338 magnum

[Jgraf]

I'm interested in your thoughts about the best 338 magnum and why. Thank you in advance.

 

[wboggs]

I'm interested in your thoughts about the best 338 magnum and why. Thank you in advance.

For the non handloader and usual (<300yds) hunting conditions, .338Win, no contest. For the long range hunter and avid handloader, one of the fast .338's, RUM, Lapua. All are very effective if you can shoot them well. Bill

 

[Cold Bore]

..... one of the fast .338's, RUM, Lapua. All are very effective if you can shoot them well.

The larger 338 cases (RUM, Lapua, etc) are usually above the recoil threshold that most shooters can tolerate, at least without a lot of practice and conditioning.

 

[Cold Bore]

I'm interested in your thoughts about the best 338 magnum and why. Thank you in advance.

As with most "which is best" posts.... best for what?

 

[Jgraf]

I'm thinking for long range target shooting (i.e. Steel and paper) and long range hunting.
Also, I've heard several times about these larger calibers and cases being harder to shoot and handle. Recoil can be managed with weight and muzzle brakes so what am I not understanding?
I have a Rem 40x chambered in 7mm Rem Mag and it is more mild shooting than my lightweight 308 Win and my 6.5x284 thanks to the weight and an added muzzle brake. I shoot them all equally well and have been considering moving up to a big 30 or 338. Although, that 7mm 195 gr. Berger and 28 Nosler have me considering the possibilities. Would a 300 gr. 338 hit harder and buck the wind better at 800-1200+ yards than the 195 gr. 7mm ( going average real life velocities for both)?

 

[dkhunt14]

I shoot them all equally well and have been considering moving up to a big 30 or 338. Although, that 7mm 195 gr. Berger and 28 Nosler have me considering the possibilities. Would a 300 gr. 338 hit harder and buck the wind better at 800-1200+ yards than the 195 gr. 7mm ( going average real life velocities for both)?

Yes the 195 going fast would be good. Barrel life would be shorter in a big 7. Nothing beats a 300 grain bullet going 3000 feet for wind drift and energy. Also a lot easier to see the wash and hits. With a magnum bolt face go with a 338 RUM or Edge. With a Lapua boltface go with a 338 Lapua IMP or 338 Norma IMP. I prefer the Lapua because of the brass. I wouldn't build a Lapua on nothing but a custom action with a big enough bolt. Matt

 

[Outrider27]

I have a .338 Lapua mag, and it's a pussycat to shoot. Of course, with the scope it weighs over 18 lbs, and the really effective muzzle brake makes it loud enough to wake the dead. Without the muzzle brake, you will shoot it once and call it a day - kicks a bunch more than a model 70 sporter with no brake in .338 Win mag, but removing the brake from the .338 Lapua does quiet it down immensly. Just a few random thoughts.

 

[Jgraf]

Thank you for all the replies.

 

[Cold Bore]

...and long range hunting.

...larger calibers and cases being harder to shoot and handle. Recoil can be managed with weight and muzzle brakes so what am I not understanding?

I have a Rem 40x ... more mild shooting... thanks to the weight and an added muzzle brake.

Are you going to carry the weight of a 40-X out hunting?

Are you prepared to shoot a muzzle braked large capacity 338 without hearing protection while hunting (I know lots of guys say they wear hearing protection while hunting, but the reality is that the vast majority don't)? Without GOOD hearing protection, it won't take too many shots with a 338 RUM, et al, to suffer serious damage AND develop a huge flinch.

Sure, there are ways to mitigate recoil, but all come with side effects, and most don't relate well to "hunting" rifles.

....have been considering moving up to a big 30 or 338.

Would a 300 gr. 338 hit harder and buck the wind better at 800-1200+ yards than the 195 gr. 7mm?

Have you ever fired a large capacity 338 with 300 grain bullets?

Your 7mm Rem Mag with 195's is nothing in comparison, recoil-wise.

 

[wboggs]

Thank you for all the replies.

Just don't try to pack a 17# rifle at 7000+ feet in the Rockies. You can use anything you want for rest/target shooting. The LR you are talking about pretty much makes the fast .338's your choice. Get a large custom action in the .338Lapua Improved, use the 300gr bullets and don't look back. Bill

 

[bigngreen]

There are a couple very solid ways to go with the 338, if your wanting a precision hunting 338 out to the 1200 ish mark I like a 338 RUM with a 250 Berger at 3000 fps +, 26 in barrel, total rifle can easily be 9-10 lbs depending on how crazy you go with the optic and recoil is negligible because of the light weight the muzzle brakes actually catch the rifle better and their sweet to shoot, hit hard and you can shoot them a lot and they behave from many positions.
Then I like a full on 338 Lapua Improved, min weight will be 12.5 lbs and up to 16 lbs, 30+ inch barrel, large brake and a big 300gr bullet going 3000 fps +, this gun will lay on a bipod, and stack up rounds at ridiculous ranges.
I like both ways just different angle, a guy could sub a 338 Norma Mag for the RUM but then your actions change.

 

[SierraCJ5]

I own and shoot a 338 Lapua on a regular basis. In fact, I spent Sunday afternoon shooting steel at 2080 yards and thoroughly enjoyed myself. 300g Bergers are a real pleasure with the APA fat bastard brake; recoil is a non-issue. I have no regrets with the Lapua and feel it's the easiest of the big 338s to live with.

Blast is serious and it's the shooters responsibility to ensure spectators/other shooters know where to observe from. Always use sufficient hearing protection!

Get a big 338 if you think 1000 yards is moderate range and have access areas suited for LONG range.

 

[Jgraf]

I own and shoot a 338 Lapua on a regular basis. In fact, I spent Sunday afternoon shooting steel at 2080 yards and thoroughly enjoyed myself. 300g Bergers are a real pleasure with the APA fat bastard brake; recoil is a non-issue. I have no regrets with the Lapua and feel it's the easiest of the big 338s to live with.

Blast is serious and it's the shooters responsibility to ensure spectators/other shooters know where to observe from. Always use sufficient hearing protection!

Get a big 338 if you think 1000 yards is moderate range and have access areas suited for LONG range.

What kind of rifle, scope, rangefinder, and BC calculator are you using?

 

[wboggs]

What kind of rifle, scope, rangefinder, and BC calculator are you using?

I wonder if Remington is giving up on the .338RUM and .300RUM? There is a serious shortage of components. Bill

 

[SierraCJ5]

What kind of rifle, scope, rangefinder, and BC calculator are you using?

Savage action, 30" 1-10 bull profile bbl.
ATACR F1 5-25x & Gen II Razor 4.5-27x
Vectronix plrf10
Applied Ballistics

 

[xdeano]

I'm pushing a 338 norma mag with the 300 berger suppressor. It is honestly not bad to shoot a lot of rounds in a sitting, but things heat up pretty quick. It hits hard at a mile or more. It is all that a 338 lapua is, in a shorter cartridge.
Xdeano

 

[winmagman]

Seems to be some experienced .338 shooters here. Can one of you give some starting and max loads for a 338 Edge using a 250 Sierra Game King?

Thanks in advance.

Tommy

 

[hogan]

The .338 Edge is largely a creation that happened on the longrangehunting.com site in its early days. Kirby Allen was one of the big proponents of the ctg.

Best production action for .338 Lapua is the M995 Sako action used on TRG-S and TRG 42 rifles. Better than most "customs" for many reasons.

Want off the shelf and easy peasy rounds in a big .338? Go with the Lapua Magnum and buy a Sako TRG-42. The Accuracy International rifles are also very fine kit.

 

[icekra]

Try the Blaser R8 ( Professional SUCCESS ) in 338LM.

 

[DaveTooley]

A nice compromise is the 338-375 Ruger. 285's at 2675 FPS out of a 25" barrel. Magazine friendly, feeds well, brass is cheap, does not require a larger action, manageable recoil in a hunting rifle. Uses 15-20 grains less powder than a Lapua. Just a nicely balanced round.