Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Who is doing a 338PRC?

Ah, some common sense. My son always keeps me practical: we don't need a new rifle or caliber, we need more opportunities on something to use our rifles on."

A person needs to decide what level of velocity and bullet size they want to hunt with. What weight of rifle? The rest pretty much becomes self-explanatory, though always with some choices on a high side and low side.
So why did I buy a 300 PRC last year? First, it was easy. Factory. Lightweight. And I wanted to try a carbon-wrapped barrel. And I wanted a "second" for elk mountains. I think of the 338WM as about ideal, since I don't really like the idea of shooting over 500 yards. Been shooting one 40 years, guinea fowl to buffalo. But a 3000fps 200grain .308" high-BC bullet seems pretty ideal in an accurate rifle (8"twist). And as much as I like a 2800fps 350grain .416" bullet, I wouldn't like carrying three more pounds on a mountain rifle. Meanwhile, between a 3000fps 300PRC and a 2830fps 225gn 338WM, there is a slight nod to the 300PRC. If my son and I were together and looking at a 400-450 yard shot, the PRC would win out. Under 300 yards maybe the 338, but in reality they would be a tossup.

Now if a 338PRC were available, maybe 3000fps 225gn .338", I would choose it. There are some long, monometal bullets that can use a twist faster than 10".

So how long a wait for a 338 PRC offered in a Christensen Ridgeline?


I like Hornady brass, too. they should be applauded for developing the 375Ruger line. And their 416Rigby brass has bee better than the Norma brass I used to use. One company that has caught my eye is Alpha. Their 308W brass in small and large-primer versions is impressive. Apparently, Alpha is only interested in brass for smaller, precision calibers, but it is special and reasonably priced.

PS: these days I load a 223gn .338" Hammer for 338WM. It does about 2850fps. It's a nice all around package.

The 33 Nosler is exactly that. It does have greater head height than the WM but the standard length confinement just isn't enough for the really long 265+(or 250 monometal) gr 338 bullets without diving deep into the case.

Yes, I would be happy with a 338Nos in a lightweight mag-action fast twist like the Ridgeline.

Tanzan, I forgot about the excellent Hornady .416 Rigby brass.
It is what I used to make the .395 Tatanka. Never a problem.
I actually had Peter Cardona make properly headstamped brass for
both the .395 Tatanka and .500 Mbogo, and I am betting he used Hornady .416 Rigby blank basic for those,
collectors items, heh-heh-heh.

Weatherby is still at it too, with the new .338-cal carts, bless their heart.
RIFLE magazine came in the mail today, Sept. 2023 issue.
Featured on cover: "Weatherby's New 338 RPM."

It uses a .284 Remington case (.473" rebated rim) lengthened to 2.570" max brass,
0.500" base diameter above the rim, COL 3.340" like a .30-06.
225-gr Nosler Accubond MV advertised:
24" barrel: 2800 fps
18" barrel: 2660 fps
Case capacity is 81.6 grains water gross,
about 7 to 10 grains less than the .338 WinMag of various brass makes.

Reason for rifle ?
Must be for lightweight package.
Weatherby Backcountry 2.0 model weighs 5.38 pounds "without scope and accessories," according to Brian Pearce.
That is with a fluted steel, slim and slick barrel of 18" length, I reckon.
No carbon-wrapped barrel liner needed there.
No special twist needed for the .338 WBY RPM either, bullets gotta fit in a 3.4" mag box.

Not so with the 8.6 Blackout !
That is a .338 based on 6.5 Creedmoor (.308 WCF) shortened and necked up, near same case body taper as Creedmoor.
It uses a 1:3" twist !!!

Ilya Koshkin wrote it up in a recent GUNS&AMMO PRECISION RIFLE SHOOTER (display until 06/19/2023) found at local Walmart.
A photo there showed some impact/expansion testing with what looked like either a Barnes 185-gr MRX BT or 210-gr TSX bullet
in the supersonic mode.
1:3" twist produced near triple the expansion diameter as the 1:10" twist with same load.
Impressive visual, photo looking down on expanded noses of 10 bullets, 5 from each barrel.

They are claiming 2000 to 2200 fps with 200-gr bullets from 8", 12", or 16" barrels.
The 1:3" twist makes subsonic shooting at 800 yards "challenging and gratifying."
Heh-heh-heh.

A Winchester M70 Extreme Weather .338 WinMag with 24" barrel weighs 6 lbs 14 oz without scope and accessories.
That pig needs no lipstick.

I find 8lb including the scope shooting .338 225's at just over 2700 fps about the ideal weight and 9lb including scope shooting .338 225's at around 2950 fps about right.

8.6 BLK

https://scatteredshots.com/2022/03/24/faxon-firearms-8-6-blk-barrels/

https://scatteredshots.com/2022/09/23/faxon-overwatch-tactical-8-6-blk-bolt-action-rifles/

I would rather have the 338-RUM.

That's just me. Get whatever you want.

It all depends on twists and bullets. They almost made it song, "Twist and shoot".

Everything I ever shot with my 338 WM just up and died. I’m sure glad those animals didn’t need an extra 20 fps. Lots of you guys get so wrapped around the axles about a few extra feet per second. My Model 70 SS Classic with scope and sling weighs in just at about 8 and quarter pounds. If that’s too heavy, I guess I need to get in better shape or quit hunting.