338 lapua or???

[jrebel]

Couple house keeping items first....

1.  I have searched and read a lot of post, most old....so that has been taken care of.
2.  I already know it isn't practical and will cost money, so lets avoid a ton of the nonsense on cost of brass / ammo / etc. 



Now that we have covered that stuff......I am looking at the 338 lapua to fill an itch.  The specific itch is not specific to the lapua, but more so the ability to push a 300 grain bullet at 2700+ fps.  Primary use would be moose hunting to 600 yards (most shots are well under 300), black bear (apparently not during the spring season any longer  ) and steel to maybe 1000 yards. 

I handload and would customize a load for any rifle I buy.  Not really interested in a full custom at this point as I'm not sure it's a cartridge I will keep in the rotation.  If I end up liking the cartridge and think a custom will fit the need better than production....I will fill the need then.  I have considered the 338 edge but don't see a ton of them on the market....so a custom or used rifle is the only way to get into one. 

Gonna top it with the Nightforce NX8 4-32....which should make for a great pairing. 

Any thoughts or suggestions.  Any other chamberings that will push a 300 grain bullet with similar velocities? 

I am a Savage fan so that is the obvious choice....but what other manufacturers would you consider? 

And....go!! 

[Magnum_Willys]

Just shot buddys new Savage 338 Lapua Long Range Hunter yesterday.  He picked it up for $1100 with a cheap scope on it.  It shot 1" groups with factory ammo right out of the box.  The factory break and pad worked great.  It has a mag and isn't light but with a Lapua a lil weight helps.   Would be a great way to see if you like the big boomers.

I have a custom 338 Lapua, 30" Carbon Barrel which cost about $4k before sticking a $2k Mark V scope on it.  Buddys $1100 rig can give it a run for the money. 

An older 338-378 Weatherby bedded and dialed in will shoot 300 gr at 2850 with accuracy.   So will the edge.

The 338 Norma will get you to 2750 also and is worth a look. 

Eventually if you stick with the boomers you will end up with a 338 Lapua Improved shooting 300 gr at 3000 fps. 

[Jason]

Have you thought about the 338-375 Ruger? Obviously it's not a factory round yet, but man what a cartridge. I'm getting just over 3000fps with 250gr Accubonds and only 76.7gr of H4350. I built mine off a Savage 116 action. I have not tried 300 grain bullets yet but I know a couple of other guys here have.

I have a buddy that has the Savage 110 long range hunter in 338 Lapua. He topped it with a nightforce. For a factory gun with hand loads that thing is crazy accurate. It's got a big old muzzle brake on it that takes it down to a 270 or so with the heavy bullets.

[huntnphool]

 Good choice, you may also consider the .375 Cheytac.

[b23]

Are you primarily looking for a factory gun you can just buy and start shooting or are you looking to build something?  Going the factory gun direction will leave you with considerably less options where as a build, even on a factory action, will give you nearly endless choices and depending on the level of accuracy you're looking for make you happier.

A straight 338 Lapua, IMO, is kind of a performance turd and I'd go with one of the variants of 338 Lapua Improved.  Same with the 338 Norma I would never do a straight 338 Norma but a 338 Norma Improved makes for a nice setup especially as a repeater because its OAL is a bit shorter.

I think the easy button definitely favors the 338RUM.  You can use a standard mag bolt face action the OAL isn't quite as long as the 338 Edge so in standard mag boxes they'll run nearly the same speed.  If you want more speed and you want it to be a repeater a properly built 338 Edge with a long mag box installed will definitely sling them faster.  If you want even more speed consider having Defensive Edge chamber it for you and go with their +P throat.  Shawn's 338 Edge +P is nipping on the heels of his 338 Terminator which is his version of a 338 Lap Imp.

ADG not only makes 338RUM and 338 Edge brass but it's also currently available.

[jjhunter]

I’ve got a DE Canyon rifle I have considered selling.   338 Edge.  Under 70 rounds fired at the bench.

It’s heavy with a 8-32x56 NXS.   Shoots the DE pet load (300 grain Matchkings) into bug holes.

[Dan-o]

My shoulder hurts from reading this thread.

[huntnphool]

My shoulder hurts from reading this thread.

375 Cheytac has less felt recoil than the Lapua.

[jasnt]

I got a savage 112 target magnum in 338 lapua I’d part with for a hell of a deal.  Single shot action.  Shoots great (see my 37xc build thread).  Still ton of life left in her.round count in my sig    If your at all interested hit me up before I shoot it again and change my mind

[Snakeriver]

I built a 338 edge off a rem 700 action. With a wyatts extended magazine.  I'm shooting 285m's at 2850 fps. 93.5 grains h1000.

[jrebel]

Thanks for all the replies.  At this point, looking for a factory rifle that I can mount a scope to and start loading for.  I'm not convinced I'm gonna be all in on the shoulder breaking big boomers..... , so would like to try it first.  My motto is "why not", so when I was looking at a new toy to load for.....well why not a 338 lapua.  We hunt moose in Canada and it would be a great pairing for such a large animal...even though our 300 wsm's have proven to be great plenty, butttttttt....WHY NOT!!   

Looking pretty hard at the Savage 110 Long range 338, but it is proving to be a hard rifle to find. 

Have found a few Weatherby mark V in 338....any thoughts on the Weatherby rifles and their out of box accuracy??  Never owned one. 

Christensen makes a couple....but I have not had the greatest experience with Christensen.  The one and only I owned was a kind of a downer and did not meet my expectations. 

[jrebel]

I’ve got a DE Canyon rifle I have considered selling.   338 Edge.  Under 70 rounds fired at the bench.

It’s heavy with a 8-32x56 NXS.   Shoots the DE pet load (300 grain Matchkings) into bug holes.
[/quote

Tempting...but likely more than I want to spend to explore the big bore world. 

[jrebel]

I got a savage 112 target magnum in 338 lapua I’d part with for a hell of a deal.  Single shot action.  Shoots great (see my 37xc build thread).  Still ton of life left in her.round count in my sig    If your at all interested hit me up before I shoot it again and change my mind

Looked hard at this rifle, but the single shot keeps me looking elsewhere.  Reality is it would be fine as it should be a one and done kind of rifle...LOL 

Haven't ruled it out, but still considering other options.  I'll pm you if I decide to go this route.   

[Magnum_Willys]

Thanks for all the replies.  At this point, looking for a factory rifle that I can mount a scope to and start loading for.  I'm not convinced I'm gonna be all in on the shoulder breaking big boomers..... , so would like to try it first.  My motto is "why not", so when I was looking at a new toy to load for.....well why not a 338 lapua.  We hunt moose in Canada and it would be a great pairing for such a large animal...even though our 300 wsm's have proven to be great plenty, butttttttt....WHY NOT!!   

Looking pretty hard at the Savage 110 Long range 338, but it is proving to be a hard rifle to find. 

Have found a few Weatherby mark V in 338....any thoughts on the Weatherby rifles and their out of box accuracy??  Never owned one. 

Christensen makes a couple....but I have not had the greatest experience with Christensen.  The one and only I owned was a kind of a downer and did not meet my expectations.

I have two older 338-378's that can shoot 6 inch groups at 1000 with 300 gr smk at 2850-2870.  Both bedded with FB muzzle breaks.   Seem to shoot better than any carbon barreled rifle I've shot - at least for first 3 shots until barrel heats up.  I'm not sure about the newer ones but the Savage I shot this week I expect matches or outshoots a new 338-378 weatherby.   

The savage is a milder shooter than a 7mm mag without a brake with factor 250's.

Loaded hot with 300 gr its not a problem to shoot a box of shells through these but takes some practice to spot your shots.   Advantage is you can see the splash at 1000 yards.

For Moose at 400 yards the 340 weatherby with 300 gr factory accubonds is an nice option and you don't have to have a muzzle brake and ear muffs.

[jrebel]

Thanks for all the replies.  At this point, looking for a factory rifle that I can mount a scope to and start loading for.  I'm not convinced I'm gonna be all in on the shoulder breaking big boomers..... , so would like to try it first.  My motto is "why not", so when I was looking at a new toy to load for.....well why not a 338 lapua.  We hunt moose in Canada and it would be a great pairing for such a large animal...even though our 300 wsm's have proven to be great plenty, butttttttt....WHY NOT!!   

Looking pretty hard at the Savage 110 Long range 338, but it is proving to be a hard rifle to find. 

Have found a few Weatherby mark V in 338....any thoughts on the Weatherby rifles and their out of box accuracy??  Never owned one. 

Christensen makes a couple....but I have not had the greatest experience with Christensen.  The one and only I owned was a kind of a downer and did not meet my expectations.

I have two older 338-378's that can shoot 6 inch groups at 1000 with 300 gr smk at 2850-2870.  Both bedded with FB muzzle breaks.   Seem to shoot better than any carbon barreled rifle I've shot - at least for first 3 shots until barrel heats up.  I'm not sure about the newer ones but the Savage I shot this week I expect matches or outshoots a new 338-378 weatherby.   

The savage is a milder shooter than a 7mm mag without a brake with factor 250's.

Loaded hot with 300 gr its not a problem to shoot a box of shells through these but takes some practice to spot your shots.   Advantage is you can see the splash at 1000 yards.

For Moose at 400 yards the 340 weatherby with 300 gr factory accubonds is an nice option and you don't have to have a muzzle brake and ear muffs.

I'm thinking moose could be pushed to 600 yards this next year.  There is a huge bull that is seen every year...but just out of reach of most shooters.  I will let my son shoot 500 yards with his 300 wsm on animals, though he is a capable shooter to 800 yards.  No one has shot this moose because it is out of their effective range. .....I'm gonna change that this year.  Our 300 wsm's will kill at 600, but I want a bullet / rifle combo that will buck wind better and take a moose with authority at said ranges. 

My son proved himself to the guides this year with a 500 yard kill shot on a black bear.  Next year the big moose is gonna go down given the chance. He will be 13 next year and with any luck kill this old masher.  We have seen him in the same area three years in a row.  After we kill it, the work will begin as it is in a nasty marsh / pond area that prevents effective spot and stalk hunting.