Re: Why .338 Lapua??
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: summitsitter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Whay is everybody on the .338 Lapua. Looks like the .338 Edge would be a better choice. These tell me why yall are choosing the Lapua over the Edge. </div></div>
Lapua brass quality in terms of uniformity/consistency and toughness, is what other brass is measured up against.
338 Edge brass is made by using 300 RUM Remington/Nosler brand brass, and expanding the neck up to 338. Those on a tight budget use 338-300 dies or 338 RUM FL sizer dies, and use the expander ball on the decapping rod to neck up their brass.
The
338-300 RUM aka Edge is approx .100 longer than the
338 RUM so this allows folks to use 338 RUM dies, but they are unable to size the last .090 worth of case body diameter. If your brass survives 6-7 firings, this may become an issue. Most shooting the Edge that I've spoke with don't have brass life that long. Some have had good luck using 300 RUM dies and then using 338 neck bushings. Redding won't decides commit if that will works or not....but that's working for folks as well.
Dieter Horneber will make you some great quality 300 RUM brass, but you'll need to wait 9-12 months, and pay 2.00 per piece.
About velocities between the two....nearly every Edge is built with a longer i.e. 30" barrel...so keep this in mind when reading velocities you "see" posted on the web. There might end up being a disparity between what is posted on the web, and the load pressures you may settle in on, behind your chrono at the range. The Lapua will do everything the Edge will given equal brass life and barrel length....and then some.
Another way of saying this, is the Lapua will allow you to run a shorter barrel, inch or two, and still run with an Edge, and have great brass life. If you want to run an Edge with a Lapua, you'll need to run a longer barrel, and live with shorter brass life.
The Lapua has a lot going for it too...Redding Type S and Competition Neck Sizing/Seater dies are available right off the shelf. If you anneal, you can buy 100 pieces of Lapua brass. When you're out of brass, it's time for a new barrel.
In the end, there's a lot of pluses for both rounds....but the ones above are probably why the Lapua has such a following.
Good luck.