.338 Lapua

[warpath9809]

Can anyone school me on the .338 Lapua. Is this a round that is readily available ? How much more powerful (effective range ) is it than .300 winmag ?

[Pukindog]

Comparing the .300 Win. Mag to the .338 Lapua is like comparing a training bra to a 38D. The .338 Lapua is light years ahead in ballistics.

Jeff

[glass3222]

.300 win mag can be set up to shot well out to 1000 yards. You can get a little more, but you will be stretching it.

.338 lapua doesn't really start to shine until you get past 1000 yards. 1000-2000 yards the Lapua is in its element. Really setting it up for anything less than 1000 is a waste, IMO

[tonyfac]

not to mention the .338 is an expensive round to fire.

[Breadman03]

Two completely different beasts. The first question I have for you is what are you planning on doing with this potential rifle?

My one buddy had a .50 BMG, which compares to .338 Lapua like a Mustang to a Camaro. He said that the ranges that are big enough to stretch it out are few and far between, and the cost adds up quick.

He sold it and kept a .300 Win Mag for a more general purpose gun that can still shoot further than many people are capable of.

[bman1187]

30-378 or 300 ultra mag not cheap but a little above 300 not anywhere near a 338 Lapua

[animalmother85]

.300 win mag can be set up to shot well out to 1000 yards. You can get a little more, but you will be stretching it.

.338 lapua doesn't really start to shine until you get past 1000 yards. 1000-2000 yards the Lapua is in its element. Really setting it up for anything less than 1000 is a waste, IMO

By a little more you mean 400 more?



The 338 Lapua Magnum was developed in 1989. It's supposedly the first precision/sniper round designed to be used on people, not game (well, I guess it depends on if you subscribe to Hemingway) at first. Yeah, it's neat, but very few can utilize it to it's full potential. I thought that I wanted one to shoot far...then reality struck. Plus, the guys that shoot them at the 100 yard ranges (you know the guys I'm talking about) look silly.

If you do decide to get one, I know of a place that sells some very serious machined brass bullets for it.

[41 Redhawk]

It's supposedly the first precision/sniper round designed to be used on people, not game

But man what a long range elk round it would be!

[glass3222]

By a little more you mean 400 more?

Depends on the rifle, and more importantly the shooter.

[animalmother85]

Depends on the rifle, and more importantly the shooter.

We're not talking about Grandpop's old hunting rifle here. We're talking about precision oriented rigs. We weren't talking about the ability of a shooter either, so it could also be said that the range of a 338 Lapua Magnum could be only 400 yards because the handjob behind it doesn't know how to adjust for elevation.