Building a 338 Lapua

20 November 2015, 21:40

416Tanzan

quote:
Originally posted by smallfry:
Love it RIP! I was looking at that rear island and was thinking... WTF! Looks good though. Being a 338 bore fan I never warmed up to the 338 LM. If I went., that route I would prob do a full length rigby case otherwise I'd stick to a RUM or 340 wby. I am doing a new wby now on a M70. All stainless 24" trying to keep it scoped and loaded at ~8lbs

For RIP and SmallFry,
the 338Lapua is almost a Rigby length case, and the bit of length that it gives up can be profitably spent on long, sleek, long, high-BC bullets. (Did I mention long bullets?)

[Long bullet adaptability is the rationale behind the 338 Norma. I might prefer the 338 Norma if fitting into a mid-sized action. The Tikka is a delightful mountain rifle, but if fitting into a mid-sized normal bolt the choice ends up a wildcat 338Ruger or 338WinMag (WinMag is never a bad choice). So a 338 Lapua is definitely the easy way to go and with good brass and pedigree.]

21 November 2015, 00:21

smallfry

quote:
Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
quote:
Originally posted by smallfry:
Love it RIP! I was looking at that rear island and was thinking... WTF! Looks good though. Being a 338 bore fan I never warmed up to the 338 LM. If I went., that route I would prob do a full length rigby case otherwise I'd stick to a RUM or 340 wby. I am doing a new wby now on a M70. All stainless 24" trying to keep it scoped and loaded at ~8lbs

For RIP and SmallFry,
the 338Lapua is almost a Rigby length case, and the bit of length that it gives up can be profitably spent on long, sleek, long, high-BC bullets. (Did I mention long bullets?)

[Long bullet adaptability is the rationale behind the 338 Norma. I might prefer the 338 Norma if fitting into a mid-sized action. The Tikka is a delightful mountain rifle, but if fitting into a mid-sized normal bolt the choice ends up a wildcat 338Ruger or 338WinMag (WinMag is never a bad choice). So a 338 Lapua is definitely the easy way to go and with good brass and pedigree.]

Really it's all about personal preference obviously. I like 24" guns scoped and loaded to be under 8.5. .530 rim diameter works for me. I shoot on the front half of 1200 yards so the 340 wby works for me. My old wby had issues with precision but I am hoping my new build won't be so problematic.

21 November 2015, 01:29

RIP

smallfry,
Thanks. I adore the 340 Wby also.
I have a 1985 Wby Fibermark 340 Wby that I would never part with.That was my solo caribou hunting rifle, and Kodiak brown bear persuader.
Also have had a take-off barrel from a 340 Wby Mk V installed on a Whitworth Mark X Mauser.
That one got quickly re-barreled to .358 STA with a Douglas barrel, 1:12" twist, 26" long.
But now that I have the very serviceable .338 LM CZ 550 Magnum with a 23" barrel, what more could I possibly need?

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