Any chap own a .338 lapua magnum ?

[oldsoak]

A mate of mine is looking into getting the rifle of a lifetime - one in .338 . Now this strikes me as an expensive road to go down ( £1 a reload ) but before I unleash my jelousy thinly disguised as advice - does anyone here own and load for this calibre ?

[jkdo]

Yeah,i do.I own a TRG 42 and use it for long range competitions.

[BillySing]

The .338 lapua magnum is an excellent round, though you could sacrifice 100-200 fps and go for the partially cheaper .338 R.U.M......

I like to use my .338 for long range culling on larger beasts, such as donkey, buffalo, scrub bull, camel etc. with a 250 gr. Scenar HPBT to the vitals, they drop on the spot.

the scope is an IOR valdada 9-36x56mm scope (with illumination)


http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3025/dsc01292ap4.th.jpg (http://img185.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc01292ap4.jpg)

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/6416/dsc01293rn1.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc01293rn1.jpg)

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/465/dsc01294zg1.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc01294zg1.jpg)

[oldsoak]

...green with envy...
- how much does it cost for you guys to reload over ?

[BillySing]

Very cheap, actually.

I got 500 new lapua cases from a mate who sold his .338 LM for his own wildcat project......He's now moved on to the .338/50 Talbot.

Cases - FREE!!!

Powder- already had some AR2225

Projectiles - ^^
Primers - ^^

So it's smooth sailing for my wallet until the brass gets brittle and the 3 P's run out.

Projectiles,
Powder,
Primers
:)

[Durandal]

I don;t own one but I occasionally buy ammo fro a friend of mine's rifle. At .45 USD min per 20 of anything halfway decent its a pricey bitch to shoot.

Hell, shooting .50 BMG is cheaper...


...unless you got beltfed M2. :)

[oldsoak]

I don;t own one but I occasionally buy ammo fro a friend of mine's rifle. At .45 USD min per 20 of anything halfway decent its a pricey bitch to shoot.

Hell, shooting .50 BMG is cheaper...


...unless you got beltfed M2. :)

Eh ? 45c per 20 !? mate, we're paying £1 a pop - a dollar ninety ! You sure you didnt mean $45 ?

[Geezah]

Eh ? 45c per 20 !? mate, we're paying £1 a pop - a dollar ninety ! You sure you didnt mean $45 ?

Yeah, he means $45 per 20, $2.25ea, .50 is roughly $1.50 a pop for surplus ammo.

[oldsoak]

Yeah, he means $45 per 20, $2.25ea, .50 is roughly $1.50 a pop for surplus ammo.

OW !
I thought it might have been cheaper over.

[Hollis]

Yeah, he means $45 per 20, $2.25ea, .50 is roughly $1.50 a pop for surplus ammo.


Geezah sort of comparing apples to figs.

Surplus ammo is one thing, Good .338 bullets are about $1.00 each, I have not looked to see what good .50 cal bullets are. Also your talking machine gun ammo Vs accuracy built rounds.

50 cal is pretty cheap to shoot, when you start looking at high end, highly accurate rounds or exotic stuff.

I would build a .338 Lapua over a 50 Cal bolt gun.

But I have a .338 Win Mag and a 300 Rem U Mag, so no need.

Edited to add, Oldsoak, keep in mind one does not shoot that many rounds, not like .223 in a M4 (way more expensive to shoot considering the volumne that will be fired)

[oldsoak]

At a dollar a go, thats a helluva incentive not to waste ammo !
OOI, whats the comparison between .338 Lapua and .338 win mag ?

[Geezah]

Geezah sort of comparing apples to figs.

Surplus ammo is one thing, Good .338 bullets are about $1.00 each, I have not looked to see what good .50 cal bullets are. Also your talking machine gun ammo Vs accuracy built rounds.

50 cal is pretty cheap to shoot, when you start looking at high end, highly accurate rounds or exotic stuff.

I would build a .338 Lapua over a 50 Cal bolt gun.

But I have a .338 Win Mag and a 300 Rem U Mag, so no need.

Edited to add, Oldsoak, keep in mind one does not shoot that many rounds, not like .223 in a M4 (way more expensive to shoot considering the volumne that will be fired)

I was just adding to Durandal's comment about .50BMG;), not trying to compare the two, just giving an idea on the price of both.

As far as surplus goes, I've been getting pretty good accuracy out of my Dissy with 5.56 55gr Guat out to 100yrds, don;t know the MOA.

[Hollis]

I was just adding to Durandal's comment about .50BMG;), not trying to compare the two, just giving an idea on the price of both.

As far as surplus goes, I've been getting pretty good accuracy out of my Dissy with 5.56 55gr Guat out to 100yrds, don;t know the MOA.


Geezah, Thanks I knew I was missing something, but did not know what. It is always interesting what works in what. The only person I know who has tried about everything is Ken Waters, his book Pet Loads, are a great starting place to find a great load.

[Durandal]

Yeah, 45 DOLLARS, not cents. Woops.

Sorry about that. Yeah, Hollis, I know that there is a differnce between nice .338 Lapua Mag rounds and surplus BMG spotter rounds.

But the spotter rounds are sooooo fun.

Especially at night. :)

[Hollis]

Yeah, 45 DOLLARS, not cents. Woops.

Sorry about that. Yeah, Hollis, I know that there is a differnce between nice .338 Lapua Mag rounds and surplus BMG spotter rounds.

But the spotter rounds are sooooo fun.

Especially at night. :)


Yep, fun factor is a big reason to own something. It as said, "Man with biggest grin wins"

[kamarian]

The .338 lapua magnum is an excellent round, though you could sacrifice 100-200 fps and go for the partially cheaper .338 R.U.M......

I like to use my .338 for long range culling on larger beasts, such as donkey, buffalo, scrub bull, camel etc. with a 250 gr. Scenar HPBT to the vitals, they drop on the spot.

the scope is an IOR valdada 9-36x56mm scope (with illumination)[QUOTE=BillySing;2152290]

where do you go shooting? might have to go and have a look when i come down on holidays!

[QUOTE=Durandal;2152802]I don;t own one but I occasionally buy ammo fro a friend of mine's rifle. At .45 USD min per 20 of anything halfway decent its a pricey bitch to shoot.

Hell, shooting .50 BMG is cheaper...


...unless you got beltfed M2. :)

A belt fed M2 would be great! but thanks to our f@#ked gun laws, .50 cal rifles are illegal.

[BillySing]

^^

I go shooting in the scenic wilds of tasmania, which will prolly be reduced to a forest of charred sticks the rate it's going.......:-(

But I've got a nice property which belongs to an uncle. Offers a 2 km LOS and a safe fall out zone behind the target mounds.

.50 Calibre's Illegal in Australia!!!!! show me the piece of legislation that says that!!!

[oldsoak]

Fires looks impressive via satellite - :-( . Got rellies in Vic at the moment, hope it never gets to 'em.
Whats the biggest game/vermin animal over in Tassie ? I thought the camels and the buffs were over on the mainland.

[BillySing]

Fallow Deer :)

Not the biggest on the block, but a cunning Beast :)

[oldsoak]

Fallow Deer :)

Not the biggest on the block, but a cunning Beast :)

- nice backsteaks though !

- I trust you dont vapourise them with your .338 . I used to bag them with a .222 or a 6.5x55 over in NZ.

[BillySing]

Nah, I dont usually waste a .338 on a fallow deer, I use the .308 winchester.

Overkill perhaps, but I prefer too much gun than too little, especially if I encounter a really big buck. Plus I like the accuracy.

[Sabre]

A mate of mine is looking into getting the rifle of a lifetime - one in .338 . Now this strikes me as an expensive road to go down ( £1 a reload ) but before I unleash my jelousy thinly disguised as advice - does anyone here own and load for this calibre ?

A pound a round...that's still only a third of a beer down town. Just drink less when you're shooting...p-)

[oldsoak]

A pound a round...that's still only a third of a beer down town. Just drink less when you're shooting...p-)

Dont ! :-( - This old fart can remember paying 72p a pint for Charringtons IPA in a pub, nevermind the naafi - and wingeing when we paid 50p a litre a petrol !
You have to drink when you shoot or you run out of bottles as targets ...:-P

[WKD]

So, .338LM for red deer? Overkill is the best kill?

[BillySing]

So, .338LM for red deer? Overkill is the best kill?

.338 LM is an excellent perfomer on red deer, just make sure you've got the right bullet for the job.

[oldsoak]

They've got wapiti over in NZ plus some wild bulls which are pretty legendary - you been over to have a bash ?

[BillySing]

They've got wapiti over in NZ plus some wild bulls which are pretty legendary - you been over to have a bash ?


I've been meaning to for a long time now.....just never got around to it. :-(

Can you recommend any guides ?

[oldsoak]

I've been meaning to for a long time now.....just never got around to it. :-(

Can you recommend any guides ?

I'll bail out a few kiwi mates and see what they have to say. Most of the hunting I did over in NZ was where we booked a block for a few weeks etc. with DoC and went with a couple of mates - mostly down south westland. -

Thar - now, theres an animal that will make you work for a living. Hard work over the tops in some tough conditions and long range shots, just up your street. I wouldnt eat the b*ggers though.

[BillySing]

Thar hunting looks like a blast!!

better start saving my pennies............:-D

I think the .338 would shine in those conditions :)