Looking for a new caliber rifle.

F

FloridaGuy

New member
Well I have 4 rifles chambered in 6.5 creedmor, several chambered in .308. Looking for something bigger. I have narrowed it down to three calibers;

.300 Win Mag
.300 PRC
.338 Lapua

I am leaning towards the .338 Lapua. My local shop has a RPR chambered in .338 Lapua that I can pick at a good price. They have had this gun in stock for a long time.

The longest range near me is 600 yards. So that would be the longest I would be shooting.

I will be reloading for which ever I end up purchasing.

Looking for pro’s and cons on these calibers.
 
At only 600 yards you'd be better off with the 308's and 6.5's you have. The others don't really become relevant until you start shooting at 600-2000 yards. Your 308 will be fine out to 800-1000 and the 6.5 does everything the others do out to about a mile.

At least as target rounds. If you're planning on hunting the 300, and 338 magnums shoot heavier bullets with enough energy for large game like elk at extended ranges of 700+ yards. There are no serious shooters using those for long range target shooting anymore.

The exact rifle would tip the balance toward one cartridge or the other. I'd buy the rifle I liked best and worry less about the cartridge it was in. But all things equal would go 300 WM.

If I had rifles in the cartridges you already have, and I do, I'd be looking at an accurate rifle in 223. I did. My 223 will get me near 3/4 MOA out to 600 yards with a lot less expense and recoil.

I've had 300 mags in the past. They were OK, but I sold my last 300 magnum after buying a 6.5CM. I considerd it an upgrade.
 
Of your choices, the .300 WinMag is by far the most practical.

Excellent selection of factory ammo, reloading components, reloading data and resale value if you decide you don't like it.
 
.338 Lapua is expensive stuff. When you look at prices on the assorted sites, look at how many rounds per box. 20 rounds starts at about $80 per box with match bullets.
The .300 Mag is much more reasonable and way more selection.
Brass isn't any better either. Graf's wants $41.99 per 20 for Hornady .338 Lapua. $51.99 per 100 for .300 Win Mag.
Your .308 will do nicely for 600 yards with 168 or 175 grain match bullets. 600 is mid range for NRA High Power. The magnums are used at 1,000 yards.
"I want one." is a reason though. And 600 will do. MSRP on an RPR chambered in .338 Lapua is $2099. ($84.95 for an extra 5 round mag direct from Ruger.) So what the local shop wants for it will matter. But shop around locally for brass, bullets and such first.
 
T. O'Heir said:
.338 Lapua is expensive stuff. When you look at prices on the assorted sites, look at how many rounds per box. 20 rounds starts at about $80 per box with match bullets.
The .300 Mag is much more reasonable and way more selection.
Brass isn't any better either. Graf's wants $41.99 per 20 for Hornady .338 Lapua. $51.99 per 100 for .300 Win Mag.
Your .308 will do nicely for 600 yards with 168 or 175 grain match bullets. 600 is mid range for NRA High Power. The magnums are used at 1,000 yards.
"I want one." is a reason though. And 600 will do. MSRP on an RPR chambered in .338 Lapua is $2099. ($84.95 for an extra 5 round mag direct from Ruger.) So what the local shop wants for it will matter. But shop around locally for brass, bullets and such first.
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Locally the .338 Lapua RPR would cost me about $1600.00. Which ever I end up getting ammo price really would not be an issue. Because it would only be shot once or twice a year. The 600 yard range is about a 2 hour drive away from where I live and I don’t get there often.

I was originally thinking about the .300PRC but none of the local shops had ever heard of that caliber. So they had no rifles or ammo in stock for that caliber then I found one shop that has a .338 Lapua RPR in stock.
 
If you want ~similar~ performance to the Lapua .338, look at the .50 BMG. Ammo can be significantly less, and it's a literal blast to shoot, with a lot more manufacturers and options.
 
TXAZ said:
If you want ~similar~ performance to the Lapua .338, look at the .50 BMG. Ammo can be significantly less, and it's a literal blast to shoot, with a lot more manufacturers and options.
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Originally I was looking at a .50 BMG but the price for the rifle alone is way out of my budget. Local said between $5,000 and $10,000. Then I would need to add a scope for between $1,000 and $5,000. So total out the door would be between $6,000 and $15,000.
 
.50 BMG rifles can be had affordably if you look at single shot rifles. SWFA SS series of scopes are .50 BMG rated and can be had for under $1K. However, I wouldn't consider anyof those cartridges for recreational shooting if all I had was a 600 yard range.
 
The local range has .50 BMG day on Fridays and they are only shooting 100yards. A lot of people here in Florida shoot these calibers at 100 yards.
 
How many rounds do you want the barrel to last for best accuracy at 600 yards? In other words, if it starts out shooting under 4 inches for all test shots, how long before it opens up to 6?

1000, 2000 3000 or 4000 rounds?
 
For shooting to 600 yards, and larger than 308, perhaps you should look at CMP.
An M1 Garand in 30-06 is a hoot to shoot!
 
If you reload, you can significantly reduce the costs of 338 lapua cartridges. I have the upgraded savage 110 LRH in 338 lapua and it rocks my world.:D Fabulous all-around cartridge IMO, even though I haven't stretched it's legs yet.
 
stagpanther said:
If you reload, you can significantly reduce the costs of 338 lapua cartridges. I have the upgraded savage 110 LRH in 338 lapua and it rocks my world.:D Fabulous all-around cartridge IMO, even though I haven't stretched it's legs yet.
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I am going to be reloading for it. But I checked ammo prices tonight and 338 Lapua is like $30 a box of ten rounds. That’s not bad considering I am paying $70.00 for a box of .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum Ammo.
 
I am going to be reloading for it. But I checked ammo prices tonight and 338 Lapua is like $30 a box of ten rounds. That’s not bad considering I am paying $70.00 for a box of .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum Ammo.
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I haven't fired a RPR in 338LM--it's probably heavier than my 110 and if it has a good brake and stock pad you won't have any problem with felt recoil would be my guess. 285'ish gr vld's and eld's go good in mine. The biggest expense will be brass--IMO get the Lapua stuff; it's heavy duty and worth the extra money. I think you'll love the 338 LM. :D:D

PS: Have to be honest about one thing; if you do really want to use the 338LM to full advantage at some point, you'll probably need a top-tier scope to do that and that can easily cost as much or more than the rifle itself. ;)
 
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stagpanther said:
I haven't fired a RPR in 338LM--it's probably heavier than my 110 and if it has a good brake and stock pad you won't have any problem with felt recoil would be my guess. 285'ish gr vld's and eld's go good in mine. The biggest expense will be brass--IMO get the Lapua stuff; it's heavy duty and worth the extra money. I think you'll love the 338 LM. :D:D

PS: Have to be honest about one thing; if you do really want to use the 338LM to full advantage at some point, you'll probably need a top-tier scope to do that and that can easily cost as much or more than the rifle itself. ;)
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Scope wise I was thinking about a Leupold VX-6HD 4-24x52mm just because I already have the scope.
 
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