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Maximus
.275 member

Reged: 15/05/12
Posts: 58
Loc: Switzerland

338 Lapua Hunting Rifles
#217570 - 04/10/12 06:31 AM

I think the 338 Lapua would make be a fantastic calibre to have a long range rifle chambered in. Does anyone make one?

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Viking338
.333 member

Reged: 11/08/11
Posts: 480
Loc: Queensland Australia

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: Maximus]
#217595 - 04/10/12 04:26 PM

Quote:

I think the 338 Lapua would make be a fantastic calibre to have a long range rifle chambered in. Does anyone make one?

Gee I think there aren't many manufacturers that don't make something in that calibre. Lots of options here in Aussie, just not sure what you can get up your side of the equator. They do keep rattling on about banning some stuff down here and that is one of the calibres that usually come up. Shot a Bullpup bolt action design with a muzzle brake (with and without the brake on)a couple of weekends ago. Didn't seem to unpleasant without the break either but then again I was shooting my 458 WM.

I think you should have some fun doing local research you might be surprised what is out there

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albertan
.333 member

Reged: 13/06/06
Posts: 432
Loc: Alberta, Canada

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: Viking338]
#217597 - 04/10/12 04:44 PM

The Lapua needs a very large action. A .340 Roy or a .338 Remington Ultra Magnum will do as much (or slightly more) in a shorter (.375 H&H) length action. They are cheaper as well.

I have nothing against the Lapua round, it needs an action that can house a .460 Weatherby or a .416 Rigby. That is a significant strike against it in hunting rifles that can be carried.

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Maximus
.275 member

Reged: 15/05/12
Posts: 58
Loc: Switzerland

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: albertan]
#217637 - 05/10/12 08:37 AM

Quote:

The Lapua needs a very large action. A .340 Roy or a .338 Remington Ultra Magnum will do as much (or slightly more) in a shorter (.375 H&H) length action. They are cheaper as well.

I have nothing against the Lapua round, it needs an action that can house a .460 Weatherby or a .416 Rigby. That is a significant strike against it in hunting rifles that can be carried.

Having done a little more research on this subject today, I agree with the above post. The principal advantage of the 338 LM appears to be the availability of the excellent Lapua brass. However, Nosler brass is now available for the 338 RUM which makes it more appealing in a hunting rifle.

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mauserand9mm
.400 member

Reged: 03/09/09
Posts: 1040
Loc: Queensland, Australia

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: Maximus]
#217648 - 05/10/12 01:45 PM

I haven't compared the ballistics but I think the 338RUM and 338LM are basically equivalent. I have a friend with the 338RUM, I think it's a Browning. It's a sporter profile (ie non-tactical) but still is very accurate. It's got a muzzle brake of course. He claims to shoot deer (Fallow) at 700m with it from a prone position, and I don't think he's lying either. I've hunted the same area he has and this distance/hunting opportunity does exist.

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Homer
.416 member

Reged: 07/04/09
Posts: 3081
Loc: Canberra, Australia

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: mauserand9mm]
#217685 - 06/10/12 08:37 AM

G'Day Fella's,

Being a bit of an old fan of .338" caliber cartridges, I can only suggest that the Lapua cartridge will do very well in the field!
Well in actually fact, it probably has been doing just that, for the past 25 years of it being in existence (est-1987)!!!
From my research into loading data for my Rem700 in .338 Lapua, it appears that the .340 Roy is nipping on the heals (velocity wise) of the Lapua, whilst both the .338 RUM and the 338-378 Roy are both capable of more velocity, with the same bullet weight. That is, all being equal with a 26"/650mm length barrel and similar chamber pressures!

Can't wait to get my .338 Lap rifle set up and get it out for a shot but I have a few other rifles that got in the queue first, so........

Doh!
Homer

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albertan
.333 member

Reged: 13/06/06
Posts: 432
Loc: Alberta, Canada

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: Homer]
#217727 - 07/10/12 06:09 PM

Any of the .338 magnums are capable of fantastic accuracy if feed a diet of match grade components and assembled to match specifications. I use the old .338 Winchester and trust it with my life (and have).

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grandveneur
.400 member

Reged: 21/09/08
Posts: 1356
Loc: France / Germany

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: albertan]
#380033 - 13/10/23 06:00 PM

The cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum is a very powerful cartridge, but to develop its potential you need the appropriate weapon, meant as some have already written, a heavy weapon with a long barrel, 29" to 30". All of this makes such a weapon not very handy for hunting, especially in terrain where it is needed, high mountains for example. A normal version of a weapon of this caliber puts this cartridge in the performance range of a cartridge 340 WBY-Magnum, if not 338 Win Mag.

McMillan Talon 338 Lapua Magnum 29"barrel, 130cm / 7kg

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39889
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: Maximus]
#380034 - 13/10/23 06:31 PM

Quote:

I think the 338 Lapua would make be a fantastic calibre to have a long range rifle chambered in. Does anyone make one?

I was only talking about Maximum aka Mark Patterson on the weekend. I was talking to Graeme Wright about the Heym International Challenge a few years ago, where we were both invited guests. Talking about Kynoxh and David Little who was also a guest. Mark also attended as a client having a very fine Heym DR in .375 Flanged about ready for pick up.

Sadly Mark passed away from a stroke a few years later too young.

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John aka NitroX

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grandveneur
.400 member

Reged: 21/09/08
Posts: 1356
Loc: France / Germany

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: NitroX]
#380035 - 13/10/23 06:42 PM

Sad news, I am sorry.

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39889
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: grandveneur]
#380036 - 13/10/23 08:56 PM

Quote:

Sad news, I am sorry.

Hey not a problem. The Heym Challenge aA\ few years ago , seven? Or more? Mark a member here passed away a few years ago as well.

The .338 Lapua as a hunting cartridge? I can't see the point.

As said, rifle too heavy for mountains. Unnecessary powerful. Better choices for real hunting, even longer range hunting.

I liked the .330 Dakota, or other .338/404 derivations. .338 Mag ofcourse. A 8.5x68 might be good too. A .338/06 or 8.5x63 probably the best.

But I'll stick with my 8x68S.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (13/10/23 08:59 PM)

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grandveneur
.400 member

Reged: 21/09/08
Posts: 1356
Loc: France / Germany

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: NitroX]
#380037 - 13/10/23 09:43 PM

I have to agree with you.

The cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum is primarily a cartridge for snipers and is therefore not uninteresting for long range shooters, but not for hunters. Long range hunting does not exist, shooting at long range at hunting is only a solution if, for some reason, there is no other option. Usually, the game will be approached as closely as possible.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27006
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: grandveneur]
#380048 - 14/10/23 04:15 AM

Same here. I see no use whatsoever for a long range hunting ctg.
The lower powered ctgs. we already have, will handle game at all realistic hunting ranges.
I stopped my subscription to "Wild" TV channel as the channel was pushing shooting elk at 900 to 1,000yards.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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grandveneur
.400 member

Reged: 21/09/08
Posts: 1356
Loc: France / Germany

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: DarylS]
#380059 - 14/10/23 05:38 PM

The cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum allows, if really necessary, long range shooting at heavier game species, although I don't see any particular advantages in terms of hunting compared to other magnum cartridges in this caliber class. We are talking about acceptable shooting distances when it comes to hunting, meaning 500 yards/450m at most. Above that distance and with the appropriate weapon, the cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum certainly offers some advantages, but that mainly concern snipers and long range sports shooters, and not hunters.

In my hunting life I have only shot one game, a Muskox in Greenland, with the cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum.

West coast of Greenland in the nineties. Sorry for the bad quality of the picture, but I have only this one.

Edited by grandveneur (14/10/23 05:39 PM)

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39889
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: grandveneur]
#380201 - 19/10/23 01:00 PM

Quote:

The cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum allows, if really necessary, long range shooting at heavier game species, although I don't see any particular advantages in terms of hunting compared to other magnum cartridges in this caliber class. We are talking about acceptable shooting distances when it comes to hunting, meaning 500 yards/450m at most. Above that distance and with the appropriate weapon, the cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum certainly offers some advantages, but that mainly concern snipers and long range sports shooters, and not hunters.

In my hunting life I have only shot one game, a Muskox in Greenland, with the cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum.

West coast of Greenland in the nineties. Sorry for the bad quality of the picture, but I have only this one.

Nice

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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grandveneur
.400 member

Reged: 21/09/08
Posts: 1356
Loc: France / Germany

Re: 338 Lapua Hunting Rifles [Re: NitroX]
#380217 - 20/10/23 07:26 AM

Back then it was still very cold in the Arctic in wintertime. This explains, among other things, the poor quality of some images, but the cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum worked well.

Edited by grandveneur (20/10/23 07:46 AM)

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