New guy help

[97cobra]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum because I ws referred here from another forum for answers.

My question is, I am looking at buying the savage long range hunter for target shooting and some groundhog hunting and possibly other long range hunting.

The calibers I took an interest in are .338 lapua and 6.5-284.

What are the pros and cons of each caliber and why would I be better off with?

Is there a difference between 6.5-284 and 6.5-284 Norma?

 

[Larryh128]

Big con of the 338 Lapua is recoil + it's a tad overgunned for chucks. The 6.5x284 is a very nice accurate round & really a bunch more than you need for chucks also.

 

[spclark]

Both are way overkill for your intended uses. Both are far more costly to shoot, when compared to other cartridges commonly used for these pursuits. Unless you're a trust-fund prince I suggest you look into a 243WIN, 6XC, 260REM, even the straight 284WIN for starters. You'll have barrels that last 3x longer & probably shoot 3x or more rounds for the price of each 338 fired even if you reload your own.

Your shoulder will last longer too.

The two flavors of 6.5x284 - WIN and Norma - are slightly different in case dimensions. I'm not sure which won't shoot in the other's chamber though so someone else can fill in that blank.

 

[25AI260]

if suggestions are in order... i think the 6.5X47 Lapau will cover your quest

i'm not sure on the question of 6.5-284 and 6.5-284 Norma?

 

[97cobra]

I'll look into those other caliber options. The 6.5-284 was one of the 6.5s listed as an option in the long range hunter from savage. The creedmoor was also listed.

 

[spclark]

The 6.5-284 was one of the 6.5s listed as an option in the long range hunter from savage. The creedmoor was also listed.

No surprise, they LIKE selling you new barrels every so often. Only issue I have with the Creedmoor is brass: there's only one manufacturer that makes it - Hornady - and from time to time it's been in short supply. You can make it from other larger cases, 308 most common, but it takes time & patience & you lose a few in each batch until you get the stages worked out.

Keep in mind whatever you get from the factory will accept another barrel chambered in a different cartridge later on, as long as the cartridge you choose has the same head diameter as your original choice.

0.475" is really common (260, 284, 308, 6XC, 6.5 Creedmoor, etc.) while the 338 Lapua's a magnum so the case head's 0.587". Plenty of BANG but for many more bucks per round than the others....

 

[gotcha]

Well, the LRH's all come w/ muzzle brakes but the .338L would be just a tad bit OVERKILL for Chucks You didn't explain what " possibly other long range hunting" might be. Varmints, deer, polar bear ? Sticking to the varmint/target options I'd look at the 260 Rem & 6.5 CM choices. ..... Way more than what's necessary for chucks yet, each would be effective on deer. Plus, the bolt face for these cartridges would accept any cartridge w/ a .473" case head should you lust to re-barrel in the future. (assuming you opt for the long action.)...................... Will you be reloading?

 

[97cobra]

The other long range hunting would include deer, groundhogs, and possibly an elk in the next few years should I decide to take that rifle.

I will be reloading for either caliber I get, but I plan on having a .338 lapua and a 6.5 variant. Just figuring out which one first.