GAP 338 Lapua. I took the plunge

[mosquitoshooter]

Hello everybody, I wanted to say hi to all as i haven't posted for years. ive been off the grid because I've mostly been building my own A.R. platforms as well as custom 1911s. Getting back into the bolt guns.

I finally decided to take the plunge on a GAP last week. i gave ken my 1k deposit. I have one GAP (crusader) that I bought second hand from a friend and love it. I have to say, Ken Lin seems like a wonderful guy to deal with. The company seems top notch. I have been shooting for ultra long-range the 50 BMG (amax) and it is getting expensive as I go through about 100 rounds a month. So, i figure for handloading 338 Lapua the price will drop to around 1.20 a round. I Told my wife that by getting a 338 Lapua I will actually save money. It worked!! The dies and reloading supplies are ready and the ten-month wait begins.

I'm excited about the new Templar v2!! Here's my build.

Templar V2 action
Bartlein 28" 1/9.5 barrel
Manners T4a stock (desert camo) with badger bipod rail
Badger FTE muzzle brake
Badger M5 bottom metal.
Remington trigger set at 2#

 

[jonthomps]

Nice build specs! Be sure to post pics and a range report when you have her.

 

[mosquitoshooter]

Nice build specs! Be sure to post pics and a range report when you have her.

You bet. Gun porn and targets will be posted. Now I wait

 

[Shoottothrill]

That's gonna be an awesome rig. Can't wait to see it.

On the .50bmg, what kind of ranges can you make effective hits at, and were you loading for it, what kind of rifle? PM me if ya want so as not to derail this thread. Thanks.

 

[mosquitoshooter]

That's gonna be an awesome rig. Can't wait to see it.

On the .50bmg, what kind of ranges can you make effective hits at, and were you loading for it, what kind of rifle? PM me if ya want so as not to derail this thread. Thanks.

Hi shoottothrill, believe it or not I shoot an armalite ar 50 with a Nightforce and it is 3/4 moa out to 1,000 yrds with my hand loads. Havent gone beyond 1,000 yet. its hilly here in iowa!!! The ar50 is half moa at 300 yrds. On a good day, the holes are almost touching at 300. Of course, it took me alot of load development to find the right load where a custom rifle would have likely been quicker. With that said, the off the shelf hornady amax match rounds for 6 bucks a piece will shoot half moa too. I can chop the price in half by handloading amax rounds. Around $3 a trigger pull. I was going to look at more expensive versions of the 50 BMG. However, I now realize that the AR 50 is probably the most bang for the buck accuracy wise. It almost shoots itself with the APA bipod and monopod. Of course it's not a repeater though. A McMillan is likely in my future.

I do handload for it. I use 224 grains of H 50 and seat the bullets out to 5.75 coal. I neck turn the brass as well as neck size with my CH4D bushing die. A .548 bushing gives me .002 neck tension. I could talk all day about reloading the 50. Let me know if you have other questions as I have run the gamut with 50s