.338 WM vs .338 RUM vs .338 Lapua
- Thread starter roche1982
- Start date
Understood, my idea is to have a .338WM(Getting a Kimber Montana this sumer) and use that for target/hunting... mostly Moose. When I get to my next posting either Alberta or Ontario I hope to expand to Elk and other large deer or Bear. I also would like to shoot steel long range as well. So really I will probably add a RUM after that, and possibly more.
I am not very familiar with it. Why is it considered a .338 if its called the 340? does it use .338 bullets?
bearkilr
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I'd consider the 338 WinMag the best balanced out of the bigger 338's for hunting. It doesn't need as long of a barrel as the others, the guns are generally lighter due to it being a regular long action and shorter barrel, components and ammo are widely available and it doesn't have the recoil. The big 338's exceed many people's recoil tolerances, especially in a lighter, hunting weight rifle, that's why you'll see lots with brakes. I've shot a 338 Jarrett, 338-378 Wby, 340 Wby, 338 Lapua and all rifles in those calibers were rather unwieldy for what I'd consider field usage. I suppose for bean field shooting out of a stand they would work.
Post a link to such a firearm.
Less kick than a .308? You most certainly do not want a brake on a .338 Lapua and take it into the field. The braked Laps that I have shot are obnoxious with muffs and plugs, definitely not something to take into the field unless you spin off the brake.
http://deserttech.com/guns/dta-srs-sniper-rifle-chassis.html
I own one of those guns (sans suppressor of course), and they are just as described. Shooting the DT SRS in .338LM and a mid barrel contour .308 Remington 700 side by side, and the Remington has more recoil. Part of it is due to the weight, part to the design of the muzzle brake, and part is just how the gun is built.
To the OP...
.338 Lapua is great for realllly long range stuff, but if you are sticking to under about 1000 yards, then many of the other .338's will work just fine.
Don't shoot a .338LM unbraked guys. It's just not smart. You will get a flinch if you shoot it often due to reasonably heavy recoil, and I will laugh at you.
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http://deserttech.com/guns/dta-srs-sniper-rifle-chassis.html
I have shot one (not the DTA) without the brake and recoil is manageable but I would not shoot large calibers without hearing protection period
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Cool gun, not really my style, but still unique.
Not to turn it I to a muzzle brake argument, but I disagree with the don't shoot an unbraked .338 Lapua. If you are hunting you best either have the brake off or be willing to put on muffs or plugs before taking a shot. One shot from a big braked powder burner will result in permanent damage. One shot!
A 9.5 lbs .338Lap shooting a 300 grain bullet gives 45 lb-ft of recoil energy. Not a pussycat, but nothing excessive.
There is also the .338-06 a personal favorite. If you want to get into wildcats there pretty much every cartridge in existence has been wildcatted to .338 at some point.
.338 Winchester has the advantage when it comes to availability and cost of factory ammo around here. Besides how long range are you planing to shoot at steel? If the old boys at the gun club can manage to whack the steel plates at 800-1000 yards shooting black powder cartridges and aperture sights surely with practice and a modern rifle and scope setup you can do the same.
I have to disagree with the no muzzle break either. I believe if you can't handle the recoil, you shouldn't be adding a break. They are so loud and impractical for hunting. I have shot calibers with far more recoil then a Lapua and had very little difficulty with it, and I have never had a flinch in any caliber I have shot.
Who?
How so
