I just fired my Sako trg42 338 lapua magnum for the first time today, and it was so smooth i wonder if i did something wrong? the load was 90,0 grains Vectan Tubal 8000 suggested by Nobel (a french powder, about like Vit N165 i think and about the only make you can get in spain and then only by running powder and primers across the border from France!!!), Sierra 250 grain boattail spitzer, CCI 250 primer and Norma case. It has a muzzle brake, but it is SO much less recoil than my Sako 338 win mag i feel i must be missing out! Do i need to go up to 50bmg??? Does anyone else find the same with this calibre? I really did not expect this at all.

Julian,
Bienvenidos! Stock design and fit have a great influence on felt recoil. It is possible that your gun fits you so well that recoil is minimized.

Do you have access to a chronograph?

George

sorry, i don't have a chrono but i'll try to get one from a friend-i'd like to know as well! I was shootong from a bench, left handed and the fit does feel very good, with no bits added in even.

Place the butt of the gun against your neck so the back of the bolt touches your teeth and fire it again.

Actually, DON'T. Just kidding.

I bought a new .338 Win. Mag. this year and had it fitted with a Decelerator pad. I was going to have a brake put on, as well, but decided to see how bad the punishment was.

Well, it wasn't, and hasn't been, with cartridges ranging from Remington 230 gr. to Federal 250 gr. to handloads up to 250 gr. SGK and 69 gr. IMR 4350.

Like you, I figured something must be wrong, given the reputation of the .338 Win. Mag., so I was telling a friend about it.

He fired it once, and won't do so again. I don't know how he was holding it, but it hurt.

Also, I have noticed that if I get careless and don't keep it firmly into my shoulder it can give me a jolt to remind me.

Overall, though, this gun is much more pleasant to shoot than most 7mm Rem. Mags. I have shot, and, while it doesn't feel like a 30/06, it is not really worse, either. Just different.

I can easily shoot 50 rounds without discomfort. Maybe more. I don't know.

As has been mentioned, I think I got lucky on the fit. It is, btw, a Browning A-Bolt Stalker with a composite stock and weighs only a bit over seven pounds without the scope.

kk