.338 Lapua build ---Feedback very welcome---

[BoydAllen]

Every range that I use requires eye and ear protection, and the one that I normally shoot at has volunteer range masters announcing the cease fires and supervising the range to ensure compliance with safety rules. On days when the range is closed to regular members, and after hours, the volunteer range masters (who all have keys) may use the range. On those days, we still call cease fires (although the language is less formal) , and afterword, to make sure that no one's hearing is damaged, we usually look around and tell anyone who does not appear to be wearing his ear protection that we are about to fire.

Hearing damage is cumulative. That shot that you fired, knowing that the person next to you did not have on adequate (or any) protection, did not just produce short term loss.

A long time ago, we were at a range with a covered firing line, with a large caliber rifle with a brake. Some fellows pulled up just behind the cover and started unloading their equipment, a few benches away. Wishing to spare them discomfort, we cautioned them that they should put on their hearing protection because the additional noise caused by the brake would hurt their ears. We offered to wait while they did. Evidently they did not believe us, and lacked experience with the high level of sound that a muzzle brake, fired over concrete, under a steel roof produces, because they declined, saying that they would be all right. At that point we fired the first shot, and they ran to their van, with their hands over their ears, more than slightly discomforted.

Today, I would have waited. At the time, muzzle brakes were not at all common on the range, and looking back, I understand that they were probably just trying to be considerate by not delaying us while they looked for their hearing protection and put it on. Shame on us. I hope that their ears finally did stop ringing.

 

[TIMO]

On the subject of a quality brake, I have an APA Fat Bastard on my SAKO TRG 41 (300 Win Mag) rebarrled to .338 Edge. Overall weight at 16 .lbs the recoil is very acceptable with this brake.

 

[TIMO]

I like it. I have had it since about 1998. I wanted a 338 Lapua but went with the Edge since I could use my original bolt. The SAKO TRG 41 was the perfect platform for me. I can always go back to my original chambering.

 

[ebb]

TIMO what brass do you use with your edge? After my experiances with RUMs I swore I would not ever build a rifle that i couldnt get Lapua bras for or make to fit. I have 4 firings on my first batch of brass and my friend has 11 on some of his 338 lapua brass. The 338 lapua is more expence than a RUM based cartridge but I think it is way less frustration in the long run. Nothing you mentioned in your list sounded like a deal breaker go for it, I can say for sure but i have been led to belive H1000 is to fast to put behind 300s.

 

[TIMO]

ebb,
so far i have only used Remington brass and have only fired 50 rounds in load testing/barrel break-in. I have only tried the H-1000 with Berger 300's.

 

[ebb]

Yea me too. I havent had very good luck with the remington brass. I wish some thing better were avalible, primer pockets is my main issue.

 

[TIMO]

ebb,
once I run through the Remington I have, I will try some of the Nosler to see how it will be. A friend tried some of the Nosler .308 Win and first impressions, the quality appeared to be high. I will have to follow up with him as to how it is doing for him.

 

[robbor]

your lack of consideration for the irreplaceable hearing of other people is a disgrace. The least you can do is ensure that everybody around you at the range has ear protection on or clears way out, before you pull the trigger on your surrogate manhood. And if they don't have it on, you don't shoot. Show some class and consideration. The shooting sports is for gentlemen, not punks.

I agree with this sentiment also, i had a jerk sit down at the bench next to me with his muzzle break'd rifle and start blasting me with out any consideration. I wanted to beat him senseless, the next 3+ benches were empty. I feel most of the tactical/assault shooters are a disgrace to shooter and hunters everywhere.

Glad to be a disgrace in your eyes. Really important to me what every other shooter and hunter thinks out there. If you get that upset over something so trivial there is a very real chance you shouldn't have a rifle to begin with.

One day youl learn with age comes experience young lad its not like chambering a barrel with a rusty file in Armorers school at 23 years old. Many of us here have more years of shooting than you have been alive.

 

[brokespur1]

Yes, EXTREMELY accurate, little recoil....it is everything that they advertise it to be. Its really solid...almost to the point of overbuilt. The only "complaint" that I have with it is the price of the accessories that go on this stick.....really outrageous in my opinion, but I guess that you get what you pay for....I'm really happy with the performance and durability....but it is OMG LOUD!!! I have to wear ear plugs, and muffs.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

your lack of consideration for the irreplaceable hearing of other people is a disgrace. The least you can do is ensure that everybody around you at the range has ear protection on or clears way out, before you pull the trigger on your surrogate manhood. And if they don't have it on, you don't shoot. Show some class and consideration. The shooting sports is for gentlemen, not punks.

I agree with this sentiment also, i had a jerk sit down at the bench next to me with his muzzle break'd rifle and start blasting me with out any consideration. I wanted to beat him senseless, the next 3+ benches were empty. I feel most of the tactical/assault shooters are a disgrace to shooter and hunters everywhere.

Glad to be a disgrace in your eyes. Really important to me what every other shooter and hunter thinks out there. If you get that upset over something so trivial there is a very real chance you shouldn't have a rifle to begin with.

One day youl learn with age comes experience young lad its not like chambering a barrel with a rusty file in Armorers school at 23 years old. Many of us here have more years of shooting than you have been alive.

I said what I said more because he felt that anyone that does tactical shooting is a disgrace to all shooters and hunters. I am working in Afghanistan right now on anything they ask of me involving weapons. Everyone I work with is a tactical/assault shooter and I maintain the tools their, and my life depend on.

Really don't appreciate being called a disgrace by a fellow shooter because he thinks that the firearms I choose to shoot are any less polite than his.

And I have met more "more years of shooting that I have been alive" type shooters that didn't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground than I have met that I would be willing to trust them with one of my firearms. I am not saying that you or anyone else on here is like that just saying the numbers of experienced shooters I see messing up rifles far outweighs the number of people that ask for help from the start.

PS: I save my rusty file for when new armorers come in and I want to scare them.

And don't forget that the majority of those tactical/assault shooters are the people defending your right to call them a disgrace. That is after all what he called us.

 

[jonbearman]

Looking at the original post,it looks like you have a winning combination of parts to put a really fine rifle together.If you did want a stock rifle then the trg is a super fine choice.I have a friend who has one and it is comfortable ,accurate and yes it has a sako brake which is hellishly expensive but necessary to maintain good riflemanship. I like the JP Enterprise's tank style brake's.They are loud but reduce recoil and flinch so they are worth every penny. When shooting your new rifle,be patient and decent to other folks who dont understand how a brake works and the extra noise that come's from them.As far as being a disgrace like one poster mentioned is so far out of line,it is laughable.Some shooter's are just plain ignorant of protocol at any range they really need to be talked to with respect and your concerns. Yelling and foul language will not solve anything regarding range protocol. Education and taking the shooter's aside with genuine concern for safety is paramount.Explain yourself in a reasonable manner and most will appreciate your help.If people show up and are doing something foolish,I take their license plate number and leave to report later to the range of bad behaviour,period.Let's stop fighting and try to give the original poster the feedback he asked for instead of insulting,disparaging remark's! Cant we all just get along?

 

[SEB-USA]

I have muzzle brakes on all of my LR rigs (primarily single-shot specialty handguns). When you use a high magnification rifle scope in a SP chambered for medium to large cartridges, you tend to figure out what you like.
Lot of good solid-bottomed brakes out there.
My favorite brake is Holland's Radial Gen 2 brake.