Thinking of getting a 338 Lapua

[devster55]

[Whiskey_Tango]

Maybe also consider 300PRC

[devster55]

Maybe also consider 300PRC

I have been looking into that as well. Bergara is making some rifles in this caliber now as well.

[ar15barrels]

I’ve been going back and forth between the 338 savage or just getting a Bergara HMR in 300 win.
I have a HMR in 6.5 and really like it.
300 win would be cheaper to reload for.
I would also very rarely shoot past 1k-1.5k which I know it’s kind of a waste to shoot the 338 at those ranges but I have always wanted one.

Anyone have any insight or better options before I pull the trigger on one of these 2?

Run the exterior ballistics on 6.5 creedmoor and 300 win mag and you will find they are so close that it's not worth going to the extra recoil/cost of a magnum unless you need the extra energy on target.
So get a 338 for 1500 and beyond and stick with the 6.5 for the closer ranges if all you are doing is target shooting.

[devster55]

Run the exterior ballistics on 6.5 creedmoor and 300 win mag and you will find they are so close that it's not worth going to the extra recoil/cost of a magnum unless you need the extra energy on target.
So get a 338 for 1500 and beyond and stick with the 6.5 for the closer ranges if all you are doing is target shooting.

[bsumoba]

300 ultra mag would be another choice. Keeps you in the mag bolt configuration with then allows you to explore calibers like the 300 WSM or if you like, 300 Win Mag. You could also, if you decide to rebarrel, go with something like a 338 Edge, which is a 300 Ultra Mag case necked up to 338. Better ballistics than a 338 Lapua in theory.

[Sir Toast]

I have a Desert Tech in 300 Win Mag and 338 Lapua Mag.

I love my 300 Win Mag. It is a dream to shoot. It is crazy accurate and soft recoil even with a small muzzle brake. (And I mean small.) I can shoot it all day. It hits harder than a hammer too. However, barrel life is supposed to be better in the 300 Win Mag due to lower velocities, or so they say. If you don't reload, the 300 will be expensive to shoot.

On the other hand, the 338 Lapua Magnum is a hell of a cartridge. It too is crazy accurate. The recoil is significant, even with Desert Tech's big muzzle brake. It too is a hammer. It is much like the 300 win mag on steroids. If you don't reload, forget this caliber unless you hit the jackpot. I used to have a .416 Barrett in a Barrett Model 99. I sold it because I rarely shot it and it was expensive to run, even with reloads. I find myself toying with the idea of selling the .338 LM for the same reason. I don't shoot it much.

I can only shoot 50 rounds of 338 LM before my head is hurting and I have a headache for the rest of the day. (Small rifle, not heavy + big azz recoil = headache.)

I bought my caliber conversions at the same time. However, if I were you, . . . I would just buy the 300 Win Mag (consider the 7mm Mag!) and stick with that. I have a feeling that you won't feel the need to go bigger once you got that boom stick dialed in. I find the 338 LM doesn't really give you all that much more than a 300 win mag until you're out past 1400 yards and how often are you doing that?

My 2 cents.

[Whiterabbit]

My experience with 338 is that it heats a barrel fast. So if you want a savage, make sure it has a heavy barrel. The pencil barrel 338 savages are accurate until the barrel heats up then goes to pot. Doesn’t take too many shots to get there.

[devster55]

I forgot to mention I reload as well so ammo isn’t much of a issue.

[sigstroker]

.277 SIG Fury.

SIG's 277 Fury Hybrid Hunting load features a 140-grain bullet with a .508 G1 BC, launching from a 16-inch barrel at 2,950 fps.

That's a couple hundred fps faster than 6.5 Creedmoor. Very similar to the 6.5 PRC but the Fury fits in a short action better. The PRC will fit but is hamstrung a bit and works better in a long action. I haven't seen what Fury ballistics are supposed to be out of a 20 inch (or better) barrel.

.300 PRC is better yet, but for 1500 yards basically means you just spend more on bullets, powder, and get more recoil.

[MongooseV8]

Id buy a Savage Magnum Target single shot. Sell the barrel on Ebay and buy a 338AI barrel.

[Bull Elk]

First of all, what do you want to do with the rifle? If hunting, there is no need for a .338 Lapua if you are hunting any big game animal in the US. Just overkill.

[MongooseV8]

He said shooting steel at long ranges past his 6.5 Creed

[Jesse 2]

Run the exterior ballistics on 6.5 creedmoor and 300 win mag and you will find they are so close that it's not worth going to the extra recoil/cost of a magnum unless you need the extra energy on target.
So get a 338 for 1500 and beyond and stick with the 6.5 for the closer ranges if all you are doing is target shooting.

Besides 338, is there a lighter round for economical 1 mile shooting?

[kevins750]

Besides 338, is there a lighter round for economical 1 mile shooting?

There are 30 caliber and 7mm selections that will get you there.

Magnums, ultra magnums, saum's, noslers, wsm....just to name a few...

Not sure if economical fits any of these I listed...barrel life and still 70+ grains of slow powder for most. Maybe 280 AI......