Is buying a 338 Lapua dumb?

[GJgo]

Hey folks,

So I like to try new stuff as I'm sure many of you do. I was talking to a shooter friend the other day, and I realized one hole in my collection is something that really has the potential to reach out & make authoritative hits with precision. He has a 300 Ultra Mag for such occasions, and in fact took his bull last fall with it at around 600 yards (after spending a day at the range practicing for the shot). Long story, but he got the job done in one shot. Seems like a good tool to have in the box.

I've wanted a 338 Lapua for years now. Do I need it? Nope. Do I want it? Heck yeah! The reason I ask if it is dumb is mostly because of the cost to shoot the thing- ammo runs more than for a 50 cal these days! I hand load, but still. It would be a long term project so I could spread out the cost, but still. It's kind of ridiculous. I'm on the fence if in the long run it's worth it or if I'm wasting time & money. I went to my LGS & handled the current models that Savage makes, the 110 & the 111 actually weren't that bad to handle. Then, I read about the new model 112 Magnum Target - that's at a very attractive price point & a great action if you don't think about boxes of ammo costing $100.

One alternative is, I could re-barrel my Savage LRPV for say a 300 WSM & something like 208gr Amax which I have everything for already- it would do a respectable range but it's not going to lay down the juice way out there like a big 338 will. Sometimes you need horsepower.

Looking for opinions, thanks.

 

[Swing]

Do I want it? Heck yeah!

Good enough. Not my bag, personally, but if that is what your after, why not. Worst case it isn't as cool as you though and sell it off. Best case, it is the cat's pajamas.

 

[redbullitt]

Handloaded 338 lapua is still expensive. I shot one for a little while. Awesome round at long range and devastating on game. It really slides through the wind with 300g smks. Long hits are much easier with it vs 308 or 260 etc.

A nice 7mm can fit the bill as well, but you will not get nearly the oomph the bigger 338 projectiles can offer. If you are doing more than punching paper, then that is a major consideration.

Look into getting a 338 edge. Brass is much cheaper and the rifle offers pretty much the same performance. Cant really get it off the shelf from rem etc, but the custom barrel is worth it and will pay for itself if you shoot enough ammo. 3 or 4 dollar plus 338 lapua brass stings.

If I had the 338 edge I doubt I would have sold the rifle and would still be shooting it FWIW.

 

[jmr40]

Hunting and shooting are things we do for fun. I firmly believe in using the guns and other equipment that makes us happy. If you'll enjoy using the 338 Lapua, then get one even if it isn't the most practical.

Is it the best tool for the job. Maybe, but it is also a very specialized chambering and not worth the negatives to me. I have a brother-in-law who has one and likes it. He's taken several deer and elk at or near the 700 yard mark so it will work if the shooter is capable. FWIW the US military experimented with 338 Lapua for a while before deciding the 300 WM made more sense to them as a long range sniper round.

I like the 300 WSM. With the best loads it will equal, or come within 50 fps of anything a 300 WM will do. It is also proving to be quite accurate setting a 1000 yard benchrest record a few years ago.

 

[Sam1911]

Seems like that's the sort of toy that gets used and then set aside or moved on down the road once shooters get their few rounds of fun out of it and sort of scratch the itch. You should be able to find one used which would take some of the sting out of it. Let someone else pay for the "new car smell," and it won't hurt so bad when you get bored and sell it at a loss.

...

Somewhere I read that one of the big bathroom fixtures manufacturers estimates that their top of the line, two-seater whirlpool spa tubs get used approximately seven times, ever, on average. Buyers have romantic notions about how great they'll be, pay thousands of dollars to have one installed, and then after a month or so they're totally "over it." About the same idea, I think. Neato, "gotta-have-it," ... and then you've got it and so what?

We've got hundreds of years of hunting history that proves you don't need exotic weapons to kill any game animal on this continent, and shooting big game at very long ranges is just a parlor trick and of questionable ethicality -- so it isn't worth the cost for that. ("Hey Bubba, that moose is WAAAY too close to take a shot! We've got to get farther away!" )

No long-range tactical/precision shooter is going to stick with that big expensive beast for very long, through the thousands of rounds of practice needed to develop the skills of that craft, and other more reasonable cartridges will perform just about as well for that job.

Even the military, who loves wasteful gee-gaws, can't quite justify keeping it around.

So, sure. Get one. Why not?

 

[mavracer]

I don't think it's dumb but it's well past the point of diminishing returns on $$$ spent, when I wanted to scratch my long range itch I looked at the 338 Lapua and 300 RUM in the end I went with the good old 300 WM. Even it gets limited use as my 308 and 5.56 ARs are plenty capable at the 400 yard range that I use most.

 

[redneck2]

I have a friend that had two Barrett .50 cals. We live in a relatively flat area and looked for about a year to find a safe place to shoot them. Prices started climbing and he sold both at a profit. Never fired either one.

Me, I'd get something like a .260 that I could shoot more and cost less. I think Sam's post above is pretty much spot on. I worked at the LGS for a while. Most of the big thumper rifles and revolvers we sold got traded back in unfired.

 

[jehu]

I have, and regularly shoot, two Sako 338 Lapua mags.. One is a TRG42 and the other a Sako Long Range hunter. Both are topped with Nightforce ATACR scopes and 1000yds + is no problem with great accuracy. I shoot both with a suppressor which makes them a pleasure to shoot both in greatly reduced recoil and noise.I also shoot a Sako Grey Wolf in 300win mag suppressed and it will do well out to 700yds +. From what you stated in your post, IMO, 300win mag would suit your wants better.

 

[jmorris]

Dumb? I wouldn't go that far. When people ask me what my 50 BMG is good for, all I can come up with is shooting holes in 1" steel plate.

Just because a boat just takes you in circles on a lake or a motorcycle or Ferrari only seat two doesn't make them dumb, just less useful than other stuff.

 

[Tophernj]

My buddy has one. Neat gun. For me and what I do it doesn't have any appeal. I've shot it and the recoil really isn't all that bad. Less than some 12ga shotguns I've fired. It was a Savage and the brake did a really nice job managing the thump.

All that said, if you want it and it won't take food out of anyone's mouth, get it. They really are neat. And although the rounds are pricey, even with reloading, you most likely won't fire it too often so that won't add up down the line. Initial startup will be tough but brass and projectiles will sell pretty quickly I would imagine. And if you do wind up shooting the heck of it how happy will you be? Very.

My vote is get it.

C

 

[X-Rap]

If it's money that won't put you or your family in a bind I'd say go for it. Lots of people have custom pistols in standard calibers that get used a heck of a lot less. How many Harleys do you see for sale that are 10 yrs old and have less than 1000 miles a year on their clocks?
Same for boats, muscle/sports cars.
I personally use a 338-378 for most of my BG hunting and have for probably the last 10 yrs.
How many golfers, fisherman, craftsmen/hobbyists, shooters have very specialized tools and equipment that see very little use.
I agree with looking for used, I have found more than a few very nice guns that were bought with top quality glass basically thrown in the deal.

 

[Lord Teapot]

if i was going to spend that much i'd just get the .50

 

[Ranger Roberts]

I wouldn't worry about the cost of ammo if this is going to be primarily a hunting rifle. Most of the guns I hunt with I only shoot a couple of times a year to get sighted in or to work up a new hand load. I'm of the belief that if you want it, if it's within your means financially and if it won't piss off your significant other, go for it!

 

[Walkalong]

Is my .458 that I will never shoot big game with dumb? Not to me. I enjoy shooting it once in a while, just like the other guns I have.

 

[Garrobo]

Buy it.

At one time I had over 70 bolt action rifles in my collection. I'd see another one and I'd just have to either buy it or build one like it. The majority of these rifles just sat there for years and I'd clean and oil them now and then. After the fun of firing them wore off they were pretty much retired. I'm doing the same damm thing right now. Putting together a .450 Ackley. Not really much reason for it since I have a .458 Lott and a .458 Winchester. But I WANT an Ackley. So be it. The good thing about the Ackley is that you can shoot the Winchester and Lott rounds in it plus, if you really think it might be necessary, a 600 grain bullet, in case you come upon a Tyrannosaurus Rex that you want to cull. You can't have too many rifles or ammo. It's impossible.

 

[GJgo]

Thanks all, great opinions.

I could afford one of the new Savage rifles, but in the long run I question if I could afford to shoot it enough to be really proficient with it. If I look at the long run as really long, and I don't plan to stop shooting anytime soon, then yes. I'm not in a hurry. I have plenty of other things for punching paper, it would be nice as I said to have something that has some power for a long range hunt if I ever had the opportunity. That said the 300 WM / WSM (which I have each of in a sporter weight hunting rifle) does make a certain amount of sense.

That new Savage is going to have a street price under a grand which is very attractive. I really like their target actions, and having a single shot for a long range setup really doesn't bother me. I can load fast enough prone.

 

[horsemen61]

338 laupua is on my bucket list

 

[Jackal]

I'd look into 300wm if I were you.

 

[dubbleA]

That's simply a question only you can answer. Have a Sako TRG in the chambering and when purchased I only had to ask and answer to myself.

 

[Elkins45]

I live in Kentucky and own a left-handed express rifle in 375 Ruger. I'm probably not the best person to ask.

 

[MCMXI]

I have three AI rifles including a .308 Win, .300 Win Mag and a .338 Lapua Mag. If I had to give up one of the three (and I don't) it would be the .300 Win Mag ... no doubt about it ... and I love belted magnum cartridges. Heck, my license plate is H&H MAG but I would keep the .338 Lapua Mag over the .300 Win Mag every day of the week and twice on Sunday. It is an awesome cartridge that does everything better than the .300 Win Mag. If you want one then get one. You don't have to convince anyone but yourself if you're paying for it. I won't shoot mine at a target closer than 400 yards since it seems like a waste of a good bullet, powder and primer. I do load development at 400 yards with my AI AWM rather than the typical 100 or 200 yards for the same reason. Like jehu my .338 LM is suppressed which really makes the rifle enjoyable to shoot. Montana has recently allowed the hunting of game animals with a suppressor but I have no plans to take one with my .338 LM. I'll stick with the .375 H&H Mag for that.

As for people buying a .338 LM, shooting it a couple of times and then selling it ... not me!

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I also pondered this and I really like the Lapua. In the end though I went with the 300WM. I also like the 300WSM but wanted an old model Sendero for a long time so when I found a buy on one in WM I went that way.

I think all three are great rounds but the WM will do what I need it to do and more likely.

 

[Coldfinger]

I was told that my 300 RUM was a dumb purchase too. I wanted it so I got it. I enjoy it. 3 or 4 round every 3 or 4 months. It makes me happy. So I say... enjoy life

 

[aubie515]

These types of threads are funny. Only the OP can answer his/her own question...everyone has an opinion on everything, but in the end it's not our money, so it doesn't matter what any of us think.

Most that say no, don't own them and probably never shot one, so it's kinda silly for those that don't own one to even chime in.

IMO 338LM and 50BMG are very different animals and do different things. I'd like to think of them as different tools in a toolbox. The 50BMG isn't exactly known for it's precision...you cannot say the same thing about 338LM in comparison.

It's only money and you cannot take it with you. Currently own both 300WM and 338LM. Once again different calibers for different jobs. I also owned 50BMG as well.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

No "dumber" than buying a V8 Mustang, etc, for your daily commute. It will get you from A to B just as well as a 4 cylinder for more gas money. But its fun (and they sound sexy), and if you can afford it, go ahead.

If you can afford it, and you want it, thats for you to decide, understanding the per shot cost (whether or not you reload, its no .223). I'd love one, but with a max nearby range of 200 yards, theres a lot of guns ahead of it on the wish list. If you want it, get it, even more so if you'll be able to stretch its legs occasionally without needing to make a 3 day trip out of it (OTOH.... a 3 day vacation to go long range shooting?? YES PLEASE!)...