rantingrelentlessly
New member
Ive made up my mind on the rifle. Savage 110. Narowed it down to the .338 WM or .338 Lapua mag. Give me your pros and cons of each. Thanks for the help.
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Savage 110 .338 Win Mag vs. .338 lapua mag
- Thread starter rantingrelentlessly
- Start date
shootniron
New member
338 Lapua...if you are going to go bad...go bad.
I honestly know very little about either, I would just like to try the Lapua once to say that I have shot one. Good luck and enjoy whichever you get.
I honestly know very little about either, I would just like to try the Lapua once to say that I have shot one. Good luck and enjoy whichever you get.
rantingrelentlessly
New member
The rounds look really similar to me. Is the lapua performance really that much better?
shootniron
New member
I am not really sure, but it sounds "badder"...
Are you trying to kill an elk at 1000 yards or punch paper
Elk- lapua
Paper - win mag
Edit- paper also consider .308
Lapua def has advantage on energy at long distance
Win mag- good overall ballistics, easier to find/cheaper allowing for more practice
I'm sure Kraig will have some good input
Elk- lapua
Paper - win mag
Edit- paper also consider .308
Lapua def has advantage on energy at long distance
Win mag- good overall ballistics, easier to find/cheaper allowing for more practice
I'm sure Kraig will have some good input
The .338 lupua will kill paper and elk, but one needs to be one with that weapon,. If your a 75 lb computer geek with the affinity to be cool in "The Group" then it probably ain't going to work for you.
On the other hand if you knew anything about these weapons and actually purchased one then you wouldn't really care what we had to say right?
On the other hand if you knew anything about these weapons and actually purchased one then you wouldn't really care what we had to say right?
rantingrelentlessly
New member
Im not a 75 lb computer geek, lol. Im a hunter and pleasure shooter. I have a .300 win mag and am very comfortable with its recoil.
rantingrelentlessly
New member
My plans are to target shoot. See how far i can push the range and have something i can take to montana or somewhere and hunt large north american game. I want something i can use and have fun with and pass it down to my son someday. I dont want to just poke holes in paper from long range. I want to smash cinder blocks from long range.
rantingrelentlessly
New member
Yes I do. I live in the middle of a national forest. Clear stretches of 1000+ yards are not easy to find around here but abandoned railroad tracks are not. I have a nice flat straight section of well over 1000 yards. My own personal shooting range. I have been target shooting and sighting in rifles there for years. My local sherriff is well aware that I shoot there and has no issue with it.
Jim Watson
New member
A .338 Win Mag has approximately the trajectory of a .30-06.
It does not confer much advantage to the target shooter. Less windage with the best high BC bullets, but that is about it. I don't think I have ever seen one at a Long Range match. (NRA definition of Long Range is 800+ yards, with very little beyond 1000.)
The .338 Lapua is big and fast, originally meant for looong range sniping.
I haven't seen one of those at a Long Range match, either. It is popular for the extremely long range specialty shoots, though.
If you are only shooting to 1000 yards, you can get adequate ballistics with less recoil from a heavy .300 or a big 7mm.
It does not confer much advantage to the target shooter. Less windage with the best high BC bullets, but that is about it. I don't think I have ever seen one at a Long Range match. (NRA definition of Long Range is 800+ yards, with very little beyond 1000.)
The .338 Lapua is big and fast, originally meant for looong range sniping.
I haven't seen one of those at a Long Range match, either. It is popular for the extremely long range specialty shoots, though.
If you are only shooting to 1000 yards, you can get adequate ballistics with less recoil from a heavy .300 or a big 7mm.
big al hunter
New member
Pro's for Lapua: faster (300 fps with 250 gr bullets) slightly better trajectory.
Con's more recoil, ammo is special order at most retailers.
Pro's for win mag: less recoil, less expensive =more shooting, ammo available most places.
con's: less velocity, but not much.
Elk can't read ballistics charts, so they probably don't care which one you get (they will be just as dead with either)
The difference in velocity translates to roughly 13 inches more drop at 500 yards for the win mag. The Lapua has 37 inches drop, the win mag has 50. You will be turning dials to hit at that range with either.
If you can afford the Lapua get it. Don't feel like you would be short changed by the win mag if that is what you can afford to shoot. There is not enough difference to matter until after 1000 yards. Then I say Lapua all the way!
Con's more recoil, ammo is special order at most retailers.
Pro's for win mag: less recoil, less expensive =more shooting, ammo available most places.
con's: less velocity, but not much.
Elk can't read ballistics charts, so they probably don't care which one you get (they will be just as dead with either)
The difference in velocity translates to roughly 13 inches more drop at 500 yards for the win mag. The Lapua has 37 inches drop, the win mag has 50. You will be turning dials to hit at that range with either.
If you can afford the Lapua get it. Don't feel like you would be short changed by the win mag if that is what you can afford to shoot. There is not enough difference to matter until after 1000 yards. Then I say Lapua all the way!
You already have a capable 1K + rifle, so screw the usual crap.
Difference between the .338WM and the .338 LM is about 300 fps with 250's...
The LM can push them to 3000 and better.
If you reload and have the coin, go wildcat. From what I've read, the .338 Edge will give you another 100 fps over the LM.
If you're just looking for an off-the-shelf pick, I'd go with the Lapua.
Difference between the .338WM and the .338 LM is about 300 fps with 250's...
The LM can push them to 3000 and better.
If you reload and have the coin, go wildcat. From what I've read, the .338 Edge will give you another 100 fps over the LM.
If you're just looking for an off-the-shelf pick, I'd go with the Lapua.
PHEASANTPETE
New member
338Win Mag Vs 338 Lapua Mag
Biggest difference between the two is $$$. The Lapua will cost close to 3X to shoot, kick harder, require a longer action=slower cycling, be hard to find ammo for, be ridiculed by real hunters of great bears and provide about the same difference between a .308 and a Hornaday lightmag 30-06. If you can't kill it with a .338 Win Mag it is of no fault of the caliber. If money, recoil, and difficulty of cycling a very long action on a charging bruin is no concern then get a .338 Lapua, it looks cool at the range as well. No. 1 choice of Pro guides in Alaska is the .338 Win Mag. See Chuck Hawk's articles for further reference. In short the .338 Win Mag is a practicle hunting round and the Lapua is not. Sorry to respond so late but the .338 is not covered much because most have no need for one unless you hunt where big bears roam as they will home in on the gunshot for an easy meal which the hunter may be on the menu. Gut piles give off strong scents as well and bears have a keen sense of smell so encounters are not uncommon in brown bear country.
Biggest difference between the two is $$$. 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.