Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Looking for info on a long range type rifle in 338 lapua

I'm thinking of buying a long range type rifle in 338 lapua. I don't want to break the bank yet want a nice quality accurate rifle. I was looking at some accuracy international rifles on the net but my knowledge on this type of rifle is very slim. We only have room to shoot 600 yards so the 1000 yard stuff wont be an issue with the gun. What gun and cope set up do you folks reccomend in this caliber?

Thanks for any info.

Stumpman,
Are you planning on hunting or just target shooting? Is 600 yrds the longest you will shoot or will you be reaching farther in the future. The reason I ask is if you are going to limit your shooting to 600 max or you aren't planning on shooting elk or even bigger game a 338 Lapua is more than you need. The 338 Lapua is more expensive to shoot than 260, 7mm Rem Mag, or 300 Win Mag and the rifles that fire the 338 LM are also more expensive. On the other hand if you just plain want one then go for it.

Yep, if you don't have a fast seven (or a 6.5mm) get that first.

For 600 yards a .308 Win is plenty. A 260 rem will be flatter to POI.
If'in you are just wanting a sexy caliber to shoot cause it's cool. Look at the 6.5X47 lapua. Much more sensible than the 338.

I have other calibers to hunt with. I was just wanting a bigger caliber to play with. I think one range has up to 800 yards that isn't to far to drive. This will just be a shoot to enjoy rifle never hunted with. My sons reload I never have messed with it but am thinking of getting into it and buying a big caliber to have fun and mess around with.

Thanks!

338 Lapua is big

Brass is @ $2.00 per piece (or there abouts)
225gr or 300 gr bullets are pricy.

not to mention the enormous amount of powder..

but hey if you've got the coin rock on!

However there are many other extremely fun calibers to play with to get you to 800 yards.

300 wizzum
300 winny
7 wizzum

Thanks! I was looking into the 50BMG in a barret or armalite but think it's a bit much even though it would be fun for a short time. It wouldn't be as affordable to go play with as say the 338 Lapua.

I'd be thinkin quick twist 22cal or 243,260,708....etc

Well playing in the long range game for a while now...

800 yards is a chip shot for the 338L. To get into the "fun" part of that cartridge it begins after 1000 yards.

It also wouldn't be my first choice route for "thinking of getting into" reloading with.

You'd be amazed at the oodles of fun one can have with "tiny" cartridges such as many mentioned here.

I learned with the .308 win and migrated my way through many many calibers/cartridges up to the 338L. I've now migrated back to the 6.5 calibers and have as much fun. Actually more fun as the coin purchases more fun than if I were shooting the BIG ones...

YMMV FWIW

Fast twist 243 or 223. 800 yards is no issue with the 105s or 75s. Like Cocadori said, 800 is nothing for the Lapua. Heck, some guys shooting a 338 Improved ZEROED theirs at over 1000 yards.

You can look online for pricing real easy...rifle...~$1000-????..brass...no different than ANY large case like 378 WBY, Rigby etc...bullets...very wide range.

The 338 Lapua sounds BADAZZZZZZZZ AND IS, but if you're worried about the dollar then stick with a 223 or any of the many excellent smaller cals. Long range shooting is like Golf, it costs megabucks for equipment, components and all the rest. It IS A SPECIALIZED caliber as already mentioned, and definitely not for everyone.

I really like my new $1040.00 out the door Savage Long Range 111FNGC, topped with a 40 odd year old Leupold 6.5-20 VariXIII in Millet windage adjustable rings...for many reasons...

If I had the big bucks I would have gone to the Sako TRG or AI-AWAM, McMillan TAC-338 or a Barrett...and a Nightforce, Swarovsky, Zeiss, Leupold, Schmidt and Bender scopes. If I had a long Mag length action I would built my own.

I've built a wide range of rifles in small to medium cals that will ALL work well from ZERO to well past 1000 yds...6mm-284, 220 Swift, 22-243, 7mm-08 all with twists for the longest, heaviest bullets available per cal...they ALL will do the long ton without a sweat.

I'm lucky in some ways in that I'm long retired, but continuously gun/component poor, have a 130yd range in my yard that can be stretched to ~230 yds when there are no cattle in the woods, and a 1500 plus yard range I set up about 5 miles from my house in a clearcut/dead end logging road...but I can't get to it until April/May when the snow melts. So between those ranges and the sage ratz I get plenty of work.

I you're serious, all you need to do is look inside your wallet and decide. It may take you some time to put it all together and usually is just a pipe dream/net wish for most, but if you're serious, there are many ways to achieve you dreams. The information you need to complete the job is found on the net, OUTSIDE the forums...and all the bias is located INSIDE the forums. Both places will supply you with everything you need.

GET'R'DONE, Boss

Getting set up to load properly will cost a grand. Another grand for a rangefinder. Got a killer 80mm spotter yet? At least another grand for jap glass.

Shootin' your own steel? You won't shoot anybody else's with a Lapua..a second time anyway. AR 500 ain't cheap.

We ain't even discussed a scope for the rifle you ain't bought yet.

Fwiw, Tikka sells a nicely twisted 223...

Yep, got one. T3 Lite SS.

Its 1:8 right? How's that mag box work for you?

Gotta get up the nerve to try Rancho Loco's length mod.

So far I've only tried factory 77's and 69's. About an MOA on average. I just bought a box of 75 AMAX's and some H322.

Thanks guys what tactical style rifles do you shoot or reccomend?

I saw Ranchos tutorial on that... Doesn't seem that easy

Remington Varmint SPS in 308. Get a stock from Greybull for it.

Remington Sendero in 264mag or 7mm mag. Sell the mama killer H&S stock and get a Greybull stock

550 Dillon if'n you ain't already got one.

A place to shoot and some steel targets.

The 308 barrel will last a while, the magnum not so much. I'm a recoil puss, I can't shoot a 7mm Mag in the prone without a brake. I'm getting a 264 mag.

can you post a pic of your rifle? I googled it as well as looked at Savages site and can't find that model. I find the 10/110 series but nothing on the 111 series. Thanks! looking to keep the cost of the gun and scope under $2500.00 or so. I just bought my son a Burris signature select 8 x 32 x 44mm for his 30-06. I'm sure a scope like that would work fine for now on the rifle. Check that I just found a pic of it Thanks!