I want a rifle that if I can see it, I can shoot it. Yes, I know about the recoil; I'm a big boy and can handle it.

Of course this is just a pipe dream til I can get the kids out of the house, but it's always good to gain as much information as possible.

I have always been partial to a 30-378, however; after reading some info on the 338 Lapua it seem to be a very good long range shooter.

Of couse I could just get a Barett 50BMG and be done with it.

Barett could be a problem to shoot as many ranges have rules about the BMG. I think the 338 Lapua is a great cartridge. It can be supremely accurate as well as a blast to shoot.

The 338 Laupa will put more energy on the target at any range than the 30-378. That doesn't mean that the 30-378 won't get the job done for any NA game just the 338 Laupa has more a little more.
Also the 338 Laupa is known fro it's accuracy, while the 30-378 is not known for it's accuracy. If I was going with a 30 cal it would be the 300RUM.

Kevin Weaver is a verey good smith for long range hunting rifles.

Weaver Rifles
16850 Sage Creek Rd.
Peyton CO 80831
(719)683-3024
(719)337-0501

When I moved from Florida to Colorado I purchased a 30-378 for hunting on the plains. Even with heavy Barnes bullets meat damage was terrible. I switched to a custom Ruger #1 in 338 Lapua to have a single gun for all types of hunting and never looked back. 225 Barnes XLC bullets over large amounts of RL 25 one shot kils on antelope and elk with very little meat damage. Longest shot to date 337 lasered yards on an antelope facing forward, bullet in at center of chest and out about an inch right of the bung hole.

I own the 300 RUM and the 338 RUM and both are very accurate. With the 300 I use H1000 and with the 338 I use RL25.

My 300 shot a 3 shot group that is 3/4" at 200 yds. My 338 shot a 3 shot group that is 5/8" at 200 yds.

jro45
That pretty good accuracy. Who made your rifles.
DR B

not wanting to hijack a thread but what are the differences in 340 Weatherby & 338 Lapua?

why dont you look at getting the 338/378wby, have used one and they are simply a great hunting round.



cheers cc

IMO the 338 Lapua is a better round than the 30-378 or 338-378, or 340 Weatherby. It is built for accuracy and delivers.
I don't see case life on the belted rounds with Venturi shoulders being anywhere near the case life enjoyed by the Lapua round.
Also the Lapua round being a std issue military sniper round might have some signifigance on ammo availability.
I see the Weatherby rounds as OK rounds but have features like belts and rounded shoulders as much geared towards appearance as towards performance.
The Lapua was made to shoot high BC bullets to long range with authority and accuracy no frills attatched................DJ

I have a Remington 700 LSS in 300 RUM and I'm very pleased with the accuracy and down range performance. That would be my choice but I haven't had a chance to shoot the others either. Just my 2 cents.

Why would someone want a rifle that costs them $4.00 every time they pulled the trigger????

and even if you hand load the brass and the powder consumption is thru the roof.....

I really hope you enjoy either one you get, but the reasons for either escape me....

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
Why would someone want a rifle that costs them $4.00 every time they pulled the trigger????

and even if you hand load the brass and the powder consumption is thru the roof.....

I really hope you enjoy either one you get, but the reasons for either escape me....

Seafire, It's pretty hard to make decent hits at long range with cast bullets and blue dot.

People enjoy the big accurate rounds for the same reason that they enjoy powerful cars that will go faster than the speed limit. At least with guns you can enjoy the high performance legaly......................DJ

DJ:

I don't actually shoot cast bullets my friend...

However, I don't knock the desire to go fast... It just seems like it can be done a little more cost effectively....

and in the reality of it all, a couple of clicks up on the elevation on your scope will compensate for all the extra powder's ability to launch the bullet at 200 fps faster....

I just don't consider the trade offs worth it is all... I am not knocking it, I just don't understand the logic, or lack thereof...

Get a 338 Allen mag... modified 404 chey-tac case pushes a 300 grainer around 3500 fps I believe. Kirby Allen (the case designer) killed a prarie dog at 2400 yards not too long ago with his prototype. Oh, but that's farther than you can see... on second thought, just get a 300 RUM and be done with it.

Dr B
They both are made by REMINGTON.

Here's a vote for the 338/378. I've had several 340s, they're excellent for all around long range work. The 338/378 is a big step up in speed, a solid 200 fps. or more. Don't know about other guns but my MK V is very accurate.

quote:

However, I don't knock the desire to go fast... It just seems like it can be done a little more cost effectively....

and in the reality of it all, a couple of clicks up on the elevation on your scope will compensate for all the extra powder's ability to launch the bullet at 200 fps faster....

I just don't consider the trade offs worth it is all... I am not knocking it, I just don't understand the logic, or lack thereof...

Seafire/B17G
If we took your statment to it's logic extension their is no need for any thing faster or newer than a 30-40 Krag or 300 savage. Gains in the preformace of amunition have historicly been slow.
The old guys in 1906 probly coudn't understand replacing the 45-70 with the 30-06.

Dr B

Well Dr. B, Ya got me....

I'd rather hunt with a 30/40 Krag or a 300 Savage any day over a 338 Lapua or a 30/378 Weatherby.....

At least to my way of thinking, I won't be paying $4.00 every time I pull the trigger...

And a 220 grain RN in a 30/40 or a 30/06 is pretty effective well out to 200 yds or better, which is well within the realm of 95% of my hunting needs and most of the rest of America....

I just still don't understand the appeal is all...

quote:

Originally posted by djpaintles:
IMO the 338 Lapua is a better round than the 30-378 or 338-378, or 340 Weatherby. It is built for accuracy and delivers.
I don't see case life on the belted rounds with Venturi shoulders being anywhere near the case life enjoyed by the Lapua round. ...

Hey dj, What kind of case life have you experienced with the 30-378, 338-378 and 338Lapua Cartridges?

How much more accuracy have you experienced with the 338 Lapua in comparison with the others?

My long range rig is my 7mm STW. But evan with that one I would hope I would have the disipline to shoot no farther than 400 yards.
You might be good enough to shoot farther , but if you are its beacuse you at one time or another had lots of time to prcatice. no cartridge or expensive rifle scope or anything else will make a substitute for the great skill required. And if you have the skillits a 300 win is plenty of cartridge. After all bullet placement will do the trick...tj3006
...tj3006

djpaintles ----- I agree with your assessment. I have owned and shot extensively the .338 Win mag, two .340's, and the .338 Lapua. I have shot and loaded extensively the 30-378 and .338-378 Wby's for friends. My sporter model .340 is a real keeper, with pin-point accuracy it has given me several Elk, Deer and a great Alaskan-Yukon Moose, It will always be in my safe for me or grandsons someday. The .338 Lapua has given me and my son and grandson several Elk and Deer and shoots many one holers when the shooter does his best. ----- In a nutshell, the .340 Wby is one of the best rounds ever built and very close to the Lapua round. The .338 Lapua is hotter but only marginally so, the choice between the two resting with the shooter and his preference in brass configuration, cost, etc. The .30-378 and .338-378 after shooting hundreds of rounds are more finicky in finding accuracy, but for hunting accuracy still good. Both are fast yet not bettering the previous mentioned two rounds when all aspects are considered, for the recoil sensitive probably none of those under consideration here being your cup of tea. They all are here to stay and for the dedicated shooter can become a great taker of game in any field. That is my .02's for what it is worth. Good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
QUOTE]Hey dj, What kind of case life have you experienced with the 30-378, 338-378 and 338Lapua Cartridges?

How much more accuracy have you experienced with the 338 Lapua in comparison with the others?

I've had 2 338 Lapua's, a HS Precision HTR and a Sako TRG-42. I've used only Lapua brass in both and have yet to wear out a single case, so splits, separations or loose primer pockets yet.
The HS Precision HTR shot about 1 1/2" groups at 300yds. The TRG-42 in really good conditions has shot 3/4" 5 shot groups at 300yds. You can guess which one I still have.
I've had factory Weatherby ammo in another caliber have spent primers fall out and jam up the bolt. The 30-378 I shot over my chronograph wasn't shooting 180gr bullets any faster than my regular 300 Weatherby was.
Case life on my 2 300 Weatherby's has not been OK but not in the same league as the 338 Lapua or 330 Dakota.
The 340 Weatherby I had was an 340 Improved so isn't really a fair comparison........................DJ

I haven't owned one, but have seen several of the .338 Lapuas that were very accurate, but that is what they were made for and were shooting 300 Sierra match bullets. I never could see much reason for the .30-378, except someone who just wants something bigger than his buddy's .300 RUM. Ruger is supposed to build the RSM in .338 Lapua.

I have a Sako Model 995 in 338 Lapua. The 165 grain Barnes X Bullet loaded max will do horrible things to deer. Very accurate rifle.

Hey DJ, Thank you - great first hand report. I'm sure I'd hang on to a 3/4"-300yd shooter too.

Do you believe the difference in case life is primarily related to the Case Annealing process which makes the Lapua cases do so well?

Or perhaps the Lapua having to meet the Military Spec requirements?

HC, I think that the 338 Lapua cases last longer because of several reasons. All brass cases are annealed the Military style cases just leave the annealing marks on whereas commercial cases have them polished or pickled off.
The 338 Lapua cases are made to be thick and strong. They started with 416 Rigby cases but strengthened them for the higher pressures. I think cases without a belt can be made stronger not having the stress riser of a 90% angle on the web - but that may be more prejudice than effect. It might be more than anything that Lapua brass is simply superb brass.....................DJ

Hey DJ, Thaks again. I'm aware of the Annealing Marks and them being removed on some commercial cases.

The "thick and strong" in reference to the Lapua cases is interesting. I'm assuming you mean in the case wall just above the casehead. When Winchester made the WSM cases, they did the same thing.

It is a definite advantage having cases built like that, incomparison to traditional non-Belted cases, when used in the Mauser style rifles.

Best of luck to you.

Once I watched a guy attempt to sight in a .30-.378 for a "hunter" who'd bought it for bear hunting. The recoil may not bother you but it sure bothered this guy and he owns and fires regularly all sorts of dangerous game rifles. What's worse, out of the end of that 26 (!) inch barrel there was a muzzle flash as big as a prizewinning pumpkin and it lit up the whole range right in the middle of broad Arizona daylight. I asked the guy why he'd bought this freak rifle and he said he'd been impressed with the ballistics tables. I kid you not.

djpaintles ----- They looked at a lot of cases, but in the end did their own. It does look a lot like the .416 Rigby, but they did not actually use that case. The Lapua brass is the best I have ever loaded, bar none. Good shootig.