338 lapua without a brake?

[shedhorn]

So going to get a can for my 338 lapua. Iam not a big fan of the brake mounted cans and when i want to use the can on a smaller caliber i will have to but a brake on that gun also. If i could hunt with a can it wouldn't be a problem, i would never shot without the can. So my question is how bad would a 17lbs 338 kick? Has anyone shot a 338 lapua without a break? Iam thinking that it weighing 17lbs it wouldn't be to bad. I would take my brake off and go try it out but my gun is off getting coated. Iam trying to make my mind up on a thunder beast can before the group buy ends.
Thank you

 

[dmg308]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

Many years ago I used to shoot one built on a Weatherby mk v action a Mchale stock and a Hart m40 contour barrel.It was stout but doable for a few rounds then it would start to a bit rough.

You may consider an SAS can that Milehigh shooting handles it uses a brake that has a set of external threads that the can threads onto.

 

[mtscott]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

It can't be much worse than shooting slugs from a 12 gauge. If I was going to shoot/hunt without a brake I would use lighter bullet (<300grain).

To bad the suppressor hunting bill was defeated in MT.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_recoil_table.htm

 

[VTi]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

It's actually not bad at all. All the 338LM's I shoot now are heavy rifles with good brakes but a few years ago I hunted with a factory Rem 700 Sendero in .338 RUM (very similar). That rifle was only about 13 lbs all up weight, and the recoil was very manageable. Somewhat similar to a 12ga as posted above. You probably wont want to be shooting 40-50 rounds at a time off the bench, but for limited rounds per session it's no problem.

 

[turbo54]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mtscott</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> It can't be much worse than shooting slugs from a 12 gauge.

</div></div>

Yes it can.

12 gauge, 3" magnum slugs suck, but a 300smk @ 2800fps is considerably worse.

Consider a one ounce slug is 440gr. Conservation of momentum says the recoil will equal the momentum of the projectile... momentum is mass*velocity

12 gage: 440gr x 1500fps = 660,000gr*fps
338LM: 300gr x 2800fps = 840,000gr*fps

So the 338 has almost half again as much recoil...

...but...

Thats not counting the "jet propulsion" component of recoil, of which the shotgun has none of, and the rifle has a bunch of. A suppressor counters recoil by diffusing gas, and removing the jet-propulsion component of recoil.

Having shot 3" one ounce slugs and unbraked/unsupprressed 338, I can tell you there is significantly more recoil. It hammers you pretty good.

Now, if you're just taking one shot at game, particularly NOT from the prone, it's manageable. Prone is worse, but doable. I think the key hurdle would be NOT flinching/anticipating the recoil at the moment of truth.

It will rattle your brain.

 

[Glockin' Bob]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

338 Lapua in a 17 lb. rifle wouldn't worry me a bit. I shoot a Sendero in 338 RUM, nearly identical case capacity with 250 & 300 gr rounds. My Sendero is 10 lbs. 11 oz., has no brake and it is no problem standing or sitting. It gets a little old off of the bench and haven't felt the need to try it prone. :-0 It hasn't even given me a Weatherby brow yet.

 

[bowstryder]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

you could always get a brake with the same threads that your can would have and when you are not using the can, just thread on the brake. But the down side might be a shift of impact so a few spotters MAY be needed. I guess it depends on your loads and your tolerance for recoil.

 

[biffj]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

I normally fire my Desert Tactical SRS with a can on it. The recoil is pretty light that way and its quiet. The factory brake works well also but is noisy. I've fired the rifle without either and the increase in recoil is noticeable and not too pleasant. The gun weighs about 16lb without the can......I think and if I was hunting it wouldn't bother me. Just a shot or two (hopefully) and fired offhand or braced shouldn't cause much issue with recoil. Shooting off the bipod or a bench at targets all day though would be a bit much for me without the brake or can.

Frank

 

[Mendocino]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

I shot my 340 Weatherby for years without a brake or a can. My favorite hunting loads was 92g or R25 pushing a 275g Swift A frame @ 2896 fps. The load was punishing to shoot but manageable if not shooting prone. This rifle went to Alaska with me on two hunts, and was used on multiple Colorado elk hunts.

Last year I decided I didn't need to be so "manly" and put a brake on it. I wish I would have done this a long time ago. I can shoot from prone and its like shooting a 308. I also have a can for it now (TBAC 338BA) but would not hunt with it since its too long with a can on it.

 

[E. Bryant]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Thats not counting the "jet propulsion" component of recoil, of which the shotgun has none of, and the rifle has a bunch of. </div></div>

They didn't teach us sparkies about any magical "jet propulsion" effect, but it's pretty obvious that the volume and velocity of propellant must be taken into account. 90+ gr @ 2800 fps adds even more recoil momentum to the 338LM, whereas the shotgun is launching a mere 18-25 gr @ 1500 or so.

 

[7mmSTW]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txHmY4NzhSc

This is a friends rifle; I've shot it with no brake, factory brake, suppressor, and a suppressor with an integral brake. Without the brake was plenty doable, suppressor and factory brake are similar recoil wise, suppressor with integrated brake you can see your impacts on the target.

 

[shedhorn]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

I think i will have to get the 338BA. The last thing i want to do is have a flinch when a big elk comes out. It just sucks if i put my 338BA can on a 308 i will have to put a brake on it to also. On the up side the TBAC brake looks like a solid setup.

 

[Paul38]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

No problem with or without a brake, mine weights 18 lbs. with the scope. What I really like is a silencer on it, the recoil is very little and the noise and blast is enjoyable. It,s really fun to shoot with the silencer on it, I use the AAC Titan silencer and it's great. Here's a pic of it of mine 338 LM.

 

[SLED Sniper]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

i always hated brakes. ive shot a few rifles in the past with them and even with plugs in and muffs on it still rang my bell. yea it takes so of the recoil out but shoot it long enough and you will start saying "huh" more to people because your are going deaf. I shoot a 7STW without a brake, it weighs 14lbs and it doesnt kick that bad.

 

[ney1]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

It hurts and is no fun to shoot. It is doable though.

 

[Longshot38]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

Never shot my 338 w/o a brake. But it is not something I would want to do. When I first got my 300 wby I was still waiting on the can thus I took it out and ran about 40 rounds through it without a muzzle device. And I can tell you that hurt. Thus I'd hate to think about doing the same with a round that holds ~5% more powder and slings a bullet that weights 50% more at similar velocities.

 

[protocol]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

I've shot my AWSM 338 with no brake, the 1st generation AI brake and now the SAS QS brake... Massive difference between all three.

No brake - Very heavy recoil. Maintaining sight picture was difficult. Bipod would hop after shot.

1st generation AI brake - Slightly better. Still heavy recoil. Bipod hop wasn't as bad.

SAS QD brake - Excellent. What you would expect from a typical 338 rifle in this weight class.

This was with 300g bullets and moderate to hot loads. 250's are definitely noticeably lighter as mentioned above.

 

[Tactical_Tom]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

I know A guy who said he shoot a 50 bmg without a brake and it never killed him.

 

[zinny]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical_Tom</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I know A guy who said he shoot a 50 bmg without a brake and it never killed him. </div></div>

Well that rife probably weighed 50+ pounds making the rifles recoil a slow yet hard push. That with a 20ish pound rifle = no bueno

 

[longebow]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

Shot my TRG42 without a brake from the bench just to "try it out." Usually shoot 50+ 250 SMK at 3000 fps from the bench or prone with the brake without an issue. I will never shoot it again without a brake...

 

[rpk762]

Re: 338 lapua without a brake?

I can not say for a 17lb rifle but I have fired a 12is lb 338rum without a break. I shot it one time and if it can be prevented I will never do that again. I can take recoil pretty well but that was too much.

If you can put a suppressor on it or just deal with plugs and muffs.

 

[700bdl]

So going to get a can for my 338 lapua. Iam not a big fan of the brake mounted cans and when i want to use the can on a smaller caliber i will have to but a brake on that gun also. If i could hunt with a can it wouldn't be a problem, i would never shot without the can. So my question is how bad would a 17lbs 338 kick? Has anyone shot a 338 lapua without a break? Iam thinking that it weighing 17lbs it wouldn't be to bad. I would take my brake off and go try it out but my gun is off getting coated. Iam trying to make my mind up on a thunder beast can before the group buy ends.
Thank you

Don't shoot without a brake, it will knock the crap out of you. If you do be sure and make a video! A buddy of mine shot his Sako without the brake and had a giant bruise to show for it. He never did that again.

 

[Potsy]

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

 

[Steel head]

 

[Lawnboi]

I believe you can hunt in Montana now with a suppressor....