Getting ready to go big

[garandman]

OK, I came back here planning to buy a 338LM, and somehow ended up with a 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm happy with my decision, as I love this gun. Still, I'd like one day to go with a big bore - 338LM or bigger.

Is there any one book or magazine or website that compares many / all the major calibers and rifles?

Biggest decision is caliber - decision criteria including cost to reload, availability of components, trajectory, etc. Max anticipated range is 1500 yards, punching paper / clanging steel.

Any thoughts / suggestions welcome.

 

[thrusty]

Honestly, I don't think there is any larger caliber that's in the "cheap" to shoot category.

You'll find that some of the most common, larger caliber, extended long range, rounds will be the 338LM, Cheytac calibers and the 50 cal. They are all expensive but they all perform.

I would also venture to say 1500 yards for the above calibers isn't really that much of a stretch for them - I think you could even get your 6.5 Creedmoor to consistently smack steel at that distance.

I'd love to have a 338LM and maybe someday I will - the cost of components right now is a sticking point for me as I like to shoot a lot. If I had to pick one, it'd be the 338LM.

 

[garandman]

You'll find that some of the most common, larger caliber, extended long range, rounds will be the 338LM, Cheytac calibers and the 50 cal. . If I had to pick one, it'd be the 338LM.

I'm leaning either 338 or 50, based on common availability. I'm guessing 338 is the flatter shooter, since the 50 bullet is 2-3x its weight. ?????

Cost is also what pushed me away from the 338 originally. But I can't get the big bore sickness to go away.

 

[FALex]

.300 WM for 1500 would work nicely.

 

[thrusty]

The 338LM shoots a little flatter than the 50cal. Think of the 50cal as lobbing a football to your target. However, the 338LM is outclassed by the 50 in terms of power, energy, reach and destruction.

I've shot a Barret M107A several times, love the gun and had just about the recoil of a light load in a 308.
Shooting a Barrett M107A1 - YouTube

 

[mavrick10_2000]

OK, I came back here planning to buy a 338LM, and somehow ended up with a 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm happy with my decision, as I love this gun. Still, I'd like one day to go with a big bore - 338LM or bigger.

Is there any one book or magazine or website that compares many / all the major calibers and rifles?

Biggest decision is caliber - decision criteria including cost to reload, availability of components, trajectory, etc. Max anticipated range is 1500 yards, punching paper / clanging steel.

Any thoughts / suggestions welcome.

Max range of 1500 yards I'd stick with a custom in .300 Win Mag or variant- although the .338 LM isn't a waste at that distance. It will definitely ring the target with a bit more authority.

THe .50's recoil isn't that bad it's the concussion from the muzzle blast - obnoxious is an understatement and headaches are common after 10 rounds. I'd like to shoot one properly suppressed.

 

[garandman]

.300 WM for 1500 would work nicely.

It'd be cheaper to shoot, too. The only thing its missing is the "big" in "big bore"

 

[thrusty]

+1 on the 300WM...much cheaper to shoot and find components. Though, it doesn't have that cool factor. lol

 

[Phezzik]

++1 on the .300 winmag. You can set up a good load with 230 bergers that will have a nice "flat" trajectory and a decent bc. Not as flat as a .338 lap, but a hell of a lot cheaper to load. That all said, I just read an old article Todd Hodnett wrote about the .300 norma mag that was intriguing.......

 

[wadebrown]

If all you want to do is bang steel and punch paper at 1,500 yards there are far easier ways to do this than with a 338 LM or larger. You could spend a little exploring other options and save yourself some good money.

 

[SuburbanHick]

I'll say this..... I've carried a lot and shot a lot....the big bitch (50) is NOTHING like anything else.... I've put holes in engine blocks on HVT more than once at over 1k.... 338 is alright.... shoots lil flatter.... bit there is nothing like the jaw dropping authority of the big bitch....unless you have sinus issues or a headache.... in that case there is nothing worse....I actually prefer CS at that point

On a side note I've never paid for one or the ammo to feed it....

 

[leadbullet]

do a 338 edge, a bit less expensive than the lapua (especially the brass) and the same if not a bit more power and range.

 

[Hairball]

Its not what you need to shoot at the lowest price, its what you want. I shoot large calibers because I like to shoot them and don't find that I am wasting money at any distance. If I want to shoot a Barrett .416 at 300 yards I will because they are fun to shoot. Get what you want as you already know what happens when you make compromises and go with something else. You need to reload regardless of what you select at this level and factory .338 lap can be more expensive than .416 or .50bmg. also, if you do go .50, that takes an entirely different press than most others. I find .338 reloading stuff rather easy to find, primers for a 50bmg are a different story, at least where I live

 

[garandman]

do a 338 edge, a bit less expensive than the lapua (especially the brass) and the same if not a bit more power and range.

A little reading has me VERY interested in this round.

338 Edge - History and Development

 

[JB02]

300 Norma Magnum is nicknamed as the poor man's 338 LM. Surgeon Rifles builds Remedy rifles in this chambering. You get the ballistics of a 338 LM but not the terminal downrange energy (something you probably only need if you're using the rifle for military applications).

If I didn't live in the NE, I would probably have one of these.

You can read more about the difference between 300 Win Mag, 300 Norma, and 338 LM here:

https://www.accuracy1stdg.com/content/docs/Binder7.pdf

 

[bodywerks]

A little reading has me VERY interested in this round.

338 Edge - History and Development

It is a nice option. Only downfall is it's long, and therefor hard to find a magazine system for it. If you're ok with single shoot, non repeater shooting it's the wiser choice.
The other advantage is you can build one off of a Remington long action with a magnum bolt face. You can't do that with a 338 LM, in part due to the larger bolt face, but the biggie is the receiver isn't up to the task. Receivers made for the lapua are usually thicker, beefier, and/or made with a higher strength steel.

 

[garandman]

It is a nice option. Only downfall is it's long, and therefor hard to find a magazine system for it. If you're ok with single shoot, non repeater shooting it's the wiser choice.
The other advantage is you can build one off of a Remington long action with a magnum bolt face. You can't do that with a 338 LM, in part due to the larger bolt face, but the biggie is the receiver isn't up to the task. Receivers made for the lapua are usually thicker, beefier, and/or made with a higher strength steel.

Very helpful info.

The funny part is I want excellent ballistics, long range capability, etc etc etc, but the main thing I want is "big." That might be kinda shallow of me, but since 338Edge is actually a little longer than 338LM, I'm even more interested.

 

[garandman]

300 Norma Magnum is nicknamed as the poor man's 338 LM. Surgeon Rifles builds Remedy rifles in this chambering. You get the ballistics of a 338 LM but not the terminal downrange energy (something you probably only need if you're using the rifle for military applications).

If I didn't live in the NE, I would probably have one of these.

You can read more about the difference between 300 Win Mag, 300 Norma, and 338 LM here:

https://www.accuracy1stdg.com/content/docs/Binder7.pdf

I'll look into this too.

Sorry about the CT thing. I used to live near Putnam CT, but escaped to free America years ago.

 

[garandman]

Watching some 338Edge vids.....wowza! I'm gettin' that old feelin' of "the new rifle for me"....

 

[bodywerks]

Very helpful info.

The funny part is I want excellent ballistics, long range capability, etc etc etc, but the main thing I want is "big." That might be kinda shallow of me, but since 338Edge is actually a little longer than 338LM, I'm even more interested.

It's only longer because it's narrower than the 338lm. It is by no means a bigger round than the lapua. Roughly same case capacity. Reason it can be built off a Remington standard action is because it's narrower. The larger case diameter leaves that much less material around it in the chamber, combine less steel around the chambered round with it's higher magnum pressures and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

[garandman]

It's only longer because it's narrower than the 338lm. It is by no means a bigger round than the lapua. Roughly same case capacity. Reason it can be built off a Remington standard action is because it's narrower. The larger case diameter leaves that much less material around it in the chamber, combine less steel around the chambered round with it's higher magnum pressures and you have a recipe for disaster.

That's how shallow I am....it LOOKS bigger....therefore I want it....

 

[redneckbmxer24]

300WM, 300WSM, 300RSAUM, 7WSM, 7RM, and 7RSAUM would all do the trick at 1500 yards just as well as a 338 with much cheaper bullets, and less powder. Brass is a wash, 338 brass costs more but Lapua will outlast everything even with hot loads. Personally I don't think it gets any better than 7RSAUM for up to a mile. With the VLD's it's very flat and the 7SAUM has pretty good barrel life. It's also very efficient.

If you're dead set on a 338 then you're not going to be happy until you get one. When I substitute something that will do the same thing but isn't what I want then it just makes the want worse. If you want a 338 then buy it. 338LM is the only one I'd consider but that's me.

Personally I wouldnt even consider a 50 for 1500 yard shooting.

 

[xdeano]

The 300norma mag or 338 norma mag are excent.

Xdeano

 

[LegioX]

That's how shallow I am....it LOOKS bigger....therefore I want it....

Holler at Tucson Dave here on the Hide, he has a 375 Allen. Rumor control says he may part with it........

 

[Scotty22]

No thoughts on the 375 or the 408 cheytech in this catagory? I will one day (when the stars align just right) build a 375 cheytech. I have a 338 lapua AI being built right now.