338 lapua

leroy · 02-21-2008, 11:58 PM

whats the story on this caliber? iv heard just a little about it adn then i looked a box of bullets up on midway adn wow they must be special. i was just wondering?

GMCGUY · 02-22-2008, 12:02 AM

It a sniper round. You can effectively take out targets up to 1500 yards. Basically its between a 308 and a 50 cal in terms of performance.

Kale · 02-22-2008, 12:14 AM

Some hunters use it for moderately large game, like moose, or bear. It shoots straight and anything smaller than an elephant is probably going down with one hit.

leroy · 02-22-2008, 12:20 AM

o ic! i figured it was someting like that. if it didnt cost so much itd b fun to have

Kale · 02-22-2008, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leroy

o ic! i figured it was someting like that. if it didnt cost so much itd b fun to have

It is very much a specialty round. Not really practical for plinking. Still, you might be able to reload your brass and save a few bucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMCGUY

It a sniper round. You can effectively take out targets up to 1500 yards. Basically its between a 308 and a 50 cal in terms of performance.

In terms of flight accuracy it is actually better than .50. It has better overall ballistic properties. Obviously it doesn't hit as hard, but it will hit on target, farther away, than .50.

just_a_car · 02-22-2008, 12:46 AM

It's actually cheaper to buy .50BMG than it is to purchase .338 Lapua. Same goes for reloading it, with the exception that for .50BMG, you need a whole new press and die set, rather than just a die set. But the cost to reload .338 Lapua is unbelievable if you look at the components in the Midway catalog.

Magnumsrule · 02-28-2008, 07:48 PM

I see remington is coming out with a load for this now.

Ron AKA · 02-28-2008, 10:42 PM

It makes the 308 look like a midget.

See this link for the history of it:

.338 Lapua Magnum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The local range here bans the 338 Lapua and the .50 cal.

Ron

mtm1 · 02-29-2008, 03:44 PM

The lapua is good but its not as fast as the 338/378. I used the 210 TSX at 3450 fps. in my 338/378. Kills Deer super dead.

Midas · 02-29-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtm1

The lapua is good but its not as fast as the 338/378. I used the 210 TSX at 3450 fps. in my 338/378. Kills Deer super dead.

The 338/378 is not any better than the .338 Lupua, all of my data shows them to be pretty much even. Seems like a pretty ridiculous deer rifle, to me.

mtm1 · 02-29-2008, 07:52 PM

Didn't say it was for everyone. I like to use all my rifles. It was new to me, I only had Deer hunts planned so it came along. It worked very well. This past year I carried my Rigby for the last two Deer hunts. The 350 TSX at 2700 shoots as flat as a 180/06 load. Whats you opinion on that?

Midas · 02-29-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtm1

Didn't say it was for everyone. I like to use all my rifles. It was new to me, I only had Deer hunts planned so it came along. It worked very well. This past year I carried my Rigby for the last two Deer hunts. The 350 TSX at 2700 shoots as flat as a 180/06 load. Whats you opinion on that?

Hunt with whatever you want, don't let my opinions deter you, I just feel that using a cartridge like the 338/378 on deer is a waste of powder, when there are cartridges much better suited to the purposes. I don't believe in the word "overkill", but I do believe there is a point where using some cartridges on deer sized game becomes silly. And yes, even using your .416 Rigby is a joke. Had bear been on the platter, it would be different, but for simply blasting away at deer..........

Brother Bob · 02-29-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midas

Hunt with whatever you want, don't let my opinions deter you, I just feel that using a cartridge like the 338/378 on deer is a waste of powder, when there are cartridges much better suited to the purposes. I don't believe in the word "overkill", but I do believe there is a point where using some cartridges on deer sized game becomes silly. And yes, even using your .416 Rigby is a joke. Had bear been on the platter, it would be different, but for simply blasting away at deer..........

Thank you. I never, ever would have figured that innocuous creatures such as deer would need anything more than a .30 caliber to dispatch under any conditions. 338/378...WOW!!!! LOL!!!

mtm1 · 02-29-2008, 11:43 PM

Read my post, I never once said anything about needing these for Deer. These calibers kill Deer very well and I enjoy hunting with them. You use what you like.

Kale · 03-02-2008, 02:00 AM

How big are your deer? They do vary a lot in size from place to place...

mtm1 · 03-02-2008, 09:58 AM

Again never said you NEED big guns. I like big guns and see no sence owning them if you don't use them. I've also shot lots of Deer with 270/280/3006/7STW/300/338 and others.

MOD 70 · 03-03-2008, 09:58 AM

I agree with mtm 1 that a large caliber rifle can be used on deer sized game with great results. In big bear country it is a very good idea. If you take a 338 or more, why not use a really flat shooting one. As he says it`s not for everyone,but if you don`t have any issues with recoil,I can`t see any reason not to employ a serious rifle if you can shoot it well. I carry a .375 H@H in bear country and no it`s not really needed for deer but it might be if a big grizzly takes exception to my being there.

samuel · 03-03-2008, 11:42 AM

I once shot an antelope with a .375H&H and surprisingly it ran a little ways before it dropped.When I checked it,the exit hole wasnt as bad as some .30cal,s I have seen. The big heavy bullet in the .375 just didnt open up.As to feeling rediculous,yes,a little. sam.

rfc357 · 03-03-2008, 01:13 PM

"Lapua" is the Finnish word for "expensive."

There is nothing magic about the .338 Lapua except the price.

samuel · 03-03-2008, 03:18 PM

It must have been a non-reloader that made up the story that Lapua was more expensive to reload than any other cartridge in that catagory.The cheapest I found in loaded ammo was:In boxes of 20, .338RUM-$62.99, .338Lapua-$72.99, .338/.378 Weatherby-$102.99.The components to reload are the same,use about the same amount ,cost the same, and the finished product does about the same thing. sam.

02-21-2008, 11:58 PM	#1
leroy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IoWa Posts: 93	338 lapua whats the story on this caliber? iv heard just a little about it adn then i looked a box of bullets up on midway adn wow they must be special. i was just wondering?

02-22-2008, 12:46 AM	#6
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,635	It's actually cheaper to buy .50BMG than it is to purchase .338 Lapua. Same goes for reloading it, with the exception that for .50BMG, you need a whole new press and die set, rather than just a die set. But the cost to reload .338 Lapua is unbelievable if you look at the components in the Midway catalog. __________________

02-28-2008, 07:48 PM	#7
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 601 Blog Entries: 2	I see remington is coming out with a load for this now. __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

03-03-2008, 09:58 AM	#17
MOD 70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 164	I agree with mtm 1 that a large caliber rifle can be used on deer sized game with great results. In big bear country it is a very good idea. If you take a 338 or more, why not use a really flat shooting one. As he says it`s not for everyone,but if you don`t have any issues with recoil,I can`t see any reason not to employ a serious rifle if you can shoot it well. I carry a .375 H@H in bear country and no it`s not really needed for deer but it might be if a big grizzly takes exception to my being there. __________________ If God didn`t intend for man to eat animals he wouldn`t have made them out of meat

02-22-2008, 12:02 AM	#2
GMCGUY Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 43	It a sniper round. You can effectively take out targets up to 1500 yards. Basically its between a 308 and a 50 cal in terms of performance.

02-22-2008, 12:14 AM	#3
Kale Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cowtown, Canada Posts: 61	Some hunters use it for moderately large game, like moose, or bear. It shoots straight and anything smaller than an elephant is probably going down with one hit.

02-22-2008, 12:20 AM	#4
leroy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IoWa Posts: 93	o ic! i figured it was someting like that. if it didnt cost so much itd b fun to have

02-28-2008, 10:42 PM	#8
Ron AKA Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 704	It makes the 308 look like a midget. See this link for the history of it: .338 Lapua Magnum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The local range here bans the 338 Lapua and the .50 cal. Ron

02-29-2008, 03:44 PM	#9
mtm1 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 86	The lapua is good but its not as fast as the 338/378. I used the 210 TSX at 3450 fps. in my 338/378. Kills Deer super dead.

02-29-2008, 07:52 PM	#11
mtm1 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 86	Didn't say it was for everyone. I like to use all my rifles. It was new to me, I only had Deer hunts planned so it came along. It worked very well. This past year I carried my Rigby for the last two Deer hunts. The 350 TSX at 2700 shoots as flat as a 180/06 load. Whats you opinion on that?

02-29-2008, 11:43 PM	#14
mtm1 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 86	Read my post, I never once said anything about needing these for Deer. These calibers kill Deer very well and I enjoy hunting with them. You use what you like.

03-02-2008, 02:00 AM	#15
Kale Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cowtown, Canada Posts: 61	How big are your deer? They do vary a lot in size from place to place...

03-02-2008, 09:58 AM	#16
mtm1 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 86	Again never said you NEED big guns. I like big guns and see no sence owning them if you don't use them. I've also shot lots of Deer with 270/280/3006/7STW/300/338 and others.

03-03-2008, 11:42 AM	#18
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	I once shot an antelope with a .375H&H and surprisingly it ran a little ways before it dropped.When I checked it,the exit hole wasnt as bad as some .30cal,s I have seen. The big heavy bullet in the .375 just didnt open up.As to feeling rediculous,yes,a little. sam.

03-03-2008, 01:13 PM	#19
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	"Lapua" is the Finnish word for "expensive." There is nothing magic about the .338 Lapua except the price.

03-03-2008, 03:18 PM	#20
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	It must have been a non-reloader that made up the story that Lapua was more expensive to reload than any other cartridge in that catagory.The cheapest I found in loaded ammo was:In boxes of 20, .338RUM-$62.99, .338Lapua-$72.99, .338/.378 Weatherby-$102.99.The components to reload are the same,use about the same amount ,cost the same, and the finished product does about the same thing. sam.