338 Lapua??

[JTROKS]

That Hensoldt is in th $6K+ range and that probably doesn't include the base and rings.

What's the OP's price range?

[Glock21sfsd]

I dont really have a price range yet. I am just in the intial planning stages of aquiring a long range rifle. Not even sure what I want, 338 Lapua or 50 DTC or something else. Dont even know what brand I want to get but am thinking Savage.

[JMP]

I dont really have a price range yet. I am just in the intial planning stages of aquiring a long range rifle. Not even sure what I want, 338 Lapua or 50 DTC or something else. Dont even know what brand I want to get but am thinking Savage.

If you don't have a price range yet, don't go Savage. Go with Accuracy International or Sako TRG for a bit less. They do very nice .338s, Savage, Barrett, Remington, etc., won't compare. Sako, AI, and Lapua developed the cartridge, so they've focused very closely on making great rifles for it.

[bsumoba]

338 edge if you dont know what you really want. it uses a standard mag bolt face. that way, you can convert to any other mag caliber like 300 win mag, 300 WSM, 7 SAUM, blah blah blah.

A 338 lapua bolt will only handle the big boys like the 338LP, the snipetac, cheytac and other large caliber diketac's. so you're limited to those calibers.

the negative of the 338 edge is you dont get lapua brass and have to use nosler, federal, or remington. hint...remington brass is supposedly the best brass of the three with regards to lifespan and pocket primer life.

[lazuris]

Get the glass that you use with your other long range rifles. Standardize glass is best glass assuming your other glass is high quality. I standardize all rifles across calibers same stock, actions, glass, trigger, accessories, everything. That way all rifles feel the same just some have more punch then the others.

338 Lapua is an expensive round to buy and expensive to reload for up front. 100 pieces of brass is gonna run $250+ and it eats powder. 92g h1000 for my load with a 300g SMK.

As far as rifles go I'm a big fan of custom Rem 700 actions. I like Surgeon, and Stiller. In the 338 both make a over sized action with over sized bolt for the larger parent case. Sako is a no go since it has a proprietary mag setup and older versions were 1:12 i heard they have 1:10 twist rates now which will handle the 300g SMK. I'm not a fan of AI as it does nothing that a custom remmy will do plus the AI stock is heavy and I don't shoot in -20 degree weather. I use Krieger barrels across the board and all stocks are Manners T5 even my .22 Savage MK2. Every thing you can do to increase consistency will make long range better.

Finally if you are just getting into long range don't go for the 338. Get a 6.5 caliber and you will be tickled pink. Truthfully real long range shooting is a PITA. 1000yds can be hit all day long with .223/.308 and not break the bank. Unless you have private land and access to a ATV 1 mile shots mean 2+ mile walks to repaint the target. Have fun

PS. If all your glass is NF what ever you do don't ever, ever, ever, ever try out your buddies S&B. It is a very expensive transition.

[Glock21sfsd]

I have a Ruger american 308. Not many upgrades available for it so maybe I will look into a remington 700 308 so I dont break the bank but it sure would be fun to have a 338 Lapua or 50DTC or something in that range

[lazuris]

Not many upgrades available for it so maybe I will look into a remington 700 308

Remmy is the chevy small block of rifle actions. Everyone makes stuff for it. You can go custom remmy actions, stiller/surgeon that are built to laser specs. There is a huge after market out there for remmy based actions. Simple things like finding high moa scope bases are way easier for remmy actions. If you go with a factory remmy get their Sendero or Police model its an upgraded version of the 700 with a better stock and barrel and fitting.

Also the most important thing to long range shooting is the glass. Plan to spend about 2k on glass and accessories. NF rings are about 200 and a base is about 100. You cant go cheap on the mounts else you will be buying twice. Go with MIL/MIL if you can it makes life easier as the turret adjustment and the reticle are in the same scale. Also a good laser range finder and a kestral are a must. Data book, bipod, good mat and rear bag all this stuff adds up.

Most guys I see at the range shooting "long range" think walking in their fire or hitting steel 1 in 5 means they are "long range shooters". Hell its fun ill give them that but to do it right 1st round hits second at most means that you'll need to make the investment into the gear and practice to do it right.

it sure would be fun to have a 338 Lapua or 50DTC or something in that range

They are fun but not really practical. I don't even break out the 338 unless we are shooting past 1200yds. A good 308 will get you out to 1200 depending on wind, and a 6.5 will get you out to a mile but the wind at that range is a PITA.

Do you shoot 223/556? If so my advise is: Pick up a 223 remmy on sale. They sell a cheap 700 at Turners for like 450 bucks. It has a cheap stock, thin barrel, crap trigger. Ditch everything but the action/bolt. Order a krieger and have them chamber it to .223AI send them your action and they will do the whole thing for like 600 bucks including barrel. Put it into a good stock and pick up the glass and accessories. .223AI once fire formed, done by shooting std 223/556 once through it, can be loaded with a 77g SMK and it has almost identical ballistics to a 308 175g match load. Not the juice but a slimier flight profile. Recoil is like a .22 you can watch the bullet almost all the way in. Its cheap to shoot, cheap to practice as you use your fire forming time to practice and has a long barrel life. Its what I have people use when they want to shoot LR with me. They can get to a grand all day long and its cheap to shoot and I don't turn into a brass monster when they loose the brass.

Finally if you are serious about LR then you really have to reload if you don't already. Match 308 is not cheap and you can load way better ammo than factory on your own.

[JMP]

fun to have a 338 Lapua or 50DTC or something in that range

Go with the .338 Lapua; it'll be much easier and cheaper. The 50 DTC will need to be custom, then you'll need custom dies, and everything. .338 Lapua is way easier and cheaper. The off the shelf Redding Competition dies are very good. The .338 Lapua is a really well-balanced cartridge that can shoot accurate with a very wide range of loads.

It's a no brainer to go .338 Lapua first. I have long term plans for a 50 DTC, but I am taking my time as I have other larger cartridges.

[JMP]

Remmy is the chevy small block of rifle actions.

Yes, but not for .338 Lapua or larger.

[lazuris]

Yes, but not for .338 Lapua or larger.

I was just referring to the ease and volume of aftermarket parts available.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Some good info so far.

I too am interested in good optics for a .338.

Just trying to save up the $$$$ right now.

[Sunday]

You do not want to skimp on a scope for a 338 Lapua rifle. This is a definite buy once and cry once item. Customer repair service should be thought about as well. 338 lapua is an awesome shooting caliber.

[LynnJr]

Nightforce 5.5-22x56 and don't look back.

[texterter]

S&B 100%

[bsumoba]

I'll throw in there a Kahles 6-24. You can get it for about grand less than the S&B, its more than the NF but its 1st focal plane if you need that ability.

The Vortex Razor Gen 2 looks nice also.

These are my two options currently if I decide to get another scope.