Why choose 338 over 300 win mag?

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Kryogen

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Why did some of you choose 338lapua over 300 win mag? Just for the fun of having a stronger long range round?

Im looking at a savage FCP HS or BA and I dont see the point of going 338. Ammo is way more expensive, even reload components.
So why did you go 338?
 
Kryogen said:
Why did some of you choose 338lapua over 300 win mag? Just for the fun of having a stronger long range round?

Im looking at a savage FCP HS or BA and I dont see the point of going 338. Ammo is way more expensive, even reload components.
So why did you go 338?
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Actually I went 300 over .338, when Savage 111 Long Range Hunter series came out I fell in love and was about to lay down the money for one in .338 but the thought of it being a safe queen for most of the year when I would need a skidoo to patch targets at -40 was nagging at me... Couple that with several bucks a shot for even cheap ammo and it did seem like a waste.

Monday I made a boxing day run to WSS and seen 111FCXP's were selling cheap, they had one in 300WM... Now i have a $350 project rifle sitting in my safe I can play with cheaply while I figure out what I want to do with it.
 
It's a difficult debate considering that 300win mag doesn't offer a crazy amount more than 30-06, and you can drop damn near anything that walks with either. 338 is just more boom than the others. If I had to choose a long action cartridge, it would probably be a 30-06, 270, or 300win mag simply because they're cheaper, versatile, chambered in everything, and available everywhere.

Considering how I dislike long action cartridges for many reasons, I stick with .308win because:

1) Access to cheaper practice ammunition, or even surplus
2) Shorter, lighter rifles.
3) Higher mag capacity
4) Shorter bolt actions
5) Better scope mounting flexibility. Shorter receiver lets you set it back more.
6) Interchangeable ammunition with military and para-military firearms
7) 30-06 performance without the kick of 300win mag
8) Less chance of accuracy loss due to longer receiver and barrel
9) 308 velocity is far less affected by shorter barrels
10) Range brass is more common (where I live) and less powder is used to reload. 30cal bullets never a bad choice for a reloader, 338 may cost more or have less availability.
 
My .338 Edge (It isn't a Lapua, sue me) brings approximately double the energy to 1000 yards as my longrange .300 does, while haveing less wind-drift. Isn't that reason enough?
 
The .338 is twice the gun a 300WM is hands down... But splitting hairs one could argue its only 25% more gun then a 300RUM... Or bring up the mighty BMG.

300WM is plenty of gun for the average Joe, most folks won't stretch it past 300M anyway aside from shooting paper.
 
Kryogen said:
So why did you go 338?
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I didn't, I went with the trusty old 300WM with its lower recoil and wider aray of factory loads. Don't get me wrong, I would have like some Lapua loaded 300wm with thier 170gr lockbases, but Lapua doesnt love me.
To be honest 95% of 338LM owners are about cool factor, the old 300WM just aint blingy enough anymore, and if you really want a ballistics edge, you could just get a 50BMG and call it a day. But hey, thats the fun of having money to burn, and options of what to burn it on.
 
Dosing said:
I didn't, I went with the trusty old 300WM with its lower recoil and wider aray of factory loads. Don't get me wrong, I would have like some Lapua loaded 300wm with thier 170gr lockbases, but Lapua doesnt love me.
To be honest 95% of 338LM owners are about cool factor, the old 300WM just aint blingy enough anymore, and if you really want a ballistics edge, you could just get a 50BMG and call it a day. But hey, thats the fun of having money to burn, and options of what to burn it on.
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as above;) but the 338 has a much better flight with those nice very high bc bullets
 
If you have a place where you can shoot out to 850 yards, you need a .308

If you have a place where you can shoot out to 1000 yards you might need a .300 magnum.

If you have a place where you can shoot out to 1500 yards, you might need a .338 Lapua.

If you have a place where you can shoot out to 2000 yards you might need a ..408 CheyTac.

If you have a place where you can shoot beyond 2000 yards, you might need a .50.

Any of the above cartridges can be shot at close range targets.

Bruce Artus in Pueblo Colorado hit a 16" steel gong at 3120 yards with his .308.

If you intend to engage live targets at long range, you should choose a cartridge which has sufficient terminal performance at range to ensure a one shot kill.

If you want to look cool, save your money and buy a pair of sunglasses.
 
Chinbullco said:
Now that's a shot! Was gong horizontal? Know what bullet was used? If you were taking a 308 to a one mile shoot what bullet would you use?
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The bullet was a 220 gr MK loaded to about 2400 fps, in the AI version, his load was 43.8 grs of H-380. His rifle was a custom M-70 with an Obermeyer 28" 1:8.2 twist barrel, and the scope (Premier Reticles 20-50X Leupold) was in special mounts set at a steep angle, about 6" above the bore to prevent the barrel from blocking his field of view.
 
CyaN1de said:
I think most go with the 338 to compensate for other things. Just sayin..... :p
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I used to be the type that tried to cram 2 minutes living into every 1 minute. Then around 10 years ago I hit my mid thirties. I don't know what happened exactly but now if I can get 20 seconds out of every half hour I'm doing good. :D

Therefore I chose the 338 LM to justify my existence. :)


Oh and because my mam said I could not get one. :D
 
Kryogen said:
Why did some of you choose 338lapua over 300 win mag? Just for the fun of having a stronger long range round?

Im looking at a savage FCP HS or BA and I dont see the point of going 338. Ammo is way more expensive, even reload components.
So why did you go 338?
Click to expand...


Reading between the lines of your posts recently, I think your trying to talk yourself out of a 338 LM. Its not going to work and even if it does your going to be second guessing yourself so get with the program, join the club and help bring costs down. :p
 
.338 is not that expensive to shoot. If you don’t reload your wasting your time in this game unless you can afford to buy high end match bullets.

I have bought 5 boxes of Lapua .338 factory ammo and shot it, I can get tighter groups with my reloads for a fraction of the cost as factory Lapua loads.

I have a 300wm and love it, however it’s got nothing on the .338’s!


d:h:
 
warrenb said:
Reading between the lines of your posts recently, I think your trying to talk yourself out of a 338 LM. Its not going to work and even if it does your going to be second guessing yourself so get with the program, join the club and help bring costs down. :p
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warrenb is right!

.338 is expensive for most because they have to go and get the second gun becasue there not happy with the first selection!

:D
 
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