Need Advice Sako TRG-42 338Lapua 0r 300Win Mag??

Jester79

Jester79

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Need help,
Looking for some help I was wondering what you all think ? Should I go with the 338Laupa or 300Win Mag. Looking at shooting long range over 1000 yards. But dont want to be the a**hole at the range making all the load noise and kicking up dust( you know the guy they stick at the end of the range alone). Any input would be great.:sniper:
 
338 or 300?

If you have the money go for the 338 (20 rounds for $100). Or you could hold out for the .408 which seems to kick the ass of the .50 BMG and .416 Barrett but I don't know if you can actually buy one.

I've been thinking about a .308 or a .300 win mag myself. Since I have little experience and money I thought I should start with the .308 and work myself up to the bigger ones. I found a savage (recomended by many people I've talked to) that would do the job for a low price. If I had more money I might go HS Precision or FN (with that sweet mauser controlled round feed like the savage)

If you make a lot of noise at the range people will only be jealous. The only range I've heard of over 500 yards is in Genesee, Alberta (at 700 yards).

Good luck and have fun.
 
I say 300WM because it costs less, recoils less, ballistically similar, more components to choose from, more readily available, factory ammo available anywhere.

The TRG might not stabilize the 300gr MK so you really only have the 250gr Scenar to choose. A great bullet but substantially more bucks then the 30's. If hornady ever gets their 338 AMax released, that could change this debate.

Feed the 300WM 208/210/215gr bullets and you will have similar impact energies as well. Unless you are hunting, it just doesn't matter.

As far as noise goes, you are going to be shooting on crown land to get those distances so double plug and have some fun.

Personally, unless you really must shoot a TRG, for the money, build yourself a BR quality rig in a 6.5 or 7. Long range accuracy will be much better and ballistics are very similar. Costs, recoil and noise are much lower too.

Put the extra money towards quality optics cause that really matters.

Jerry
 
Rohann said:
Ask Longshot about that one :).

-Rohann
Click to expand...

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think longshot had more complaints about the quaility of the rifle then the calibre itself. Again, just going from memory. But should they find someone who can actually manufacture the bullets and the brass, it would be a whole lot of fun, accept for the price tag. Until that time, I'll go with a 338 AI.
 
Hey Jester,

Kind of a general question with many different points of view. Have a few questions for you.

Do you reload?
Do you plan to use it at the range?
Do you want to hunt big game with it?
At what distance?
What scope do you plan to use?

If you post some more details like these you'll get better answers for what you want.

Dave
 
Jester79 said:
Need help,
Looking for some help I was wondering what you all think ? Should I go with the 338Laupa or 300Win Mag. Looking at shooting long range over 1000 yards. But dont want to be the a**hole at the range making all the load noise and kicking up dust( you know the guy they stick at the end of the range alone). Any input would be great.:sniper:
Click to expand...

I guess I'm the "AHole" at the end of the range. Far as I can tell everyone is pretty envious/jealous/wistfull (oh shut up, I'm kidding) of my .338.:p

My .300 shoots 1000m fine, if you have the cash go for the .338 especially if your buying your rounds. I'll give you a deal on your first 100, they are sitting on my shelf and I don't want 100 per 20.

Not to hijack your thread but I love all the input of the Cheytac, someone buy one so the rest of us can actually say we "know" someone who bought one. Lots of gabbing but no one forking over the beans.

JMTC
 
No I dont reload yet(I have family that will do it for me)
No this will not be used for any hunting.
Range, crown land and family land. for shooting
Night Force 8-32x56 NXS or the 12-42x56 NXS
 
canucklehead said:
I'd say just for the sheer availability of componants to go .300WM.

Of course, I own a .300WM, so I'm somewhat biased.
Click to expand...

Either in 300wm or 7mm Reminton, will allow you to spend the time at ranges, component Availability is the biggest factor here.
 
I say 338 Lapua if you can have someone reload for you. I don't buy the comment on component availability . Perhaps selection but so what. There are a couple brass choices ( Lapua and Norma ) and as far as bullets you will be shooting 250SMKs or 250Scenars . What more choices do you really want ( 338 Amax would be nice )

As far as cost of components you need to compare apples to apples here. For example, from Huntington Dies http://www.huntingtons.com/cases_lapua.html , Lapua brand 338 LM cases are $243 and Lapua brand 300 Win mag cases are $192 . If you are worried about $50 to $100 for your brass after you just spent $5000 on a gun and scope then you really shouldn't be playing with a $5000 gun

To compare the cost of Win / Rem brand brass to Lapua / Norma brand is silly

Cost of dies will be about $50 more . Bullets are a bit pricier but still not unreasonable. For sake of argument you will burn about 15 to 20gr more powder so its really not a big deal $$ wise

Its really not that expensive to get into a good reloading kit for 338Lapua

As far as your scope choices ( 8-32 or 12-42 ) I think this is a bit much . After 3 shoots down my TRG , the mirage can start getting pretty bad to a point where you are dialing down your magnification

As Mystic stated, if you are just punching paper at long range and you just want a good rifle ( not going for the tactical look ) I would build ( have someone build ) a 6.5

The novelty wears off shooting a 300 Win Mag or 338 Lapua all day ( compared to a 6.5-284 for example ) , especially without a brake
 
ask yourself this... is this going to be a rifle that you want to shoot, or something that you want to own for the LCF. The fact of the matter is that .338LM's are all the rage right now and cool to have, but there are things that you have to look at. First, is there anywhere that you can shoot this gun to it's fullest because unless you own some property you're not going to find a range around here... and do you have the skills necessary to do it. Also, can you afford it, .338LM is a very expensive round to buy and it's very hard to find.
I'm sure that you can see that I would definately suggest a .300wm. I own an H-S Precision HTR in that calibre and have no complaints at all. It's about 1/3 of the cost of the .338LM and the ballistic difference isn't all that much out to about 1000m. Anyways, food for thought.
 
Land is not a problem where I live. The problem is waiting for some one to put together a custom rifle. As for the skills necessary well we will have to see. The price between the TRG-22 AND THE TRG-42 (weather is 308 300wm or 338LM is not that much different. I know the is a lot of other great tactical shooters out there but I can see myself waiting. Is there any good shops in alberta that have tactical shooters in stock? Looking to spend 4000 to 5000. Will travel to anywear in Alberta to find.
 
TRG-42 said:
I say 338 Lapua if you can have someone reload for you. I don't buy the comment on component availability . Perhaps selection but so what. There are a couple brass choices ( Lapua and Norma ) and as far as bullets you will be shooting 250SMKs or 250Scenars . What more choices do you really want ( 338 Amax would be nice )

As far as cost of components you need to compare apples to apples here. For example, from Huntington Dies http://www.huntingtons.com/cases_lapua.html , Lapua brand 338 LM cases are $243 and Lapua brand 300 Win mag cases are $192 . If you are worried about $50 to $100 for your brass after you just spent $5000 on a gun and scope then you really shouldn't be playing with a $5000 gun

To compare the cost of Win / Rem brand brass to Lapua / Norma brand is silly

Cost of dies will be about $50 more . Bullets are a bit pricier but still not unreasonable. For sake of argument you will burn about 15 to 20gr more powder so its really not a big deal $$ wise

Its really not that expensive to get into a good reloading kit for 338Lapua

As far as your scope choices ( 8-32 or 12-42 ) I think this is a bit much . After 3 shoots down my TRG , the mirage can start getting pretty bad to a point where you are dialing down your magnification

As Mystic stated, if you are just punching paper at long range and you just want a good rifle ( not going for the tactical look ) I would build ( have someone build ) a 6.5

The novelty wears off shooting a 300 Win Mag or 338 Lapua all day ( compared to a 6.5-284 for example ) , especially without a brake
Click to expand...

I got a TRG 42, haven't got a clue on what equipment I have to have for reloading. What do you recommend?
 
Actually if you give a crab about you money, then you should go with 300WM, you so save alot of money not just in Supply but in the gun also, Rem700PSS does come in 300wm, and 7mm Rem mag, also Ammo some what hard to come by if you go with 338 lapua, of course take the comment on component availability and selection seriously, it alway available, the question is how much, if you reload it could be easier, but you don't. I know a couple of people shoot 300wm, and the reason they still shoot it, is because they reload, Federal or winchester brass in 300 WM is still cheap enough and available that one could pick up for a good price. The point is, at the End when you tally up the cost between 300WM & 338 Lapua, it will show a big different.
 
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I agree with TRG42. Go with the .338 Lapua. Not everyony has a cool looking rifle like that and when you get into reloading, components are easy to find. There are a couple of good tactical shops there in Alberta ( one in both, Calgary and Edmonton area) that supply me regularly with everything I need for my Lapua!!!

Since a good long range is available for you, make the best of it!!!!

Here in Saskatchewan, I take my .338 Lapua to the MAX!!! So far 1500yards is the furthest (70% hit rate on 20" gongs) and I can get out to 2200 yards. I just have to wait for the snow to go for the longer ranges!!!

If you are going long, use the Lapua.........................Simple!!!!

Just my 2 cents!!

Later
apapro
 
Sure go with the lapua. Sounds like you have some money to spend, but remember the gun is only a part of what you will need. There is a lot of other stuff from ballistics programs and reloading gear to range finders and so on. Be prepared to spend at least 50% more than what you have budgeted so far for the gun.

You may think you don't need a lot of these things but trust me, once you get into the sport of hitting something at distance the spending has just begun. Also be prepared to put a lot of ammo through the gun. There is no point to buying a $4000 gun if you don't plan to shoot it lots, and not only that you'll never impress anyone if you don't practice a lot. Nothing wrong with starting in a .338 lapua, you won't regret the caliber, but as you learn more about the sport you may regret the gun. With either choice I would consider getting a custom build buy someone who shoots long distance regularly. Read more posts on the form here and don't be afraid to ask questions. Search for old threads related to your questions, trust me your not the first to ask this one. PM the people you see doing this kind of shooting and ask their opinion.

In short, keep going on the research and learn as much as you can. There are no simple answers cause a lot of choices are based on your preferences, and the only way to learn is from experience, yours or others.

I was in your shoes about four years ago, there is a lot to learn and I still am.

Good luck and have fun!!

Dave
 
Thanks for the help everyone. Lots of food for thought. Contact info for any custom builder's anywhere in Alberta would also be a great help as well.

Thanks Jester
 
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