338 Lapua??

[bsumoba]

I am also contemplating a .338 LM build.
I already know which scope i want: Bushnell ET 4.5-30x50 XRS
I have 2 questions:

1 - i want to use a Badger Ordnance 45 MOA base. would this be the best choice? is this too much or not enough cant? Ideally i am thinking this would be for 1K - 2K yards. I already have a .308 for 100 - 1K yards and .338 ammo is expensive.

2- the Bushnell ET 4.5-30x50 XRS has 27 Mils of elevation. Is this going to be enough to get out to 2K? If i am using the 45 MOA base will i be able to have a hundred yard zero and have enough adjustment to get out to 2K?

Run the theoretical numbers. For example, 300gr hybrid OTMs going 2800 fps would mean that you will need around 23.6 mil (81.1 MOA) of elevation adjustment to get to 2K. I do not think you will need a 45 MOA base for that and I think using a 45 MOA might make it hard to get a 100 yard zero. You could probably get away with a 20-30 MOA base. A 27 mil scope is a good amount of adjustment.

[Call Me Karen]

27 miles is not that much. From what I remember my Vortex Razor HD has 125 MOA with a 40 MOA on the base

[jmf_tracy]

Run the theoretical numbers. For example, 300gr hybrid OTMs going 2800 fps would mean that you will need around 23.6 mil (81.1 MOA) of elevation adjustment to get to 2K. I do not think you will need a 45 MOA base for that and I think using a 45 MOA might make it hard to get a 100 yard zero. You could probably get away with a 20-30 MOA base. A 27 mil scope is a good amount of adjustment.

Thanks for the reply. I was not sure if the 30 MOA or 45 MOA cant would be better. BTW, i do not reload so i would be buying off the shelf. i have been looking at some 250 gr ammo.

[Call Me Karen]

i shoot 285gr and 300gr. still learning and still dialing in. the 338 lapua is all new to me. i still need to do more homework on it

[safety-1st]

I want a 338 lapua maybe next year. That savage or Remington 700 in 338 look nice and the price is not bad for around 2k and under. Then add an AICS 1.5 or 2.0 stock would be epic then run a set of BUIS and call it a day....lol jk night force, us optics, are great options

[JMP]

I am also contemplating a .338 LM build.
I already know which scope i want: Bushnell ET 4.5-30x50 XRS

The Bushnell isn't going to deliver a great picture at longer distances. For 2k, I think you'll prefer a bit more scope that a Bushnell.

1 - i want to use a Badger Ordnance 45 MOA base. would this be the best choice? is this too much or not enough cant? Ideally i am thinking this would be for 1K - 2K yards. I already have a .308 for 100 - 1K yards and .338 ammo is expensive.

45 MOA is usually about right for most scopes, but it depends on the scopes total travel an axis alignment.

Thanks for the reply. I was not sure if the 30 MOA or 45 MOA cant would be better. BTW, i do not reload so i would be buying off the shelf. i have been looking at some 250 gr ammo.

Regular BTHP 250gr ammo isn't going to to get you to 2k with good reliability.

[bsumoba]

27 miles is not that much. From what I remember my Vortex Razor HD has 125 MOA with a 40 MOA on the base

S&B, NF, Kahles, etc are all around 25-27mils for the overall elevation adjustment.

you must shoot out to 2500 yards if you need that much elvation adjusment

25-27 mil scopes will get you out to a mile with no problem. yes, there are other ones with more adjustment but not necessarily needed.

Thanks for the reply. I was not sure if the 30 MOA or 45 MOA cant would be better. BTW, i do not reload so i would be buying off the shelf. i have been looking at some 250 gr ammo.

338LP factory ammo is like $4-5 a pop! save that brass and start reloading if you're serious about 338LP. Either that or you're just loaded with dinero, in which case...adopt me!

[jmf_tracy]

The Bushnell isn't going to deliver a great picture at longer distances. For 2k, I think you'll prefer a bit more scope that a Bushnell.

45 MOA is usually about right for most scopes, but it depends on the scopes total travel an axis alignment.


Regular BTHP 250gr ammo isn't going to to get you to 2k with good reliability.

How do you know that the picture will not be great? have you been behind this scope at 30x and at 2K?
I am really liking the bushnell ET line for the price-to-value. I use the 1-6.5x24 on my AR & AK. I have the 3.5-21x50 on my Rem 5R in .308
would the 300gr ammo be a better choice out to 2K?

[jmf_tracy]

338LP factory ammo is like $4-5 a pop! save that brass and start reloading if you're serious about 338LP. Either that or you're just loaded with dinero, in which case...adopt me!

yes, i know about the ammo cost and i am totally against re-loading for myself. I don't want another hobby, more gear and space and time. It is easy enough to buy ammo. I don't plan on shooting the .338 much because of the cost, recoil and barrel life. i am not loaded as you can tell by my choice in optics.

[bsumoba]

How do you know that the picture will not be great? have you been behind this scope at 30x and at 2K?
I am really liking the bushnell ET line for the price-to-value. I use the 1-6.5x24 on my AR & AK. I have the 3.5-21x50 on my Rem 5R in .308
would the 300gr ammo be a better choice out to 2K?

expensive optics are expensive because of the glass and its precise and accurate turret adjustments.

The bushnell's would be good for 1K or less. Yes, you can use it for larger distances, but your sight picture will suffer. The farther you go out and the larger the magnification setting you have, the less clear the glass. In ELR (extreme long range), you want the best glass you can afford and its for the image quality (glass) & the precise turret adjustments, not the magnification or all the wizz-bang features on it. That is why scopes like NF, S&B, Vortex, March, Kahles are preferred. Take a look at this: http://precisionrifleblog.com/2014/0...sults-summary/

[Sir Toast]

Dude. Nightforce. You need a scope that is solid as a rock like a Nightforce or US Optics. That 338 really kicks. Here's my 338 setup.

[jmf_tracy]

expensive optics are expensive because of the glass and its precise and accurate turret adjustments.

The bushnell's would be good for 1K or less. Yes, you can use it for larger distances, but your sight picture will suffer. The farther you go out and the larger the magnification setting you have, the less clear the glass. In ELR (extreme long range), you want the best glass you can afford and its for the image quality (glass) & the precise turret adjustments, not the magnification or all the wizz-bang features on it. That is why scopes like NF, S&B, Vortex, March, Kahles are preferred. Take a look at this: http://precisionrifleblog.com/2014/0...sults-summary/

yes, thanks - i have already read that article previously.
If you read it then you would have noticed that the Bushnell XRS had the same mechanical error as the S&B. bottom line is that it will totally do the job. I have had the high end setup before (GAP crusader with US Optics) and these days i prefer to be a little more value minded with my purchases.
it's the indian not the arrow...

[ar15barrels]

How do you know that the picture will not be great? have you been behind this scope at 30x and at 2K?

I have been behind them at 30x and they are not that impressive.
I have a bunch of guys in our club that have those scopes and most rarely turn them above 22x because they get soft and dark.
After using them, most people agree that they should have stayed with the 3.5-21's that they sold to get the 4.5-30's.

[diver160651]

338 Lapua??

I use 30moa built into my 338 deviant action plus 20.6moa in my Sphur mount and get a 100 zero. On my 338 savage I use a 40moa ken ferrel base and a 20.6moa Sphur also a 100 yard zero.

General rule of thumb, a bit less than 1/2 the advertised travel is available for come ups ( elevation).. That's what we try to recapture some of it with the bases and or mounts.

[jmf_tracy]

I have been behind them at 30x and they are not that impressive.
I have a bunch of guys in our club that have those scopes and most rarely turn them above 22x because they get soft and dark.
After using them, most people agree that they should have stayed with the 3.5-21's that they sold to get the 4.5-30's.

OK, good to know.
I do like the 3.5-21 that i have.
I guess maybe i will stick with that for this new build.
do you have any input on the 30 MOA vs 45 MOA base?