RUM with a blown out shoulder.

Biggest reason for the .338LM popularity is because you can get good brass for it. .338RUM is good because it works in a standard magnum action while the .338 LM is a bit fatter so you need larger actions. I’ve also read that .338 LM has one of the thickest cases around if brass life matters to you. Some also think short fat cartridges have an accuracy edge so that’s another win for the LM.
Basically hunter prefer the RUM and precision shooters prefer the .338LM.

[Anchor Zero Six]

... the .338 LM is a bit fatter so you need larger actions.

Not true, same action larger bolt face.

[RyanB]

RUMs go fine in .700" bolts, Lapua and derivatives belong in .750" bolts.

[Dirk Williams]

Don't know anything about the RUM, I do know my 338LM is a lazer beam when being shot.

Stiller action, Manners carbon fiber/glass stock, Krieger #9 barrel 28 inchs, Vias Brake, S&B PMII 5x25x56 scope.

If I could only have one sniper/long range rifle it would be a 338lm.

Dirk