Barrel life for big 338s

sandy hicks

sandy hicks

Active member
Anyone have a barrel life expancy for a a 338 RUM. It was built by a master gunsmith as his personal gun. It has a proof barrel in a blue printed 700 and is in a factory remington laminated stock with a vx5 Leopold scope. I know that it can be hurt with abuse. I am thinking of load development and then just pre season sight in sessions. This whole gun weighs about 9 pounds so it will not be a target gun.
 
I would not be worried about barrel life of a 338RUM.

Speaking for me, I don't think I would enjoy sending 30-40 rounds down range in one session, and getting the barrel heated up enough to actually cause damage.

Take 2-3 shots, let it cool a bit, repeat.
 
No way around short barrel life when burning 85gr and more powder. 600-700 rds, maybe couple hundred more if you shoot one/two rds and cool down and clean every 12 rds. Don't let any carbon/fouling buildup in neck/chamber. Don't need to remove all the copper. Over bore cartridges will tell you quickly when the barrel goes away, accuracy usually doesn't fall off slowly.
 
spotstalkshoot said:
No way around short barrel life when burning 85gr and more powder. 600-700 rds, maybe couple hundred more if you shoot one/two rds and cool down and clean every 12 rds. Don't let any carbon/fouling buildup in neck/chamber. Don't need to remove all the copper. Over bore cartridges will tell you quickly when the barrel goes away, accuracy usually doesn't fall off slowly.
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I am still kicking this can down the road. I don't see the rifle selling very soon. I would think that as soon as load development was down, I would lay up bullets, brass, and power to get me to 500. That would be a lifetime with this gun for me. It would work for cross canyon shots. More than enough gun for all heavy non dangerous game.
 
Not a RUM, but I picked up a Savage 338 WM for Nilgai, Scimitar Horned Oryx and Gemsbok and it soon became my go to rifle for over 20 years. Worked great on deer and hogs as well. The 210 NP and 200 gr. Accubond shot essentially same POI w/pet load. Used the partitions for Nilgai and Gemsbok, the AB for Scimitars and whitetail. Most shots were 200 yds or so; I limited my shots to 300. Those two bullets performed flawlessly and shot MOA or a bit better @ 100. You're gonna love the .338, Jerry.
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ETA: #1 was cold/clean barrel, took 1/2 moa rt & 1 moa down; shot #2 was 210 NP & #3 was 200 gr AB. Did not keep round count, but shot a lot over the years and barrel still shoots moa or better.
 
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I've put close to 500 rounds down the tube of my 338 edge shooting fairly hot loads and am still shooting sub to MOA when I do my part.
I would've probably sold it after the first few rounds if it was a 9 lb rifle.
SJC
 
My 338 wm weighs under 9#. Had a brake installed and I shoot 200 gr accubonds with H380. The H380 changed the sharp push recoil to a slower push. Can now shoot in a tee shirt. Great elk rifle. Only 69 gr powder, the extra 18 grs in a RUM would up the energy on both ends of the rifle.
 
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