I am curious as to what anyone knows about .338 Lapua's? I am all ready aware of the 'light' kick that these things give, and also of their incredible accuracy possibilities. I guess what I want to know are available muzzle brakes, factory rifles and ammo, hunting applications, cost for comparable custom setups and overall is it worth it over something a little less punishing?
Check out Armalites AR-30, its a bolt action rifle. Pretty awesome and a decent price for what it is.
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metau, the 338 lapua is an awesome long range caliber somewhere I read the design engineers for it took a 30/06 and scaled it up 125% maybe thats wrong but thats what I'm thinking. Good as it is they have bettered it, such calibers are the 338 lapua improved, 338 edge (338/300 rum), 338 kahn (338/378 wby with a 35 degree shoulder) 338 allen mag (408 chey-tac necked to 338) 338 snipe-tac (another version of a 408 based 338 cal) these rifles can be built from about 9.5 pounds and set up to recoil very little, and take game at ranges we can't comprehend. if ya need more info on smiths for these creatures, or a smith to build you a 1kmopd (1000 yd prairie dog rifle) that will take big game at the 1 mile marker you know where to find me.
RR
Actually, the 338 Lapuawas originallybased off a shortened 416 Rigby case. The 416 Rigby was developed in the early 1900's and really wasnt designed for thehigh pressure (38K psi)we have today. Lapua solved that problem bymaking the web area thicker thus enabling the case to handle the high pressures that the 338 generates(60K psi). No doubt this cartridge is a real performer in a properly tuned rifle. I once pondered the idea of purchasinga Sako TRG 42 in the Lapua but that urged subsided.
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I have done some research allready and know about Armalite and Sako's factory guns. I personally do not care much for Armalite in generaland want to stay under the pricetag of the Sako. I also know that it is based off of a redesigned 416 Rigby case to manage the pressure, and that Lapua was the first to manufacture factory ammo for it(hence the name). From what I have been able to research, it was originally designed to meet a request for the military for a medium+ range sniper round(800yrds+) without the cumbersome wieght of the M82A1 50 BMG currently in use. However, in early test stages, military brass was not happy with what they say and scraped it. Lapua picked it up and it is where it is.
I guess what I am trying to figure out is if anyone has personal experiance with this round and can share, any opions for a similar performing cartridge, what type of realistic hunting applications this round has, cost effectiveness when all is said and done vs. one of the similar rounds, etc... I intend for this to be a primary long range(400+ yrds) hunting rifle for elk and such. I know that I can shoot accurately enough for elk out past 800 meters in ideal conditions with proper setup and enough practise, but am just trying to find the most bang for my buck I guess. Thanks.
The 338 RUM and 338-378 WBY will give comparable ballistics when usedwithlongers barrels.You might give the Weatherby Accu-Mark a look oranother option would be getting a Remington Sendero in 300 RUM and having it re-barreled to the 338 Ultra or finding a Sako action and build a Lapua from the ground up.
I think 30 inch barrels are going to be need to extract all the velocity you can out of these big cases.
Either of these are going to be a cheaper alternative to the $3500 TRG. The accuracy of course is going to have to begreat when you are talking extended ranges....and that is going to run into a little money, no shortcuts there.
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A TRG is 3500.00? my god metau email me and I'll give ya kirby Allens info, he'll build it for about half that, or another caliber if you prefer, he's working on a 300 Allen, if I'm not mistaken its a 338 lapua necked down and blown out. But the 7mm Allen mag has taken elk to 1K, it'll make the grade to 1500 yds with the right bullet and ability.
The case capacity of water for the 7mm Allen in 122 gr. it'll do 3250 fps with a 200 gr bullet with a BC of .9.
RR
AA-Heard about the ballistics. A buddy of mine who is a 'gun nut' showed me his 338 lapua and was telling me about various ballistic info of comparable rounds. He was trying to make sure that I knew all of whatI may be getting myself into. He spends all of his money on guns and then bills, where as I am opposite. Bills first. I am still aways out from being able to even start a project or afford anything, so I am just trying to gather as much information as possible now. And I know I could sit there and read various ballistic charts all day long, but it is just not the same as talking with someone with an intimate knowledge of the round and how it works in the field. As I have a military backround, I have always been somewhat partial to military rounds, and wiht the history of the lapua, I just thought that that would be a good place to start my search.
RR-If you are lucky you can find one used for just under 3k, but good luck finding one. Otherwise, yes, they are about 3500 big ones. And thank you for the offer, but I have already been in touch with Mr. Allen and have you to thank for it. He is a wealth of information to say the least, and I think that he will at the least get me going in a direction that is good for me.
.338 Lapua?
' kick that these things give, and also of their incredible accuracy possibilities. I guess what I want to know are available muzzle brakes, factory rifles and ammo, hunting applications, cost for comparable custom setups and overall is it worth it over something a little less punishing?
