.338 Lapua need some advice

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Not sure why but the .338 Lapua has caught my eye. Well I guess I know why, I love long range accuracy & want to move up. I hunt with a 7mm & love it but Im a big boom kinda guy, not for shock value I love the long range precision shooting/hunting. So the big question how do I make the step? Do I spend big $ right off the bat or should I start with a cheaper brand chambered Lapua to see if its what I want. I know you get what you pay for but is there such thing as a starter Lapua or long range rifle???
 
This is a question very few people ask on this site, but a very smart question indeed. There are a lot of people out there that went out and bought the .338 Lapua thinking that it was the be all end all round for long range precision only to find out that they are much happier with a 6mm, .260 or a 7mm of sorts. I have to applaude you for even having the balls to ask the question because many people wouldn't.
Having said that, yes there are starter .338 Lapua rifles out there. Some that come to mind are the Savage BA or LRH or the Remington MLR. I have no experience with either but from most reports they work well. From that point on the world is your oyster, HS Precision, Sako TRG 42, PGW, AI/AW..... to any custom rig you can imagine.

Going the "Entry Level" route may be a wise choice. These rifles generally have good resale value or you yourself could buy used and save some money while finding out if you like the calibre youself.
Good Luck!
 
Savage has a few offerings in the .338 lm and they are decent rifles for sure , I have a 110BA It's an easy 3/4moa gun using retumbo and 300gn smk. For a 2k. 338lm I'm very happy with it. Now that iv "dipped my feet" so to say I will be selling it to build a custom 338 down the road .
 
I asked that question when I got into 338 lapua a year ago. I decided to go with the entry level. It is a decision I regret? Not at all. All in, getting a savage rifle, nightforce scope and rings and bases, 30 MOA rail, redding dies, and all the compoents I need to shoot it.... $5500. By going with a less expensive rifle I was able to go with higher end compoents. I was able to learn the skills of reloading it and shooting it. The postive part of this is that after the barrel is burnt out I can use the action and put a high end barrel on it and get my custon rifle that I want. My 2 cents.
 
Entry level .338LM?

Reminton 700 in .338LM.

It is one of my two .338LM rifles, and I have a strong preference for the Reminton. The price is right too, they usually run around $1600, which is a good bit less then the other .338's on the market.
 
I have the savage Lrh with a bushy 6500... I firkin love it ! All I need... I can destroy frozen pumpkins at 850 meters...I don't group worth a sh1te, maybe 10 inches 1000 most of the time, but I can hit an ipsc target every time.

did I mention that I just bought the gun this past week and its -25c out there..80 rounds down the pipe and itching to load up more !

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I was in the same position as you over a year ago and ended up buying a Savage 110 FCP in 338 Lapua and put a Sightron SIII 8-32 X 56 LRMOA scope on it, I have had a lot of fun with it including shooting steel out to 1060 yards which it had no problem doing. You can't beat this set up unless you are willing to spend much more.
 
From what I'm reading Lapua owners are having fun with there .338's & that's what I want to hear. I enjoy shooting & there's nothing like going out with a gun you really enjoy. Ive owned a few rifles in my time but very few have that fun/good feel. You can pretty much tell if the gun is right for you when you shoulder it for the first time, I want to know if its worth me checking one out & from what I can tell I may have to invest in a Lapua. I think I may go with the Remington. I have also looked at the .300 but MudChucker all ready said what I was thinking, Its not a Lapua!!! But I can all ways buy a .300 as well I dont think I can own to many guns.
 
Start with a Savage or Remington, and top it with great glass. Once its shot out, then PWG, Sako TRG, AI, or Unique Alpine are what you need if you want to stay in the game.
 
I started with a sako trg-s 14 years ago to spend lots of time and money to customise it
I should have got the trg-34 at that time
the 338 lapua will give you more on paper than your 7rm only at realy long range but gor big game hunting, it will make a difference
but at 1km, if you want to be accurate and consistant, I dont beleive in cheap stuff
for moose, now I use a 300wm and I take the LM out of the safe only when I realy want to have the feeling of the big boom like you say, but put a brake on it, it no longer is a man gun;)
 
I guess if your nt sure for resale starting with a savage or a rem would be a good idea. But if you want to get it done i would buy a BAT and build it the way you want.
 
I have a TRG in 338 with a Sako brake on it. The muzzle blast is crazy loud. If you hunt with it I would suggest you and anyone thats close to you wear hearing protection when you fire it. For some hunters that is not always a option.
 
hold your teeth together when you fire 338lm w a brake inside a range shelter or they are going to hit together and that hurts. ya, the boom is that big :D
 
Well I me & my son went out to some stores today checking out some Lupua's & I have found one I really like & fits nicest. I would like the butt stock to be a 1" to 2" longer I have long arms. Out off all I checked out the Savage 11/111 has my number. I really like the feel also it is a removable muzzle break. I tried on the BA but cant see hauling it hunting & It would not be quad friendly. I haven't bought it yet maybe next weekend but I did get a scope. I got a Leupold - 3-9x50 VX-I I bought it for my 7mm witch has a bushnell that is a 40mm I like the 50 better but Im going to mount it on the .338 when I get it temporally. Is the VX-1 capable of the .338? If all goes well I will get a mark 4 for the .338.
As a side note I went to Cabela's first off & was not happy at all with the service, never really had good service there?
 
I started out in 338Lapua with a Remington 700P. It was a good rifle and it shot well. It lasted about a year then I upgraded to a Desert Tactical SRS.
If I could do it again I still would have gone with and "entry level 338" first but I would probably go with a Savage.
The 338 is a great round and I've shot whitetail at 100yds with it and been out to 900yds on steel, it does everything.
Don't get into it if you are on a tight budget because it's still $1.50 or more a load to reload and if you really like it you'll end up upgrading to something more expensive down the road.
Join the club, I haven't met anyone yet that's tried it and hasn't liked it.
For glass on a budget I would go sightron 6-24x50 with your favorite reticle. If money is no object I would go NF, S&B, or some of the tactical series leupold.
More mag is always better unless you will do mostly hunting but if that were the case there are probably better choices than a 338Lapua.
Good luck
 
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