I am curious for this being a Sniper Forum and the .338 Lapua Mag being The first cartridge ever developed specifically for military long-range sniper rifles , why is there very little to no talk ever about this round?
- Thread starter jollyrancher
- Start date
There's lots of it. You may have to do a search
It is talked about and is a great round for its intended purpose but the fact is most people don't have use for its intended purpose. Most people don't have a place they can regularly shoot to a distance where the 338 shines and it's hard to justify the cost or recoil if you don't. IMO unless you have regular access to distances over 1500 yards there are choices that can do that distance and then some that cost a lot less to shoot. I used to have a place I could shoot to 2500 until a land owner sold and I had a 338, after that I couldn't justify it so I sold it.
There are a lot of guys here who own and shoot them though, most of them because they have access to ELR, some just because they want a 338.
There are a lot of guys here who own and shoot them though, most of them because they have access to ELR, some just because they want a 338.
Both of you have very valid great explanations, thank you very much.Never thought of it that way Redneck, thanks.
That's a good point. I have a 338 Lapua that I haven't spent much time shooting because inside of 1k its a waste of money.
smaller caliber match up to short distance better.
smaller caliber match up to short distance better.
Well, I will add this. I have a 338 LM,and a 338 WIn Mag. For me it is about many factors. The main being cost per round down range( averag is about 5x per factory round compared to a 308 win) and initial set up cost( better everything for a 338 LM for the gear to hold up). Secondary to this is the range. Inside 1000yds( only get this on family land in PA with neighboring farmers lands) it is just not worth the extra cost, effort, and also if shooting steel the destruction factor.
I have multiple 30 caliber rifles, a few 224 based and a couple 257 based. For me the 308 comes out the most ( average 178 amax at $29.50 per 100 versus a 338 at $36 per 50) additionally when shooting at a public range the blast of the 338 usually raises attention of others shooting..
For most a 338 LM is about the ooh factor. To employ it effectively requires a level of skill that many (including myself) only dream of acheiving. Yes I can make hits with it at extended range, some can make it look easy though.
For most of my shooting that I cannot do with a 308 or smaller suitable LR cartridge I use a 300 win mag. Easy to find ammo/brass etc and only a little more per loaded round when reloading over a 308 win.
I have multiple 30 caliber rifles, a few 224 based and a couple 257 based. For me the 308 comes out the most ( average 178 amax at $29.50 per 100 versus a 338 at $36 per 50) additionally when shooting at a public range the blast of the 338 usually raises attention of others shooting..
For most a 338 LM is about the ooh factor. To employ it effectively requires a level of skill that many (including myself) only dream of acheiving. Yes I can make hits with it at extended range, some can make it look easy though.
For most of my shooting that I cannot do with a 308 or smaller suitable LR cartridge I use a 300 win mag. Easy to find ammo/brass etc and only a little more per loaded round when reloading over a 308 win.
