... anybody here have anything built around a 700 action in .338 Lapua? Seem to be a ton of choices out there. If I'm going for all-out accurate, money-no-object built .338 bolt gun, who should I be looking into?

Anybody here own something chambered in .338? I've only shot a friend's gun, which was built around a 700 action and ridiculously nice, frighteningly accurate. But I don't think the armory at Quantico will build me one like his.

rifle.

Get a 7mm Rem mag

Have a look at GA Precision. They can do a .338LM on whatever action you want. IMO, for an out of the box action, the CZ is a better choice than Remington. They've been building rifles in .338LM for quite some time and have a great reputation.

If you're gonna build from a custom action, Surgeon is about the last word in custom actions. Yes they cost a TON, but you get what you pay for.

The last choice, and a good option if you ask me, is an OEM rifle in .338. The only two I would consider would be either a Sako TRG42 or an AI-AWM. Both are on par with custom rigs, as far as accuracy is concerned, and the AW is built like a tank.<ul><li><a href="http://www.gaprecision.net/">George and his crew build some of the best in the business, IMO...</a></li></ul>

nice sig btw.

...of powder that goes in the case. That's what drives the price up.

I just sold a 700 BDL 7mm Mag to a friend of mine. I inherited it and have no use for it. My father in law lived in CO and hunted elk with it.

You never know how far you're gonna need to take a shot.

The PGM's a neat rifle, but if I was gonna spend the money I'd rather have an AI-AWM.

Or you can be super tactical and get one of the accuracy international custom sniper rifles. Just remember not to skimp on the scope.

Personally I don't think the .338 is all that. It gets consistently matched by the good 'ol .308s and you don't have to hunt all over xenu's green earth to find match ammo or reloading supplies to match your chamber.

Not to mention if you do it right you can share match ammo with your FAL.

The law of diminishing returns comes on strong after the $5k mark. You certainly aren't gaining anything in reliability or accuracy... at that point you're just wasting money.

I personally like semi-customs and out of the box weapon systems. Just because you CAN spend more money doesn't mean you should. I'd rather spend $3k on the rifle and $2k on optics and tuning but I've seen people buy $8k R700s and that's just wierd to me.

The .308 doesn't even play on the same field as the .338LM. You can't take a shot on a target at 1500 yards with a .308. With a .338, it not out of the realm of reason. Not even close. The .338 bullets are also among the highest BC projectiles out there. There's not much better. The .338LM is one of the best rounds going. Yes it's expensive to shoot. Yes it's a killer on the shoulder if you don't put a proper brake on the muzzle. But it is just as accurate, at ANY distance, as the .308. It's flatter shooting and because of the high BC of the projectiles, bucks the wind better than any .308 pill could ever hope to.

What you're paying for is consistency and repeatability. Most out of the box rifle, with the exception of a scant few high end offerings, can compete in the same arena as a good custom. And let's not forget that once you start playing with a .338, the price on the build goes up exponentially. Everything needs to be stronger to deal with the pressures that the cartridge generates. Everything needs to be heavier to deal with the recoil it generates. It all costs more money. That said, it also doesn't have to cost $5000, and in fact most don't. GAP can build a you world class rifle well under that target price you've set.

But for ALL competition and range efforts .308 bests the .338 in all sub 1000 yard shooting.

Unless you are making those 1000+ yard shots there is no frick'n reason for the lupua.

In the field .308 is still king.

The lupua is getting all the press right now because of the long distance shots being made in the sandbox but for any civilian its downright stupid to use that round in a rifle unless you are hunting large game at great distances or just have cock envy and need something that makes a bigger boom at three times the cost (aka the 50AE complex).

In a lot of cases it was a 400yd shot.

I don't hunt and I live in the east so it made no sense here. If I were interested in long range target shooting, I guess it would have made a good platform to start with but a decent AR will serve my needs.

<center><img src="http://www.impactguns.com/store/media/fn_hecate.jpg"></center><p>at least thats how i remember it looking, i havent taken it out of the box in a few months.

something 1000 meters away. I can think of maybe 1 range within 60 miles of Austin that has a 1200 yard range.

right?

Even driving over to Camp Perry won't net you those distances.

"Hey fellas, I hear it from a reliable source that the .338LM is a useless cartridge for shooting inside of 1000 yards. In fact, it's not as accurate as the .308 Winnie."

I'll be laughed right off the line. The fact is that a .338LM came VERY close to eclipsing the 1000 yard record last year in Ohio. And the guy backed it up at both Williamsport, PA and Quantico, VA.

It's a much more capable round, AT ANY DISTANCE, than the .308.

It's nice having Barrett Firearms in your back yard AND knowing someone who works there.

IF I was to buy a modern sniper rifle I'd still get something in .308 or .30-06. Call me Old-School. I'd probably find a really nice Springfield '03 Sniper or a nice M1D. Neither of which could come close to outshooting a modern weapon, but its Waaay Cooler.

I can't see a place where i'd shoot more than 600m repeatedly and If I did I'd like the challenge of bullet drop and wind. The Machine Gun range I go to has a 600m target but you need a spotter and qualified rifle.

The 7WSM is the current darling at the moment. A lot of top gun smiths are playing with this right now. They've been getting excellent results all the way out to 1500 yards with it. It's nice and flat all the way out and then seems to start losing steam at that point. It apparently bucks the wind pretty well, too.

Just a couple points though...

1.) You remain to be a stuck up EF who makes generalizations and bad recommendations.

2.) The advantages of .338 Lupua will not be seen by any casual shooter at ranges under 1000 yards while the disadvantages which are monumentally fvcking many will be constantly felt. Recoil, report, expense, and range prohibition of large magnum calibers will consistantly bite a huge number of shooters out there.

I'm glad to hear you like the .338. Its a great round used to great effect all over the sandbox but by that rationalization you should be using super match .50BMG since bigger is always better no?

Give me a break and grab some sensability here. Anyone who doesn't have a specific reason for the round should stay away from the super magnums like that. They better know what they are getting into first, know the expense of being able to effectively practice shooting with it, and hope they can find a range that allows it.

So if Karl has a specific desire for it... fine whatever he wants its his money. But its not going to be easy and its definately not as versitile and useful as the .308 for the wide vast majority of shooters.

<center><img src="http://www.northcapepubs.com/swfig5.jpg"></center><p>Mine has peephole micrometer rear sights, which makes it about as good an open sight rifle you'll find.

The 6.5 swede round is one of the best non belted cartridges, if not the best.

Most ranges don't care WHAT you bring, as long as it's not FA and not a .50.
With a good brake on the rifle, it doesn't recoil any harder than a .308. If you'd spent any time at all around rifles like this, you'd know that. A good brake on a heavy caliber weapon is worth it's weight in gold.

Sure the .308 is a more popular round, but I don't know where you come off saying that the .338LM is any less versatile or accurate. I know plenty of guys that hunt with them, for what ever reason. And as I've said before, it's it's gaining more and more acceptance on the line at matches.

My point, is YOUR assertion that the .338LM is less accurate inside 1000 yards, less versatile and less comfortable to shoot than a .308 is flat out wrong. If you do any kind of match shooting you'd know that. Hell, you don't even see that many .308s line up at Camp Perry anymore, save for the Palma guys and the odd rouge that's still clinging to the M1A for service rifle. The 6 and 6.5mm crowd has taken over X-course. Because of the efficiency of the cartridges and the high ballistic co-efficient of the bullets, they've made the .308 almost obsolete. But you wanna know something? None of them fly as well or as flat as the .338LM. And none of them comes even close to fighting the wind as well it does.

I didn't have a long action receiver, so it was a no go. Otherwise I woulda done it. I like the 6.5 Swede, A LOT. It's got a proven match back ground and the 6.5mm pills are of the best flyers out there this side of the .338. As it turns out the .260 is just as capable as the Swede. In match configuration, they're almost identical ballistically.

Have you played with your Schmidt Rubin yet? Now THAT'S a fun rifle.

Kinda looks like its moving in slow motion.

And that muzzle brake means nobody can shoot around you without. My range would NOT allow that. Shooting tables are only 3' apart from each other and that brake would blow people's ammo off the table.

And i'm sorry but just because your hilljack ranges don't care what ammo you shoot doesn't mean mine or others don't. None of our state ranges allow super magnums and none of the three ranges I belong to allow them either because they will damage the berm and/or the 200 yard gongs. Be that true or not that is reality here.

So go screw yourself and your opinions. .338 Lupua is NOT a good round for the casual shooter and since the overwhelming vast majority of people ARE casual shooters you can double screw yourself with your favorite handload.

Next shoot is Memorial Day. That one will be crazy.

about, Its a matter of personal use and taste.

See, I don't mind any of the magnum belted cartrigdes and they have their place, but I have no need for them. I think they're very niche bullets. Kinda like the flavor of the month club.

But nothing gets me more than expensive ammo, so I avoid oddball boutique calibers.

"...Personally I don't think the .338 is all that. It gets consistently matched by the good 'ol .308s..."

"...But for ALL competition and range efforts .308 bests the .338 in all sub 1000 yard shooting...."

You're wrong, on both counts.

And personally, I wouldn't buy a .338LM either. Ammo's WAY too expensive for me, even with reloading. But Cameron can sure afford it and that's what he wants. I tried to provide him with the info he was requesting and Thermal went in another direction with his personal opinion. I happen to agree with him, the .308 would a better choice. The .260 would be even better still. But he wanted to argue opinion over facts about a round he clearly knows nothing about and has never spent any real time with.

...in the spring for the national black powder shoots. The sight of those cannons in field competition is thing to behold. Pretty neat...

but since I now have a policy of arguing with you I have to point out that you are wrong.

And I'll still prove you wrong.

...over the summer from Cincinnati.