- Thread starter Jinx1
- Start date
Performance is a trade off of barrel life and component cost and consumables ( Barrels, brass, bullets and powder )
Or get really good at reading enviromental conditions, extremely precise reloading practices and shooting more rounds with a small caliber with better barrel life but a lower hit probability at extreme distances.
Or get really good at reading enviromental conditions, extremely precise reloading practices and shooting more rounds with a small caliber with better barrel life but a lower hit probability at extreme distances.
With that action you re-barrel to 300NM and shoot a 230 ish grain 30cal bullet that will give you better performance and somewhere in the 1200-1500 round barrel life.....with a cheaper per round cost. Or you can do what I would do and rebarrel to 33XC and get that performance past 2500yds. The per round cost will be about the same as 338LM but the performance is magnitudes higher. The barrel life should be in the 1200 to 1500 round area for precision.
These are magnum cartridges and not plinking guns. 1000 rounds in 2 months is excessive. If you simply 'like to shoot'...go buy something to plink with. Any precision rifle is going to have a relatively low round count life on the barrel. We are pushing a lot of abrasive powder down a steel tube mixed with a lot of heat. Stuff wears out.
When engaging 1500+ yard targets...it's about quality...not quantity of shots on target. Many new to long range shooters come from a 308 background and think a barrel is a fixed cost. Once you start shooting magnums you realize that barrels are like tires on your car. They aren't cheap but they have to be replaced often. I go through about 2.5 barrels a year....well years when work allows me to compete more. I've given up complaining about the cost of rebarreling. I simply pick up the phone....order a new barrel...or two...and change them out as needed.
Not what you probably wanted to hear...but it is what it is.
These are magnum cartridges and not plinking guns. 1000 rounds in 2 months is excessive. If you simply 'like to shoot'...go buy something to plink with. Any precision rifle is going to have a relatively low round count life on the barrel. We are pushing a lot of abrasive powder down a steel tube mixed with a lot of heat. Stuff wears out.
When engaging 1500+ yard targets...it's about quality...not quantity of shots on target. Many new to long range shooters come from a 308 background and think a barrel is a fixed cost. Once you start shooting magnums you realize that barrels are like tires on your car. They aren't cheap but they have to be replaced often. I go through about 2.5 barrels a year....well years when work allows me to compete more. I've given up complaining about the cost of rebarreling. I simply pick up the phone....order a new barrel...or two...and change them out as needed.
Not what you probably wanted to hear...but it is what it is.
1000 Rounds in 2 months isn't crazy if you can shoot every other day, at that point I'd say just buy more barrels.
You aren't going to find anything that's going to provide a substantial increase in barrel life and maintain similar performance. Dropping down to a 30 will save you a bit on projectiles.
Do you compete at all? could do 2 barrels a 33XC for competition and 30NM for day to day shooting.
You aren't going to find anything that's going to provide a substantial increase in barrel life and maintain similar performance. Dropping down to a 30 will save you a bit on projectiles.
Do you compete at all? could do 2 barrels a 33XC for competition and 30NM for day to day shooting.
You have to forgive me @Taylorbok . In my mind, anything over 50 rounds a month in a non-competitive environment is excessive
I just see so many people that come from the 308 and 6.5cm world and buy a precision gun....go out and spend 1000 rounds to 'find a load' and shoot out their barrels just having fun....which is fine...whatever floats their boat.I've devolved down to a 20 round load work up...followed by rarely shooting my rifles outside of competing. When I just need to go pound close range steel....800yds and in...I grab the old 308 that will probably never need a new barrel and enjoy myself.
I think we can both agree...that a 338LM is no longer competitive in today's precision world.
Depending How lucky I get and how Picky I am being my load dev is 30-50 Rounds. That's for a completely new chambering, If it's just a new barrel same chamber I get away with much less. I've brainstormed a method to get down to 20 but I need nicer weather to test that method to see if I'll be happy.You have to forgive me @Taylorbok . In my mind, anything over 50 rounds a month in a non-competitive environment is excessive
I've devolved down to a 20 round load work up...followed by rarely shooting my rifles outside of competing. When I just need to go pound close range steel....800yds and in...I grab the old 308 that will probably never need a new barrel and enjoy myself.
I think we can both agree...that a 338LM is no longer competitive in today's precision world.
I agree 1000 is lots of rounds, considering Id expect to kill an afternoon shooting anywhere from 20-50 rounds. The way I broke it down is if he gets to shoot every day 16 ish rounds an outing isn't bad. Every second day, 33, still not bad. Now if he shoots once a week 112 rounds in an outing is definitely excessive and likely just sending lead for the heck of it.
If I could shoot out to 2500 yards from my back door I'd do it a lot more often. If a person is just pulling the trigger to send a round it's a waste but if it's valuable rifle time and practice there is no harm in shooting lots if you have the time and can afford it.
Last edited:
I have a 6.5 credmor that I’m get a 223 barrel for for under 1500 yards
I just got the 338 as the next step went to a class and have a 3000 yard range at my house. I just had no idea how short of a life it had and the cost per round
Even if I had to build a different gun for longer life and cheaper components
I’m also having a 416 Barrett built and hopping to clear anther 1000 yards of woods
I just got the 338 as the next step went to a class and have a 3000 yard range at my house. I just had no idea how short of a life it had and the cost per round
Even if I had to build a different gun for longer life and cheaper components
I’m also having a 416 Barrett built and hopping to clear anther 1000 yards of woods
Last edited:
Skepticism peaked
.223 and 6.5 CM have different bolt faces.
You just bought a 338 lm and went straight to it and built a 3000 yard range. and Killed a barrel in 2 months?
416 Barrett build in the works.
I hope it's all true and color me jealous. I wish I had access to the land and time for that.
If so may want to reconsider the 416 Barrett for a different cartridge. Main complaints seem to be brass and primers
.223 and 6.5 CM have different bolt faces.
You just bought a 338 lm and went straight to it and built a 3000 yard range. and Killed a barrel in 2 months?
416 Barrett build in the works.
I hope it's all true and color me jealous. I wish I had access to the land and time for that.
If so may want to reconsider the 416 Barrett for a different cartridge. Main complaints seem to be brass and primers
The 6.5 is a big horn tl3 changeable bolt faces
I had 1 mile range across some friend property and extended to 3000 yards a couple years ago
I had 1 mile range across some friend property and extended to 3000 yards a couple years ago
In that case buy barrel's 6 at a time have them all cut, get a barrel vise and action wrench, change as needed.
Start a garden for all your tomato stakes. You won't find anything easier on barrels than 338 Lap for those distances.
Start a garden for all your tomato stakes. You won't find anything easier on barrels than 338 Lap for those distances.
how did you determine it was shot out?
338 lapua is not that overbore of a cartridge.
1,000 rounds seems short, if its truly shot out then i’d say your shooting habits are to blame.
i’d recommend what the other member mentioned, just get a bunch of barrels spun up and don’t worry about it. Ain’t nothing cheap about long range magnum cartridges.
338 lapua is not that overbore of a cartridge.
1,000 rounds seems short, if its truly shot out then i’d say your shooting habits are to blame.
i’d recommend what the other member mentioned, just get a bunch of barrels spun up and don’t worry about it. Ain’t nothing cheap about long range magnum cartridges.
Yep ..agree
I had an AWSM 338l that had 2400 rounds on it .. its still going strong...........mate had a TRG42 338l with 1900 rounds on it...still shot 1/2 moa.
Currently have a a Desert Tech with 338L barrel conv ...500rds and very little sign of wear when looking at it with a bore scope.
the 300 norma magnum is more overbore than than the 338 lapua, so that won’t fix his problem.
Where's the emoji reaction for Jealousy? I'm insanely jealous.
Didn't the Fins say the 338 lapuas last like 3000-5000 rounds?
Unless your just hammering rounds through it I don't knownhow it would be shot out.
Unless your just hammering rounds through it I don't knownhow it would be shot out.
338 will last way longer than 1k. Something is off
exactly, hence why i asked him how he determined it was shot out and if it was then ifs definitely shooting schedule related
something doesn’t sound right at all
Yes. Take the van off and clean it. Check all the action/scope base/ring screws tight. If that doesn’t help, try a new scope. A 338 shouldn’t be shot out in a 1,000 rounds. What load are you using? How fast an interval are you shooting? Maybe over heating the barrel?
I rant this through a purporeted barrel life calculator. Compare N570 vs Retumbo. N570 is pretty brutal
Barrel Life Calculator
pierrevanderwalt.com 
338 Lapua Magnum
Looking for Reloading Data for the 338 Lapua Magnum and Berger Bullets? This data is now available to download for free from our website!
bergerbullets.com 
I run a .338Lm and I had just under 1700 round when I put the new barrel on. 1000 Sounds low to me. What powder and bullet are you using??
Send a bore scope down there and have a look. She might need a really good deep clean. I agree 1000 rounds is low for 338 lap
That calculator is wonky. Shows my 308 as done at 2600 rounds. I'm at 6000 and still hammering, but on the down side I would imagine.
As said before, 1000 rounds is too soon for a 338LM to be shot out unless its being abused with a really hot load. Also as said before, switching to 300NM is going to be a step in the opposite direction for barrel life. Heck, I have over 1000 (1200-ish) on my 300NM barrel right now and it's still shooting fairly well. A 338LM isn't as over-bored, and should definitely last longer.
I quit counting at 15,000 rounds for my 308....shooting better than it ever has....meanwhile...I change my barrels on 300PRC about 1200...they can go 1500...but I'm shooting 1 mile paper with it....and about 1500+ for the 6 Dasher.
I was thinking for precision...the 338LM should go to about 1500 or so.
4” groups doesn’t tell me your barrel is shot out, it tells me there is something loose or broken.
im not saying its not possible, but is very very unlikely for only 1,000 rounds down the pipe.
Try another scope
I had 2 of these fail on high recoiling Rifles.
Attachments
Last edited:
I haven't used these, but I did have a brand new scope fail on a 338LM during load development and it drove me crazy until I figured it out. Group sizes were getting progressively bigger despite whatever load changes I made. i finally figured it out when my earlier loads that had given the best results were way worse, and the Zero was shifting every time out.
1000 rounds in 2 months is 17 rounds EVERY DAY, or 35 rounds EVERY OTHER DAY. I mean it can be done, but I had my 338 LM in the desert yesterday and got to 25 rounds and that was enough. 6 shots at 1100 and 19 at a mile. I can't really imagine a situation where I'm seriously shooting that many shots or more every other day. Or why I would want to. I honestly had more fun with my 223 at 1100 yards (I always do).
no time for that, he's too busy bulldozing down the forest to extend his range fartherHave you cleaned it?
Last edited:
sounds like me, i have more fun at my property (500ish yard range) shooting my cheap 22 lr at 400 yards than my cheytac lol
Are you torquing them properly? Last I remember my chassis torq was 60in/lbs+ ... I would imagine on a bigger setup like that, you'd want a little more force on them. Or something isn't lining up right.
Are you using Red high strength Loctite?
If you are and they are still coming loose then you sir are truly accomplishing something.
If you are and they are still coming loose then you sir are truly accomplishing something.
I was wondering if he was shooting 10 round strings of hot loads.
I'd be interested in what OP was shooting, to burn out a 338lm in 1k rounds.
you hammer a barrel like a linked weapon, barrels not going to last long.
"Look son, you can see the bullet pass through the barrel. Cool dad, do it again."
edit - this isn't that hot of a load; 250 grain at 2700 fps
nosler 250 accubond
N560 85 grains 2764
Last edited:
I've never replaced a set of action screws after they've been fitted. There isn't enough thread engagement on any of them so make sure you have all you can get. I torque them to 65 inch pounds and retorque them every time I clean the barrel. They never move after 100 rounds but I started that process after a set did after many hundreds of rounds. Nothing magical about 65, I just have an old tee handle torque wrench that's permanently set there.
When you install the action in the chassis, install and tighten the screws with the action vertical to make sure the recoil lug is setting the axial position in the chassis and that the action screws have a little play in both directions with the screws maybe 1 turn out. If the spacing or clocking of the action screw holes is off, one of them winds up being the recoil lug. The problem is generally the action and not the chassis. Screw holes can be opened to a point to provide the required clearance and bedding fixes the larger problems.
Make sure the action is seated its full length along both sides and not high centering on the recoil lug or trigger. If the chassis has a little radius at the bottom of the recoil lug face, that's a common location for interference. Adjustment screws on the trigger housing are another.
400 ModBB material would extend barrel life as well but the cost doesn't really make it a better or worse deal than regular steel. However, you do get to go twice as long before a new barrel
