Is buying a 338 Lapua dumb?

[FSJeeper]

There are other alternatives that do just as well.

People have been using the .340 Weatherby Magnum since 1963 with great success. I used it as my go to Elk through African Plains game rifle for most of my adult life. Rifle was a custom Winchester Model 70 built by Match Grade Arms. Extremely accurate and it dropped game in their tracks with a 250 grain Nosler Partition just under 3000fps. It was guaranteed to do 1/2" with handloads and that is exactly what it does.

Also comparable are the 338 RUM(Rem Ultra Mag), 338 Edge, 338 Rigby, 338-378 WBY Mag.

The .338 Lapua has the Sniper mystic going for it and has proven itself well.
Can't go wrong with it in this category.

But you can get similar performance for a lot less money and a better rifle selection and ammunition/brass for reloading with the other .338 alternatives.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

To me, I don't have a 338 or similar caliber because I have no place to use it regularly. I don't see the point of a long range magnum unless I'm able to shoot it regularly past about 600yd where there would be a benefit over 308 or a 6.5mm caliber. Right now almost all of my shooting is limited to 200 with occasional shoots on a 600yd range so 223, 308 and 260 fill my needs plenty.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Why not get a 50 bmg rifle instead?

 

[TIMC]

Why not get a 50 bmg rifle instead?

I decided against the .50 BMG but I do have a .50 Beowulf and a Desert eagle in .50AE so my .50 cal itch has been sufficiently scratched. I wanted a long range thumper and the .338 Lapua Mag just called to me and that's enough reason for me to get one.

My Armalite AR-30A1... They weren't lying about the 1/2 moa guarantee

 

[CB900F]

GJgo;

In a word, yeah. If you want to simply spend money, there's better places to do it. Not that the .338 Lapua isn't good in it's niche, but realize that it's an exceedingly narrow niche. For practical purposes get a .338 Winchester magnum and save a considerable amount of cash.

900F

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I decided against the .50 BMG but I do have a .50 Beowulf and a Desert eagle in .50AE so my .50 cal itch has been sufficiently scratched. I wanted a long range thumper and the .338 Lapua Mag just called to me and that's enough reason for me to get one.

My Armalite AR-30A1... They weren't lying about the 1/2 moa guarantee

That reasoning works for me. I got a 45-70 just because I wanted one.

 

[243winxb]

New toys are fun, go for it.

 

[GJgo]

A 50 cal would require an entire new loading operation, and I'm out of space.

338 Win Mag would probably be the cheapest 338, opinions on what the effective range on game is? Looks like a 250 grainer is moving about 300 FPS slower than the Lapua.

There's always another itch to scratch! I just happen to really like the Savage target rifles.

 

[joneb]

Is buying a 338 Lapua dumb?

It depends on what you plan to do with it. I come across folks that live in eastern Oregon and they use such cartridges for long range hunting, they use similar stuff like 300, 30-378, 340 and 338-378 Weatherby mag. seems common for long range Elk hunting.

 

[Nature Boy]

To me, "dumb" would mean unsafe, or unaffordable.

No need to rationalize it too much. It's a hobby. Get it because you want it and you can afford it.

 

[GJgo]

I live where we have ample opportunity to shoot long range. We've got a public range that goes to a mile as well as tons of BLM land. I suppose it's just another experience.

I handled a Savage 111 LRH, it handled well actually. The barrel was not floated however. I also handled a 110 FCP, and it surprisingly handled pretty well too. Better than I expected, and it was fully floated.

 

[MCMXI]

Here's my AI AWM in .338 LM with an AAC TiTAN-QD suppressor attached. This beast is a joy to shoot. Luckily I'm able to shoot from 0 yards to 1,300 yards outside my back door.

 

[Nature Boy]

MCMXI, if owning that is dumb, I don't want to be smart. I'd love to have that beast. Very nice!

 

[GJgo]

So I've got the scratch to get one now with no harm to anyone else, think I'm going to go for it. It'll be one of the Savage offerings, most likely the Magnum Target, assuming I can actually find one for sale. It's the only one of the 4 however that I haven't handled. Has anyone shot any of these 4, opinions? I have a 308 with the HS precision stock, I know I like that. I've also shot a 110BA in 300WM & I really did like the chassis, even though I didn't think I would. The main reason I'm leaning toward the Magnum Target is because I really like that red trigger for longer range work, I have one of those in a different cal as well set at ~6oz.

I didn't mention it but I have 300 WSM & 300WM hunting rifles already that I hunt elk with, really looking for a tool in the box that has more reach. Thanks again!

 

[Panzerschwein]

The tree-tree-eighter 'Lupee is a good round for anti-personnel and light anti-materiel out to 1500 meters in the tactical warfighting environment. It is a modern round for the modern tactical urban assault sniper operator NAVSPECWAR/DEVGRU/SEAL and if you can't handle the awesomeness, leave it to the REAL operators.

For me, I've found a .308 or .30-06 to do anything I'd ever need or even want to do with a rifle.

 

[greyghost01]

If you want it, Buy it other peoples opinion wont make you Happy
After you buy it you an tell us if it was a good or bad idea. I wanted this zeiss scope it was outrageous priced but I thought I wanted it, To me it was a POS and I sold as fast as possible found out the guy who bought it also sold it. So nobody can tell you what you will like. Life is just that way trial and error.

 

[gillmeister692]

Sam--To paraphrase you, "Killing animals at astronomical distances is a parlor trick of questionable ethicality".

What an astute observation. I wholeheartedly agree with you. Thanks !

 

[Coldfinger]

Big expensive bullets

Long range target shooting is fun and challenging. Part of the challenge is finding somewhere with that kind of range. I have a .300 Remington Ultra Mag and have found a spot waaay out in the woods that I can shoot safely to 1000 yards. Getting set up at these ranges can be a pain in the rump. Long range hunting? Hmmm, I don't. To me the ethical question plagues me. I wanted a big long range rifle so I bought it, just not under the guise of long range hunting. I am familiar with the 338 Lapua just not all the rifles chambered for it. These big powerful rounds cause a substantial amount of throat wear in a rifle. Something to look in to but if $ is of no concern, no worries. So in short if you have the money and want the rifle go for it, keeping in mind the secondary market gives about 60% for used firearms.

Best regards

 

[taliv]

[please note the date of the original discussion before replying]

 

[69Precision]

There are guys shooting 2000 yards plus with 300wm. If you really need the umph for extended range hunting maybe but really with the right bullet the 300wm can take game at 1000+, if you can do your part(which most people cannot). Since I keep my long range shooting to steel only and about 1100 yards is as far as I have access to, I haven't been able to justify upgrading from my 308.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I loved the idea of the .338 Lapua but I'm coming to the conclusion that its advantages over the .50 BMG are not worth the price differential.

Mike

 

[Plastikosmd]

Not at all, Barrett with schmidt&bender
Fun toy

 

[giggitygiggity]

.338 Lapua is a great round, but when it costs me $2-4 every round I fire, it becomes a dumb purchase. I'd rather have a .300 Win Mag and have decent power and range and some money in my pocket. You have to be rich to enjoy .338 Lapua or not shoot it too often. Reloading definitely helps to reduce the cost, but even that is expensive and time-consuming for a round like .338 Lapua. I do not own a .338 Lapua.

 

[BSA1]

I've wanted a 338 Lapua for years now. Do I need it? Nope. Do I want it? Heck yeah! The reason I ask if it is dumb is mostly because of the cost to shoot the thing- ammo runs more than for a 50 cal these days! I hand load, but still. It would be a long term project so I could spread out the cost, but still. It's kind of ridiculous. I'm on the fence if in the long run it's worth it or if I'm wasting time & money.

Well is it better to do things when you are young and dumb or when you are old and dumb? Either way you won't know if it was dumb until you do it. If it brings you happiness go for it.

p.s. I noticed the date of the O.P.'s original post. It just makes him (and us) 20 months older.

 

[horsemen61]

Let us know if you get I'd like to hear how it does