.338 Lapua...worth the effort and cost?

[ChromeHound]

I have two 338 lapuas-

they are basically twins except barrel length and scope.

Both carbon six , same groove and twist. Both in xlr mg chassis with all the carbon.

The 20” with 4-32nx8 and suppressor is 11#’s

The 28” with 8-32nxs and suppressor is 13#’s


20” shoots 270eldx @ 2789 pushing it hard!

28” shoots 270eldx @ 2940


Both have been used and are effective hunting rigs.. I never considered myself to be recoil sensitive, but to be honest they kinda suck to shoot.

unless I am going to a very specific location where shots will be at least a 1000yards . i have no interest in taking them out of the safe.

For 99% of my hunting needs 6.5prc shooting 156 bergers has proven to been more than enough. 30gr less powder per bang, cheaper bullet, and way less recoil.

That's really helpful to know. I don't consider myself recoil sensitive either but it seems like the big .338's are a different animal when it comes to recoil. The 300 big magnums are looking more and more appealing.

 

[Tahoe1305]

I own a 338LM and have killed some game with it. I personally think it is WAY overkill for most situations.

Expensive to practice with, not very enjoyable to shoot, heavy to carry, plus destroys a lot of meat.

I’m a much bigger fan of modern or old 7mm cartridges. I think the best balance of elk killing power plus can be shot well in a “lighter” rifle (I’ll define as 9lb all in or under).

My 7wsm has similar ballistics to my 338LM in all things but energy where the LM nearly doubles. But unless your trying to drop an elk at a mile plus I don’t see it as a benefit.

 

[ChromeHound]

I own a 338LM and have killed some game with it. I personally think it is WAY overkill for most situations.

Expensive to practice with, not very enjoyable to shoot, heavy to carry, plus destroys a lot of meat.

I’m a much bigger fan of modern or old 7mm cartridges. I think the best balance of elk killing power plus can be shot well in a “lighter” rifle (I’ll define as 9lb all in or under).

My 7wsm has similar ballistics to my 338LM in all things but energy where the LM nearly doubles. But unless your trying to drop an elk at a mile plus I don’t see it as a benefit.

I had not considered the meat destruction. That's a good point

 

[Quicksilver]

For those in the know about .300NMI is there an appreciable difference between that and 300RUM? Is it worth the custom reloading equipment, reamer and fire forming brass?

Much shorter overall length package, you get to use plans brass which in an improved form will last you multiple barrels before it gives up, those are the 2 big ones. On paper they look to be pretty close.

Don’t get these guys wrong, a .338 lapua you will not be disappointed with. But a lot of us do think that in this day and age a large 30 cal is a much better choice. Honestly your 300wsm will kill elk and any distance you can comfortably shoot from.

 

[ChromeHound]

Much shorter overall length package, you get to use plans brass which in an improved form will last you multiple barrels before it gives up, those are the 2 big ones. On paper they look to be pretty close.

Don’t get these guys wrong, a .338 lapua you will not be disappointed with. But a lot of us do think that in this day and age a large 30 cal is a much better choice. Honestly your 300wsm will kill elk and any distance you can comfortably shoot from.

Yeah, I was considering selling my WSM to fund the builds but I'm leaning away from that at this point. It's an elk killer for sure.

 

[RoseAllen]

If you are going to go 338 go all the way 338-terminator!!

 

[ChromeHound]

If you are going to go 338 go all the way 338-terminator!!

Sounds expensive

 

[Mojave]

I have owned two.

A Sako TRG-42 and a Blaser R8.

I enjoyed both.

The TRG didn't really kick, the R8 kicks a lot and is badly behaved torque wise. But it would be by weight and form function.

I still have the R8, but its use here in Europe is pretty limited.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I have owned two.

A Sako TRG-42 and a Blaser R8.

I enjoyed both.

The TRG didn't really kick, the R8 kicks a lot and is badly behaved torque wise. But it would be by weight and form function.

I still have the R8, but its use here in Europe is pretty limited.

Compared to my unbraked 300 RUM, my TRG-42 is a pussy cat, even with 300 grain Bergers. However, I wouldn’t want to carry it far due to its weight.

 

[ChromeHound]

Compared to my unbraked 300 RUM, my TRG-42 is a pussy cat, even with 300 grain Bergers. However, I wouldn’t want to carry it far due to its weight.

View attachment 794402

Breaking news: Local dear hit by freight train

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I'm shooting inside of 500 yards.

Why are we even discussing the NEED for a larger gun then, you're already well covered with the 300wsm for the situation you described. Now if you have a want then carry on with whatever pet project caliber/components suit your fancy. But <500yd for elk has zero need for a new gun or larger caliber than a gun you already have that you said you love.

 

[Choupique]

Not really the same thing, but as a .338 win mag blaster, I wish I had gotten a .300 just because of the bullet costs, options and availability. .338 bullets are expensive. Im working on cast loads for my win mag just to try to get below $1/shot.

 

[ChromeHound]

Why are we even discussing the NEED for a larger gun then, you're already well covered with the 300wsm for the situation you described. Now if you have a want then carry on with whatever pet project caliber/components suit your fancy. But <500yd for elk has zero need for a new gun or larger caliber than a gun you already have that you said you love.

It's not really a need situation. I have the opportunity to learn machining and smithing and as part of that, I want to build rifles for myself for the practice. The Lapua question came up because I have a bare action that can handle the COAL of the Lapua. This is more of a "I can, but should I" question. I've never shot or handled a LM so I asked the group at large for their input.

 

[ChromeHound]

Not really the same thing, but as a .338 win mag blaster, I wish I had gotten a .300 just because of the bullet costs, options and availability. .338 bullets are expensive. Im working on cast loads for my win mag just to try to get below $1/shot.

Even the .30 cal bullets are getting expensive. A box of 50 Nosler partitions are like $85 now

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

It's not really a need situation. I have the opportunity to learn machining and smithing and as part of that, I want to build rifles for myself for the practice. The Lapua question came up because I have a bare action that can handle the COAL of the Lapua. This is more of a "I can, but should I" question. I've never shot or handled a LM so I asked the group at large for their input.

Certainly, but at that point I'd have just discussed the pet project and not bothered mentioning elk <500yd to muddy the waters. Have fun tinkering!

 

[ChromeHound]

Certainly, but at that point I'd have just discussed the pet project and not bothered mentioning elk <500yd to muddy the waters. Have fun tinkering!

My self imposed limit is <500 with my current rifle. Opportunities beyond that are frequent where we hunt. Which is what begged the large magnum question as an option for my tinkering. Sorry if the disjointed posts muddied the waters. I'm really just trying to learn from those that have gone before me. We all stand on the shoulders of giants.

 

[Mojave]

My self imposed limit is <500 with my current rifle. Opportunities beyond that are frequent where we hunt. Which is what begged the large magnum question as an option for my tinkering. Sorry if the disjointed posts muddied the waters. I'm really just trying to learn from those that have gone before me. We all stand on the shoulders of giants.

Nothing wrong with that.

For 5 years I had the ability to shoot to any distance. I felt like a 800 yard shot with good conditions was a chip shot. Shot competitions and had a nice time.

Then I moved and I have a 100 meter range. Changed over night what I had the ability to do.

I would say, I don't have a rifle I feel confident in a 500 yard shot right now. Because I don't have a place to prove that they can do it or that I can.

Some really great shooting rifles in the safe. A 308 Sauer 200 STR with a second barrel in 6mm BR. Several Blaser R8 barrels I am sure can do it. But can I, and have I proven that both the rifle and I can do it. No I don't have a place to do that.

So I feel pretty confident with 250 yards.