338-378 Weatherby or .338 Lapua?

[LA50SHOOTER]

I agree with @dkhunt14 regarding the Chey-Tac’s versus the smaller case capacity options. I have barrels chambered in both 338 & 375 Chey-Tac improved versions and the gains versus the .580 diameter case head cartridge for the cost incurred IMO isn’t justified even using Peterson brass in the Chey-Tac’s. -
@Ol Thumper you may want to consider the 37xc or 33xc if you feel that you want more powder capacity than an improved 338 Lapua. The “cc’s” fall midway between the improved 338 Lapua magnum and a Chevy-Tac version. Another consideration will need to be barrel length if you planning on changing course and weight will also need to increase because of larger sized base components (action and barrels) - I don’t know anyone using a 375 or 408 Chey-Tac as a walking hunting gun, just too much weight to tote around for very much distance.

 

[Ol Thumper]

Well I’m not walking anywhere with it other than maybe 20 feet to get in a blind, I’ll do a bit more research before pulling the trigger. If Im going to spend 7-$10k I just thought I’d up the game a bit. I have a Tac 50 as well so I’m very aware of the expense of shooting bigger guns and the weight involved. I’ll do some checking and see what pans out.

 

[effendude]

Me my next is a 338-378, how can you not love that 125gr case capacity. I already have an EDGE so that is the next logical step for me anyways. I cannot wait to send those 160gr TTSXs down stream, I am already getting 4200fps with 105gr of RL17 from my EDGE, so to add another 20gr 4500fps cant be that far off. If not it should be close.

Dean

But with those light bullets and poor BC, you are fast losing velocity to heavier bullets. I would guess by 300 yards from the muzzle, 250 and 300 grain bullets are faster than your lightweight bullets.
Scott

 

[scope eye]

I am to lazy to do the balistics but if I have to I will, I have been doing this for a long time and it would take a little more than 300 yards for a 160gr bullet to slow down to what ever a 300gr is traveling when one is exiting 4500fps and they other is 3000fps.

Dean

 

[scope eye]

Range	Velocity	Energy	Trajectory	Come Up (MOA)	Come Up (MILS)	Wind Drift	Wind Drift (MOA)	Wind Drift (MILS)
0	3000	5995.0	-1.5	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
100	2863	5462.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
200	2731	4969.0	-2.7	1.3	0.4	0	0	0
300	2603	4513.0	-10.2	3.2	0.9	0	0	0
400	2478	4091.0	-22.7	5.4	1.6	0	0	0
500	2357	3700.0	-40.9	7.8	2.3	0	0	0
600	2239	3339.0	-65.4	10.4	3.0	0	0	0
700	2124	3006.0	-96.8	13.2	3.8	0	0	0
800	2013	2699.0	-136.0	16.2	4.7	0	0	0
900	1905	2418.0	-183.7	19.5	5.7	0	0	0
1000	1801	2162.0	-241.0	23.0	6.7	0	0	0

 

[Evlshnngns]

A 37xc is a beast by the numbers. It pushed me to get a lapua action over going RUM based cartridges. I'm going to try the 338lm for a bit, maybe go improved on the next barrel.

 

[scope eye]

Range	Velocity	Energy	Trajectory	Come Up (MOA)	Come Up (MILS)	Wind Drift	Wind Drift (MOA)	Wind Drift (MILS)
0	4500	7194.0	-1.5	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
100	4121	6032.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
200	3772	5054.0	-0.6	0.3	0.1	0	0	0
300	3450	4229.0	-3.6	1.1	0.3	0	0	0
400	3152	3530.0	-9.5	2.3	0.7	0	0	0
500	2874	2935.0	-19.0	3.6	1.1	0	0	0
600	2613	2426.0	-32.6	5.2	1.5	0	0	0
700	2367	1990.0	-51.4	7.0	2.0	0	0	0
800	2133	1617.0	-76.4	9.1	2.7	0	0	0
900	1914	1301.0	-109.1	11.6	3.4	0	0	0
1000	1709	1038.0	-151.3	14.4	4.2	0	0	0

 

[scope eye]

I used 350bc for the 160gr and 700bc for the 300gr it takes over 900 yards for it to catch up
and look at the bullt drop at 1000 almost 100inches more for the 300gr. I know it doesn't have they energy of the 300gr down range but it is still enough to get the job done. I don't really care for anything that far 300 to 600 yards at best and I'm good, that and no need to worry about bullet drop there is so little that you can make the call through the scope instead of counting clicks.

Dean

PS: In they end this is what works for me and I enjoy it so I am going to stick with it.
PPS: The vapor trail must be a sight to be seen @4500fps+ it is @4200fps out of my edge.

 

[geralton4]

I've got a 338-378 Accumark and I've pushed 300 gr SMKs a little over 3000 but that was hard on brass (imagine that) using RL 33. I'm still going around 2950 and brass is living longer.

 

[scope eye]

I've got a 338-378 Accumark and I've pushed 300 gr SMKs a little over 3000 but that was hard on brass (imagine that) using RL 33. I'm still going around 2950 and brass is living longer.

Speaking of that I have have always found that running higher than spec or "hot loads" with lighter bullets, is a lot less harder on the brass than with heavier bullets, my take is that the lighter bullet starts moving forward and seperating from the case sooner. And the high pressure starts to bleed off quicker reducing they amount of time the case is sustained under the stress of the higher pressure thus reducing dammage and wear and tear that the case endure's. And that applies to all the 40 some odd calibers I shoot.

Dean

 

[scope eye]

I have a shooting buddy that has a 338 lapua I think TRG or something like that anyways it was a lot of coin.
Anyways he only shoots 300grs he has every type of 300gr bullet and some brands I have never even heard of. he is very serious about his shooting "I don't even know if he is having any fun" But every once in a while he will call me and say let's go shoot some 160s we have a blast, I was surprised to learn that that rig has a 11.75 twist rate, the newer ones have a 10 twist he was telling me he got one of the first ones available this side of the pond. His load that I make for him is 100gr of RL17 with those 160gr TTSXs which are good for 4000 fps if anyone is interested. He is major OCD and sometimes I tell him I only loaded 99gr of powder just to screw with him, I can see it in his face and he is stuggling with it. Hey what are friends for.LOL

Dean

 

[MagnumW]

I’m thinking about buying or building a 338-378 Weatherby or a 338 Lapua, anyone with information good or bad id appreciate some insight and even more so on a gun choice. I’m not looking to spend a fortune on a gun, maybe around $3,500 give or take for a hunting rifle plus optics. I’m looking for something different to play with in terms of a new pig gun, they can never be to dead I’ve been using a 375 H&H and 416 Rem Mag but the range sucks at best however devastating at close range.

I have gone thru 2 barrels on a 338 Lapua and load developed for son and uncles 338-378’s in last two years.

The 338-378 w factory 26” barrel shoots 300 smk’s with 1/2 moa at 1000 yards @ 2870.
The Lapua shoots the same with 28” barrel if pushed or 2880 with 30” barrel.

weatherby needed bedded and custom trigger. As is the Lapua. It is more consistant cold bore due to huge bullet jump.

Both weigh 11 # w optics

For custom would get Lapua Improved.

Factory its a tossup but brass favors Lapua.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I haven’t been happy with my Savage factory 338 LM. Some issues with the rail that came on the rifle, and I’ve not been able to find a very accurate load. If I were gonna buy another 338 LM that was not a custom, it would probably be the Ruger Precision Rifle, but I would be looking for feedback about that rifle from members of this forum before I bought one.

 

[scope eye]

I am really surprise at the fps numbers of the WBY it holds 25% or 25 grains more powder than the Lapua, that is an astrononical amount as far as reloading and case capacity is concerned for little to no gain somethings off, a 338 EDGE with it's 106gr case capacity is usually around 100fps over 338RUM or 338 Lapua with there 100gr cases resectfully.

Dean

 

[Indianhead15613]

33XC if you want long range ! 300 Berger's at 3200 ....... peterson brass .........

 

[4xforfun]

I am going to be different!!! Now that we have good brass...I say 338 EDGE!! We have 4 in our stable...all run the 300's at the 2840 - 2860 node with H1000, 2940 to 2960 node with RL33. Built on 2 Rem 700's and 2 on BAT M's.

Tod

PS...My reamer is VERY long throated (4.08 OAL)and all are single feed. BUT ...there is zero PSI issues with these loads.

 

[Evlshnngns]

I am going to be different!!! Now that we have good brass...I say 338 EDGE!! We have 4 in our stable...all run the 300's at the 2840 - 2860 node with H1000, 2940 to 2960 node with RL33. Built on 2 Rem 700's and 2 on BAT M's.

Tod

PS...My reamer is VERY long throated (4.08 OAL)and all are single feed. BUT ...there is zero PSI issues with these loads.

How long of barrels for those speeds?

 

[4xforfun]

How long of barrels for those speeds?

All are 30 inches.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I gotta raise my prices.

 

[ronemus]

I’m thinking way outside the box now, 375 or 408 CT.

Those cartridges would be a real shoulder buster in a carry weight rifle. The .338 LM or relatives is about as much as I would think about shooting in a light rifle. You'll want the best available muzzle brake to tame that beast, so have a look at American Precision Arms' Fat Bastard; I put one on the Ruger Magnum Precision Rifle, and it's a night and day difference.