338 Lapua Mag - Few Questions on Use

[Phil3]

I have a completely irrational desire for a 338 Lapua Magnum, since I have no good place to really shoot it, but that said, have a few questions.

- Opinions on the Armalite AR-30? Inexpensive for the 338LM.
- Is it possible to ever shoot this with anyone nearby in other shooting lanes (assume an effective muzzle brake). Most areas I shoot at are under canopies and a 300WinMag is pretty deafening (w/brake).
- My calculation show it can be reloaded for about $1.25 a round, assuming five uses out of a case (I have no idea). ???

I would be shooting out to 1000 yards max.

- Phil

 

[THUNDERBOLT68]

Re: 338 Lapua Mag - Few Questions on Use

really if you reload the 338lm is really not that expensivethe bullets 50-75 cents 90-98 gr powder time to reload

 

[desertHK]

Re: 338 Lapua Mag - Few Questions on Use

If it is your "want" then sometimes it's hard to be rational about it. Talk to me about it. Been there done that. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a 338 LM and shoot at 300 yards only or up to 1000 yards as long as you can afford the bullet to shoot it. It's your decision. Now in terms of the muzzle brake, it's another story. I don't have an Armalite so can't speak for that, but my AIAWSM brake is not exactly quiet either. Last outing at a local range, which I don't usually shoot the 338 LM just because it's too short. Anyway, in between shots, I had a gentleman about 3 lanes to my left walked over and aksed me what elephant gun I was shooting. He said that he could feel the concussion from the brake about 3 lanes over. To say the least, your neighbors to your left and right are going to be too thrill if they are working up their loads during your shooting session to say the least. FWIW.

 

[Starvin]

Re: 338 Lapua Mag - Few Questions on Use

Between brass and bullets the .338lm really doesn’t fall into the realm of a practical cartridge IMHO (at this time, hopefully that'll gradually change).

If you really want one then go ahead and step up to it, at least go for a TRG-42. The cost of the rifle is pretty insignificant compared to the cost of the ammo you'll be burning and you'll not regret your purchase.

For me, I got bitten by the .338lm bug and ended up scratching it with an AI. However after coming to my senses and evaluating the practicality of the round I've since switched the rifle out to .300wm which offers me phenomenal ballistics at a significantly lower cost per round loaded.

Oh, and for me anything bigger than a .22lr is just too damn loud on a covered range!

 

[BKS]

Re: 338 Lapua Mag - Few Questions on Use

Yes they are expensive to reload compared to smaller rounds. Yes they are loud as fuck for the people next to you. And yes, if you have the money to get one, it is worth it. Nothing other than a .50 or a .408 comes close to fun you will have with it. The AR-30 leaves a lot to be desired but is accurate.

 

[myerfire]

Re: 338 Lapua Mag - Few Questions on Use

I have a AR-30, still doing load development. The muzzel brake is GREAT. The recoil is about the same as my 308. The rangemaster said that it wasn't any louder than than the guy with a 300 win mag. I have 6 reloads on my Norma brass and it is still like new. After being fired 5 times, cases haven't grown any. I usually buy components in large quanities to get a better price (haz mat is the same for 8lbs as for 48lbs), so I calculated that if I get 10 reloads from my brass, it'll cost 95.2 cents per round and it doesn't matter if you shoot 250g. or 300g. The cost of the bullet and powder balance out.
Like I said, I'm still doing load development, but I did get a .31 and a .32 MOA last week at 100 yards.
myerfire

 

[bignada]

Re: 338 Lapua Mag - Few Questions on Use

You have received some good advice on the .300win.

If you want to shoot .338 high BC bullets and get that same economy, precision, and longrange effectiveness; there is the .338/300win. Or the .338/300 ultra known as the Edge, or a plain .338rum.

There is also the .338/284 and Reloader 17...

Nope, you won't have lapua brass; a big deal, it ain't.
You won't have that blazing velocity and 2000yd potential; but you say 1000yds would do you just fine.

Buy a scope with 100moa of reticle movement and just dial a few more clicks. Study the other .338s in the loading manuals and see that there really isn't that much difference, unless bragging rights are the main goal. For bragging rights, you need a .338-378 or a chey-tac wildcat...

I like the .338/300win because of the great flexibility and the longer bullet seating capability in my TRG-42... Magazines are 3.75" oal. Seating .250gr sierra btsp at 3.55" means only the bt section of the bullet is below the neck. Still have .175 further to seat if you need. Try that with a LM.

Another thing not to try is light loads, but the .338/300 has tremendous range of flexibility. Have fired,(no muzzle brake) 65gr of xmr4350 w/250gr sbt for very pleasant almost nothing recoil. Or load 78+ grains if you want the earth to move and you want .340wby power.

The .338/300 is very comparable to the .330 dakota, .340wby, and .338rum.

Reloader 17 is the new wonder powder. Might just transform the now anemic .338win and 7mm rem mags.

If you can go lighter bullets, the 7mm Bergers are the ticket.
Read the article at 6mmbr.com on Reloader 17 and the .284win and other medium standard ctgs. Study the manuals and see the potentials. Any of the .284 variants, done on a Long Action could be a contender.

Maybe I'm just a cheapskate? I owned a .30-378 and a couple of rum rifles. I would rather get longer barrel life and more loads per pound, plus pay less for brass; also I want field rifle I can carry in the field without a gun-bearer, and shoot without a brake.