6 pound .338 Lapua, am I nuts?

[HankL]

My friend has fired the Lapua from the bench enough to get the scope zeroed to his satisfaction. Three shots is what I recall him taking before being satisfied. He has a bipod for it and was fully intending to use it on an occasion but the grass was too high for him to see through the scope.

I have no idea of what the customer has in mind but on a #6 rifle a muzzle brake wouldn't add any real weight if muzzle blast redirection wasn't a problem.

Braindead, you are a large enough person where this thing should not hurt you much if you do your part shouldering and firing it as long as your friend is 100% in his putting together a 6# rifle around a very intense cartridge.

Let us know how it works out. BTW I'm 5'9" and 145# If I can do it with an 11# rifle you know that you can do it with one that weighs only 5# less.
Your weight is 1.8 of mine and the rifle I shot is 1.8 heaver than the one your friend is building. Should be perfect right.

Best Regards,

 

[Chugach]

Hmmm...

You're a big guy, but I'm with Steve Smith. I'd be concerned about a detached retina.

What barrel length? Gonna be loud, right? Too bad you can't get muffs over muffs.

 

[ShaiVong]

Jump and shoot it a the same time, see how far you go

 

[AnchorYanker23]

Jesus, a 6# 338 Lapua? this is just sick.

 

[braindead0]

Yes, I'll be doing it standing, leaning waaaay forward.. probably with leather gloves (better grip, in case I start sweating)..etc..

I may end up with cheap muffs over plugs (in case the stock bashes the muff, I'll not care).

Haven't even seen the rifle, it's supposed to be done soon.. may even be shooting it tonight.. There will be a full report, along with pictures/video ;-)

You gnow, we've got these all terrain carts (kinda like little red wagons with big tires).. perhaps I should sit on one of those and fire... get two E-ticket rides for one!

 

[blue86buick]

wow...that sounds like fun. The worst/most fun I've shot is a .45-70, although I have no idea what load it was. After seeing that page, I want to get one though!

(gun) .45-70 : (load) 500gr at 1700fps : (weight lbs) 8.5 : (ft/lbs) 41.1 : (acceleration) 17.7

 

[max popenker]

i've fired .300 win mag from 7lbs Merkel K1 kipplauf (break-open single-shot rifle). of cause, there were NO muzzle brake (can you imagine one on kipplauf, anyway)? 2 shots were well enough for my shoulder, which gave me pains for next 2 days.

6lbs rifle in .338 lapua... you need a very good muzzle brake and a decent health insurance program, IMHO.

 

[falconer]

braindead0,


I want to know when you are going to shoot this. This is something I gotta see. Just remember, what are a redneck's last words? "Hey Y'all come watch this."

 

[braindead0]

I'm not sure that I'll have any warning what-so-ever about when it's done.. It'll just show up at one of our matches, or Thursday night shoots... ;-)

There will be Video though, assuming I don't forget the camera.

 

[Preacherman]

I'd suggest a PAST recoil shield on your shoulder (or two, or three, or...)

 

[braindead0]

I'm actually going to wear my motorcycle jacket, the shoulder areas have heavy padding, and kevlar + padding + plastic plates on the arms.. not only will it cushion the recoil, it should also protect me if I should happen to fall over backwards (with rifle in front so I can protect it with my body ;-)

 

[Kestryll]

Which motorcycle jacket?
I just picked up a Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket and this thing rocks!
Almost transparent to air but armoured on the shoulders, spine and arms.
Just because they don't quite match I almost regret getting the Alpinestars SP-3 gloves. Almost, they are Alpinestars after all!

How much 'home design work' does this jacket have?

 

[Sunray]

You aren't no. Your buddy on the other hand....he owns it. I'd almost bet he'll dump it after his first two shots. Mind you, if you are the one who takes said shots then, we'll all point and laugh for sure.

 

[braindead0]

Which motorcycle jacket?

I forget the brand, they no longer make them.. no mods of any kind, it's just the way it came.

You aren't no. Your buddy on the other hand....he owns it.

I don't actually know who it's for, I just know the gunsmith that's building it...

 

[Futo Inu]

I'm with Steve S. - fire it standing, not sitting, preferably with a stiff pad of some sort behind the buttstock to more evenly distribute the recoil - go with the flow, to some extent; don't try to brace against any recoil, if that makes sense. Prone would get you broken collarbone and/or separated shoulder in all likelihood - not good. Dunno about the force required to detach a retina - prolly depends on your age and state of general tissue strength/health, as well as the position/method of shooting. Any docs here? I would say just hold your neck a little loosey-goosey, so that the impact is not immediately distributed through a stiff/braced neck, up to the eyes.

Reminds me of an article in a gun rag one time when they came out with the .460 Weatherby Mag. Ol' boy gunwriter sits in a child's red wagon while firing, then measures the distance the wagon traveled with recoil. Can't remember the distance, but I believe it was between 2 and 4 feet - and he was a largish man.

"..satisfied after 3 shots..." Tee hee. Oh, now what was the username of the thread starter again?

 

[Atticus]

From Chuck Hawks:
"The recoil and muzzle blast of a .338 Lapua Magnum rifle shooting a 225 grain bullet at a MV of 3000 fps is fierce. According to the "Rifle Recoil Table" the shooter with a 9.5 pound rifle is looking at 37.2 ft. lbs. of recoil energy. Loads with heavier bullets will kick even more. It is strongly recommended that any .338 Lapua rifle be equipped with an efficient muzzle brake, and that the rifle be fired only when the shooter is wearing maximum hearing protection."


Sounds like plugs and muffs might be a good idea. Looking forward to the video...you might become an internet legend (hmmm..could be good, or bad?)

 

[artherd]

Double up on GOOD plugs AND muffs.

And use lots and lots of *elastic* material to dampen recoil on the way to your shoulder.

Hold your body slack, do not 'expect' the recoil and tense. (your slack muscles will elongate and slowly absorb all recoil. Tense muscles can tear.) Hold it almost like you are drunk. That's the kind of elasticity you want.


Lastly, let your friend take 3 shots first! If he lives, try it!

 

[kentucky bucky]

I double dog dare you !

To shoot it prone!!!!

 

[ProCharger]

When is this rifle suppose to be complete.....I wanna hear the details on this.

Brett

 

[Sven]

 

[theCZ]

A good laugh-getter would be to have a trigger on that 338 like on my 8mm mauser, one that you pull forever. After mine heats up, that steel butt feels mighty nice especially after the agony of pulling the trigger forever. Try as I might I can't help myself from flinching with that one, good luck with your Don Quixote like quest.

 

[seeker_two]

braindead: What did your shoulder ever do to you to make you hate it so much?...

 

[Glamdring]

IIRC Ross Seyfried made a 7.5 lbs 416 Taylor on a Blaser action back when he was a PH. His reasoning was that it was carried far more than it was shot. He used to stop at least one Lion.

 

[braindead0]

I'm still waiting to shoot it.. I think it's mostly ready to do, just the weather has been nasty and the owner may decide that it should never be shot ;-)

 

[BryanP]

Does the phrase "Not this little black duck" mean anything to you?

Not even if I were wearing a suit of armor. Me big wuss-boy, yes me am.