Wondering if any one out there has had much experience with this round?

Son has money in the bank and it is burning a hole in his pocket.

Has been looking at Sako precision rifles and said this morning we should investigate it and perhaps buy one for long range fun shooting at silloutes (sic). We wouldn't be using it this year for any hunting.

He has got so used to the rifles we own, I initially thought he just wanted something a bit different.

Besides that point, he is also talking about Blaser rifles.

He has the money and a shooters licence and I doubt that our DFO will say no if he really wants one.

Curious about the pros and cons of this calibre.

He likes the idea of having a heap of power when he goes to the Northern Territory next year for a while.

We have two .30-06's and can shoot that calibre well. Anyway, thoughts on this calibre?

Also, the recoil from a 375 H and H doesn't worry him.

I have a .338 Lapua Mag Improved. I really like it although i did have trouble finding a load that shot to my liking. But i eventually did and now i cannot be happier with the caliber. The recoil is quite a bit more unforgiving than the .375 H&H. I would highly recommend getting a muzzle break or else he will not be shooting it much in one day. I think it is a great choice.

GBB,
I'm only just out-growing the desire for the obscure ... I think I'm finally growing older and not just up.
The Lapua he will pay premium for at every step ... rifle, brass, ammunition, dies etc... Steer him towards a regular 338WM or if he wants something slightly exotic a Rem700 in 338RUM. I bet you ammunition is easier to find in the NT or anywhere else!
Remind him its sort of like Chev-ota V8's ... the cost will take the fun factor out fast!
As for a Blaser ...
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Has been looking at Sako precision rifles and said this morning we should investigate it and perhaps buy one for long range fun shooting at silloutes (sic). We wouldn't be using it this year for any hunting.

I like your choice of rifle but for silhouette shooting the 338 lapua will have too much recoil, 308 and 7mm-08 would be the most commonly used silhouette cartridges.

My conclusion, after years of shooting it, was that the 338 Lapua is an excellent long distance round, provided someone else is paying for everything! If he wants a reliable long range performer, advise him to get a 300 Win Mag. Not for nothing does this round still appear in most armouries as the intermediate distance sniping round. If he has to have a 338, go the 338 Win Mag.
If he absolutely has to have a 338 Lapua, don't let him buy an R93 LRS, tell him to get an Accuracy International PM1 (if he can find one!)
My personal favourite? A Rem 700 Sendero SS, fluted BBL, the Leupold Mk4 M1 fixed 10x in Leupold tactical mounts. With something like that, he will have fun all day, it won't break the bank, and it won't go out of fashion next month!
JMHO

How about a Weatherby Mk5 in 338/375 with accubrake-good earmuffs are a must.

A good choice, if you can live with around MOA, and don't mind watching the rifling evaporate after 600 rounds or so......

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
GBB,
I'm only just out-growing the desire for the obscure ... I think I'm finally growing older and not just up.
The Lapua he will pay premium for at every step ... rifle, brass, ammunition, dies etc... Steer him towards a regular 338WM or if he wants something slightly exotic a Rem700 in 338RUM. I bet you ammunition is easier to find in the NT or anywhere else!
Remind him its sort of like Chev-ota V8's ... the cost will take the fun factor out fast!
As for a Blaser ...
Cheers...
Con

I agree to every point.... 338 win will do fine in a nice classic rifle. 338 RUM kicks to much for most people. Good cartridges for silhouette have flat trajectory and low recoil.

Avoid the blasters at all cost!!!!

Cheers
/JOHAN

I agree about muzzle blast and noise and recoil.

Drew has hads a gun in his hands since he could walk. Has shot Sporting Clays for since 12 and he started on the 36 gm load as he prefered the more shot in the air. Now in Adult A to AA depending on how he is going, of course.

The recoil of a 375 doesn't worry him. But what I carn't get from him yet is why the Lapau. He will go away hunting next year after buff and I have always said that I thought a correctly loaded 30-06 was all that was needed. He will be getting in close (figuratively speaking) on foot so it isn't like he wants to hit a buff from 2 mile away. I feel at the moment he just wants to see hpow well he can shoot with a higher powered round. He is quite sure that he can use either our 308 or 30-06 for buff.

A boys thing. A boys thing who has a few dollars in the bank and is working hard in Year 12.

We will see.

And he wants to try rifles we haven't, I guess.

One of the members of AR and good friend of mine has a 338lapua magnum and hunted with it in South Africa its a sako tgr1 hes name is jefferydenmark contact him his always in the knife forum .jUAN

If he wants the rifle for NT I woul steer him towards a .375 H&H or a cz in .458 win mag and ream it out to .458 lott (that will get his attention !!)

If he wants a long range gun I reckon the .300 RUM is worth a look, I have one in a rem 700 Police (HS stock all black etc.) on it I have badger mounts and rings and an MK4 Leupold 6.5-20x50 scope and have swapped out the trigger for a canjar. I am still learning to shoot it but with Nos 200 gr Accubonds infront of 88 gr of AR2225 it whacks things way out there like no rifle I have owned before.

A .338 Lapua would be great but it would be adifficult road to travel for sure !!

Gray, sounds like he is bitten by the magnum bug.
I, like your son, grew up around firearms. Although accuracy was good, I felt something was missing when recoil was absent. This started with a 308 Norma and ended with a 378 Improved. Of course the magnum craze was coupled with the need for an exotic.
I purchased the 338 Lapua in '94, in a Sako TRGS. Very accurate but at the time very expensive to feed it.

For a rifle now, try the 416 Rigby. There will be long range projectiles coming out soon in 416. (it seems California is attempting to clear out the 50 calibers. So the locals are making long range 416 and 408 calibers)

Thanks for all of the replies.

drew has been flat out this week with assignments so we have hardly got back to the calibre he would like most.

School holidays at 2.30 to-day so I guess for the next sixteen days we will talk calibres a lot (as well as hunt).

He likes the faster larger calibres so it will be interesting which one we (he) decides on. He did actually mention the Rem Ultra Mags Wednesday night in passing. And the 50 BMG is every boys dream around here. I reckon there must be a dozsen sites book marked to it on my laptop

I have a Sako TRG 41 in 338 Lapua Magnum.
Wonderful round.
What makes the difference is having a suppressor on it.
Without a brake it has fierce recoil; with a brake it has fierce blast and noise. With a suppressor it is just right.

DON'T get the Blaser. The AI or Sako are good, and very accurate.

LD

Defintely not going near a Blaser after all I have read.

Next week, we are going looking for some Red Deer near the Grampians. I guess we will talk a lot about calibres then

The 338 lapua is a neat round, IF you are serious about long range shooting. If you are planning on it for hunting reasons, shoots between 50-300 yards, buy a 338 rum. Its the ballistic twin of the 338 LM. For regular hunting, there is no need for it!

A better choice would be a 338 WM.. and even better, a 338-06. But then you would have to go custom.

For a facotry round, for your son, a 338WM is the best choice.. a 338 Ultra Mag, if he wants to show of.

GB ,
saw an advert in gun mag, showing the 338 Lapua in the Ruger Magnum rifle. Dont know if they will reach our shores or at what price.

Tasso

Tasso GB
They are available, 3 yrs ago price from Claytos was from $4600 for the Sako. Couple of months go saw price in a magazine $6000plus for the TRG 338.
For the price a Rem XCR in 338RUM would be a better option with nearly the same ballistics.
Or if he is really wanting 338lapua then a custom built Ruger No.1 would be the cheapest option.

Talking of the 338RUM I've always wonder why they shortened the 338RUM and none of the others, the 7mm, 300, 375 are all 2.850" and the 338 is only 2.760"

Could the .338 RUM fit into a stainless ruger .338 MK 11 with some opening up ??

Yes.

The 330 Dakota would be easier and more reliable for feeding.

Easiest hunting rifle conversion is a CZ in 416 Rigby.

416SW,
The 338RUM was shortened due to the Rem700 magazine length. If you kept it full length, most hunting weight .338 projectiles would need to be seated deep to fit the magazine.
Cheers...
Con

The Rem Ultra Mags are the current flavour of the day, fopr hopefully a day or two. But another couple of new rifles are always welcome.

I don't recall ever being so fussy about my first firearm but my father's idea of a great armour was a single barrel stevens and a BSA .22 Sportsman Five.


Son has many to choose from so something different. Actually, the idea of the Savage with the ability to swap barrels is still in favour but he has gone to the idea of a RUM in .30. And its not like its for a specific animal. Its just the idea to own something fast AND different than the other gun nuts around here.



Still pushing a BRNO 375 H and H that a local has had since 1980. The same guy has a 458 BRNO from the same period. Both would not have fired more than 400 to 500 rounds.

why not the 338 win mag or the 340 Weatherby they are good longrange cartridges, but the 338 lapua is a good round for long range gunning. Sako has its TRG 42 and for a few years ago they made a version that was a sporter with the same receiver called the Sako TRG-S in 338 Lapua

I once had a LH 340 Weatherby and it was a great rifle. I bought it because I am a lefty. I was 19 at the time and had read a lot about the killing power of the 340 and of course had to have one. It was a great game killer and loaded with 200gr bullets had the similar effect on pigs & goats as a 22/250 on rabbits.

However I found that the recoil velocity was really fierce, making it extremely unpleasant to shoot off the bench. Equipped with a 26" bbl, recoil & blast wise it wasnt too bad in the field, but it was quite heavy and about as handy as a punting semi-trailer in city traffic. Anything larger would be more of the same I expect.

I then came across a LH Mauser in 375 H&H and it was much lighter than the 340, but much more pleasant to shoot. I still have the 375 but the 340 was sold off and have no regrets.

Having said that, sometimes kids need to try these things out, but resale of anything exotic is also likely to burn a permanent hole in his pocket.

Regards,

Joe

I ill think ill shouldnt say anything , but the next rifle will be a BRNO .338-378 WBY Improved, and that is something iam looking forward too be testing out.

Ballistic tip , large water bottle, for instance

my mates got a blaser lrs2 338 and so far it is a great weapon. hasn't had any full on hunting with it yet but it shoots like a dream.
Have any of you seen/heard of kirby allens 7mm, 338, or 270 allen mag? based off the lapua case and from what i've read and he's told me the are awesome calibres. the 7mm would be a awesome weapon for long range NZ hunting.

I suspect a 338 WM would do all that he wants, with less hassle.

If he wants to shoot sihouette, something like a 7/08 or 308 is a more appropriate choice.

And for NT buff, I'd seriously be thinking about 375H&H rather than the likes of 30/06. I think most outfitters can provide rifles if needed, so that would probably be a much cheaper option.