with the conservatives getting a majority and the the registry all but dead i think i am going to treat myself to a gift for the occasion, the question for all you out there is.... should i get a 50 or a lapua? this is more directed to those that own these rifles. any regrets from those that own one and wish they had bought the other? or better yet for those lucky enough to own both, which do you enjoy/like shooting the most? thanks
lapua or 50...that is the question
- Thread starter bingo1010
- Start date
TERMINATOR101CA
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- TORONTO, CANADA
How often will you be shooting it ? How rich are you ??? That's all that matters in this decision.
first of all, do you have access to a range that can accomodate those roudns... lol...if im paying 80 dollars for 20 rounds of 338 lapua magnum, i dont really want to f*** around on a 200 yard range....50 cal, same thing...to answer your question...i see a lot more 338 lapua magnum for sale than 50 cal, so i would definately go with 338 lapua
- Location
- calgary alberta
I have both, I love both. They have different uses and places they can be used.
There is lots of 50 cal ammo around, you just need to look for it. Same with 338 Lapua, it exists, just maybe not at Walmart.
The 50 will require a dedicated reloading setup and IS more expensive to shoot for sure.
There is lots of 50 cal ammo around, you just need to look for it. Same with 338 Lapua, it exists, just maybe not at Walmart.
The 50 will require a dedicated reloading setup and IS more expensive to shoot for sure.
I usually can resist the urge to put my two cents in, but since in this case, I have one of each I'll tell you what I think.
I have a single shot 338 lapua, Barnard action Robertson stock and 28" Lilja Barrel, with a nightforce 12-42 benchrest. My fifty is more or less the same gun, Barnard GP single shot action, 34 inch trueflight barrel in a robertson stock, also wears nightforce NXS.
I like them both, they are totally impractical and only toys, they are so heavy and large that they are useless for anything but prone shooting. That being said they are a pile of fun as long as you don't try to justify their existence as anything practical. I mean I have hunting rifles that could put meat on the table..not these guys.
There are downsides that apply to both
1)in order to take advantage of either one's potential, you really have to spend a pile of $ on optics.
1a)the guns themselves are horrendously expensive $5000 to $10000 and literally the sky is the limit. You can't get a rifle in fifty for less than $5000 I guess you can get into a M700 338 lapua in the $1500 range but most like hs precision are a $3500 touch.
2)you aren't welcome at the local range with either in all likelyhood so if you don't have access to some big stretches of Crown Land you may not be able to use them at all.
3)you have higher reloading costs, much higher on the fifty, in fact shooting factory ammo for the fifty is all but impossible due to american import restrictions. There are lots of ways of sourcing components through the EE but you have to accept that you'll be buying a new press and that a pound of powder doesn't go very far on fifty ammo, or .338 lapua for that matter. You need a new press, king size, kiss another $1000 goodbye. Primers for a fifty are a B*stard to find, I have about a thousand cause I'm scared to run out.
4)The guns are MUCH louder and have much more muzzle blast.
When I started on my fifty project I had no idea how much it was going to end up costing, I am well over $10 000 now for the gun and the stuff I needed to use it. I started with a phone call to Robertson composites and a deposit, by the time I realized I needed a new press, had to get a custom gun case, and needed a $2000 scope as well as a $2500 action etc etc it was pretty pricy. I waited a while and then a while more....but it was sure beautiful when it arrived.
Do you want a gun as much as a quad, or dirtbike etc etc? Unless you are a rich guy, that's what you are giving up..
For me the answer is YES, but you have to go in with your eyes open.
I only use mine for banging gongs way out there. and learning both rifles is something I am still doing and it is a fun pursuit. There is a lot to know and a lot of ways to miss that far out.
If I could only keep one it would be the fifty, there is something about a muzzle blast that pushes your chest in....You get a sunny summer afternoon and a few friends together with a quad running out to the target, the spectacular terminal ballistics which are an order of magnitude cooler than your 300 mag and you've got a pretty good afternoon.
Inevitably one of your redneck buddies shows up with a piece of plate steel, or a length of railway track, or an axle from a Cat and says do you think you could shoot through this??
good times!
hope that helps.
I have a single shot 338 lapua, Barnard action Robertson stock and 28" Lilja Barrel, with a nightforce 12-42 benchrest. My fifty is more or less the same gun, Barnard GP single shot action, 34 inch trueflight barrel in a robertson stock, also wears nightforce NXS.
I like them both, they are totally impractical and only toys, they are so heavy and large that they are useless for anything but prone shooting. That being said they are a pile of fun as long as you don't try to justify their existence as anything practical. I mean I have hunting rifles that could put meat on the table..not these guys.
There are downsides that apply to both
1)in order to take advantage of either one's potential, you really have to spend a pile of $ on optics.
1a)the guns themselves are horrendously expensive $5000 to $10000 and literally the sky is the limit. You can't get a rifle in fifty for less than $5000 I guess you can get into a M700 338 lapua in the $1500 range but most like hs precision are a $3500 touch.
2)you aren't welcome at the local range with either in all likelyhood so if you don't have access to some big stretches of Crown Land you may not be able to use them at all.
3)you have higher reloading costs, much higher on the fifty, in fact shooting factory ammo for the fifty is all but impossible due to american import restrictions. There are lots of ways of sourcing components through the EE but you have to accept that you'll be buying a new press and that a pound of powder doesn't go very far on fifty ammo, or .338 lapua for that matter. You need a new press, king size, kiss another $1000 goodbye. Primers for a fifty are a B*stard to find, I have about a thousand cause I'm scared to run out.
4)The guns are MUCH louder and have much more muzzle blast.
When I started on my fifty project I had no idea how much it was going to end up costing, I am well over $10 000 now for the gun and the stuff I needed to use it. I started with a phone call to Robertson composites and a deposit, by the time I realized I needed a new press, had to get a custom gun case, and needed a $2000 scope as well as a $2500 action etc etc it was pretty pricy. I waited a while and then a while more....but it was sure beautiful when it arrived.
Do you want a gun as much as a quad, or dirtbike etc etc? Unless you are a rich guy, that's what you are giving up..
For me the answer is YES, but you have to go in with your eyes open.
I only use mine for banging gongs way out there. and learning both rifles is something I am still doing and it is a fun pursuit. There is a lot to know and a lot of ways to miss that far out.
If I could only keep one it would be the fifty, there is something about a muzzle blast that pushes your chest in....You get a sunny summer afternoon and a few friends together with a quad running out to the target, the spectacular terminal ballistics which are an order of magnitude cooler than your 300 mag and you've got a pretty good afternoon.
Inevitably one of your redneck buddies shows up with a piece of plate steel, or a length of railway track, or an axle from a Cat and says do you think you could shoot through this??
good times!
hope that helps.
I also now have rifles in both cartridges mentioned since recently aquiring a new Steyr HS 50. I have recently started to collect components for assembling some .50BMG and I'll tell you they are neither prolific nor cheap, particulary if you wish to assemble "match" quality rounds. "Plinking"
ammo can be assembled for about 3-$4 per round which ain't bad but that is providing you have the means to do so.
I would suggest starting with the Lapua, It will be more economical in every respect and still do everything one would expect from a .50BMG
ammo can be assembled for about 3-$4 per round which ain't bad but that is providing you have the means to do so.I would suggest starting with the Lapua, It will be more economical in every respect and still do everything one would expect from a .50BMG
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I have the .338 Lapua - if you go that route have the gun chambered for .338 Lapua AI. The AI gives you a little more oomph and longer brass life. Yes you will need to reload, but you should be reloading for either caliber anyway since factory rounds are insanely expensive and you will not be getting anywhere near the most out of your rifle unless you reload.
That being said I wish I had went straight to a .50 BMG... once a rifle is past a certain size and weight it just gets used a little less. the 50 would definitely be more expensive, but for the amount I shoot it I don't think it would leave me in poverty.
Mans needs are few but his wants are infinite, so now that I have a .338 it looks too small and I want a 50. If components were available I would even go so far as to say 20mm. For the record, I have no experience with anything larger than .338 Lapua AI.
...the above only applies if you have tons of spare income and just want a boomer for the novelty. If you want something that you will shoot a lot forget about either and get a .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, .308 Win, or a 6mm BR
Ps. I think shooting beside someone with a .338 is just as much fun as actually shooting one yourself - I had no idea how much blast the brake created until I let my buddy shoot it beside me
That being said I wish I had went straight to a .50 BMG... once a rifle is past a certain size and weight it just gets used a little less. the 50 would definitely be more expensive, but for the amount I shoot it I don't think it would leave me in poverty.
Mans needs are few but his wants are infinite, so now that I have a .338 it looks too small and I want a 50. If components were available I would even go so far as to say 20mm. For the record, I have no experience with anything larger than .338 Lapua AI.
...the above only applies if you have tons of spare income and just want a boomer for the novelty. If you want something that you will shoot a lot forget about either and get a .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, .308 Win, or a 6mm BR
Ps. I think shooting beside someone with a .338 is just as much fun as actually shooting one yourself - I had no idea how much blast the brake created until I let my buddy shoot it beside me
I had a 338 LM for a few years and sold it. It was very accurate and with 300 smk's it was down right awesome. It was a custom job and I also had NXS optics on it. The 338 LM has become rather popular the last few years and there are a few options out there that are not super expensive. Remington and savage is coming out with some new ones as well this summer I believe. If you have a rock chucker supreme or something similar you don't need a new press.
I'd recommend you pick up a 338 LM first and see if you like the long range stuff (you have to be super anal reloading as well to get the kind of accuracy you want in something you're going to shoot 1mile+). You won't lose alot of money if you decide to sell it down the road and pick up a 50 if you like.
The 50 is the ultimate bad boy toy but unless you're shooting motor blocks at a mile the 338 LM will do everything the 50 will.
Just my 0.02
I'd recommend you pick up a 338 LM first and see if you like the long range stuff (you have to be super anal reloading as well to get the kind of accuracy you want in something you're going to shoot 1mile+). You won't lose alot of money if you decide to sell it down the road and pick up a 50 if you like.
The 50 is the ultimate bad boy toy but unless you're shooting motor blocks at a mile the 338 LM will do everything the 50 will.
Just my 0.02
LongBomber
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fernie, bc
Personally I would stop at the 338. Much easier to find components, and fairly similar long range performance. Sure the 50 has way more energy, but really is the rock out at 1 mile going to feel the difference? For drop and drift the 338 does very well out to 1700 yards. At my elevation my berger hybrids stay supersonic out to over 2000 yards, and still kick up some pretty good dust at 1500. If budget is a concern I would look elsewhere, like a fast twist 22-250, 6br, 260.. any number of sub 6.5mm calibers.
If you just want something to show off and pop off a few rounds once in a while a 338 in a A-5 stock and a 30" barrel will look like a cannon to most people. Mine does
If you just want something to show off and pop off a few rounds once in a while a 338 in a A-5 stock and a 30" barrel will look like a cannon to most people. Mine does
thanks for the feedback so far guys, a little more info from my end. i have 3 long range rifles now, 2 built on rem actions and one custom action, all 7 mm cal and love em. i have shot them out to 1 mile on occasion but the hit consistency just isnt there.i realize that there is a whole other world of variables with the 1 mile thing and that is what gets my attention.i love shooting at a mile but feel i am somewhat "gun limited"...as at 1000 yards i am quite comfortable with my ability to shoot under 1 minute. i know a higher bc bullet out of a 338 or 50 will improve my hit percentage, but also realize just because it is a 50(or 338) that cannot just ignore the conditions. so far as costs go, these types of guns are not cheap i know as all 3 of mine wear nightforce scopes as well, the reloading end of things i feel i have covered as well as i currently reload quite accurate ammo. there is definetly the added cost of haveing to buy a whole nother setup when going to the 50....press, priming tools, case prep tools and the bit. i guess another question would be for those with the lee setup for the 50, for those that have it, do you find it is adequate or after using it for a while do you wish you had bought higher end equipment? i have been leaning toward a 338 for quite some time, but now i am thinking that if i want to go big i might as well go all the way and buy a 50 right off the bat. i am not sure if there will be that much of a gain from my current 7's to a 338 in wind drift way out there. i guess i am saying i am not wanting to spend the money on a 338 and be disappointed with the gain over my 7's. i currently shoot the berger 180 in my 7 and the bc gain to a 338 pill is not really that great....not like the gain to a 750 grain bullet. for sure the 338 is more than enough for a mile....without a doubt, but there again for those that have both, when shooting at distances of 1 mile or more do you notice the gain in bc performance of the 50 over the 338?
Just putting this out there but have you looked at the Allen magnums at all?
If you going to spend the cash for a nice 338 or 50 nothing wrong with going wildcat since your reloading anyways.
Blurb on their 338 case
338 Allen Magnum
408 Cheyenne Tactical parent case, necked down to 338, shoulder moved roughly 50 thou forward and fireformed to min body taper and sharper shoulder angle.
265 gr. AT RBBT(.920 bc) at 3500 fps in 32” barrel up to 350 gr. ULD RBBT at 3200 fps in 32” barrel.
Designed for heavy big game hunting at long range or standard big game hunting out to extreme range. Has been proven consistant and accurate out to 3008 yards by holding moa accurate out to this range and remaining super sonic in velocity with the 265 gr. AT RBBT.
Appropriate powders: H-50BMG(recommended), H-870, AA8700, US869, WC872, VV 20N29
If you going to spend the cash for a nice 338 or 50 nothing wrong with going wildcat since your reloading anyways.
Blurb on their 338 case
338 Allen Magnum
408 Cheyenne Tactical parent case, necked down to 338, shoulder moved roughly 50 thou forward and fireformed to min body taper and sharper shoulder angle.
265 gr. AT RBBT(.920 bc) at 3500 fps in 32” barrel up to 350 gr. ULD RBBT at 3200 fps in 32” barrel.
Designed for heavy big game hunting at long range or standard big game hunting out to extreme range. Has been proven consistant and accurate out to 3008 yards by holding moa accurate out to this range and remaining super sonic in velocity with the 265 gr. AT RBBT.
Appropriate powders: H-50BMG(recommended), H-870, AA8700, US869, WC872, VV 20N29
LongBomber
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fernie, bc
Kman300 may have the best suggestion. Kirby Allen was testing the berger hybrids and reporting about it on longrangehunting the other day, the new bergers were holding up at 3500fps, so it would make quite the long range cannon. I have had a few hybrids on back-order with Jerry, hopefully Berger starts filing orders soon. A 375 allen mag would also be impressive if you could get some high BC bullets.
If you already have a 7, you are only gaining 0.15 in G1 BC going to the 338. Does anyone know the BC of the accurate bullet company 338 bullets? May be another option to get higher BC. Given that you already have the smaller stuff covered I would go big. I am working that way myself I started with a 7 mag, went to a 300rum, now on to the 338edge. Next will be a step up to either a allen mag or a 50, but it may take a bit for the budget to come together. You will notice the difference between the 338 and a 7, but honestly the 338 doesn't gain that much.
If you already have a 7, you are only gaining 0.15 in G1 BC going to the 338. Does anyone know the BC of the accurate bullet company 338 bullets? May be another option to get higher BC. Given that you already have the smaller stuff covered I would go big. I am working that way myself I started with a 7 mag, went to a 300rum, now on to the 338edge. Next will be a step up to either a allen mag or a 50, but it may take a bit for the budget to come together. You will notice the difference between the 338 and a 7, but honestly the 338 doesn't gain that much.
I Know Bingo to be both a very capable long distance shooter and a very skilled reloader. He is a better LR precision shooter than I think he's letting on
With bullet selection, component selection and powder selection, I vote 338 LM all the way. 50's are very cool in a novelty sort of way, but 338 Lapuas are very capable and versatile long distance shooters.
Certainly barrel selection is better
With bullet selection, component selection and powder selection, I vote 338 LM all the way. 50's are very cool in a novelty sort of way, but 338 Lapuas are very capable and versatile long distance shooters.
Certainly barrel selection is better
I just got a .338LM Timberwolf, I can’t say enough about it, the firearm is awesome, I was in the same situation as you are and I went with the .338, I liked the timberwolf and after a generous member offered there time and timberwolf up I could not think of a reason not to splurge on it. I have shot large caliber rifles before but if your new to the monsters start with the .338LM, you can always step up but the gun is only as good as the shooter so a good 50 for a new person can create a lot of bad habits, its your call but I can say I have been very happy with my decision, Ross and the gang at PGW are a bunch of great guys that build amazing firearms! Don’t skimp on the optics, if you have to skimp on optics to afford it………… Wait! I toped my Timberwolf off with a S&B PMII 5-25, scope is awesome but I shot another timberwolf with a Night Force last weekend and they both worked great and the NF was half the price, but don’t go below a NF or Mark 4, I would say its better to buy a less expensive firearm and top end optics, but that’s my opinion, opinions and assho*e’s are alike, everyone has one, just ask Tomanyguns!
If you go with the .338LM, talk to Peter Dobson, he is not full of Sh*t and can get you what you need to get loading, there are a lot of armchair snipers on this forum so take your recommendations with a grain of salt!
Good luck!
If you go with the .338LM, talk to Peter Dobson, he is not full of Sh*t and can get you what you need to get loading, there are a lot of armchair snipers on this forum so take your recommendations with a grain of salt!
Good luck!
I havent shot a 50, but I own a Sako TRG 338 Lapua and it works great. I was out shooting just a few days ago. Setup my steel target at 680 yards and took 5 shots. I was able to spot my hits through the scope, but the plates didnt seem to swing much. When I went down to collect the target I realized the 300gr SMK's punched 5 beautiful holes clean through the 3/8 steel in a 5" group I guess I need to push the target out a few hundred more yards!! I want a 50 also, but the cost of tools, rifle and cartridges (powder/bullets/primers) seems to push things out of the realm of FUN for me.
I guess I need to push the target out a few hundred more yards!! I want a 50 also, but the cost of tools, rifle and cartridges (powder/bullets/primers) seems to push things out of the realm of FUN for me.
juanvaldez
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sudbury, Ontario
I love my .338 Lapua. I have a custom on a stiller action. Lots of fun to shoot without breaking the bank.
