.338 Lapua ?

[Guy Miner]

What to do with one? I've been offered a nearly new Savage "tactical" rifle in .338 Lapua at a very good price, from an old friend.

Doggone thing weighs about 15 pounds though I think, and could prove very expensive to shoot.

I'm not sure what the heck I'd even do with it... Thoughts?

Thanks, Guy

 

[Thebear_78]

punish steel at very long ranges is the most often employed use of such a rifle. They aren’t practical for any hunting application. They can be very accurate and the components and factory ammo for the 338 LP are very high quality. The glass it will require will be the expeensive part. 300gr Sierra MK @ 1000 yards still smack steel with authority though!

round for round its as expensive as a 50 BMG to shoot.

 

[jimbires]

I have one . yes it is expensive, anything with 338 lapua wrote on it brings a high price . Lapua brass $250 a hundred . look at the price of dies . I've bought a bunch of 300 AccuBond seconds , and 300 gr Berger OTM .about 100 grains of RL33 powder per round .8-32 NXS scope. the list goes on and on .mine is a stiller action , 30 in bbl , McMillan stock. I'm guessing it weighs in around 18/ 19 pounds ready to use . at this weight it's a dream to shoot . my problem is I've had the rifle for over a year and probably have only put 20 rounds through it . I've just been to busy to enjoy it . I hope things slow down soon , so I can get this bugger all figured out and start to use it . I can see me sitting in a few spots watching for deer at longer distances .



my 7-08 rifle on the job . LOL


my 7-08 and 338 long range rifles .

 

[truck driver]

Jim it looks like you have some long shots over those reclaimed coal strip mines.

Guy put wheels on it so you can roll it out and set it up to shoot from one ridge to the other or across canyons. :roll: :wink:

 

[Thebear_78]

What you have to remember is where ever you shoot a critter you have to find it and bring it back.

Too many times I've shot a critter only to realize I had to carry that damn thing out now that I've killed it.

I think we would all be better off with 30-30s. Our recoveries would be a lot shorter.

 

[truck driver]

What you have to remember is where ever you shoot a critter you have to find it and bring it back.

Too many times I've shot a critter only to realize I had to carry that damn thing out now that I've killed it.

I think we would all be better off with 30-30s. Our recoveries would be a lot shorter.

That's one reason why I have used the 30-06 all these years, take a long shot for around here when I have too but most of my shots have been with in 200yds. But I use to walk in where no one else would go so I still had to carry them out. I've been known to carry a whole White tail out that was killed a mile from where I parked the truck with out help when I was younger and still inclined to hunt the same areas with no company.

 

[IdahoCTD]

Most people are really into the 338's or they buy/build one and don't like the recoil/cost to shoot/weight of them. I have a 338 Edge and even at 16lbs I don't like to shoot it nearly as much as my 6.5's, 7's, and 30's. Once I go over about 250gr bullets I like them less these days it seems (especially when said bullet is pushed by 90+ grains of powder). Mine is accurate as heck and I've post many groups shot with it in the .1's, 2's, and .3's but when it is punishing to shoot it's just not as fun. 99grs of R-33 with a 300gr bullet at 2990fps has some pretty serious recoil, even with a brake. I just recently borrowed the Nightforce scope off mine because I shoot it so little now days. Your friend probably falls into the same category as me and I almost bet you would do the same if you bought it and ran some rounds down range. A 375 H&H is literally a pussy cat compared to a Lapua or Edge with 300's and 90+grs of powder. I actually would rather shoot my .416 with 300's at a lighter weight.

Just my .02

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to pass on the rifle.

We've got a 600 yard range here, and I shoot well on it, with my .308 Green Machine. Don't need a 15 pound+ .338 Lapua that I can't afford to shoot too. :roll:

Regards, Guy

 

[longrangehunter]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to pass on the rifle.

We've got a 600 yard range here, and I shoot well on it, with my .308 Green Machine. Don't need a 15 pound+ .338 Lapua that I can't afford to shoot too. :roll:

Regards, Guy

Not needed for 600 yard shots, 1200+ yards sure, and yes it's expensive but for extreme long range shooting it does have a place when most rounds are falling from the sky.

I shoot from the top of a mountain over a steep gulch and a valley to the other side of a hillside above my house. The air currents can be tough to figure out when the bullet has to fly over the gulch, a ridge top and then over a valley to the opposite hillside. It'll make you wish you picked a straight line of sight for sure! Very hard to hit even with little air movement let alone when the air is moving around.

 

[IdahoCTD]

With the higher BC 30cal bullets and some of the hotter 30's they can keep up pretty well with the Lapua/Edge to a mile. After that the 338's and 375's are in a league of their own. The 30's have way less recoil, even with 230's at 3330fps using 111grs of powder.

 

[longrangehunter]

Here's a picture I took earlier today that shows the view looking back towards the hill top I shoot from...... it's directly below the short heavy tree branch on the horizon. It's small and yes hard to see but that is 1300 yards away. Picture #2 shows the 19" round steel I shoot at (notice the tree has a lot of bullet splatter above the target in the form of missing bark). I had another one around the hillside as well but I moved it because it was just too hard to see bullets that missed there mark.

I used to be able to drive up there but now the USFS has the gate locked which is good in a way, no more pouching, dumping trash, four wheelers traveling where they don't belong, etc. etc. etc. I just walk the 20-30 minutes it takes to climb up to that grade to either hunt or shoot from. It's the same spot I took my Elk from this year only he came off the back facing side of that hill.

For me it's a great place to view Game on the South facing hillside behind my house, you can see more open terrain then any place within miles from there. I can also shoot up hill from directly below on my property but you're forced to move around to see the entire hillside which means they might see you as well? It's nice since it's a direct down hill slope to my back yard.

 

[FOTIS]

If the price is good buy it play with it and flip it.