338Win Mag Vs 338 Lapua Mag
Biggest difference between the two is $$$. The Lapua will cost close to 3X to shoot, kick harder, require a longer action=slower cycling, be hard to find ammo for, be ridiculed by real hunters of great bears and provide about the same difference between a .308 and a Hornaday lightmag 30-06. If you can't kill it with a .338 Win Mag it is of no fault of the caliber. If money, recoil, and difficulty of cycling a very long action on a charging bruin is no concern then get a .338 Lapua, it looks cool at the range as well. No. 1 choice of Pro guides in Alaska is the .338 Win Mag. See Chuck Hawk's articles for further reference. In short the .338 Win Mag is a practicle hunting round and the Lapua is not. Sorry to respond so late but the .338 is not covered much because most have no need for one unless you hunt where big bears roam as they will home in on the gunshot for an easy meal which the hunter may be on the menu. Gut piles give off strong scents as well and bears have a keen sense of smell so encounters are not uncommon in brown bear country.