I think its time to incorporate long range game. 10 yrs pistol shooting ipsc, steel, 3 gun, shotgun. I think its time for long range... ok where do i start? looks like .308 or .338 lapua. Im really liking either ga precision or AI AW particularly AI because of the ease of swapping out componants. Not sure if GA is same as far as the easy changes. Anybody have good advice?
.308 or .338
- Thread starter allie
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Re: .308 or .338
Start with a .308. The cost of ammo for a .338 Lapua is around $5 per shot, and you can get .308 match ammo for around a buck. A .338 Lapua is not a great cartridge to learn long range shooting with whereas the .308 is. Your best bet is get a Remington 5R, a good scope and buy a ton of ammo and learn that way. When the barrel is good and shot out, send it off and get it worked on. Plenty more will chime in here, rest assured.
Start with a .308. The cost of ammo for a .338 Lapua is around $5 per shot, and you can get .308 match ammo for around a buck. A .338 Lapua is not a great cartridge to learn long range shooting with whereas the .308 is. Your best bet is get a Remington 5R, a good scope and buy a ton of ammo and learn that way. When the barrel is good and shot out, send it off and get it worked on. Plenty more will chime in here, rest assured.
Re: .308 or .338
+1 to Lizzardking - You definitely do not want a 338LM to start learning the long range game.
With a 308, you've got loads of options. LK gave you a good option with a 5R. Since you seem to have a pretty solid background in other shooting disciplines, I can see why you're already pushing to get into the high end side of LR shooting.
There's a bunch of custom gun builders on this site and you can't really go wrong on any of them. APA, GAP, Louisiana Precision... there's quite a few to choose from. If you really want a custom build, just keep an eye out for a custom build on the WTS forum. People put up their 308s all the time and you can get a great gun for a great price.
+1 to Lizzardking - You definitely do not want a 338LM to start learning the long range game.
With a 308, you've got loads of options. LK gave you a good option with a 5R. Since you seem to have a pretty solid background in other shooting disciplines, I can see why you're already pushing to get into the high end side of LR shooting.
There's a bunch of custom gun builders on this site and you can't really go wrong on any of them. APA, GAP, Louisiana Precision... there's quite a few to choose from. If you really want a custom build, just keep an eye out for a custom build on the WTS forum. People put up their 308s all the time and you can get a great gun for a great price.
Re: .308 or .338
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lizzardking308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Start with a .308. The cost of ammo for a .338 Lapua is around $5 per shot, and you can get .308 match ammo for around a buck. A .338 Lapua is not a great cartridge to learn long range shooting with whereas the .308 is. Your best bet is get a Remington 5R, a good scope and buy a ton of ammo and learn that way. When the barrel is good and shot out, send it off and get it worked on. Plenty more will chime in here, rest assured. </div></div>
+1 Great advise here.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lizzardking308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Start with a .308. The cost of ammo for a .338 Lapua is around $5 per shot, and you can get .308 match ammo for around a buck. A .338 Lapua is not a great cartridge to learn long range shooting with whereas the .308 is. Your best bet is get a Remington 5R, a good scope and buy a ton of ammo and learn that way. When the barrel is good and shot out, send it off and get it worked on. Plenty more will chime in here, rest assured. </div></div>
+1 Great advise here.
Re: .308 or .338
Definitely stay with the 308 caliber. In terms of which 308 stick then it's a matter of personal preference. I am bias toward AI rifles, but that's me. There are many good rifles out of the box that are quite accurate. Custom build is another option. The AIAW rifles you can swap the barell, but will need a vise to change that. A reasonable option is the Remy 700 LTR.
Definitely stay with the 308 caliber. In terms of which 308 stick then it's a matter of personal preference. I am bias toward AI rifles, but that's me. There are many good rifles out of the box that are quite accurate. Custom build is another option. The AIAW rifles you can swap the barell, but will need a vise to change that. A reasonable option is the Remy 700 LTR.
Re: .308 or .338
My vote goes out to 308. Its not the best long range caliber, but it sure is a damn fine caliber for people who are just getting starter in lr shooting. No reason to start with a caliber thats overkill under 800 yards.
My vote goes out to 308. Its not the best long range caliber, but it sure is a damn fine caliber for people who are just getting starter in lr shooting. No reason to start with a caliber thats overkill under 800 yards.
Re: .308 or .338
OK OK i guess .338 is not a good caliber to start with. Just knowing that capability to reach out to almost 2k yds was very impressive figured id have to have it. I guess crawl before walk. looks like .308 will be the first. I will be reloading so its now time to look into best single stage press and dies. I thank you guys for the good advice.
OK OK i guess .338 is not a good caliber to start with. Just knowing that capability to reach out to almost 2k yds was very impressive figured id have to have it. I guess crawl before walk. looks like .308 will be the first. I will be reloading so its now time to look into best single stage press and dies. I thank you guys for the good advice.
Re: .308 or .338
I suggest a Savage 25 LV .223, with Burris Signature Zee Rings and a medium price range target quality scope.
Black Hills Remanufactured 75gr HPBT ammo is excellent. It can be equated using mil brass, 26.5gr(C*) Ramshot Big Game, CCI BR-4 primer, and the HDY 75gr HPBT Match Moly. For good accuracy, load it at around 2.400" OAL, and single feed the rounds.
When ready to go beyond 600yd on a regular basis, the Savage 12 VLP DBM .308 is excellent. Use it with 175gr Fed FGMM2, equated with 175 gr SMK, 45.0gr Varget, CCI BR-2, Win Brass, loaded to 2.815" OAL for mag feeding, or around 2.900" OAL for best accuracy when fed singly.
Note, the 12 VLP DBM rifle can also be obtained in .223. Simply switching out the barrel, bolt head and DM can achieve the conversion to .308. This work can be done by Sharpshooter Supply if you don't want to do it yourself. To keep the .223 compatible with the 75gr loads, be sure to get the barrel with the 1:9" twist, and not the 1:12" twist.
Detailed info, including list prices, can be obtained from the Savage Rifles Web Page.
Greg
I suggest a Savage 25 LV .223, with Burris Signature Zee Rings and a medium price range target quality scope.
Black Hills Remanufactured 75gr HPBT ammo is excellent. It can be equated using mil brass, 26.5gr(C*) Ramshot Big Game, CCI BR-4 primer, and the HDY 75gr HPBT Match Moly. For good accuracy, load it at around 2.400" OAL, and single feed the rounds.
When ready to go beyond 600yd on a regular basis, the Savage 12 VLP DBM .308 is excellent. Use it with 175gr Fed FGMM2, equated with 175 gr SMK, 45.0gr Varget, CCI BR-2, Win Brass, loaded to 2.815" OAL for mag feeding, or around 2.900" OAL for best accuracy when fed singly.
Note, the 12 VLP DBM rifle can also be obtained in .223. Simply switching out the barrel, bolt head and DM can achieve the conversion to .308. This work can be done by Sharpshooter Supply if you don't want to do it yourself. To keep the .223 compatible with the 75gr loads, be sure to get the barrel with the 1:9" twist, and not the 1:12" twist.
Detailed info, including list prices, can be obtained from the Savage Rifles Web Page.
Greg
