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starting to wonder about investing in 338

B

Blasst

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 17, 2006
459
6
Canyon Lake outside San Antonio in the hill countr
I'm not finding anywhere to shoot in Texas beyond 1000. There are a couple of places with 1500 yard ranges but 6 hour drive. Have to buy land or have a friend with land it seems. I had a big ranch a few yrs ago but sold it. So I am wondering if investing in a 338 is wise.
You would think as many big open spaces we have in Texas there would be somewhere on public lands...but it's a no no on public lands.

Are a lot of you guys in the same boat? Where do you shoot past 1000?
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

Other than it being "fun" to fire the cannon, or taking game way out there, very little justification for a 338 when you've only got 1000 to work with. 338 is just getting started at 1000.
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Other than it being "fun" to fire the cannon, or taking game way out there, very little justification for a 338 when you've only got 1000 to work with. 338 is just getting started at 1000. </div></div>

+1
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

For all the crap western states get, you can't deny that it's a great place for ELR shooting with some much BLM land. As for .338LM, it's just getting started at 1000 yards.
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

i bet there are some border ranches out there with over 1000 yds. Maybe you could get them to build you a tower and you could take care of a coyote problem (both kinds)
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

the 338 is definitly not wise, but it is fun, and that is part of the reason we enjoy "shooting"

if money is an issue and you only have access to 1000, check out the 300WM or even 6.5CM/.260. they do better than 308 out to the ranges you shoot and can be loaded for about half of what the 338 can be loaded for
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

as a first rifle it is not wise, neither as second or third but once you have a few really practical rifles a 338 is a must in a well rounded collection.
hope this helps.
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

well....bought a DTA with 338 and creedmoor barrels.
Also bought a JP LRP07 in 308
and a custom creedmoor gas gun with a Brux barrel that most likely will kick ass....all in one week.
Think I'll take a break... a valium... both.
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

If you find a place to shoot past a 1000y let me know. I'm in Houston as well with a 338 on the way. And yes, I have everything else so why not.

L
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blasst</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well....bought a DTA with 338 and creedmoor barrels.
Also bought a JP LRP07 in 308
and a custom creedmoor gas gun with a Brux barrel that most likely will kick ass....all in one week.
Think I'll take a break... a valium... both. </div></div>

I think you actually made a very good choice for a set of guns.
The DTA will be great as you can use the .338 when you want to shoot long range, or want to put a serious thump on something in the 1000yard or closer range, and then the creedmoor barrel will be great for most of your day to day target shooting. Then you have a .308 gas gun that should work well for mid ranges and be cheap to feed and fun to shoot.
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

Yeah, if you find a 1000+ yard range in the Houston area, I'd be interested too. I visit family out west in Katy about once a year and the only range I've found goes to 1000 yards but they wouldn't let a visit like me shoot more than 600 yards, even though I'm an Army trained precision shooter. Must have been the CA drivers license?
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

There's lots of BLM and Nat Forest/Grass lands around me in the west, I haven't had any issues using them for shooting practice. Why is it a "no-no" down your way, just curious?

As far as I know, all the public lands allow shooting (except for fire danger like now) as long as you follow the basic rules (trying to remember them off the top of my head)

1. No shooing across roads (trails don't count in this)
2. No shooting across bodies of water
3. No shooting within 500 yards of an occupied area (camp sites, homes etc)
4. No shooting within 50 yards of a road

I think those are the rules for National Forest / National Grasslands.
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

Indeed, wide open BLM land is one of the perks of living in the western states
wink.gif
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HeroFish</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There's lots of BLM and Nat Forest/Grass lands around me in the west, I haven't had any issues using them for shooting practice. Why is it a "no-no" down your way, just curious?

As far as I know, all the public lands allow shooting (except for fire danger like now) as long as you follow the basic rules (trying to remember them off the top of my head)

1. No shooing across roads (trails don't count in this)
2. No shooting across bodies of water
3. No shooting within 500 yards of an occupied area (camp sites, homes etc)
4. No shooting within 50 yards of a road

I think those are the rules for National Forest / National Grasslands.</div></div>

yeah good question. But it is a no no in Texas and there are many discussions about it on various forums because it makes no sense. I ran a search trying to figure out why with so much wide open space it is such a problem....but it is. I have friends with ranches but it is still a 2 hr drive or more. Texas is weird...we can sell guns and suppressors between Texans and within the state border without using an FFL but we can't go set up and shoot at targets on public land. We can blow away our neighbor for snoring too loud though. :)) Just kidding...........
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

couldnt agree more. We shoot "DTA shooters" out to 1000 all day with short action stuff. We bust out the .338 LM to hammer away at a mile. On another note, its pretty easy to get to 1000 out here in the west.
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

I'm limited to 1,000 yards in Florida. It does suck, but the .338 is still fun at any distance.

I used to travel a lot more, and would spend parts of my summers out West. I was planning to go head West this summer and shoot a mile. Plans have changed, hope to get to some longer ranges. But in the mean time, I enjoy shooting 1k with the .338 - I enjoy shooting it period no matter what the range. So I think its a gun to get.
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dogtown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yeah, if you find a 1000+ yard range in the Houston area, I'd be interested too. I visit family out west in Katy about once a year and the only range I've found goes to 1000 yards but they wouldn't let a visit like me shoot more than 600 yards, even though I'm an Army trained precision shooter. Must have been the CA drivers license?</div></div>

The only range in the Houston area that goes out to 1000 is Bayou gun club, but you have to be a member. FYI they don't allow suppressor unless you are a member and petition for it, and they don't allow steel on their ranges.

Next best option is American Shooting Center; 600y range with steel (have to qualify @ 300y - even if you are military trained)
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

Id say come to my house but im about 12hr to the north of you. Im with the other guys, you should still buy one. It is a very fun and rewording rifle/cartrage to shoot. And ya I have a f-class 308 too that will get there but........... when you want it to count that 300gr sailor is going to lay the smack on somthing. when I got mine all the other guns in the safe kinda got put on the back burner.lol
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

Where are you in Florida?

They are extending our range out to 1 mile in the next few months. Currently 1000 yds
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

Maybe you should have kept that 308 conversion to practice with instead of selling it to me!! I've only ran Federal match 168's through it and it's shooting one ragged hole. It sure is a shooter. Reloads should be a hoot. Good luck on finding a range. I'm currently limited to 800y right now which is why I got the 308. I have a potential 2-3000+ spot, but have no way of knowing the actual range. Plus it involves shooting between small mountain tops with canyons that run down to the Pacific. Not exactly a calm wind area....
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

Didn't read threw the thread.... All I can say is I hope your pockets are pretty deep. Had one, shot it 100 times, sold it and made 400$. It's a very expensive caliber but it is BAD!
 
Re: starting to wonder about investing in 338

Another +1 for looking for a place over 1000 yards in the Houston area. Bayou is the longest range I know of, 1000 yards.

I picked up my 338 on Tuesday, a TRG-42. Now to wait for an optic. Gives me time to gather reloading supplies I guess.

And yes, nothing inexpensive about this caliber. Lapua brass...holy cow.
 
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