Re: Who makes the best 338 Lapua?
This is a pretty interesting thread. Have been shooting a .338/300 for several years, in hunting rifles. That is a .300win necked up to .338. Very accurate and powerful is my experience.
A number of good point raised here. I own a TRG42 in .300win. Had Pac-Nor short-chamber a 26" Palma contour SS match 1:10 3 groove barrel a while back. I improved the chamber with my reamer to a very minimum oal chamber. I get about .01" of case stretch from virgin W-W brass and the headspace is on the shoulder, not the belt.
The .338/300 is incredibly versatile. If anyone wants a .338 that is affordable to shoot, this is the one. Good Brass is .60ea, or spend more if you like. W-W is just fine. Max velocity is within 50fps or so of .340Wby and .338Rum; about 100-150fps less than the .338 Lapua. Except, unlike the Lapua and other lg mag ctgs you can run mild loads. I have a good supply of XMR4350, and have loaded 65gr up to 79gr with 250gr bullets. Recoil and report are very mild w/65gr. Light loads in a lg cap magnum risk detonation, though so for versatility only the .338/300 has what you want...
Pac-Nor did my barrel for under $400 delivered. Took my measurements from boltface and boltnose to receiver shoulder and the engraving I requested on the barrel lined up perfectly! Need a new barrel with 1:9.4 or 10 twist? Don't buy a new rifle, just order your barrel.
Interesting thing about Beretta USA is they sell bolt bodies in .472, .532, and .588 boltface patterns. You can own one TRG42 and with switchbarrels, magazines, and bolt bodies, have a complete rifle system. I have 3 TRG-S barrels which also function fine on my 42. Have seen the AI interchangeable barrel video, pretty incredible to think you can torque a barrel 100 ft lbs in the field. With a Sako you can hand tighten and be good to go, or carry a barrel vise and go 60 inch pounds or so.
I am not a velocity junkie. About 2700 to 2750fps is all I seek from my .308win w/168 or even .300win w/200. Works fine with the 250gr Sierra, Hornady, or Barnes that I shoot. Did I mention that my TRG42 magazine holds 7 rounds?
Years ago, talking with Sierra tech about barrel life, guy told me they see barrel throats on large magnum rifles negatively impacted by large powder volumes burned, and that this often occurs as early as 650rds. I suspect anyone who thinks they're gonna get 1500 rds of accurate fire from a .338 Lapua is kidding themselves. Also am of the opinion that no rifle is truly "field ready" if it must be fitted with a brake to fire effectively. A suppressor is undoubtedly the answer, but not one I seek as a resident of the USA under current firearms law.
No one here is discussing "transition velocity"? Don't know if it is just BS or scientific fact, but until a 200+ grain bullet begins to tumble, like the poor brother killed by the wayward bullet, I'm sure a .338 slug traveling 1000fps will kill whatever it impacts. Seem to recall that at 1000yds the difference in bullets started with a velocity range difference of 500fps is negligible. Then again, the guys buying a .338/408 Chey-Tac are trying to cheat the wind with their great velocity binging. Doesn't really happen though, does it?
The biggest factor in rifle accuracy that I have ever seen is the minimum oal chamber. Betcha that even a Rem 700 that's had its barrel set forward to deliver a .0005" over SAAMI minimum chamber and fired with brass fire-formed in that chamber will outshoot anything with a longer oal chamber; other factors being equal of course.
Wonder why if the TRG 22/42 stock is so prone to break at the pistolgrip, no one makes a replacement butt member?
I think you buy a TRG42 and a Near Precision base, you would have it all. Buy that rifle in .300win and save a few hundred, then get the bolt body, magazines, and a replacement barrel or two in Lapua Mag or Norma Mag and be set; plus you've saved about $2000
This is a pretty interesting thread. Have been shooting a .338/300 for several years, in hunting rifles. That is a .300win necked up to .338. Very accurate and powerful is my experience.
A number of good point raised here. I own a TRG42 in .300win. Had Pac-Nor short-chamber a 26" Palma contour SS match 1:10 3 groove barrel a while back. I improved the chamber with my reamer to a very minimum oal chamber. I get about .01" of case stretch from virgin W-W brass and the headspace is on the shoulder, not the belt.
The .338/300 is incredibly versatile. If anyone wants a .338 that is affordable to shoot, this is the one. Good Brass is .60ea, or spend more if you like. W-W is just fine. Max velocity is within 50fps or so of .340Wby and .338Rum; about 100-150fps less than the .338 Lapua. Except, unlike the Lapua and other lg mag ctgs you can run mild loads. I have a good supply of XMR4350, and have loaded 65gr up to 79gr with 250gr bullets. Recoil and report are very mild w/65gr. Light loads in a lg cap magnum risk detonation, though so for versatility only the .338/300 has what you want...
Pac-Nor did my barrel for under $400 delivered. Took my measurements from boltface and boltnose to receiver shoulder and the engraving I requested on the barrel lined up perfectly! Need a new barrel with 1:9.4 or 10 twist? Don't buy a new rifle, just order your barrel.
Interesting thing about Beretta USA is they sell bolt bodies in .472, .532, and .588 boltface patterns. You can own one TRG42 and with switchbarrels, magazines, and bolt bodies, have a complete rifle system. I have 3 TRG-S barrels which also function fine on my 42. Have seen the AI interchangeable barrel video, pretty incredible to think you can torque a barrel 100 ft lbs in the field. With a Sako you can hand tighten and be good to go, or carry a barrel vise and go 60 inch pounds or so.
I am not a velocity junkie. About 2700 to 2750fps is all I seek from my .308win w/168 or even .300win w/200. Works fine with the 250gr Sierra, Hornady, or Barnes that I shoot. Did I mention that my TRG42 magazine holds 7 rounds?
Years ago, talking with Sierra tech about barrel life, guy told me they see barrel throats on large magnum rifles negatively impacted by large powder volumes burned, and that this often occurs as early as 650rds. I suspect anyone who thinks they're gonna get 1500 rds of accurate fire from a .338 Lapua is kidding themselves. Also am of the opinion that no rifle is truly "field ready" if it must be fitted with a brake to fire effectively. A suppressor is undoubtedly the answer, but not one I seek as a resident of the USA under current firearms law.
No one here is discussing "transition velocity"? Don't know if it is just BS or scientific fact, but until a 200+ grain bullet begins to tumble, like the poor brother killed by the wayward bullet, I'm sure a .338 slug traveling 1000fps will kill whatever it impacts. Seem to recall that at 1000yds the difference in bullets started with a velocity range difference of 500fps is negligible. Then again, the guys buying a .338/408 Chey-Tac are trying to cheat the wind with their great velocity binging. Doesn't really happen though, does it?
The biggest factor in rifle accuracy that I have ever seen is the minimum oal chamber. Betcha that even a Rem 700 that's had its barrel set forward to deliver a .0005" over SAAMI minimum chamber and fired with brass fire-formed in that chamber will outshoot anything with a longer oal chamber; other factors being equal of course.
Wonder why if the TRG 22/42 stock is so prone to break at the pistolgrip, no one makes a replacement butt member?
I think you buy a TRG42 and a Near Precision base, you would have it all. Buy that rifle in .300win and save a few hundred, then get the bolt body, magazines, and a replacement barrel or two in Lapua Mag or Norma Mag and be set; plus you've saved about $2000
