Anyone reload/hunt with their 338 Lapua?

Potshot21

Potshot21

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Moose Country, Ontario
Howdy folks!

I'm getting into the reloading game and thought it would be fun to try out some loads for my 338 Lapua topped with a hunting bullet as opposed to a match one.

I'm curious if others have done the same, and what components you used and their performance? Is this really at all practical, or should I just stick to punching paper?

Thanks!
 
It is totally practical. I shoot the .338 RUM which offers basically identical ballistics. My load this past year during elk season was a 250 grain Barnes TSX over a pile of Retumbo for 2900+ fps. I figure that is "practical" enough and also hits with authority. I also picked up a box of 265 grain Barnes LRX that are going to be experimented with during the off-season this year as well. The Lapua screams to be a long-range elk/moose/bear rig. Have fun!
 
My first 338 Lapua was built for hunting and that is what I did, I used a 250 Sierra SBT to take a moose.
It is a very effective hunting caliber if you can put the bullet where it counts.
The only advice I can give is if you are hunting with it try to keep the weight down.
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bigbull said:
My first 338 Lapua was built for hunting and that is what I did, I used a 250 Sierra SBT to take a moose.
It is a very effective hunting caliber if you can put the bullet where it counts.
The only advice I can give is if you are hunting with it try to keep the weight down.
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Click to expand...

Are you saying keep the bullet weight down? Or the rifle weight down? ;)

I'm curious of what you thought about the Sierra Game King's performance? I've been looking at them as they seem to have a high reputation for accuracy and are very modestly priced. The pricing is attractive to me right now simply because I'm new to the reloading game and wouldn't feel so bad mucking up a few these as opposed to some fancy Bergers or Barnes of something like that.
 
Potshot21 said:
Are you saying keep the bullet weight down? Or the rifle weight down? ;)

I'm curious of what you thought about the Sierra Game King's performance? I've been looking at them as they seem to have a high reputation for accuracy and are very modestly priced. The pricing is attractive to me right now simply because I'm new to the reloading game and wouldn't feel so bad mucking up a few these as opposed to some fancy Bergers or Barnes of something like that.
Click to expand...

I am talking about the rifle. My rifle weighed close to 11 pounds and I found it a hand full to carry around,
it is fine if you are hunting from a stand and don't walk much otherwise it will put a crease in your shoulder.
I have a long relationship with Sierra bullets. In the Lapua the 250gr will break up inside 100 yds, further out it will work well, I should mention that I found the Hornady 250 sptz also breaks up.
The Sierra flies well and has better long range performance than the Hornady, the Berger flies better but breaks up at all distances, I don't like them for hunting.
The bullet I now use is the Accubond because it shoots well and holds better than the others. But accuracy wise it's a tossup between the Sierra and the Bergers in my rifle.
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