Anyone with experience with the 338 Lapua?

[Jaywmustang]

The 190gr winmag box from blackhills that is the service ammo snipers usr is 40 bucks and shoots flatter than the LM at the distances most will shoot. Hornady ELD is even cheaper.

An investment in solid bullets will shoot flatter and further than the LM at any distance. Like flat line 180gr cnc that are 1.4 dollars each.

Again, nothing wrong with having calibers just because. The reason I gave my opinion and experince with the LM is because the title asked for opinions so I figured someone is considering this but not decided yet.

Nobody sain other than perhaps family is going to reload for you unless they have a license and insurance since it is such liability.

All you need to reload for a caliber might fit in a shoe box.

Keep us informed of your decission and progress.

I have everything for reload I think besides the 338 Lapua dies, I’m not going to start with the 338 Lapua. I’ll start smaller first.

I could try and make my desert tech into a hunting rifle, with a shorter and lighter barrel. Duel purpose. I guess I should weigh the rifle and see how heavy it is and plan my barrel accordingly.

 

[meketrefe]

I have everything for reload I think besides the 338 Lapua dies, I’m not going to start with the 338 Lapua. I’ll start smaller first.

I could try and make my desert tech into a hunting rifle, with a shorter and lighter barrel. Duel purpose. I guess I should weigh the rifle and see how heavy it is and plan my barrel accordingly.

A light rifle and a LM is going to beat a shooter like an old rug.
I am a tall and big guy (250lbs) and I have been shooting A LOT at times in my life and some pretty heavy duty stuff yet the super-magnums are a handful and not a pleasure to shoot at all in the average hunting rifles (pain will assure short sessions). Anything after a 358 Winchester or whelen with 250gr (not even magnums) start pounding like a sledge hammer.

The winmag is a great compromise and with the new chambers and extended AI magazines one should not feel shorthanded for anything.
To get good with it, again a heavy rifle.

For shooting well flat and far the 7mm is the ticket but the 30 caliber will give more options for those consolidating bullets and bores.

for hunting the winmag is also pretty versatile and or a brute force hunting rifle one doesn't need more than a 35 like the above but otherwise
a 375 Ruger or RUM will kill anything o the planet including African big 5 legal. make sure dentures are well attached or you bite on them when
you shoot.

 

[meketrefe]

Here some 338 porn and the importance of a surpressor + somewhat heavy hunting rifle...

 

[Jaywmustang]

A light rifle and a LM is going to beat a shooter like an old rug.
I am a tall and big guy (250lbs) and I have been shooting A LOT at times in my life and some pretty heavy duty stuff yet the super-magnums are a handful and not a pleasure to shoot at all in the average hunting rifles (pain will assure short sessions). Anything after a 358 Winchester or whelen with 250gr (not even magnums) start pounding like a sledge hammer.

The winmag is a great compromise and with the new chambers and extended AI magazines one should not feel shorthanded for anything.
To get good with it, again a heavy rifle.

For shooting well flat and far the 7mm is the ticket but the 30 caliber will give more options for those consolidating bullets and bores.

for hunting the winmag is also pretty versatile and or a brute force hunting rifle one doesn't need more than a 35 like the above but otherwise
a 375 Ruger or RUM will kill anything o the planet including African big 5 legal. make sure dentures are well attached or you bite on them when
you shoot.

I forgot in my previous post about a doing a hunting rifle, I would choose a different cartridge. I don’t want to get beat up with a supermagnum in a light weight rifle lol. Any suggestion on a good 7mm cartridge? I have a 7mm rem mag

 

[meketrefe]

Jay,
I always follow the same logical process and some folks like it and some others hate it.
I don't know everything and I have made plenty of mistakes with my choices buying scopes, calibers, rifles, shotguns, pistols, etc... and equipment that ended up with problems or hating for whatever reason.

So if we are talking about hunting I start with the animal. Whatever the game animal deserves respect and study to be dispatched quickly and the most humane way with all legal hunting regulations.

Then I pickup the bullet/s I feel are more suitable for that animal and in those bullets I consider ammo, price of ammo and perhaps a wider assortment of bullets is going for me to lean toward a bore due to the wide range of game they can be used for. What we call a versatile bore or even caliber like the 308.

Then I decide on the casing(caliber) and then barrel and the style of rifle. With all that said the rifle could be also determined by the type of terrain or if I want a super versatile rifle for everything it might have certain characteristics. I lean in bolt action due to popularity but it could be a lever action with tube or drop magazine like the amazing BLR.

The 7mm/08 is one of the most versatile rounds one can find with better ballistics than the 308 but in reality the 308 as well as the 7mm can do
both anything from varmints to large Elk w/o needing more horse power. A guide will not let you use a 308 to hunt a grizzly but it has been done
before with 180gr bonded bullets as well as with the 30/06 but I would suggest an even larger bore. if that was ever a possibility.

But even for deer or hogs, specially large males the 35 bore might be the most versatile and lethal of the afforable calibers.

358 winchester and 35 whelen shoot flat and hit like a magnum but at a fraction of the cost with the possibility to use budget 9mm and 357 bullets
for practice along with more affordable powders (lower charges).

I love the 6mm and 6.5 too and have several 6mmt that make great white tail super light rifles but in the end there is nothing on the planet that needs hunting and even long range target work that cannot be done with the 7mm or 30 cal. and the 35 for the heaviest animals on this planet
that obviously should be hunted at the average more realistic ranges with massive shock and wounding.

So while I love to shoot 22 and 6mm I am convinced the most practical bores ballistically talking start with 7mm (one could argue the 6.8 too) then the 308, 338, 35 and 375. I don't have anything against big bore stuff that I also find them great fun but ballisitcally the 35 and 375 are the last bores that make sense and can hunt anything on this planet.

The 35 bore wins in terms of huge assortment (including 357), versatility and better cost.
Same as the 308 but the 7mm is the best of the reasonable bores for long range due to the amazing assortment of pretty ballistically efficient bullets for a very good cost sometimes comparable to 6.5 and 6mm.
But again the 308 is amazing just not as efficient for the average ammo like 308 but in reality will serve many people better due to assortment, popularity, availability and cost. Service ammo in 308 is huge.
Then the 338 bore is amazing ballistically talking with pretty large bullets that hit hard but they are expensive and require a pretty large case
and special super-magnum action to be launched. Needed? rarely but there are uses for it like military operations and long range hunting.
you have a 338 winmag but cannot use the best bullets the 338 has to offer with decent starting speeds for longer ranges. Still a good round no doubt but better than a 35 whelen? the killing power of the 35 is out of the question. Even a 35 solid with a flat metplat starts displacing fluids
with massive wounding just like the larger bores so don't even have to expand if you don't want to (like for the largest tougher game)

These things I mention above can actually be measured by counting the bullets, looking at all assortments and price deals and testing them and I have tested many through the years both in common casings and a few wildcats. There are also plenty of resources from professional folks (not internet and youtube tacticool mambo jambo) that can guide you through these steps.

so lets start with the animals or range of animals you have in mind. After all you might have a caliber already for other objectives and want
one specific one or perhaps you want one for all range of things.

Personally I like to achieve several things:

- Don't be shorthanded.
- Don't shoot something because you can but because it is the best possible an ethical choice you can adquire.
- I like things to be versatile
- I am only interested in rounds and rifles and my training if it can be super accurate and repeatable, otherwise something has to change.
- It can and perhaps should be a fun process.
- I like power but I also like to keep all my molars in place and avoid shoulder surgery. So shooting magnums is done less and less every year.

I hope this helps somehow.

 

[MilesTeg]

Miles,
That is one of the first misconceptions.
It is actually much harder to hit targets at a range just because it is hard to master a supermagnum. Even sniper Chris Kyle had trouble adapting to it ad his favorite continued to be his trusty winmag.

I had trouble with it. My rifle was 22lbs and I had my hands full driving the rifle even shooting mostly prone. So this added to the cost that got out of control were the main reasons to sell everything, rifle, brass, bullets and dies.
The other reason is that at a distance there are better cartriges ballistucally talking and far easier to shoot and maintain. The 7mm WSM with the long throat is one of those.
Also the winmag that I have with the match throat and best 230gr bullets is ballistically very similar to the 338 at extreme long ranges and I dont even have anywhere to shoot it in the North East where my maximum has been 1100 yards that I shoot only 2 or 3 times pwr year.
And in the case anything needed hunting at those distances one could do it with eitjwr one but will never hunt a large animal lile that and for hunting with brutal killing power there is nothing liena 35 or a 375 ruger or rum.
So, it was cool for a while but I felt it was a bad investmemt since I can do more and better with less.
I know sometimes reasoning is not part of the process we follow when we get excited about something new so if you gotta have it, you gotta have it. But if you want to be really good at something you have to practice a lot and that is challenging with the 338 both financially and being able to drive the rifle.
So I found back at my place where I can be the best I feel I can be.
That is why I ask so folks can also check some facts and reflect on the pros and cons.

I could see this being a problem. I haven't shot one enough to get any of the bad habits or recoil sensitivity. .

 

[meketrefe]

what are we done with this thread or the politics is taking all the prime time?

 

[MilesTeg]

what are we done with this thread or the politics is taking all the prime time?

New baby for me so I'm behind on everything.

 

[Jaywmustang]

I think I have hunting cartridges all set. I don’t really have anything that I would consider big. Whatever I get needs to be available for the desert tech srs a-1 chassis.

 

[Jaywmustang]

What I have so far. I do have duplicates of some calibers.

223
22-250
243
25-06
30-30
6.5 Creedmoor
308 win
7mm Remington mag
300 win mag

 

[Shoots100]

You pretty much have everything covered in the Puny caliber area.
Before I sold my SRS, I was going to invest in the 37XC cartridge invented by David Tubbs.
It will have to be loaded single in the SRS because of it's OAL.
Since I have 375 and 408 CT's, I didn't feel the need to go that route, but if your sticking with the SRS platform, the 37XC would be worth looking into.
ES tactical has 8 twist barrels available.
A lot cheaper than an HTI.

SJC

 

[Jaywmustang]

You pretty much have everything covered in the Puny caliber area.
Before I sold my SRS, I was going to invest in the 37XC cartridge invented by David Tubbs.
It will have to be loaded single in the SRS because of it's OAL.
Since I have 375 and 408 CT's, I didn't feel the need to go that route, but if your sticking with the SRS platform, the 37XC would be worth looking into.
ES tactical has 8 twist barrels available.
A lot cheaper than an HTI.

SJC

I am not reloading at the moment, if I was reloading the sky is the limit lol

 

[Jaywmustang]

1:9 or 1:9.5 barrel twist if I went with the 338 lapua?

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I forgot in my previous post about a doing a hunting rifle, I would choose a different cartridge. I don’t want to get beat up with a supermagnum in a light weight rifle lol. Any suggestion on a good 7mm cartridge? I have a 7mm rem mag

You just answered your own question.

 

[Jaywmustang]

You just answered your own question.

Pretty sure I’m going with the 338 lapua now.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Pretty sure I’m going with the 338 lapua now.

Up to you Jay. Your money, your choice. I'm not hard to get along with.

 

[Jaywmustang]

Up to you Jay. Your money, your choice. I'm not hard to get along with.

Lol no your not.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Lol no your not.

I briefly considered a .300 Win Mag. Ultimately decided against it. Kinda like owning a race horse with only a 1 acre pasture. Gotta have a place to stretch its legs once in awhile.

 

[Jaywmustang]

I briefly considered a .300 Win Mag. Ultimately decided against it. Kinda like owning a race horse with only a 1 acre pasture. Gotta have a place to stretch its legs once in awhile.

I have two 300 win mag, bought my tikka t3x lite Stainless on stupid sale when gander mountain was closing and I have a 300 wm conversion for my desert tech. The tikka was going to be a project rifle until I bought the desert tech.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

.300 Win Mags a lotta juice. Overkill for deer and bear in NYS except for the very fortunate few who own enough land to be able to take advantage of it for any long range opportunities. Every time I drive down 13 to Pulaski, I look on the right at that hill Barclay owns, how those deer are always grazing there in the sun, just before sunset. About 50-75 yards from the tree line.

I picture myself there, with a bipod and a rear bag, sitting at a picnic table, in front of the last lodge, picking a nice buck out of that herd in my scope. Then I smile, and keep driving.

Edit:spelling

 

[Jaywmustang]

.300 Win Mags a lotta juice. Overkill for deer band bear in NYS except for the very fortunate few who own enough land to be able to take advantage of it for any long range opportunities. Every time I drive down 13 to Pulaski, I look on the right at that hill Barkley owns, how those deer are always grazing there in the sun, just before sunset. About 50-75 yards from the tree line.

I picture myself there, with a bipod and a rear bag, sitting at a picnic table, in front of the last lodge, picking a nice buck out of that herd in my scope. Then I smile, and keep driving.

Every field I drive by I think should be a gun range. There are some pretty big open fields up north. I use a 308 for hunting, I also have a 6.5cm in the stable for hunting. Wish I could shoot over the muck fields in my area.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Every field I drive by I think should be a gun range. There are some pretty big open fields up north. I use a 308 for hunting, I also have a 6.5cm in the stable for hunting. Wish I could shoot over the muck fields in my area.

Yeh Stranos (now wtfs his names)old muck would offer some incredible shots.

I'm with you. Got the .308, and the 7mm-08 (besides the ought sixes). Since I have the 7mm-08 don't feel a pressing need for a 6.5 cm

Edit: Dunsmoor

 

[Jaywmustang]

Yeh Stranos (now wtfs his names)old muck would offer some incredible shots.

I'm with you. Got the .308, and the 7mm-08 (besides the ought sixes). Since I have the 7mm-08 don't feel a pressing need for a 6.5 cm

Edit: Dunsmoor

My dad used to work for a lot if the muck farmers when he was a kid. Wish he still talked to them. I had permission to hunt a muck farmer property on Jarrett rd but I never went. Got busy.

I generally don’t buy a lot of guns full price. I pick them up on sale but it has to be a good sale. I guess the only cartridge I really “want” is a 50 bmg but a lot of ranges don’t allow them.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I have two 300 win mag, bought my tikka t3x lite Stainless on stupid sale when gander mountain was closing and I have a 300 wm conversion for my desert tech. The tikka was going to be a project rifle until I bought the desert tech.

Tikka makes a nice rifle. How "light" is 'Lite'. Not sure how 'Lite' i'd want a 300 Win Mag. when shooting at the range.

 

[Jaywmustang]

Tikka makes a nice rifle. How "light" is 'Lite'. Not sure how 'Lite' i'd want a 300 Win Mag. when shooting at the range.

7lbs.....should be fun to shoot

 

[Jaywmustang]

Hmmmmm idk if I can get the barrel or bolt now cause of Cuomos soon to be signed law.

 

[sfm721]

Contemplating on getting a 338 Lapua barrel for my desert tech srs a-1. I know ammo is expensive but can be found some what local to me. I don’t reload yet. I was also looking at the 300 Norma mag, I have a 300 win mag barrel and not sure if there is enough of a difference to justify the 300 Norma mag. Looking for some experience with the cartridge?

I would certainly add it to the collection. I have a RPR 338 and love to shoot it. People talk about the high price of ammo for it, but if you’re reloading, after a hundred rounds you’ll have 100 cases.
Make it happen brother! Charlie Mike!