I've found a really good deal on a used Sako TRG 338 Lapua with all the bells and whistles but I can't afford it til the end of summer. It may be sold to someone else by then I'm affraid but I'll still be in the market for 338. I have my heart set on the flattest of the 338's.

If I have to purchase a new rifle then I'm looking at the two listed. I know the cheaper route would be the Remington seeing that the Sako is more expensive and Lapua brass costs a fortune but that does not scare me away. The two are ballisticly the same... almost but I hear that the RUM is more friendly to the hand loader.

What do you think? Help me decide.

Please don't suggest the 338 win, WSSM, ect...

338RUM would be my choice hands down. Cheaper brass and factory rounds. Also a wider choice of guns chambered for thr RUM.

Me thinks a M700 Sendero in 338 Ultra would be a poor mans Sako 338 Lapua, and would shoot almost, if not as well, as the Lapua. I'd like such a setup, but I think the recoil issue is a bit much, for a precision type rig, at least for a wimp like me. I'm not into brakes, but I think the Sako has one, no?

Yeah the Sako has a break TRGS S.

What the Aramalite AR30M in .338 lapua has that ever hit the shelves in the states ??

I do believe that the new nosler reloading book claims they are now using the 338RUM to test 338 bullets due to the excellent accuracy they have been getting out of the case.

I would really like to get a 338 RUM in a sendaro as well. Ballistically the same as the Lapua. Easier (for me) to find reloading data and components. In a pinch you could make 300 or 375 RUM cases work too.

Sure could shot ground squirrels along way away.

Hawkeye

I'm not really a fan of Remington and you mention a wider choice of rifles chambered in 338RUM. Which ones?

I looked at the most common companies(except Savage) on the net and Rem was the only one.

I know Browning was chambering the 338 Ultra in a couple flavors of the A-Bolt. You might not like Remington, but the 700 Sendero is probably the best shooting factory rifle for $1200 cndn or less. At least in a caliber the magnitude of the 338 RUM. I also heard that most of the quality control issues with Remington aren't seen as much in their Varmint, police, and any long range type rifle, like the Sendero.

Tod

I checked the Browning site last night and could not find it chambered in their rifles.

I'll have to do some more looking around and get my shop to look into it. The Sendero gets alot of respect I'll have to admit.

Well, that doesn't suprise me that Browning dropped the 338 RUM so soon. I think they chambered the A-Bolts in 260 Remington for about 10 minutes. Expect to see similar things with the 358 Win & 450 Marlin in the BLR.

Try phoning Wholesale Sports (1-800-696-0253), or Russell Sports (1-888-353-4098). They may be able to scrounge up an A-Bolt for ya. But I still feel the Sendero is twice the rifle the A-Bolt is.

[ 05-13-2003, 01:41: Message edited by: todbartell ]

I'm not considering another A-bolt unless it's a killer deal like the one I got my old man a couple of weeks ago.

I'm hoping to be able to get that Sako because the guy is only asking $1600 for rifle, leupold 3.5x10 scope, brass, and dies. Theres some work done to the rifle also.

If I miss the opportunity then I'm going after the Sendero.

If you are hand loading, I understand that Lapua brass is pretty much the best you can get, and Remington is pretty bad. Just another factor to consider....

boileroom,

I think Browning and Winchester listed the 338RUM at one time. It might be they didn't make many rifles in the caliber,(like they did with the model 70 in 284 Win.)

I don't know why I never mentioned 340 Weatherby and their rifles. What do you guys think about Weatherby rifles? The 340 is in the same class as the other two chamberings.

I have never even shot a Weatherby before.

338 rem ultra mag hands down, nosler reloading manual, uses it for there testing purposes, besides , i already have a .300 ultramag in a Rem700 LSS , great gun, i'm looking hard at the 338 ultramag either in an REMLSS or a SENDERO, idid get to shoot one in REM MODEL700 BDL , really didn't mind the recoil at all , but thats me i go 6ft 3inches and weigh 280 lbs, so recoilis not a factor

BR, I have a TRG-S in 338 Lapua. It's a little faster then my 340 Wby, but not much (50-60 fps). Brass and dies are expensive, although dies might be a little cheaper now that it's been around awhile. recoil is nasty, at least for me with the factory stock. Rod at accrabond seems to have solved that problem however. The ultra has slightly less case capacity then the Lapua, brass is a lot cheaper. I really think that either of these calibers needs more barrel length then 26" to show their true potential. FWIW - Dan

Boilerroom,
I think the 338-378 is the one you may be thinking of in the same class as the 338 lapua.
Trigger

I think the Weatherby AccuMark in 340 Wby would be comparable to a 338 RUM in a Sendero, for $700 cndn more. Click here for Accumark Likewise, the 338-378, in either the AccuMark w/break, or the new TRR. Click here for TRR 338-378 is definetely not powder friendly, I might buy shares in Hodgdon or Alliant if you buy one.

Cases for the 340 Wby are probably close to the same price as 338 Lapua cases, and 338-378 Wby cases are crazy expensive. There is a few good articles on the 338-378 Wbyhere ,here, this one is good , and finally this one.

boilerroom,

My personal opinion is it is either 338 Rem Ultra or 338/378 Wby.

For me, once you leave the brass that is standard like 338 RUM and also a cartridge that readily goes into a Model 70 or Rem 700, then you are better off to go all the way and in this case that means by passing the 338 Lapua and heading to 338/378.

In Australia at least, a plus the big Wby case has over the 338 Lapua and 416 Rigby is that Wby makes 5 calibres on the 378 case. The 30/378, 338/378, 378, 416 and 460 and that means there is always at least cases in a couple of those calibers about the place to neck up or neck down as the case might be.

I think there is also an intangible plus for the 338/378. I have owned a 338/378 before it became a factory round and they will crack the 3000 f/s with 250 grain bullet while in cruise mode. However for the normal 26 inch barrel the 338 RUM and 338 Lapua might be maxing out at 2985 f/s with 250 grain bullet. That would be depressing. Although you could always move the chronograph screens closer together

Mike

Boilerroom, between the two you listed, I would get the .338 RUM. There is a greater availability of components and data available. I personally am a fan of Remington rifles, but if I wasn't, I would look into Winchester or Browning. I believe Winchester was offering a couple models in at least some of the RUMs.
You may also want to consider the .338-378 Weatherby. This is truely an Earsplittenloudenboomer. An Accumark with a break is a nice rig.
I don't see the point in going with a .338 Lapua. I recently compared the price of reloading it and the .50 BMG and found them to be very close.

I use the 300 grainers for long range (700-900 meters) shooting in the 338 Lapua. I've thought of putting a brake on, and I may yet, but I think before I do I'll go to a longer barrel. FWIW - Dan

Well I can only help you by giving you info on the .340 Wby. I have one in the Accumark model. I love the gun and it's very accurate. Is it any better than the Remington Sendero.. I don't know, cause I dont have one. Is it $600 better, I doubt it. But for me I really like the stock fit and profile in the Wby's. I don't particularly care for the Remingtons stock. So for me I'd put a new stock on it and after that is done I'm going to be close to the price of a wby anyways so the choice was easy for me. I reload for mine as well. Wby/Norma brass is about $18 for 20. I'm getting roughly 3100fps using 225 gr Barnes X's. which is right within 20-30 fps of the .338-378 factory stuff. So for me the .340 is everything I want. I'd say if you want to pay the higher cost and want more speed then go with the 338-378 in the Accumark and handload. If not you could go either way and be happy I think. Just depends on which one you like. The 338 Lapua I have no knowledge of so I won't even go there. Good luck

I was just made aware last night that the rifle actually has a 4x14 luepold ajust. I don't know the value of that scope but it's got to be more expensive than the 3.5x10.

The deal just keeps getting better.

The 338 Lapua has the better case design and is very accurate! Take that Sako!

I have an Accumark in .338-378 Weatherby, and I've been real happy with it performance and accuracy wise. I have reciently gone to using millitary surplus powder I obtained from Jeff Bartlett with great results. This stuff is slower than Reloader 25, and about 1/8th the cost. Mine launches the 300 Gr. Sierra's the best. It will go under 1 MOA at 200 yards if I do my part. The .338-378 is the hottest .338 bore out there. I know that the Lapua touters will argue this but when using these ultra slow burning powders, you can simply get more in a .338-378 Weatherby case, than you can a Lapua case. Bill T.

I put togeather a custom .338ultramag last year, for under $1000. 28" Krieger barrel, McMillan stock, Jewell trigger. Rifle shoots 250g bullets just over 3000FPS, 1/2 MOA out to 300 yards. Thats the furthest I've had a chance to shoot her, plan on letting her strech her legs to 600 yards this summer. The rem brass isn't that big of a concern. I turn my necks just enough to clean up, bullet runout is less than .001" on loaded rounds. I've bought brass from midway in 100 piece lots, 90% of the cases were within 2% of weight.

AJ300mag,

did you put it together yourself or have someone build after you got the parts? That's a pretty darn good deal.

Boilerroom
I just sent you a message in the 4x4 area.

My opinion but I think the Ultra is the way to go.
The 340 is a good choice( I used it exclusively for nearly a dozen years), but the 338 Ultra is faster and in my experience more consistently accurate as well. ( phone Nosler )

225 Noslers at 3200
250 Noslers at 3000

The 340 will do 3000 and 2850 respectively.
There are guys that push the 340 faster, but in my experience they lean on it way to hard.
There are 5 of us that shoot .338 Ultra mags and every one of them shoots under sub moa at 200 yards at the speeds listed. One of us is shooting 250 Swifts at a little over 3100 (I don't recomend it) with similar accuracy.

The 338/378 produces recoil in the form of a quick vicious snap that is comparable to a 416.
I find it tough to shoot. Most guys use a brake with this one. Nice cartridge though.

FYI. all of use are shooting Remingtons.
I think its a good action for the calibre and application.

The TRG is usually very accurate.
Just don't drop the clip!

I'm just wondering, does any one have a muzzle break on their Sendero?

How do those fluted barrels take to a break? Do you have to stick to a certain type of break. Stupid question??

I just got back from the desert this weekend and shot two consecutive three shot groups at 686 yards that measured under three inches. The gun was a 338 RUM Sendero with a 6.5-20 LR Leupold. I put 88 grains of RL 25 behind a 300 SMK. It was gusty and most of the stringing was laterally. $hit, this gun is out of the box!

Boilerroom
The flutes on a Sendero stop well short of the muzzel, so a brake is not a problem. The brake on my 8.75 pound gun makes it feel about like a 270.

My Ultra mag is a 4500 dollar (Canadian) custom, but all of the factory Senderos I have seen shoot just as well.

OOPS!

Jamie

boilerroom, in my opinion I would go the .340 Weatherby route if I wanted a long range thumper. How fast do you need to go? If the .340 Wby won't get it done, nothing else will. As far as rifle choice I would take the Weatherby over anything else and never look back.

Boman, I had Krieger do the action work, I put the thing togeather, including steel bedding the action. Just ran some 200g Balistic tips thru her, max load of 93g RL22 gave me 3340FPS with 1/2"- 3 shot group. I've heard these bullets stand up well for elk, think I'll stick with the Partituion golds. I didn't run her over the book max, so I'm a little curious what I'd get bumping her up a grain more.