I know there's a manufacturer says their 338 Normas outshoot the Lapuas at sight in but the Laps are less effected by wind at range. The differences are slight.

If something is more affected by wind at range, that is a function of the bullet and BC, not the cartridge. If the Norma produced tighter groups that would mean that it 'went to sleep' properly and would sail down range better if the bullet were better. But these questions can be left to the benchrest folk.

A well-made rifle in any of the .338" calibers will make an awesome hunting rifle. And the 338 Lapua is a great cartridge if one wants a flatter trajectory for something over 400 yards. In Africa I'm happy with anything practical 0-400 yards.

In my question, i intended to say 500 yds. Hit the wrong key, not that it matters. Have used a 338-378 starting with 1000yd benchrest back in the day when we thought we needed something that big to do the job and then hunting with it for a long time. Accuracy is an obsession and that obsession likely makes for a more confident long range hunter. The one shot kill is the thing.

.... about par for the course

416,

somewhere here, the quality of the brass enters into the conversation.
My primary reason to do the 338 LM over the Edge, which I really liked, was due to the quality of the LAPUA brass versus Remington.

I would not take the extra couple of hours and the added cost of buying 500 RUM cases to get 100 match quality VS just buying 100 of the LM.

I have no dog in this fight but if I was pondering a build on a boomer like the 338LM It would be on a Stiller 338 action. It is designed for the round.


Joe

Joe,

Agreed! I am down to two choices, the Stiller P1000 dual-port, and the Surgeon single shot actions. My preference would be RB/LP, but neither of those comes that way. Surgeon is R/R, and the Stiller is RB/DP.

I have given some thought to just starting out with the new Savage single shot rifle; they can be had for about a thousand dollars, ready to shoot.

Rich

Rich, the Savage Single Shot is a smoking deal.

I would pick Bat or Barnard for single shot.

Lots of great repeater options; Stiller, Surgeon, Defiance and many more.

sage advice from someone who knows...

My TRG 42 got here today, not quite as advertised but it is a nice clean rifle with all the Sako factory extras (scope mount, bipod), and a Leupold 4-14 tactical. Scope says Vari-X Tactical and looks like a Mark 4, but isn't marked that way. Must be an older model, not what I thought I was getting but I got the whole shebang dirt cheap.

10 days in California purgatory, and I'll have it.

still nothing -- amazing ..

the saga continues, next Wednesday...

the 338LM was conceived as a repeater for military long range sniping. To that end, they designed the oal to fit a magazine.

At the CIP/SAAMI specs the oal is limited at 3.681" for that purpose. The Savage 112 BA variant, is a single shot, but throated for the spec length.

With my Forster seating die set to an oal of 3.94" the base of the bullet is even with the shoulder/body junction. That is .260" longer than factory.

That .260" equals: space for a lot more powder or vastly lower pressures.

Solution: rifle is off to the local gunsmith to get the throat extended to allow the 3.94" round to chamber.

ask me in two weeks.

Rich

got it back, and set the accu-trigger at 10 oz.

The starting load is from Berger 73gr of 4350 at the 3.94" oal. 2403fps.

The brake really cuts down on recoil, but damn it's loud...

Hence fourth let it be known that their are "SNOWFLAKES" on AR that have never used a toothpick to tamp powder...

When I blow a primer or lose an extractor Jeffe AKA Snowflake, I'll promise you I will let you know....

well said.

I cheat, I turn my vibratory tumbler on and just hold the powder charged case against the side. Works every time!

At least I own one, and it did NOT take me four years either...

The throating works. I can get the 300gr Berger Hybrids to 3000fps without concern over pressures.

Over 3000fps not even improved? Nice

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
The throating works. I can get the 300gr Berger Hybrids to 3000fps without concern over pressures.

Rich

bl,

read the entire thread about my 338 LM if you would.

Factory loads, due to the design for a magazine fed bolt rifle are 3.681" oal. My single shot does not suffer from those limitations. It is throated to seat the bullet at the case neck/shoulder junction. That is 3.94" oal. There's an extra .260" of case to stuff powder in.

I am curious what MV's you are getting with yours?

Rich

I read all of your posts. Just when I think you come down to earth, you climb into your Gag a Were again.

I take this to mean that you do not believe an increase in powder capacity can allow for an increase in velocity...?

I loaded my first round at the 3.94" oal with the maximum load listed by Berger for their 300gr Hybrid bullet. It "sooted" the case neck, and velocity was 100fps +/- lower than Berger listed with the same length barrel. I took that to mean that the pressure was pathetically low, and did not seal the chamber.

My next three rounds were five grains over the max, 2783fps. Next three were eight grains over, and velocity was 2966fps. One more grain, and 3031fps. Pinky finger bolt lift, no ejector mark on the case head, and case head .0005" expansion compared to out of the box new LAPUA brass after I FL sized it.

And now, thanks to a horse trade with my good friend NPD345 I have a pound of Retumbo to work with. I am looking forward to chronographing it, since Berger says 89.5gr is 107% fill ratio, for 2680fps. I can fit 106gr in the case now, and it is barely to the juncture of the case body and shoulder. Barely...

Oh yes, since you follow my posts, does this mean I can count you as a member of my posse?

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Hence fourth let it be known that their are "SNOWFLAKES" on AR that have never used a toothpick to tamp powder...

When I blow a primer or lose an extractor Jeffe AKA Snowflake, I'll promise you I will let you know....

so, you won't take my challenge, then? not surprised --

I load 100gr in my 338 Lapua Improved for about 3070 fps with 300 grain Bergers. 104gr was just starting pressure at almost 3200 fps.

Tyler,

you have a magazine rifle, don't you? So, you are hamstrung by that factory OAL.

What is your case capacity on a once-fired and then FL-sized case?

No, mine is a single shot. Seated quite long.

I believe capacity is just over 130gr. Like 132 or something.

How about tis rifle if you want something else to boast about.
http://www.lethalprecisionarms.com/indefinita.html

I do not boast. I simply do, and then I share the results.

I thought one of the main reasons to be on AR was about sharing experiences and knowledge here. Hunts, guns, etc. If you do something worth reporting on, please feel free to post the results here.

Optionally, if it keeps you up at night, you could place me on ignore. But you won't do that...

Rich
Rifle Crank

Idaho Sharpshooter does not boast. I'll sure vouch for that. There are probably 48,191 that don't agree. 48,193 registered members here so ISS and me subtracted from the 48,193 leaves 48,191. Now I will admit there may be a little hyperbole. Well ok a lot of hyperbole. Then again make that 48,192 that don't agree.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I do not boast. I simply do, and then I share the results.

I thought one of the main reasons to be on AR was about sharing experiences and knowledge here. Hunts, guns, etc. If you do something worth reporting on, please feel free to post the results here.

Optionally, if it keeps you up at night, you could place me on ignore. But you won't do that...

Rich
Rifle Crank

No I wouldn't put you on ignore. Somebody needs to be around to chuckle at some of your posts.

I should start charging you...

Probably.

I don't see why Rich can't do that..sometimes it takes a longer barrel, longer magazine, and the long throat, but it works. just another way to improve a caliber..

Jeffe,
What challenge, I don't read your stuff anymore, You suffer from delusions of adequacy and have all the virtures I dislike and the vices I admire. Why do you insist on using AR fro support as opposed to illumination to help those who are interested in conversation and opinion..

Ray,

it's the difference between people who talk about doing things, people who just do them and then talk about their results, and a (thankfully) a few like the carpet lizard who merely criticize the efforts of those who do.

It's easy to determine which category people here fit into. Just see if they have ever posted anything of value...

Rich

Jeffe and Ray,

I enjoy reading both of you.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Idaho Sharpshooter does not boast. I'll sure vouch for that. There are probably 48,191 that don't agree. 48,193 registered members here so ISS and me subtracted from the 48,193 leaves 48,191. Now I will admit there may be a little hyperbole. Well ok a lot of hyperbole. Then again make that 48,192 that don't agree.

A number......

Greater than 30 but less than 40 B&C Elk might be considered boasting or even something else....

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:

That's not a moon

That's a nice set of Knockers!!

Ah don't think so...