Anyone with experience with the 338 Lapua?

[Jaywmustang]

Contemplating on getting a 338 Lapua barrel for my desert tech srs a-1. I know ammo is expensive but can be found some what local to me. I don’t reload yet. I was also looking at the 300 Norma mag, I have a 300 win mag barrel and not sure if there is enough of a difference to justify the 300 Norma mag. Looking for some experience with the cartridge?

 

[meketrefe]

What do you need the 338 for?

 

[Deplorable Me]

What do you need the 338 for?

He's single.

 

[MilesTeg]

O have a buddy that has one. I really enjoy shooting it, but it isn't cheap. I like that is is a lot easier to hit targets at range. Also to me the big plus is the amount of energy it has when it hits down range. In any practical purpose you have to reload to really enjoy the caliber.

 

[wizrd]

$ 5.00 a pop for store bought ammo - no, thanks.

 

[Bustedknees]

What do you need the 338 for?

Retract this question or I'll be forced to hit the report button.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Dooooo it

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

O have a buddy that has one. I really enjoy shooting it, but it isn't cheap. I like that is is a lot easier to hit targets at range. Also to me the big plus is the amount of energy it has when it hits down range. In any practical purpose you have to reload to really enjoy the caliber.

My buddy has 2 of em. I've never seen him shoot them.

 

[Criticalt]

Ive got a Savage 110 FCP with a 26 inch barrel.
If you look around online you can sometimes find 20 round boxes for $80.
Ive got a friend that reloads them for me at cost......$1.50 per 300 grain cartridge......$3.50 if I need brass.
Its a fun gun to shoot but not worth it if you dont have access to at least a 500 yard range.
Paper is pretty boring to shoot but its fun to find things to destroy.
Car doors, ice blocks, pumpkins, water jugs, concrete blocks, tree stumps, gas cans in front of a small fire.........

 

[meketrefe]

Retract this question or I'll be forced to hit the report button.

Seriously,
I ask this question in good faith because while the 338 is a great round there are a lot of misconceptions sorrounding the round so I have to ask to hopefully provide better advice.

 

[meketrefe]

He's single.

Cost is not my first thing in mind and it is relative because for what some might be a very expensive caliber to shoot for others is nothing, like for example if one is a wealthy person or one is a professional shooter that might have a sponsor or a professional where your organization or department is going to eventually pay for it.

 

[Bustedknees]

Seriously,
I ask this question in good faith because while the 338 is a great round there are a lot of misconceptions sorrounding the round so I have to ask to hopefully provide better advice.

It was only sarcasm..
I buy guns because I want them not because I need them. I've never been moose or grizzly hunting "yet" , but I bought myself a 338 win mag and a .450 Marlin just in case.. I 've bought some guns because they're loud, some because I think they're sexy, I've bought some because they were a great deal or some just bugged me enough that nobody else bought it so I did..

 

[meketrefe]

O have a buddy that has one. I really enjoy shooting it, but it isn't cheap. I like that is is a lot easier to hit targets at range. Also to me the big plus is the amount of energy it has when it hits down range. In any practical purpose you have to reload to really enjoy the caliber.

Miles,
That is one of the first misconceptions.
It is actually much harder to hit targets at a range just because it is hard to master a supermagnum. Even sniper Chris Kyle had trouble adapting to it ad his favorite continued to be his trusty winmag.

I had trouble with it. My rifle was 22lbs and I had my hands full driving the rifle even shooting mostly prone. So this added to the cost that got out of control were the main reasons to sell everything, rifle, brass, bullets and dies.
The other reason is that at a distance there are better cartriges ballistucally talking and far easier to shoot and maintain. The 7mm WSM with the long throat is one of those.
Also the winmag that I have with the match throat and best 230gr bullets is ballistically very similar to the 338 at extreme long ranges and I dont even have anywhere to shoot it in the North East where my maximum has been 1100 yards that I shoot only 2 or 3 times pwr year.
And in the case anything needed hunting at those distances one could do it with eitjwr one but will never hunt a large animal lile that and for hunting with brutal killing power there is nothing liena 35 or a 375 ruger or rum.
So, it was cool for a while but I felt it was a bad investmemt since I can do more and better with less.
I know sometimes reasoning is not part of the process we follow when we get excited about something new so if you gotta have it, you gotta have it. But if you want to be really good at something you have to practice a lot and that is challenging with the 338 both financially and being able to drive the rifle.
So I found back at my place where I can be the best I feel I can be.
That is why I ask so folks can also check some facts and reflect on the pros and cons.

 

[meketrefe]

It was only sarcasm..
I buy guns because I want them not because I need them. I've never been moose or grizzly hunting "yet" , but I bought myself a 338 win mag and a .450 Marlin just in case.. I 've bought some guns because they're loud, some because I think they're sexy, I've bought some because they were a great deal or some just bugged enough that nobody else bought it so I did..

Nothing wrong with that. I am a wildcatter so I know what you mean. But we can also raise questions in case somebody didnt think about certain aspects of the choices they aren considering.

 

[Jaywmustang]

What do you need the 338 for?

No particular reason. I don’t have that cartridge.

 

[Jaywmustang]

He's single.

I am married with a very understanding wife.

 

[Jaywmustang]

$ 5.00 a pop for store bought ammo - no, thanks.

U can get American eagle ammo for about $2.50 a round.

 

[Jaywmustang]

The 338 Lapua wouldn’t be my first choice. It would be the 50 bmg but that is not a option for my desert tech srs.

 

[Deplorable Me]

I am married with a very understanding wife.

You married a mythical creature?

 

[Jaywmustang]

You married a mythical creature?

She shoots gssf with me. Met my wife playing paintball. She is a keeper

 

[spat]

I have some guns because they are the right tool for a job, and I have others just because.

For instance, I have an AR pistol in .223 with a 7.5" barrel. That is not the right tool for any job, and anything it can do I have a better gun for. But I enjoy shooting it sometimes, so that is enough

I have a cheap 1851 navy clone, for the same reason. It's not a target pistol, not a hunting pistol, certainly not a home defense or carry gun, but it is worth having anyway

So, sometimes "Because I want one" is all the justification you should need.

On the other hand, like @meketrefe says, if you are buying it to do a job, there may be better options.

 

[northny]

I will say that two of the four clubs I belong to will not allow .338 L and larger calibers due to Excessive damage to steel targets. Owners could not refrain from shooting steel targets under 300 yards so both clubs banned 338 and up. Rifles not even permitted on club property (And targets went out to 1000)

The third club just accepts damage and replaces a lot of steel ((but an expensive club). The last club has no steel targets.

So just make sure you have a place to shoot it before you buy and realize you could be persona non grata in the future.

 

[Jaywmustang]

My current club has no restrictions that I know of on cartridge size, a club I will probably be joining next year on restricts the 50 bmg. No steel at either clubs.

 

[Jaywmustang]

I have some guns because they are the right tool for a job, and I have others just because.

For instance, I have an AR pistol in .223 with a 7.5" barrel. That is not the right tool for any job, and anything it can do I have a better gun for. But I enjoy shooting it sometimes, so that is enough

I have a cheap 1851 navy clone, for the same reason. It's not a target pistol, not a hunting pistol, certainly not a home defense or carry gun, but it is worth having anyway

So, sometimes "Because I want one" is all the justification you should need.

On the other hand, like @meketrefe says, if you are buying it to do a job, there may be better options.

The conversion kits are all about the same price. I’m open to other cartridges that I can buy ammo for. I was thinking go big or go home.

 

[Jaywmustang]

Couple gunsmith I might go with. U can see what cartridges they offer or I could just pick up a desert tech kit. Eurooptics has a desert tech 338 Lapua barrel on sale

Desert Tech Upgrade Barrels

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[Shoots100]

If your wife is really understanding, She'll have no issue with you getting the HTI in 50 Bmg.
She might just get a second job to help pay for it too !!!
In all seriousness, the 338 Lapua is a great round, but isn't so great if you can't shoot it at distance, where it really shines.
Factory Ammo is pretty accurate, but it doesn't compare to the loads we worked up with Cutting Edge projos.
You can always sell or trade the 338 kit if you don't like it.

SJC

 

[Jaywmustang]

If your wife is really understanding, She'll have no issue with you getting the HTI in 50 Bmg.
She might just get a second job to help pay for it too !!!
In all seriousness, the 338 Lapua is a great round, but isn't so great if you can't shoot it at distance, where it really shines.
Factory Ammo is pretty accurate, but it doesn't compare to the loads we worked up with Cutting Edge projos.
You can always sell or trade the 338 kit if you don't like it.

SJC

I did find a good price on the hti with 50 bmg kit........I have to wait for her understanding to recharge lol. I’m still paying the nightforce nx8 off I put on the srs. I have reloading equipment, I just don’t have time to learn it and put it to practice. Any opinions on the 338 on barriers performance?

 

[That_FNG]

$ 5.00 a pop for store bought ammo - no, thanks.

I shoot 338 lapua magnum ppu 250 grain store bought at cabelas for $3 a round. When it is on sale I’ve gotten it for around $2.50 a round. Not plinking cheap but still not too bad.

 

[Marine Cpl]

$ 5.00 a pop for store bought ammo - no, thanks.

To shoot at targets 100 or 200 yards away if that. Nothing a .308 cannot do. Yeah. I know. It’s my money. Well I can still shake my head just the same as I would shake my head if someone bought expensive timber to burn it in their fireplaces.

 

[meketrefe]

The conversion kits are all about the same price. I’m open to other cartridges that I can buy ammo for. I was thinking go big or go home.

The 190gr winmag box from blackhills that is the service ammo snipers usr is 40 bucks and shoots flatter than the LM at the distances most will shoot. Hornady ELD is even cheaper.

An investment in solid bullets will shoot flatter and further than the LM at any distance. Like flat line 180gr cnc that are 1.4 dollars each.

Again, nothing wrong with having calibers just because. The reason I gave my opinion and experince with the LM is because the title asked for opinions so I figured someone is considering this but not decided yet.

Nobody sain other than perhaps family is going to reload for you unless they have a license and insurance since it is such liability.

All you need to reload for a caliber might fit in a shoe box.

Keep us informed of your decission and progress.