Lapua vs. 338 RUM

Cheap and Long Range don't belong in the same sentence. If you go too cheap, you'll eventually buy stuff twice, or three times. As your skills improve, you'll want to start to shoot farther. Shooting farther requires better gear. Better LRF's, better scopes, better rifles, components, everything. Try and find a ballance that fits your needs for right now, but something that won't limit you too much in the future. I, obivously, like the Remmy platform for this, as it has, to me, the better options availible for aftermarket stocks, etc. The only thing I don't like about it, is the boltface. I do consider it too small to be opened up to the Lapua size. If you go Edge, or Norma, and lots do, then you'll not have this issue. Have a plan for the future, and make purchases that can be upgraded easily, without getting burned too badly on re-sale. Hope this helps.


R.
 
Why not? said:
Thanks guys! That is sort of what I expected.

So........to further hijack this thread, if a guy wanted a really cheap long range 338 Magnum, would a Rem 700 SPS in 338 RUM, rechambered to an Edge do the trick?

Ted
Click to expand...

There is not enough gain between the Edge and the 338RUM to make rechambering really worthwhile. Edge is .100" longer as it is based on 300RUM.
Personally I would think rechambering the factory barrel from 338RUM would not gain enough to be worthwhile.
To shoot it as a standard 338RUM until the barrel is done, then rebarrel with a better barrel and a longer 1, then Edge makes more sense.
The 100 or so FPS gain from the 338 RUM to 338 Edge will not make enough difference in my opinion, with the factory barrel and factory assembly.
 
For the extra 50-100 FPS gain I decided the ultra was the way to go. I added a couple extra inches of barrel length to my rifle get the same velocities as the Lapua.

Heres my idea of "cheap" 338 ultra mag. Probably spent less than $2500 on it total. Bought a used Savage 110 in 7mm and screwed a custom 338 RUM barrel on it and modified the factory stock. I only have about ten rounds through it so far but it seems to shoot pretty good (scope is a Sightron 6x24x50) I'm shooting the 300 gr SMK's with 96gr of US869. My only complaint is it weighs about 15 pounds!

Paulspics006.jpg
 
I am curious to know how that scope will perform at or near dark on a dark target. Any feedback available yet?
My favorite long shots are taken just before dark.:)
 
I haven't used the scope in low light but with the 50mm objective and the good glass I would guess legal shooting time will be my limiting factor.

$2500 was just a guess but here is a list of what I have spent.

Scope from Mystic $1000
Barrel $400
used Savage from CGN forum $350
brake $150
Smith to install brake $200
Rifle Basix trigger $100
recoil lug, 20 moa base and rings $150
Harris bipod? (Christmas present)

Devcon for bedding, dies, epoxy, etc $150

=$2500

Heres a picture showing the aluminum reinforcing I did to the factory stock.

Paulsmisc001.jpg
 
Hey BigUglyMan,

Just got back from the range with the Mondo Savage and here are my two best groups out of four. The first is at 100yds and the second is 500yds. I haven't done any load developement yet so things look promising for this 338 RUM.

targets002.jpg


targets001.jpg
 
Very fine. Nothing wrong there. Looks to be ready for action.

fatrack said:
Hey BigUglyMan,

Just got back from the range with the Mondo Savage and here are my two best groups out of four. The first is at 100yds and the second is 500yds. I haven't done any load developement yet so things look promising for this 338 RUM.

targets002.jpg


targets001.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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