So I am giving serious thought into purchasing a Savage 110 BA and am trying to decide which caliber. Target range will be between 500-1000 yards and am wanting opinions on the cost to benefit ratio between these calibers whether I purchase or reload.
- Thread starter topgun99
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Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
No comparison. At the ranges you are looking to shoot at go .300WM. The .338LM is going to be a lot more expensive and is better for 1,000 yards +. This is coming from someone that owns a GAPnbuilt .338LM that I love to shoot. If you don't reload expect to pay $100.00 + a box for 20 rounds of .338LM. Also Hornady brass is not known to like the BA's.
No comparison. At the ranges you are looking to shoot at go .300WM. The .338LM is going to be a lot more expensive and is better for 1,000 yards +. This is coming from someone that owns a GAPnbuilt .338LM that I love to shoot. If you don't reload expect to pay $100.00 + a box for 20 rounds of .338LM. Also Hornady brass is not known to like the BA's.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
I would ask what are your other riles you currently own? If a 300WM is just a few hundred past the max usable distance of another caliber you already have, I'd say go big and be done. A 338LM will shoot at 100 as well as 2K +, so why go with an intermediary cartridge? Reload and buy 100 pcs of Lapua for $300 and be done for forever. Everyone talks LM is so expensive, and it's not cheap, but not crazy.. especially if you reload and shoot for years to come. Just my .02
I would ask what are your other riles you currently own? If a 300WM is just a few hundred past the max usable distance of another caliber you already have, I'd say go big and be done. A 338LM will shoot at 100 as well as 2K +, so why go with an intermediary cartridge? Reload and buy 100 pcs of Lapua for $300 and be done for forever. Everyone talks LM is so expensive, and it's not cheap, but not crazy.. especially if you reload and shoot for years to come. Just my .02
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
I have a .308 and know that it is good to 500 yards, I know that it is capable of more but that is the farthest I have shot. I want to start at 500 and work my way out from there eventually passing 1000. I was just wanting an opinion from those who have done it if the cost to benefit ratio is worth it. I can reload but the cost of the .338 is still more expensive. But buy once cry once right.
I have a .308 and know that it is good to 500 yards, I know that it is capable of more but that is the farthest I have shot. I want to start at 500 and work my way out from there eventually passing 1000. I was just wanting an opinion from those who have done it if the cost to benefit ratio is worth it. I can reload but the cost of the .338 is still more expensive. But buy once cry once right.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
Rebarrel the 308 to 260.
Rebarrel the 308 to 260.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
I stole this advise from someone else, but it seems applicable:
Shoot the .308 until you've identified its weaknesses, and move on from there. By that time you'll probably have chosen one caliber of the two mentioned, or you'll have decided that neither was what you're really looking for. Magnums are good at delivering energy down range, but if you're punching paper the 6mm-6.5mm calibers sure look attractive at and beyond the ranges you've mentioned.
I stole this advise from someone else, but it seems applicable:
Shoot the .308 until you've identified its weaknesses, and move on from there. By that time you'll probably have chosen one caliber of the two mentioned, or you'll have decided that neither was what you're really looking for. Magnums are good at delivering energy down range, but if you're punching paper the 6mm-6.5mm calibers sure look attractive at and beyond the ranges you've mentioned.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
topgun i have the ba in 300WM and i love it. with good reloads we have pushed it to beyond 1000yds. the gun performs very well. i have no regrets buying it and im glad i went with the 300 over the 338. the 300 may not do everything the 338 will but it will easily fill your needs as you posted. also, as stated before, you hear tons of problems with the 338 running hornady brass. i have shot hornady brass in my 300 with no problems at all.
topgun i have the ba in 300WM and i love it. with good reloads we have pushed it to beyond 1000yds. the gun performs very well. i have no regrets buying it and im glad i went with the 300 over the 338. the 300 may not do everything the 338 will but it will easily fill your needs as you posted. also, as stated before, you hear tons of problems with the 338 running hornady brass. i have shot hornady brass in my 300 with no problems at all.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
Why are you reluctant to shoot your .308 past 500? The .308 should go to a grand without some huge obstacles to overcome, honestly. If you're worried about cost of ammo, I'd at least try it with the .308.
I have good dope for 1K on my .308, but I want to work on getting it out there a bit further.
Stick with the good ol' 08!
Why are you reluctant to shoot your .308 past 500? The .308 should go to a grand without some huge obstacles to overcome, honestly. If you're worried about cost of ammo, I'd at least try it with the .308.
I have good dope for 1K on my .308, but I want to work on getting it out there a bit further.
Stick with the good ol' 08!
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
I have a 338 LM and love it. I can only max out at a grand because that is my max range. If I could do it all over again I would still buy the 338 LM but I do reload and my reload price minus the initial cost of the brass is $1 a round with the brass it is $2.50. I own the 308 and the 338 Lm is twice the cartridge in every way. My personal advice would be get the 338 LM if you reload and get 300 win may if you don't. No point having a rifle you can't shoot because you can't feed it.
I have a 338 LM and love it. I can only max out at a grand because that is my max range. If I could do it all over again I would still buy the 338 LM but I do reload and my reload price minus the initial cost of the brass is $1 a round with the brass it is $2.50. I own the 308 and the 338 Lm is twice the cartridge in every way. My personal advice would be get the 338 LM if you reload and get 300 win may if you don't. No point having a rifle you can't shoot because you can't feed it.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
I'm not reluctant thats simply the farthest I have had access to shoot so far. I was just interested in finding out the cost to benefit ratio. Is the .338 that much better at distance to justify the additional cost of the rifle, ammo or components to reload. I already have an RCBS setup that will load either. Is the .338 that much better to spend more money.
I'm not reluctant thats simply the farthest I have had access to shoot so far. I was just interested in finding out the cost to benefit ratio. Is the .338 that much better at distance to justify the additional cost of the rifle, ammo or components to reload. I already have an RCBS setup that will load either. Is the .338 that much better to spend more money.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
I just jumped from a .300 WM to the .338 Lapua and have not regretted it yet. After the initial cost of the brass, it will cost you roughly .50 cents more a round more to reload...depending on which bullet you use.
I just jumped from a .300 WM to the .338 Lapua and have not regretted it yet. After the initial cost of the brass, it will cost you roughly .50 cents more a round more to reload...depending on which bullet you use.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
Loved my 110BA in .338. SOB was so addictive..I shot at least 60 rounds every time I went to the range. At $1.00 per round (reloads) it was killing the stash...finally sold it and went back to shooting the .308's. The 300 WM would definetely be my choice due to reloading costs..unless you have unlimited funds to play the .338LM game.
Loved my 110BA in .338. SOB was so addictive..I shot at least 60 rounds every time I went to the range. At $1.00 per round (reloads) it was killing the stash...finally sold it and went back to shooting the .308's. The 300 WM would definetely be my choice due to reloading costs..unless you have unlimited funds to play the .338LM game.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
Ballistically, from a target shooting standpoint, the two out to 1000 yards with optimum bullets are very close. Obviously the .338 gives less in the wind (approx. 6-8" less drift @ 1000) and has a power edge. Its really going to come down to what you want and can afford.
Remember to leave some money aside for decent glass, shooting over 1000 with a Tasco is doable, but spotting hits/misses gets hard
Ballistically, from a target shooting standpoint, the two out to 1000 yards with optimum bullets are very close. Obviously the .338 gives less in the wind (approx. 6-8" less drift @ 1000) and has a power edge. Its really going to come down to what you want and can afford.
Remember to leave some money aside for decent glass, shooting over 1000 with a Tasco is doable, but spotting hits/misses gets hard
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
I was in the same situation a few years ago when I was in the market for a long distance build. I put together an Excel spreadsheet with costs for reloading between the two and with brass it was over 60 cents per round more. On an average day at the range with two boxes of 50 reloads I'd be spending $60 more. That was the baseline cost difference since both 110 BAs cost the same (though it took me a long time to sift through the LMs to find a WM version).
I knew later I'd want to get a .308 so then it became an easier decision as they're both .30 caliber so a lot of the reloading gear can be used with both. If you reload for your .308 then the .300 WM has another advantage going for it.
Then there's something to be said for practicality. If I head out to west TX for a hunt and forget my reloads at home I can get a pretty good selection of .300 WM at a local sporting goods place. Good luck finding .338 LM in those same places. It's getting a lot better now; my last trip to Cabela's they had 3-4 different brands of LM on the shelf and it isn't as expensive as it once was, but I doubt many small-town shops are going to have any.
That said there are times I wish I had picked up the .338 LM instead, but that's on days where it happens to be really damn windy. I suppose if I were hunting big game at very long ranges I'd like the .338 LM just for the additional kinetic energy it's holding at range, but I'm not doing that sort of hunting. I'm happy with my .300 WM version of the 110 BA, and since it still shoots better than I can I still have some room to grow with it.
I was in the same situation a few years ago when I was in the market for a long distance build. I put together an Excel spreadsheet with costs for reloading between the two and with brass it was over 60 cents per round more. On an average day at the range with two boxes of 50 reloads I'd be spending $60 more. That was the baseline cost difference since both 110 BAs cost the same (though it took me a long time to sift through the LMs to find a WM version).
I knew later I'd want to get a .308 so then it became an easier decision as they're both .30 caliber so a lot of the reloading gear can be used with both. If you reload for your .308 then the .300 WM has another advantage going for it.
Then there's something to be said for practicality. If I head out to west TX for a hunt and forget my reloads at home I can get a pretty good selection of .300 WM at a local sporting goods place. Good luck finding .338 LM in those same places. It's getting a lot better now; my last trip to Cabela's they had 3-4 different brands of LM on the shelf and it isn't as expensive as it once was, but I doubt many small-town shops are going to have any.
That said there are times I wish I had picked up the .338 LM instead, but that's on days where it happens to be really damn windy. I suppose if I were hunting big game at very long ranges I'd like the .338 LM just for the additional kinetic energy it's holding at range, but I'm not doing that sort of hunting. I'm happy with my .300 WM version of the 110 BA, and since it still shoots better than I can I still have some room to grow with it.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
Unless you just want one to be 'cool' there's no reason for a 338 at under 1000 yards. Your 308 has no problem accurately making it to 1000. I bet it will even be more accurate than your 338, at your distances. Not because of the cartridges ballistics, but because it's harder to shoot a 338 accurately than a 308.
There are better overall cartridge choices for <1000, and that doesn't even count the reloading price differences.
I have the 110BA in 338 and love it, but that's because it enables me to reach out to 2000+ yards... At under 1000 I would choose my 308 all day.
Unless you just want one to be 'cool' there's no reason for a 338 at under 1000 yards. Your 308 has no problem accurately making it to 1000. I bet it will even be more accurate than your 338, at your distances. Not because of the cartridges ballistics, but because it's harder to shoot a 338 accurately than a 308.
There are better overall cartridge choices for <1000, and that doesn't even count the reloading price differences.
I have the 110BA in 338 and love it, but that's because it enables me to reach out to 2000+ yards... At under 1000 I would choose my 308 all day.
Re: Savage 110 BA- 300WM vs. 338LM
at 1000 yards of less, I would go with 300wm over 338lm just because of cost and recoil. But really a 308win or 30-06 is more than adequate at those ranges...just need to read wind better.
at 1000 yards of less, I would go with 300wm over 338lm just because of cost and recoil. But really a 308win or 30-06 is more than adequate at those ranges...just need to read wind better.
