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338 Lapua, shorty, opinions or experience wanted.

nakneker

nakneker

Gold $$ Contributor
I have a 338 Lapua I had built a few years ago by Jon Beanland. It’s been a great rifle but my 300 NMI kind of filled that niche a couple years ago and I haven’t been shooting this rifle much. I listed but didn’t get any interest and I had it listed cheap so I decided to keep it with the idea of redesigning the rifle and tweaking it to a shorty made for suppressor use. The idea is something that is short enough to hunt with and still is carrying a lot of energy out at 1k or so.

With that idea in mind I want to send this rifle to Zack and have a 18” CF barrel installed and reignite some interest and a purpose for this rifle. So I thought I’d ask for any experience from people who have had short 338 Lapuas or similar cartridges and whether they were happy with the results.

I have long barreled rifles covered, I don’t need more but I am starting to use more and more shorties with suppressors and I’m losing a lot less velocity than I would have guessed I would with some of my other cartridges and shorter barrels. Granted they aren't as fast as a rifle with 6-8” more barrel but they aren’t far off and I’m dialing for most of these rifles any ways.

Opinions and experience welcome.
 
I have no direct personal experience with SB 338s. I think the recoil will be pretty substantial though. Just by shortening the barrel from 26" to 18", the muzzle pressure goes up by around 50%. Shooting suppressed, that may be more felt recoil than the same rifle at 26 inches with a bare muzzle.
 
I have a 16.5" Sako M995 in 338 Lapua I use for black bears here in MN and Idaho. I shoot the 250gr Bergers over 92 grains of Retumbo with a Thunderbeast 338 Ultra. Four bears over 500# never took more than 2 steps. Two 175# MN whitetails at 100 yards dropped too. Rifle handles like a standard rifle, albeit a little muzzle heavy. My wife used it in Idaho last year for her first bear. Recoil is insignificant and the suppressor keeps her from being afraid of the rifle or recoil. The rifle won't eject shells properly with a NF scope (windage turret is too big, cases hit it) so I have a Leupold 4.5-14x with the B&C reticle. Drops match the reticle to 400 yards which is as far as I'd ever shoot the short barreled rifle.

I picked up a second M995 and cut it back to 20" but haven't done much testing with it. I put a NF SHV on this and it ejects good. These rifles are limited to 250gr bullets with their twist, but for $1000 rifles, they sure are fun.

I have a third 338 Lapua built by Ryan Pierce that has a 30" barrel. I handles the 300gr Bergers and is much fun, but it handles like an anti-aircraft gun when the suppressor is on it. In closing, you give up a little velocity, but you're shooting a heavier bullet to begin with. Range, dial and send it!
Scott
 
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And you’ll get a lot more speed out of a short 338lm than a 338wsm.

Just a thought, if you want a shorter range hammer, how about necking that 338lm up to 375 like the swissP. Some good bullet choices in 375 and a lot of energy and fun.
 
Post #9 is kind of where my head is going with this idea. Judging by the comments there are few people who have ventured into big bore shorties, it might be one of those things you just have to try and see if it’s for you or not.

I’ll get the rifle sent off to the builder, it’ll probably be a year or so before I have it to start the fun, no rush.

I’m gonna play around with three short barreled rifles in the coming year, 6.5 PRC, 7 Saum and this 338L, I’m curious how they do at 18-20”. I’m using suppressors more and more, my one and only complaint is the length and bulk they add to my hunting rifles. It’s a non issue when shooting off a bench but going in and out of canyons, up and down mountains and having a rifle as long as Dave’s Crocketts smoke pole gets old.
 
nakneker said:
Post #9 is kind of where my head is going with this idea. Judging by the comments there are few people who have ventured into big bore shorties, it might be one of those things you just have to try and see if it’s for you or not.

I’ll get the rifle sent off to the builder, it’ll probably be a year or so before I have it to start the fun, no rush.

I’m gonna play around with three short barreled rifles in the coming year, 6.5 PRC, 7 Saum and this 338L, I’m curious how they do at 18-20”. I’m using suppressors more and more, my one and only complaint is the length and bulk they add to my hunting rifles. It’s a non issue when shooting off a bench but going in and out of canyons, up and down mountains and having a rifle as long as Dave’s Crocketts smoke pole gets old.
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I also have a 20" 284 shehane I built for my wife. Nothing has taken a step with it after being hit with the 175 gr. Berger Elite Hunter in 2 trips to South Africa. I know it gives up a little velocity to my 25" barreled rifle of the same caliber but it handles well and shoots good. I'm a magnum guy from my younger years of reading all the magazines when all I had was an open sighted 35 Rem. but I tell friends we used to kill stuff with pointed sticks and rocks, a bullet moving a little slower than max velocity won't be noticed, especially when you dial distance and place it correctly.
Scott
 
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