.338 Lapua magnum

S

Solitar

New member
Reading the archives here and elsewhere http://snipercountry.com/tools.htm http://www.snipercentral.com/rifles.htm

It seems that the Dakota Longbow is one humdinger of a long-range/large-game or very long-range (1500 meters) medium-game (200 lbs) rifle. No need for a 50 BMG.

Anyone here with experience with one of these? Or any other 338 Lapua magnums with a loooong barrel - 28" with the Longbow.

Any info on how to better mitigate the dust or foliage signature from the muzzle blast? If we could solve that, then it could be used to unobtrusively take targets down at a mile.
 
I've got some slight experience with the Sako TRG41. I do believe its barrel is a touch over 27".

Muzzle blast is considerable. So is recoil--and that's with the muzzle brake installed. The TRG is amazingly accurate. 1/2moa is the rule with both Lapua and Nosler bullets. 250gr@3000fps, give or take a few. It's also a heavy rifle, about 14lbs full up. I doubt you'd want to carry it around much.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to shoot one very much. It's impressive, expensive, and expansive. Good fun if you have the means. For hunting, though, I doubt it has all that much utility. The whole idea behind the Lapua was a long range (1200 meters+) anti-personel rifle. That it appears to be capable of.
 
For a short time I had a Longbow.
Very nice.
Very powerful with a good long reach.
This cartridge IS ALL THAT.
But it isnt a .50BMG.
The .50 ammo can often be had easier - I saw a case for sale at a gunshow that was, while spendy... available. I didn't see any .338LM ammo.
Balistics asside - The cartridge is limited. With the .50 its possible to get a wide varity of projectiles.

If your going to spendy the money for a 1500 meter shooter - the Longbow is a good option... But there is no reason to select it over a similar rifle in .50BMG. There are lots of reasons to select the .50 over the .338LM.
 
I just have to ask: Why the Lapua?
If you like it okay. But if your talking practial why not go with 340 Weatherby or 338 Rem Ultra? The 340 Weatherby comes close to the Lapua and brass is a lot cheaper [you can form from 375 H&H or 300 Weatherby or 8 mm mag] while the 338 Rem ultra will fit in normal 375 H&H length guns with little work. The Lapua is based on the 416 rigby which is a huge cartridge and limited to specific actions.

[This message has been edited by Glamdring (edited October 22, 2000).]
 
The Lapua has a better case design. More tapered; better extraction. No problematic belt. Nice long neck. The UM would qualify, but the Lapua predates it by some years, so has a better rifle selection. I think the .300UM would be potentially better than the Lapua, but you just don't see it in rifles comparable to the Longbow, TRG, etc...yet.
 
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