Savage 300 Rum Action safe to neck up to 338 edge?

[chris19210]

I've seen where some people have necked up the 300 rum cartridge to accomadate the .338 bullets. I am curious to know if anybody has done it and and any pressure problems etc. and if so who would you suggest if I did such. I might just stick with the 300 but wanted to hear from all my fellow savage members. Thanks and God Bless.

[ctrout]

Do it. That's what the 338 Edge is, a necked up 300 RUM.

[chris19210]

Ctrout...I am aware of it but just for kicks and giggles I called savage and talked with the engineers marketing advisor or something like that...I left the message with the engineer and he told the marketing guy to contact me. Anyways they said the strongly recommend it not be done...simply because they had never done any testing. Do you know of anyone who has tried it before Ctrout?

[Lefty Lucas]

I would think that you would have to change barrels. The 300 RUM is a 30 cal. and the 338 Edge is a 338 cal. ??? Lets be careful guys don't want to ream out a 30 cal. to a 338 Edge and pull the trigger. That would not be good.
You need a 338 Ultra mag and then ream that out to the 338 Edge.
Unless I am missing something in your ?

Thanks
Lefty Lucas

[ctrout]

I thought that the barrel change was understood and that we were just talking about the action strength. Put a 338 Edge barrel on that action and you are in business. The only reason I think Savage warns against it is because it's a wildcat and they are covering their butt. I've done this swap and so have many people both here and at longrangehunting.com. It's a great round.

[358Hammer]

I do not remember when Savage was chambering the Rum case, but they were. It runs in the same pressure curve as the short Mags. A company of who's name elludes me were in business using the Savage action to make guns in the 300 RUM when Savage quit chambering.

I currently have a number of Short mags on Savages along with the 338 Edge, 338 X 378 Weatherby as well as a wildcat based on the 460 Weatherby case. Have shot hundreds of rounds without a hitch. From what I am hearing Savage is coming out with the 338 Lapua on their model 10 action and that case is larger in diameter than the 378 Weatherby case.

Remington and others still build the RUM series of cartridges on their small shank barrels where as all of mine are built on the large shank and either the target action or the short action striker. I have a number of friends who have chambered the 338 Lapua round in their little XP 100 action so in answering your question.

YES: think if you scroll down a few threads in this section you can watch the Edge in Action on a Savage.


Neal

[chris19210]

Oh ya I am deffinately aware of a new barrel haha...or I wouldn't be here to let you know how it will go in the future if I didn't. Any particular smiths y'all would like to suggest. One perferably who is known to guarantee and stand behind his workmanship.

[tropicmaster]

Why use a smith? Takes 20 minutes and 2 wrenchs to do it yourself.

[358Hammer]

Chris

Are you referring to a smith as someone that has the Edge reamer and can chamber the barrel for you?

Jim See @ centershot rifles.com chambered mine- check when he could chamber it.
Ron @ Benchmark barrels also has a reamer and I do not know his out time.
SHawn Carlock who named the Edge has a reamer. He was way out there.

Not sure who to recommend that has a reasonable wait time. Otheres are out a year to a year and a half.

Neal

[Charleslv]

I have converted several of the rum long actions. None to 338 edge or 338 RUM but have done 470 capstick, 458 LOTT and the 416 Remington Magnum (The RU parent case) no prblem with pressure. Some fo the 416 loads hot loads push the limit and there has been no issues.

To be honest there should be more of a pressure issue with the 30 cals being loaded to heavy then the 338's.

[sinman]

Its a common swap and I have done quite a few, I actually have an edge barrel in my lathe right now.

[geargrinder]

Its a common swap and I have done quite a few, I actually have an edge barrel in my lathe right now.


Woo hoo! I think I know who's barrel that is. ;D ;D ;D

It's going on a ceramic coated blue long action that started life as a 7mmRM. It's sitting in a bedded BVSS stock. Stockade tactical handle. Bolt lift kit by me. I also opened up the bottom and modified the magazine to be a repeater with 3.850" OAL.

It's going on a small shank and I have absolutely no worries about the actions ability to handle it. I'd actually worry more if it was going on a large shank.

[chris19210]

Correct on the smith for the chambering crowning threading etc. I don't know that it would make much difference but since I'm looking for the best possible accuracy I was thinking of send my action it to make sure they turn the threads to the tightest possible tolerances...rather than going the pre-fit route. Which brand of barrel would you guys prefer? If you have one..whats the results. Thanks again for all the advise.

[Forester]

If you are going to all that trouble just call up PT&G and have them make you a reamer, then anyone who can chamber a barrel right can do the work. ~$160 for the reamer and $70 if you want a pilot set as well. Takes them about a month to get you the reamer, less than you will probably wait for the barrel anyway.

[Moosetracker]

I've installed a Shilen 338 Edge barrel on a 112 BVSS originally chambered for 300WM. No problem whatsoever as long as you use it single shot. With the Edge I would advise installing a muzzle brake, particularly if you intend to shoot 300grs bullets. Here's a photo of my rig in 338 Edge:

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r287/Moosetracker/012.jpg

[chris19210]

Moosetracker, I am jealous already. I have a 110 action that was chambered for the 300rum when savage once offered them. Do you think they would fit in the magazine or would I have to single load them.

[chris19210]

Also, which brake are you using and the common groups you see out of this beast. The 300's are probably going to be the way I go aswell to help you with the question above..isn't the 112 bvss short action?

[geargrinder]

You'll need about 3.8" to fit the 300g SMK's in a magazine. I don't think the 330 RUM mag was that big.

The BVSS was offered in long and short action.

[Moosetracker]

I shoot Nosler Accubonds 225 and 250grs with an OAL of 3.85" at .008" from the grooves. In your RUM action, I suspect you would have to use these bullets in single shot to get half decent accuracy.

I got my muzzle break from Shawn Carlock, Defensive Edge. But many other brakes could work as well.

[chris19210]

how are your groups?