Rifle Choice for Competition

[bigdad1956]

Thatis what thought. Get a little more trigger time with what I have. I did enter one mid range and long range match last month and actually finished in the middle of the pack using my Sig ssg 3000. Just looking at those fclass rifles made me think I needed one. I'm just going to be doing local and maybe some regional matches anyway. At this stage I'm mostly just trying to improve my skills and my own score. Thanks for the input.

 

[4xforfun]

So please, think of others before posting; try not to curtail the fun they will have watching Beast61 shoot in competition with his .338LM.

Ummm... just noticed this:

http://www.accurateshooter.com/featured/338-lapua-mag-catastrophic-kaboom/

- today so if you're having fun watching someone - anyone - shooting a 338Lapua anywhere around you, I'd advise doing so at a safe distance until you're comfortable they know what they're doing with it.

Otherwise, the whole point is having fun, isn't it? Just don't hurt anyone in the pursuit, including yourself.

Ok, so...a question. How did this shooter manage to get a loaded round to fit in his chamber while it is full of rod guide and rod???

 

[Immike]

So please, think of others before posting; try not to curtail the fun they will have watching Beast61 shoot in competition with his .338LM.

Ummm... just noticed this:

http://www.accurateshooter.com/featured/338-lapua-mag-catastrophic-kaboom/


Ok, so...a question. How did this shooter manage to get a loaded round to fit in his chamber while it is full of rod guide and rod???

He must have been cleaning it from the muzzle or just knocked out a stuck case.

 

[4xforfun]

Actually, I knew that right off the bat, just trying to make a point. ;D

Cleaning a bolt action rifle from the muzzle???? So in other words, he is not a shooter...he is a moron!!! :-[

As far as the OP....he has never responded to any of the questions....such as ....what kind of comp? This is a "must know" for us to be of any kind of help to you.
This fourm is loaded with some of the best shooters on the planet....all of which were in the same position as you once. IE...pure rookie...except it probably happened before ALGORE invented the internet!! So, follow up on this post and use these guys!!

 

[XTR]

Cleaning a bolt action rifle from the muzzle???? So in other words, he is not a shooter...he is a moron!!! :-[

Guys, if you read the story on the 338 KABOOM he was having stuck brass issues and was using the rod to knock them out. He was getting some sticky cases with a load that should have been safe. I'd guess he was probably using brass that wasn't full length sized.. Go read the story.


With regard to the original question. What type of competition? It matters, a lot; however, even the tactical guys run 260s and 7mags not 338LMs, and steel shoots usually won't let you run over a certain MV or shoot things that will tear up the steel targets. You may have a really hard time finding a competition to use it.

Now for the personal gratification of shooting steel at 1200 yards or longer, that's a good reason. You do however need to plan for another ~$2000 to $4000 in scope and optics depending on your budget.

 

[Road_Clam]

Funny reading some of the ball breaking within this post. I just met a fellow club member who has had a new Savage 10 .338LM for about 3 months. He loves the rifle for about 15 rounds, then his shoulder is junk, and his wallet is empty. (and he does reload). He's got a brake, and we were shooting 200 meters under an aluminum overhead canopy about 20 feet apart, that .338 muzzle blast ring was NASTY ! (Being a true gun enthusist and not a whiner I actually liked it believe it or not ). So we were chatting, admiring each others' bang sticks, and he offered to let me shoot his .338 , I cowardly and respectfully declined. I'm still learning bigger calibers and didn't want possible scope eye socket smash ! LOL

 

[cdparker]

Ya know, we have not yet a second posting from the OP. Is this a pontificator's trap? On June 21st (Summer Solstice) We start a match at 1800h. It's a "shoot what you bring", 20 shots for score at 600yds. Police with their sniper rifles, hunters with their Moose guns, and gun enthusiasts with all sorts of stuff. There were five of us with .338 Lapua's. I have a Barrett 98B. It's a fun gun to shoot. Once you have the dies and brass, it really isn't that expensive to shoot. OK Weber sends bullets USPO flat rate. The one thing I had to add is a mirage shield. About the 15th shot, It's like trying to shoot through a swimming pool. The Barrett is a fairly mild gun to shoot, and very accurate. Then again, I used to own a Barrett 99 in .50 BMG. 8) I really do not mind shooting the .338 at all. We took the guys with the braked guns and put them about ten points out to the right. It seemed to work well. I finally got some Re33 so I'm looking forward to load development with that. I keep thinking that this gun would be a hoot to take to Namibia to whack some Plaines Game at F-class ranges.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The OP has not been back on here since his 1 and only post. AIM in Blakley,GA. used to run ELR steel matchs out to 2200 yards. They would run them from around 1400 - 2200 yards for the .338LM's and the 50's.

 

[Ben Barnett]

All,

New to the forum here, so apologies if this is the wrong place for this thread. I'm looking for input as to the right rifle to purchase. I've got it down to two weapons:

1) armalite ar-30a1 in .338 Lapua
2) Sako TRG-42 in .338 Lapua

I'm already reloading, so that cost is under control. I've been using a Horus scope. So, which would you choose? I'm planning on spending up to $4k for the system. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

Beast61, I too am a newby to the Forum. Just for fun, I bought a Ruger RPR in 338LM. I got a real good deal on the rifle ($1340) and then put a $3000 March X scope on it. I think I have found the factory ammo that the rifle likes (five rounds in a dime group at 100 yds) and am now ready to chrono these rounds. Then, it will be out to the 1000 yd range. The rifle comes with a serious mzl brake making the recoil < 30-06 plus my rig weighs 19 lbs. Point is, the RPR may be a good choice.

 

[Ringostar]

Beast61, I too am a newby to the Forum. Just for fun, I bought a Ruger RPR in 338LM. I got a real good deal on the rifle ($1340) and then put a $3000 March X scope on it. I think I have found the factory ammo that the rifle likes (five rounds in a dime group at 100 yds) and am now ready to chrono these rounds. Then, it will be out to the 1000 yd range. The rifle comes with a serious mzl brake making the recoil < 30-06 plus my rig weighs 19 lbs. Point is, the RPR may be a good choice.

Ben, he isn’t going to see your reply. He made that post 5 years ago, and hasn’t been on the sight since then.

 

[CaptainMal]

Ben, he isn’t going to see your reply. He made that post 5 years ago, and hasn’t been on the sight since then.

Funny how so many forget to look at the details of postings. People get all worked up for nothing as "nothing" is what that post from 5 years ago is.

For those still reading, Manatee bans the 338's and 50's from shooting at MOST of the steel targets. If used they blast holes in the steel at a huge cost to the club to repair or replace. Also, when people even shoot them on the public range from the benches, it flat out pisses off everyone around them and people are now braver enough to verbally discourage that. In our steel competition only 30 cal or less is allowed.

Those things are best used on something like a strip mine or major open range with few around to be harassed. Now if there is a place that competes at the ultra ranges they can be good for, fine. Otherwise, join the military and qualify for training in an appropriate sniper program. Just the sight of those rifles can be intimidating to patrons on a public range.

 

[bcarico]

Funny how so many forget to look at the details of postings. People get all worked up for nothing as "nothing" is what that post from 5 years ago is.

For those still reading, Manatee bans the 338's and 50's from shooting at MOST of the steel targets. If used they blast holes in the steel at a huge cost to the club to repair or replace. Also, when people even shoot them on the public range from the benches, it flat out pisses off everyone around them and people are now braver enough to verbally discourage that. In IBS competition only 30 cal or less is allowed.

Those things are best used on something like a strip mine or major open range with few around to be harassed. Now if there is a place that competes at the ultra ranges they can be good for, fine. Otherwise, join the military and qualify for training in an appropriate sniper program. Just the sight of those rifles can be intimidating to patrons on a public range.

The IBS rule book for long range states that “caliber is restricted to .409 or less”

 

[Ben Barnett]

Ben, he isn’t going to see your reply. He made that post 5 years ago, and hasn’t been on the sight since then.

Ok, fair enough. Hopefully someone benefited from my post.

 

[butchlambert]

I kinda liked T Turtle's comment "that will leave him a good $200 for a quality scope and rings".