338 Edge

[Dennis]

Below on the top right diamond is a four shot group from my 338 Edge. Three of the four shot were decent! I will admit the gun is a little intimadating! I am sure I could improve in time!

I was using 300gr SMK's with 92grns of H1000,

I am just looking for thoughts/comments. Should my groups be better, or do you have any load suggestions!

PS: The bottom round target is 5 shots out of my 6.0x47 Lapua! FYI

http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae56/Dennis4437/DSC00185.jpg

[kdog70]

What was your yardage you tested at? I know its against physics, it might just be mental thing but I shoot better at 300 yards than I do at 100 with the 338 edge. I can/will shoot a 1 ish inch group at 100 but I can shoot a 3/4 inch to 1/2 inch group at 300. I had a 7 rum at one time that shot 1 1/2 inches at 100 but I shot a witnessed group of 2 inches at 500, twice.

[Dennis]

I'm shooting @ a 100 for now, just breaking the barrel in and getting my scope adjusted.

I am going to try it out @ 300 yds shortly, or as soon as I can!

It's a beast, I am still getting use to shooting it!

[Dennis]

I can/will shoot a 1 ish inch group at 100 but I can shoot a 3/4 inch to 1/2 inch group at 300

Kdog, if you don't mind me asking, what load works best for you?

[kdog70]

I cheated and went to shawn carlock's website, from what I know he is the one that made the edge a mainstream cartridge. He is at http://www.defensiveedge.net/338%20edge/338-edge-load.htm. Anyway I run 92.6 grain of H1000 in a Rem case, I use CCI 250 because that is what I have and Sierra 300 SMK I get about 7 reloads out of my brass before the primer falls out, I do not anneal. I have not chronograph ed this load yet but I bang steel with it and it shoots decent enough groups for me that I am afraid to see the numbers for fear of a rework. I run it out of a 30 inch Shilen with a standard break on a Target action. I bounce between a Weaver T36 and a NXS 5-22 on the Edge depends on if I am load testing another gun or not.

Now standard I worked up from 90 grains and kept working it. Every gun is different please do not try this in your gun with out work up. Its common to see H1000 in 92-94 grains of powder but it also depends on barrel length.

[319]

Hope no one minds me piggybacking here, but how do I know where to start my loads for my new Edge? I keep seeing "I use 90gr H1000" or "I am shooting 92gr of X". I have only loaded out of manuals so this is new for me. Are there any published ranges for powders for the Edge? I have Retumbo now and would like to start with it. I will be using Rem brass, Win Mag primers and 300gr SMKs. Any help on where to START my loads with Retumbo and H1000 would be great! Thanks!

[Dennis]

You can go to the following sites and it may help you get started.

As stated below, "ALWAYS" start low and work up! 90 grns of H1000 pushing 300 gr SMK's is pretty stout!

I have shot many guns, but I am still intimidated by this one! I am using one of Shawn's loads and show no pressure signs, just a sore shoulder!

You don't want to overload one or worse, use a non recommended powder!

http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=548

Always use (starting low) Shawn's recommendations on his website. Check for pressure signs, I don't care if your only jumping a few grns if you decided to do a ladder test. Use the recommended COAL, don't try anything close to the lands until you see how your gun is going to operate!

http://www.defensiveedge.net/338%20edge/338-edge-load.htm

[geargrinder]

Make sure you start low and work your way up. H1000's burn rate has had a substantial change in the last couple years.

[319]

I understand "start low", but too low is unsafe also, so where is "low"??? Carlock's site shows him using 90gr H1000 and 94.5gr Retumbo. The site also says that is "max" in his rifle. His rifle might be a lot different than mine, so what do I do? Do I just drop it 10% and start there, or is there some thing else I should be doing?

Thanks for any and all help!

[geargrinder]

10% of a max load should be fine.

I'm still using the old lot of h1000. I'm running 95g with no pressure signs. It's a couple years old.

95g of the newer lots would be way too hot.

[bowtieboy241]

When I want to try a different powder in my edge. I use close to the max load of the powder and bullet combination listed for a 338 RUM I want to try.

[Dennis]

95g of the newer lots would be way too hot.

agree

[358Hammer]

I would find my 8 pound Edge incredibly painful and way beyond intimidating if it did not have a brake on it. I am only shooting 225 grains and haven't a reason to shoot the 300gr.

My Accuracy with H4831 and H1000 has been bugholing exceptional. If your gun represents that group from an unbraked barrel then I would call that group exceptional. My barrel at 30 rounds increased velocity by 50fps and the group came into it's own accuracy wise.

I used Shawn's load data as well as many others information including the 338 Rum in deciding starting load platform.

Neal

[Dennis]

I understand "start low", but too low is unsafe also, so where is "low" Carlock's site shows him using 90gr H1000 and 94.5gr Retumbo. The site also says that is "max" in his rifle. His rifle might be a lot different than mine, so what do I do? Do I just drop it 10% and start there, or is there some thing else I should be doing?


Read his load data carefully, his favorite load is H1000 between 92 & 94 grns

Just stay at least .050 from the lands for now!

[319]

I have read the information a number of times. It says the published data is maximum in his rifle. The loads are 90gr H1000 and 94.5 gr Retumbo, 91 gr RL25, and 104 gr US869 for the 300 gr SMK. I am going to start off with 85 gr Retumbo and see how it goes. Thanks for all the replies. Dennis, are you shooting with a brake, and if so, which one?

[Dennis]

I had McGowen build the barrel and install one of their brakes. I told them I wanted the best one to reduce recoil.

This is their website showing the brake I used, give all info

http://www.mcgowenbarrel.com/catalog5.htm

[Dennis]

Any load updates?

I have a few 338 Bergers, getting realy to load up and go!

[Tracer]

Dennis I too shoot a .338-Edge in a model 70 Winchester. Your shooting is very impressive for such a heavy recoiling caliber, it puts out almost 60-lbs of recoil to the shoulder. My rifle weighs in a 10.75 pounds and I am going to put a muzzle brake on the barrel. This old man can not take that pounding like I got 25 years ago.
It looks to me your shooting great, just keep up the good work and learn how to dope that wind and use those mil-dot reticules too.

[Dennis]

Berger 300grn pills, 93.5 grns H1000, CCI mag large rifle primers, rem brass

Looks like the above is the key!

After putting 100+ rounds down range, I am getting use to the gun! It did take awhile to get use to!

Now I can concentrate on my shooting, rather than being intimated by the gun!

Last weekend I also brought my 6.5x47L and tried a few different loads. It seemed like I was shooting a pellet gun compared to the 338 Edge!