I have an itch to buy a new rifle. I was looking into a Serbu .50 cal. My shooting range is a < .50 cal range. So I have been looking into different caliber bullets. A friend suggested a .338 Ultra Mag. The more I read about it the more I want one. Does anyone have any experience with these two different bullets (Ultra Mag VS. Lapua)?
Thanks Jim, I have some data for the two rounds. I am leaning towards the .338 Lupua. I noticed that the brass is kind of on the high end (that goes with quality). Other than that, I really like the round. What brand of rifle do you have or suggest for the Lupua?
Thanks for your advise,
Ben
[This message has been edited by bens (edited 03-20-2002).]
Bens, I have owned both. At the present time I have a 338 Ultra Mag. If you want to contact me my e-mail is SHanso112@aol.com. I will discuss this further if you would like. Steve
Mine is a Sako TRG-S. I really like it. The worst part about them is finding an aftermarket stock. But if you like the factory one I guess it is no big deal.
Midsouth Shooter Supply had Lapua brass on sale for ~$70 per hundred for once fired. Otherwise Norma brass runs ~$110 a hundred.
338lapua, I also have a Sako TRG in 338 Lapua. Did you manage to find a synthetic stock for yours? I'd like to replace mine as well, it really doesn't fit me, which makes the recoil nasty. Other than that, it's a pretty good rifle. Best loads so far put a 250 gr Hornady at 2960 fps. I believe it can do better than this, if I find the right powder combination. I picked up a bucket of 300 gr MK's and will load them and try them out once the weather breaks. Take care - Dan
Posts: 5287 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
MPI makes one. And David Lake will build one from a carbon fiber composite. I've called McMillen, H-S etc. and they won't make one for it. The only other option is to order a McMillen blank and have it custom inletted.
The worst part of the Sako stock IMO is the recoil pad (or lack there of) it REALLY sucks. I don't know what possessed them to put such a horrible pad on these guns.
Jim, I am looking at the Sako TRG-S. The price seems fair compared to the other TRG models. Before I make a purchase I think I will try to find an aftermarket stock. That sucks that H-S doesn't make one. I really like their designs.
That is cheap for the brass. I was seeing $2 a round for the brass alone.... Thanks.
I lke the .338 RUM. With the speer 250 gr SPBT or Lapua .338 Scenars in my reworked Rem 700 it will shoot just as well or better than the .338 Lapua at half the cost for the gun. These two cartridges have nearly identical ballistics with the cost of brass for the Lapua being way higher. Given the cost of .338 Rum you can now afford to sort by weight and neck turn, thus producing extremely uniform loads. I've shot both cartridges in TRGS,AWAC and hot rodded Remingtons rifles and don't see enough difference to matter. What I really love is the guys claiming consistent 5 shot 5 inch 1000 yrd groups from their sniper rifle look-alikes. You know they never actually show pictures of their targets signed and certified from actual competitions. Wonder why not?These guns are good, but not that good.-Rob
Posts: 6314 | Location: Las Vegas,NV | Registered: 10 January 2001
I hate to rain on somebody's parade, but the 300 Ultra mag (180 grain bullet) seems to be the cartridge with the top ballistic numbers and a whole lot less recoil than the 338 Lapua dishes out.
So why would somebody choose one in the first place? I can't see the reasoning behind it at this point. The 300 Ultra mag shoots much flatter. Perhaps I am missing something here, so help me out a little please.
That is not comparing Apples to Apples. I have a .30 cal rifle already and want to go a little bigger. The .338, from what I have read, can perform better than a .50 Cal BMG after a 1000 yards (I will try and find that article). I am going to Knob Creek this weekend...... I might end up with the .50 cal after all.....
I have a read articles about that caliber, I have never had the opportunity to shoot one. The data on that round looks pretty good. From what I have read it is a good long range big game gun. What advantages do you see with the .340 over the .338's?
Right now, "over seas", the 300 UMag has documented 1st round hits at 1200 yd.s although the two rifles that were used broke the action bedding at 98 and 107 rounds respectfully. Granted, not a cartidge problem. For a truely long range project check out the .408 Chey-Tac. It is proven MOA to 2500 yd.s at the Yuma, AZ. radar range.
Posts: 9 | Location: usa | Registered: 13 June 2002
Do not have any experience with the RUM but the 338 Lapua I do. I use the AAI rifle and really love the way it shoots! At the ranch we have a 300 yard target set up which is where most of the shooting is done. Bottom line the rifle with both factory and handloads shoots less than .5 MOA. To say I am pleased with the rifle would be an understatement.
I bought the rifle to use on long range feral hogs as they are a real problem--already rooting up the spring food plots planted for deer! There has not been a single pig that has escaped once the trigger has been pulled(longest shot so far little over 300 yds). I have had the best results with believe it or not 7828 with the 250g Matchkings.
Posts: 109 | Location: Colleyville,TX | Registered: 23 January 2002
I bought a standard BDL 338Rum a few days before leaving for Africa. The gun shoots great. Expect under an inch groups with factory ammo. It�s a kicker though in a 6 � pound gun. I have also shot the TRG�s and they shoot great as well. Good luck on your decision. Et
I'd love to see a verified/certified picture of a TARGET in which a .338 Lapua beats a .50 BMG at 1000 yrds or better particularily into the wind! Given the same qualified shooter and rifles both capable of < .5 MOA at 100 yrds, the .50 BMG will win at 1000 yrds nearly every time. Frankly the recoil of my .50 is less than my .338 Lapua.--Rob
Posts: 6314 | Location: Las Vegas,NV | Registered: 10 January 2001
quote:Originally posted by Robgunbuilder: I'd love to see a verified/certified picture of a TARGET in which a .338 Lapua beats a .50 BMG at 1000 yrds or better particularily into the wind! Given the same qualified shooter and rifles both capable of < .5 MOA at 100 yrds, the .50 BMG will win at 1000 yrds nearly every time. Frankly the recoil of my .50 is less than my .338 Lapua.--Rob
Rob, good point. I saw that on snipercountry.com. There were no targets to support the claim.
Ben I have a 338 RUM LH sporter LSS all factory and it will put the 250 grain Game Kings out at 2975. The rifle has a bit of a wollop for recoil and I still get under .75MOA out to 300. Most 3-shot groups are 2" with some going 1.5" at 300. I load with a stiff load of H-1000 and Fed 215's. I also Have a AR-50 50 BMG that shoots very well. With 750 grain A-Max's I get under 2" groups at 300 as well with most going 1.5" to 1.75". The 50 BMG has no peer when it comes to LONG range, the 750 A-Max has a bc of 1.050 where as the 300 grain 338 Match King goes about .775. Even with a 150-200 fps deficet the 50 catches up and passes the 338 damn quick. Then if you want to talk foot pounds of energy... The biggest drawback to the 50 is the size and weight of the rifle. If you plan on hiking with it very far, the 338 looks a lot better! I haven't owned or shot the Lapua so I cannot comment on it. Hope this is of some help. Jim the Plumber
This last weekend a friend of mine and I went to the range and shot his RUM in a SS composite. We had two boxes of factory ammo one with core-lokt the other with Swift-A-Frame. We shot the usual jugs filled with water and ooed and aahed but I was truly impressed when I shot a three shot group at 200 yards that measured l 1/4". That is outside spread and was fired with the Swift ammo. NOW THAT IMPRESSED ME! I fired 18 rounds Sunday and while each round does have noticable recoil I did not use an extra pad or anything other than a t-shirt and Carhart jacket and had no soreness or recoil pad marks on my shoulder, again I was very impressed. Maybe I'm more impressionable than most but I have also fired 25 rounds of 416 Rigby @ 2600 to 2700 fps, from the bench in a day, so I do know what SERIOUS recoil from a bench is. For my money I could not ask for more in a 338 cal. rifle. Good Hunting! "Z"
Posts: 352 | Location: Grand Island, NE. USA | Registered: 26 January 2001
