338 Lapua, what can it Really Do Better?

I've worked with both rounds and for my own use,I'll take the 300 over the 338 for a few reasons.The 338 just costs too much to shoot enough for me to be proficient with it at the range it shows its stuff.They can be hard to get along with unless they're well built and well tuned.I despise muzzle brakes and the noise and concussion that goes along with them.My 300WM hunting rifle isn't the most pleasant thing to shoot because it weighs a little less than 8 pounds ready to hunt.A 14 pound rifle would be much more pleasant in 300 WM,but wouldn't be much fun in the 338 with a 300 grain bullet loaded wide open.A 300 with a 220 grain bullet can do lots of things way out there,but not as good as the 338.Is it worth the difference?Probably not to me.My last build,a 280AI heavy barrel is at the edge of what I consider comfortable to shoot during a day's worth of shooting long range.It's heavy enough to mitigate recoil and hold good,but I made the mistake of taking it deer hunting a couple of weeks ago.A 20 pound 338LM would be hard to tote very far up the side of a mountain for me and my 60 year old worn out back.

I always liked the .338 WinMag, kick myself for trading mine off. Always believed it outperformed the .300 WinMag. A little cheaper to shoot than the LM.

But heck for North American hunting, a .30-06 will do everything. But again, I really liked my .338WinMag. I could shoot three or four good groups before they started to open up. I don't know how much more recoil the LM has.

Seems like an ammo shortage is the wrong time to look for ammo. We may never return to "normal", in the "new normal". Ammo supply may soon become almost "unobtainable", or extremely expensive with the super-taxes on ammo being considered, or wished for by some in power. Taxing reloading components heavily is even on "their" wish list. Whatever one's choice, might want to lay in a good supply of ammo, before buying the rifle. ?

I just skimmed through the posts for the most part, so if I missed this, I apologize.....

Nobody mentioned that there probably isn't an animal on the planet (wanted for food at least) that hasn't been taken with a sharp stick or a stick with a sharp rock on the end of it.

There are still a lot of people that pursue this activity and with great success.

That being said, I have a 338LM and love it. I finally got a suppressor for it this year as well.

I am working on setting an area up to take out BBQ Meat (pigs) at around 1,000 yards.

I haven't shot it yet with the can, but its current configuration is a cream puff to shoot.
Yes... It is heavy and has a big muzzle break.

It is crazy accurate with factory Lapua ammo. I also have everything to reload it with, but haven't assembled anything yet.
Comparatively speaking, it is "cheap" to reload for.
I am hoping I can tune in a load as good as the factory stuff.

So.....
Hi my name is ______ and I own a 338LM.
I also must admit that my "package" may be smaller when compared against others.



I hope you found the humor in this post instead of an argument
.

That's the beauty of reloading....every shot is cheap once you have the brass, and brass lasts a long time, as long as one is not going over pressure.

Just wait. We'll find something to argue about. Just kidding.

Shooting engine blocks got my attention. My experience with a Ma deuce might qualify me to say the .50 BMG works, especially full auto. Can't answer any other question. Do they make AP for the .338?

Ok- true the 338L and the 50 BMG are expensive to shoot....even if you reload-

But both are extremely fun to shoot and for you rifle loonies like me the experience of building and shooting big stuff is just pure pleasure....

It's really not about if the 338 is "better" than the 300WM - it's about wanting to experience mastering a new caliber-

Need? No......want yes.

No reason to over-complicate this. Here’s a helpful formula for these questions

want = need

I figured I would post a picture. I got this When they first came out in 2009. My wife wanted a casino trip so I got this

d2wing said:

Shooting engine blocks got my attention. My experience with a Ma deuce might qualify me to say the .50 BMG works, especially full auto. Can't answer any other question. Do they make AP for the .338?

Click to expand...

https://sparkmunitions.com/armor-piercing-armor-piercing-incendiary/

Never heard of the stuff......

Thanks. I couldn't afford to sight it in.

My collection tops out with a 300 Weatherby Mag and I don't need anything larger in North America even for the longest shots I'd personally take at big game, up to and including moose. Although the only moose I ever killed was at maybe 15 yards and I used a 30-06. Honestly deer and elk are the only big game I regularly hunt. I've got no problem with a 338 LM and it's a very capable large game round for long range, but it's more than I need. I don't even carry my 300 Mag all that often because it's more than necessary for most situations.

Re: the ammo link
Nice stats, 1/2 steel penetration at 600y and holding less than MOA at 800(though likely rifle dependent , but nice to see ammo isn’t limiting u)

Energy numbers are basically identical at rhe muzzle, the lapua shoots a noticeably longer, slipperier, 300gr bullet tho so it will penetrate and retain velocity better.

The .375 is also capable of throwing a 350gr bullets at 2400ish......

Huntolive said:

Right I get all that.
That was pretty much the starting point of my thread.
So my question is what about for anti-material purposes like an engine block or things like that?
Or would my 375 Ruger be just as good or better than that out too 300 yd s?
One role attributed to 300 Win Mag is anti-material destruction.
How much more effective is 338 Lapua at that roll at under 600 yd?
What other calipers should I be thinking of or is 300 Win Mag my best fit since I already have plenty of rifles and plenty of ammo in 300 Win Mag?
At this point to make a difference should I actually be looking at a 50 cal?

Click to expand...

Start working out. If you need to take out material at 600 your probably just better getting the heck out of dodge ASAP before they see you.

For what you’re trying to do use the 300win mag.

I have no real use for either any of the .308 caliber magnums or .338 Lupua. I do not shoot long range matches, my long range sniping days were over prior to the .338 Lupua's advent.

Don't hunt big game. However, I do have a .358 Whelen for anything in the Western Hemisphere and a .375 Ruger for anything in the Eastern. And a number of rifles suitable for most anything in the contiguous 48 states.

What does the .338 Lupua do for a self financing rifleman? Shoots further than I can see. It can shoot a long way and impact what it hits. But not many folks need such. Be first on your block? Perhaps.

Huntolive said:

Thanks for all the interesting angles and answers.
I pretty much ruled out getting a 338 Lapua or a 50 BMG.

By the way what would be the comparison in stopping power velocity and penetration between a typical 338 Lapua and a 300 grain typical 375 Ruger round?

Click to expand...

Really at this point if we're looking at .338 and 50 bmg in any conversation, the .408 tejas and .416 barrett require a visit, since no one has mentioned them up to this point I'll say that both of them for stated 600 yd limit, for anything you can hit, will be mo betta

Just because I shoot a 338 doesn't automatically mean I have a small dinger.
That's purely a coincidence.

I have 300 win mag (and 300 Weatherby magnum) and 338 LM--I shoot the 338LM FAR more often. I consider the 338 LM the "poor man's Cheytac." Do I shoot it very long range? No--but only because I haven't found a place yet to do so really long. It is a GREAT cartridge in so many ways; great ballistics numbers, great case design and strength and it's one of those cartridges that is just simply inherently accurate. Comparing the 338LM to 375 ruger (which I also have) is ridiculous IMO--two completely different cartridges with completely different uses with a bit of energy overlap only at close range.

The biggest drawback to the 338LM is that it is one of the only cartridges I shoot that can totally consume an 8 lb keg of powder in a year.

Doesn’t sound like you need it in your life?

I have a LM but there are increasingly less roaming engine blocks on my back 40

If just a “Cartridge itch” maybe part with the 375?

My guess is most states are not going to look too kindly upon firing at moving vehicles.

I'm an old man. I have yet to need a gun that can crack engine blocks, so I don't own anything that has a reputation for being able to do so. So I'm confused about the criteria.

I believe it’s better than any other .338 caliber cartridge at detaching retinas.

Then there's the 338RUM.
Shoot 2 shots through one a few weeks ago. I was impressed.
Both by the performance and the blast.

I thought my case full of H1000 and a JP tank brake in my 338WM was bad.. That thing was bad and fun