20" barrel on 338 Lapua

[seidersjoden]

Hi,
I have a very specific question, will some PM with a phone # that has experience shooting a 338 Lapua with a 20" barrel. I know there are a lot of people against such a short barrel for this caliber, but please refrain from soap box opinions, i just want to chat over the phone with someone that has experience. Thanks a lot! Feel free to text or call me as well

Joden
757-701-6266

 

[perry42]

WHY

perry42

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

I'd drive a hundred miles just to watch somebody shoot five rounds off the bench with that combination...

 

[4xforfun]

I would think it would be the perfect length ......with a suppressor!!!

 

[eric32]

http://rifleshooter.com/2017/03/338-lapua-magnum-barrel-length-versus-muzzle-velocity-30-17-inches/

Give this a read.

 

[ebb]

When I built mine I used a 30 inch Rock Creek barrel. Wish I had used a 36 inch.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

My338 LM is the Savage single shot with factory 26" barrel and muzzle brake. When it goes, I have a 33" Pence cut-rifled barrel ready. I wouldn't mind if it were 36".

 

[dkhunt14]

If you only going to get 2400 FPS, why go through the the expense of a Lapua? I would just do a 338 Win, 340 Weatherby, or 338 Ultra. With the Lapua you need a custom action with bigger bolt and expensive tough brass that you won't need with that velocity. I wouldn't build a Lapua on a Remington size action. Matt

 

[Ggmac]

I've got a little experience with comparing 338 win mag , 338 Lapua and 338 rem ultra mag Ackley . At a 26" tube the 338 wm is only 150-170 fps slower than the other 2 . At 24" still an average of 150 fps in favor of the Lapua and ultra mag . At 22" the velocity dif is about 100-130 in favor of the larger cases .
I HAD PROBLEMS AT 22" GETTING ACCURATE VELOCITY READINGS with the big cases DUE TO MUZZLE BLAST , I THINK ? no brake and the flash was visible in bright daylight . I DID NOT try a 20" tube .
As a side note , even the 338 win mag had considerable muzzle blast .

 

[seidersjoden]

I've got a little experience with comparing 338 win mag , 338 Lapua and 338 rem ultra mag Ackley . At a 26" tube the 338 wm is only 150-170 fps slower than the other 2 . At 24" still an average of 150 fps in favor of the Lapua and ultra mag . At 22" the velocity dif is about 100-130 in favor of the larger cases .
I HAD PROBLEMS AT 22" GETTING ACCURATE VELOCITY READINGS with the big cases DUE TO MUZZLE BLAST , I THINK ? no brake and the flash was visible in bright daylight . I DID NOT try a 20" tube .
As a side note , even the 338 win mag had considerable muzzle blast .

How was accuracy in the 22" Lapua at 1000y or did you go out that far?

 

[Ggmac]

I wouldn't have tried it the velocity was lower than the 26" 338 win mag .

 

[Ggmac]

Don't TRY TO BUT A BRAKE ON A 20" 338 LAPUA ! I ruined the objective lens on a 22" . Too many burning powder particles got burnt onto the lens .
I'm sure it could be done with a dif brake design AND scope lens caps .

 

[284driver]

Slide over to specialty pistols and pose this question. You will get a solid answer from those fellows.

 

[MQ1]

I know a guy that has a special built, interchangable barrel bullpup stocked switchbarrel 338/308. The barrel is gain twist, about 20" and he swears its a joy to shoot...

MQ1

 

[DaveTooley]

I've never shot one but I've chambered probably a hundred of them. It's been reported back to me you end up with the same trajectory as a 308 but with more energy.

 

[wwbrown]

Don't TRY TO BUT A BRAKE ON A 20" 338 LAPUA ! I ruined the objective lens on a 22" . Too many burning powder particles got burnt onto the lens .
I'm sure it could be done with a dif brake design AND scope lens caps .

You could go to a camera store and get a UV filter to screw into the objective lens to protect the expensive objective lens on your scope.

 

[dkhunt14]

You could go to a camera store and get a UV filter to screw into the objective lens to protect the expensive objective lens on your scope.

It would be a lot easier to not use such a short barrel with a case of that capacity. Or a smaller case. Matt

 

[Ggmac]

It was just a test , I would never have a working 338 Lapua with such a short barrel !

 

[dcali]

Is there even a powder that will burn in 20 inches and fill that case? I'm really curious as to why someone would want to do this.

 

[hogan]

You could go to a camera store and get a UV filter to screw into the objective lens to protect the expensive objective lens on your scope.

Probably a different thread pitch.... nothing ever that easy... there are clamp-on filter holders though and clamp-on sunshade holders that might have the same as a camera filter thread since usually they will stack thread on a lens.