.338LM vs. .300WM $ ?

the idea is/was to buy or build a rifle under for a grand [well under would be nice], top it with an SWFA 20x scope, and start with Fishing World's S&B .338 for $29/box [which i'd shoot for fun and end up with some brass to start reloading with]. perhaps i'm way out to lunch on this, but one can dream.

Mystic gave you a way to do just that, read post #13.


Mark
 
Get a Savage magnum action, swap out bolt heads, convert to a single shot, bed it into a good stock, put your swfa scope on (assuming you can get one here, they don't ship to Canada), and go to town. - dan

any reason why a simple rechambering of a rifle in 338 win mag to 338 lapua [same bore, same twist], and a bolt face change-up won't do it?
 
I bought a Savage 110 FCP 338 Lapua and I think that it was dirt cheap for the $1269 I paid for it.
It comes with an HS Precision stock which runs about $450, a detachable magazine about $350, a muzzle brake about $120 and a 20 MOA rail, about $40 which totals $960 from the prices I found at Brownells and on the net for the 338 Lapua detachable magazine parts in the USA.
You would have a hard time building an equivalent Savage rifle with a donor action for less money without waiting a long time scanning the EE parts for sale.
I bought this to give the 338 Lapua a try and after going to Dmay's fun shoot and shooting steel at 1060 yards last weekend, this rifle is well worth the money.
Of course when the factory barrel wears out I will get a new Shilen barrel from Jerry and have an even better rifle.
I bought a Sightron SIII 8-32 X 56 LRMOA from Jerry for this rifle and it proved to be an excellent scope for this type of shoot, a few other shooters checked it out and were impressed by it especially for the price they sell for.
 
thanx for the input guys, ...and your patience with a newbie.
working with ignorance, a very limited budget, and an unsympathetic wife has it's challenges :)
 
I bought a Savage 110 FCP 338 Lapua and I think that it was dirt cheap for the $1269 I paid for it.
It comes with an HS Precision stock which runs about $450, a detachable magazine about $350, a muzzle brake about $120 and a 20 MOA rail, about $40 which totals $960 from the prices I found at Brownells and on the net for the 338 Lapua detachable magazine parts in the USA.
You would have a hard time building an equivalent Savage rifle with a donor action for less money without waiting a long time scanning the EE parts for sale.
.


This is the way I went. I actually had a stevens 300 WM I was going to build a 338 off when Sean at North Shore offered me a very good deal on a Savage 110 FCP 338 HS. I'm enjoying this rifle and I still have a 300 WM donor for a project as when funds allow. :)
 
I bought a Savage 110 FCP 338 Lapua and I think that it was dirt cheap for the $1269 I paid for it.
It comes with an HS Precision stock which runs about $450, a detachable magazine about $350, a muzzle brake about $120 and a 20 MOA rail, about $40 which totals $960 from the prices I found at Brownells and on the net for the 338 Lapua detachable magazine parts in the USA.
You would have a hard time building an equivalent Savage rifle with a donor action for less money without waiting a long time scanning the EE parts for sale.
I bought this to give the 338 Lapua a try and after going to Dmay's fun shoot and shooting steel at 1060 yards last weekend, this rifle is well worth the money.
Of course when the factory barrel wears out I will get a new Shilen barrel from Jerry and have an even better rifle.
I bought a Sightron SIII 8-32 X 56 LRMOA from Jerry for this rifle and it proved to be an excellent scope for this type of shoot, a few other shooters checked it out and were impressed by it especially for the price they sell for.

Glad that it all worked out for you.

TN777, if budget is a reason for delay, avoid the question entirely.

I shoot with a friend how loves the boomers. 338LM is a start. We are discussing 408's, 416's and other Happy Meal cartridges.

He chases me around the countryside and my 223's. I shoot just as far (1550yds by dialing), hit just as much. I drift alot more but that makes me learn about the air - not a bad thing. Spot all my own shots which he sometimes misses during recoil.

Shooting costs is at least 5 of mine to 1 of his.

More if you factor in rifle wear.

If LR precision shooting is the goal, get a rifle you can afford and afford to shoot. Another summer is drifting by... why wait for some mega dollar super rig that may never come?

How can your wife be concerned about spending $7 a day shooting? That is 50rds of accurate aimed practise vs 2 rds of kaboom?

22LR at 300yds, you want to learn about LR precision shooting. I doubt there is a better teacher. Add in another 100yds, and you are drifting similar to mile shooting with a 308.

You can have a rig shooting for UNDER $1000

But that's just me....

Jerry
 
thanks guys. all good input. i do plan on practicing with a 22LR as mentioned by Jerry. and maybe a .308 at some point. but 1550yrds with a .223? wow, that's pushing the envelope.
why do guys drive high horsepower cars or 4x4's? there's just something about raw power that grabs you and convinces your otherwise practical mind you gotta have it.
i don't know, in the same way there's just something about the "big kaboom". you know you can't really afford it, but it keeps haunting you...
 
thanks guys. all good input. i do plan on practicing with a 22LR as mentioned by Jerry. and maybe a .308 at some point. but 1550yrds with a .223? wow, that's pushing the envelope.
why do guys drive high horsepower cars or 4x4's? there's just something about raw power that grabs you and convinces your otherwise practical mind you gotta have it.
i don't know, in the same way there's just something about the "big kaboom". you know you can't really afford it, but it keeps haunting you...

Fast cars and 4x4's are great, but not as a primary mode of transportation. Thats why people suggest a 22lr, or .223 for practice. I bought my first rifle this spring and looking at my budget with school i realized that while i could afford the rifle i really wanted (a 6.5 creedmoor, 6.5x47 lapua or 260 rem) it would cost WAY more to feed. When i have a some more money to sink into guns then i will look into dedicated long range rig or a barrel swap and stock upgrade. Until then i am happy shooting a couple hundred rounds a month and learning lots from my little savage .223.


What do you already own?
 
thanks guys. all good input. i do plan on practicing with a 22LR as mentioned by Jerry. and maybe a .308 at some point. but 1550yrds with a .223? wow, that's pushing the envelope.
why do guys drive high horsepower cars or 4x4's? there's just something about raw power that grabs you and convinces your otherwise practical mind you gotta have it.
i don't know, in the same way there's just something about the "big kaboom". you know you can't really afford it, but it keeps haunting you...

By all means, have at it.

Been there, done that, designed the wildcats. It was all very fun and very expensive.

Nowadays, it is more about pushing the limits just because.

200mph with 6L making 800hp is easy. 200mph with 1.6L 4 cylinders - now that is cool tech.

Whatever floats your boat.... but there is little point buying a Ferrari if you can't afford the insurance to drive it.

And 1550yds with a 223/90 is a simple project.

Jerry
 
Turbo tech from the 80's and 90's.

From F1 to GTP, huge horsepower from itty bitty engines.

Sport Compact cars today have similar tech. Like over 1000hp from a Honda 4 banger. See compact car drag racing

Cooooollll

Jerry
 
By all means, have at it.

Been there, done that, designed the wildcats. It was all very fun and very expensive.

Nowadays, it is more about pushing the limits just because.

200mph with 6L making 800hp is easy. 200mph with 1.6L 4 cylinders - now that is cool tech.

Whatever floats your boat.... but there is little point buying a Ferrari if you can't afford the insurance to drive it.

And 1550yds with a 223/90 is a simple project.

Jerry

options, options gentlemen... it's about more that just long range paper punching. things like, being out on a hunt and seeing that moose 800yrds across the lake, ...are you going to golf-ball it in with a .308 round or flatline a shot with a 338LM?
but yes, good points all, guyz. guess it all boils down to whatever floats your boat without sinking your wallet...
 
that is the problem... some geniuses think the size of a cartridge is all that matters. they are going to go out there all convinced thhe can hunt moose at 800 yards across a lake. anyone that even tries is an idiot.

there are very experience long range br tr and f class shooters that can hit ice cream bucket lids 10 shots out of ten at 1000 yards with everything down to 223's in a 30k cross wind. none of them would dare think of trying to hunt at 800 yards using a factory gun.
 
that is the problem... some geniuses think the size of a cartridge is all that matters. they are going to go out there all convinced thhe can hunt moose at 800 yards across a lake. anyone that even tries is an idiot.

there are very experience long range br tr and f class shooters that can hit ice cream bucket lids 10 shots out of ten at 1000 yards with everything down to 223's in a 30k cross wind. none of them would dare think of trying to hunt at 800 yards using a factory gun.

not to start an argument here, i'm not even into hunting yet at this point [so you'd be better off labeling me an ignoramus, rather than an idiot], but, isn't there quite a following of shooters who hunt long range, particularly elk and big horn sheep in the rockies? maybe that's just folks south of the border?
 
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not to start an argument here, i'm not even a hunter at this point, so you'd be better of labeling me an ignoramus, rather than an idiot, ...but isn't there quite a following of shooters who hunt long range, particularly elk and big horn sheep in the rockies, probably more so south of the border?

True, but it still doesn't make it a good idea. Now if I was really hungry...

No labels required, some people think it's ok, some don't. Once you start shooting more you'll see how easy it is to pooch a shot, regardless of how good you get. From that perspective 300-400 yards would be as far as I'd shoot to fill a tag. I think what some people fail to consider is you can't screw up just a little. A little is shreading one of it's legs at very long range insted of a kill.

About the Magnum, not saying not to, just saying make sure you shoot a few to get an idea of how it will be to live with. I shoot my WM while the .308 or .223 cools down. It could stand a brake but at 16 lbs it's not too bad to shoot, 40-50 rounds can become a bit of a chore though.
 
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