338 Lapua rifle Build or SAKO ?

[shootist]

Hello everyone I'm comming back from Afghanistan befor to long and I have my heart
set on a 338 Lapua. They are expensive and I was thinking of either buying a SAKO TRG42 or
building a 700 up with a custom aftermarket bolt barrel and slapping it in an AI AX chasis.
What advantages might I have one vs the other? Also shopping for an affordable Sako if that exist.
Cody
cas69@zips.uakron.edu

 

[leadburner]

Shootist. First off thank you for your service. Hope you & all the guys & gals get back safe & sound. With that I have a barrett 98b & while I like it alot If I had it to do over I would build. For about the same money you could get the stock, barrel, & trigger that fits you & your needs. If you can't wait that long the trg is a fine rifle. Buddy has one & it shoots 1/2 to 1/4 moa all day long depending on what kind of day he's having. Anyway you can't go wrong either way. Enjoy the boom! Hurry home & good luck. Robbie

 

[4xforfun]

DITTO on your service!!!! If it were me.....I would go with a custom action....Stiller, BAT, Defiance, Barnard, ect.....

I love the 700's in my life, but the BAT's......OHHHH, the BAT's!!!!!! ;D You will never own a factory again. I promise!!

Tod

 

[watercam]

+2 on the above. Sako makes fine rifles but they are pricey. If you are handy with rifle assembly and bedding you can save quite a bit by building one.

 

[lelongcarabine]

shootist, Thank You for Your Service!
IMHO, if you are going to spend the money for a .338 Lapua. Build it up with the best.
A Surgeon 1581R action or a McMillan. Leave the Remingtons to the smaller belted magnums.
A quality Cut rifled Barrel such as Kreiger or Bartlien, a Muzzle brake, a quality trigger and a Pillar bedded McMillan stock with Night Force or IOR Valdada Scope . This, IMHO would be far better than anything else out there! Pricey? Yes. But it would be to your specifications on a receiver originally designed to handle this cartridge.
The McMillan as another option. What can I say? As far as I know, that rifle carries the record for the longest kill on the Battlefield with a shoulder fired rifle !!!! SAKO or Remington? Who are they ???
Just my 2 cents !
Have fun with your build! Do whats best for you!
Greg

 

[DennisH]

Again, thanks for your service to our country!

I would custom build my gun, the TRG is fine but in our club two 338's were built and are doing fantasic! We put 30" barrels on both! There are a** kicking accurate rifles. I have mine ready with ammo loaded. Just waiting on the call (from anyone) to make a hunt or do something fun!

If building one, don't hesitate to put the "fat bastard" muzzle brake on it. You will be happy. I would change mine out, but I have this thing shooting sub MOA @ 300 yards! 1/4" 300 yd groups!

If I was in a hurry, I would not hesitate to get the TRG.

Dennis

 

[NateHaler]

If you can't wait that long the trg is a fine rifle. Buddy has one & it shoots 1/2 to 1/4 moa all day long depending on what kind of day he's having.

OP, take such claims like the above with a BIG grain of salt. 1/4 - 1/2 MOA "all day long" is nearly benchrest grade accuracy. And I'll lay long odds that such a rifle cannot do such things, unless "all day long" means the very best group out of a couple dozen three shot groups shot at 100y vs. five consecutive 5-shot groups at 300y or farther, which is what a .338 Lapua is really designed for. Impact at distance.

Figure if you get the right deal on the Sako version that you can use/enjoy it until such time as you decide it's a keeper or that you'd rather have something else. There's no guarantee that a custom rig will be the answer, but I do guarantee that you'll pay plenty for it.

Shop hard, buy whatever you decide at the right price, and last but never least -- thanks for your service.

p.s. I've never seen an unbraked .338, so be sure to wear earplugs and earmuffs simultaneously, and advise others around you to do the same before you touch 'er off. Especially if you're shooting at a range with a roof over the firing ling.