.338 Lapua build... thoughts?

I have a mate who is wanting a .338 Lapua for long range hunting.

He’s keen on that calibre so I’m not wanting to discuss other calibres as I’ve been there, done that with him so it’s gonna be .338 Lapua!

What I’m wanting to know is of anyone who has done this, what action, barrel, stock was used, pros, cons, who did the build?

The idea is the build a reasonably lightweight carrying rifle.

Money for the build is not an issue.

I’ve been thinking along the lines of a Defiance action, proof research carbon fibre barrel.

Thoughts?

@BRADS had a 338 lapua for sale, serious bit of kit

message @camowsm hes your man cheers

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@camo wsm should be able to help.

Edit ^^^ what he said

Shit, I’d be keeping the moolah in my wallet until you see what these fucktards are going to bring into play in the next wave of firearms law changes. Some indications that big calibre long range rigs are going to be culled. At least that’s what the cops are lobbying for.

I agree with chainsaw. Wait for a few months and see what the new proposed legislation is. If put $10 on 50BMG 338 Lapua 416 Barret and a few others being banned in civilian hands.

338, 416, 50 call etc will be gone within 12 months, mark my words

save your money

Once it all settles down and he can still do it if look at 338 edge because of the action considerations mentioned above.

Barnard / Trueflite & Hardy both offer custom build 338 lap.
so plenty of local options
z

Camo wsm for sure

I've built 2 of them on Sako 995 (TRGs) actions, (1 from .270 and 1 from 25/06) steel aplenty in bolt and action of decent quality, both wound up being 1/2 moa capable. That action if you can get one, was actually designed for the big magnums,(specifically the TRG 338 Lapua) but a bunch got turned into standard actions cause they were available and wanted.

As mentioned, high energy magnums above 8mm are seriously in the firing line in the next tranche of arms act amendments.

@dogmatix. Why? I don't own one personally but if I were a few years younger I wouldve been keen. Seems to me that owning a fine rifle in 338 etc would be akin to owning a 37kg Tiagra and matched custom rod and boat to go with it. It strikes me as simply striving for more precision at more challenging ranges (or larger and rarer gamefish). Why does govt want to knock back an attempt ay self improvement? Are we going to be destined to have our humanity and evolvement limited by centrally controlled bigotry and edict?

I would love one myself.
But Cahill and the OZ Police advisors have whispered scary thoughts about high energy magnums being able to penetrate armour (body and vehicle) and it’s the perfect opportunity for them to ban everything 338 Lapua upwards.

Why build a standard 338 Lapua magnum when you can buy a factory one either secondhand or new ?

If you are going to build one, build an improved one, the extra cost is minimal compared to the performance increase.

The lighter it is the better your brake needs to be.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....minator-25380/

Built quite a few of those now :)

OK, I haven't got one, haven't built one so cant speak from experience.

This sort of heavy duty hunting rifle would be quite complimentary to a lighter weight short North Island bushpig. 338 Lapua has better ballistics than the African cartridges, for our conditions; being unbelted, has arguably better reloading potential than 7mmRemMag and 300 WinMag and apparently better barrel life than the big 7mms. For a hunting rifle you do want barrel life, to build up enough experience to use it well on animals. Supply of off the shelf factory ammo, brass and standard loading data also favour the 338LM over ballistically superior wildcats. For hunting you are looking for first shot hit probabilities (>90%) at medium ranges (300-600m) in high wind, difficult range finding situations. A few people say they achieve this but more hunters would have the odds tilted in their favour if they use a big cartridge. So, it does make sense as an open country South Island hunting cartridge, which is the OP's application. The extra KE is also useful for the biggest or toughest animals here, Wapiti Sambar and Tahr. A bull tahr's front legs are the size of a red stag's hindquarters.

Scope is critical and if NZ durability and weight are important but cost is not, I would start with a S&B 5-20 compact. What would you mount under it ?

The rifle itself is simple. Your mate needs a top notch, proven tough, reliable and accurate hunting rifle. Sako make a long range model 85 in a special 338LM action. I'd suggest this would be better for hunting than a precision target rifle type action like the defiance. The model 85 is 100% the best all round action for New Zealand conditions. I once hired a Sako made from a 270 TRG-S (Robbie Tiffen) and it was good. But the 85 action is better and you can get one brand new. Optilock mounts are now available for 34mm rings but you might need to do some homework on the mounting length for the compact 5-20 scope. The 3-20 might fit better. This rifle comes with a heavy laminate stock so you could save weight by buying an aftermarket carbon stock. Fitting a different sized action that the stock wasn't designed for isn't trivial, so that will need some care. This model does come with a muzzle brake.

Well, that was a good exercise.

I hope .338 stays legal and good luck with your mates build.

Personally, I believe that if you have the skills to reach out to a mile with a .50 or .338, then anyone with their head above the parapet at 500m should be very afraid of .223 being legal. It's not all about the round, or the rifle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

I've built 2 of them on Sako 995 (TRGs) actions, (1 from .270 and 1 from 25/06) steel aplenty in bolt and action of decent quality, both wound up being 1/2 moa capable. That action if you can get one, was actually designed for the big magnums,(specifically the TRG 338 Lapua) but a bunch got turned into standard actions cause they were available and wanted.

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I've just built a 338 on a 995, unfortunately just as all this was happening so i hope it stays legal.
@257weatherby you don't have any 995 parts do you? They aren't that easy to find

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

OK, I haven't got one, haven't built one so cant speak from experience.

This sort of heavy duty hunting rifle would be quite complimentary to a lighter weight short North Island bushpig. 338 Lapua has better ballistics than the African cartridges, for our conditions; being unbelted, has arguably better reloading potential than 7mmRemMag and 300 WinMag and apparently better barrel life than the big 7mms. For a hunting rifle you do want barrel life, to build up enough experience to use it well on animals. Supply of off the shelf factory ammo, brass and standard loading data also favour the 338LM over ballistically superior wildcats. For hunting you are looking for first shot hit probabilities (>90%) at medium ranges (300-600m) in high wind, difficult range finding situations. A few people say they achieve this but more hunters would have the odds tilted in their favour if they use a big cartridge. So, it does make sense as an open country South Island hunting cartridge, which is the OP's application. The extra KE is also useful for the biggest or toughest animals here, Wapiti Sambar and Tahr. A bull tahr's front legs are the size of a red stag's hindquarters.

Scope is critical and if NZ durability and weight are important but cost is not, I would start with a S&B 5-20 compact. What would you mount under it ?

The rifle itself is simple. Your mate needs a top notch, proven tough, reliable and accurate hunting rifle. Sako make a long range model 85 in a special 338LM action. I'd suggest this would be better for hunting than a precision target rifle type action like the defiance. The model 85 is 100% the best all round action for New Zealand conditions. I once hired a Sako made from a 270 TRG-S (Robbie Tiffen) and it was good. But the 85 action is better and you can get one brand new. Optilock mounts are now available for 34mm rings but you might need to do some homework on the mounting length for the compact 5-20 scope. The 3-20 might fit better. This rifle comes with a heavy laminate stock so you could save weight by buying an aftermarket carbon stock. Fitting a different sized action that the stock wasn't designed for isn't trivial, so that will need some care. This model does come with a muzzle brake.

Well, that was a good exercise.

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b8f5e7f001.jpg.338 lapua improved with 5-20

The big 30 is the new 338 these days,
I have owned an improved and since then bought a trg42 in 338L and then turned that into a 300L magnum.
What I have found is way less recoil which makes it way nicer to shoot, way cheaper on projectiles with very similar results ballisticaly to the .338 with less fuss.
Todd hodnett is now advocating and using the 300 norma magnum out to over 2k with first round hits on game.
There are some great podcasts from him regarding this.
Generally the limitation is not the chambering but the ability of the shooter to be able to get the the ballistics and wind call spot on.
That's where the Christmas tree reticles come into play but that's another story!
That's my 2cents anyway,

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by hillclima

I've just built a 338 on a 995, unfortunately just as all this was happening so i hope it stays legal.
@257weatherby you don't have any 995 parts do you? They aren't that easy to find

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Sorry, no - I only lug standard cartridges about these days, would have another 995 if I could get one though.

The venerable 300WM is still the sniper rifle of choice for US military (more common in use than 338LM). The new 210 and 230 gn pills breathing new life into 300WM. But if you're going down that track (30cal mag) then the 300NM is getting some great press

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

OK, I haven't got one, haven't built one so cant speak from experience.

This sort of heavy duty hunting rifle would be quite complimentary to a lighter weight short North Island bushpig. 338 Lapua has better ballistics than the African cartridges, for our conditions; being unbelted, has arguably better reloading potential than 7mmRemMag and 300 WinMag and apparently better barrel life than the big 7mms. For a hunting rifle you do want barrel life, to build up enough experience to use it well on animals. Supply of off the shelf factory ammo, brass and standard loading data also favour the 338LM over ballistically superior wildcats. For hunting you are looking for first shot hit probabilities (>90%) at medium ranges (300-600m) in high wind, difficult range finding situations. A few people say they achieve this but more hunters would have the odds tilted in their favour if they use a big cartridge. So, it does make sense as an open country South Island hunting cartridge, which is the OP's application. The extra KE is also useful for the biggest or toughest animals here, Wapiti Sambar and Tahr. A bull tahr's front legs are the size of a red stag's hindquarters.

Scope is critical and if NZ durability and weight are important but cost is not, I would start with a S&B 5-20 compact. What would you mount under it ?

The rifle itself is simple. Your mate needs a top notch, proven tough, reliable and accurate hunting rifle. Sako make a long range model 85 in a special 338LM action. I'd suggest this would be better for hunting than a precision target rifle type action like the defiance. The model 85 is 100% the best all round action for New Zealand conditions. I once hired a Sako made from a 270 TRG-S (Robbie Tiffen) and it was good. But the 85 action is better and you can get one brand new. Optilock mounts are now available for 34mm rings but you might need to do some homework on the mounting length for the compact 5-20 scope. The 3-20 might fit better. This rifle comes with a heavy laminate stock so you could save weight by buying an aftermarket carbon stock. Fitting a different sized action that the stock wasn't designed for isn't trivial, so that will need some care. This model does come with a muzzle brake.

Well, that was a good exercise.

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Attachment 113836

I have a 338 lapua magnum built on a remington 700 action with a HS precision stock and also a MDT chassis. It has a 30 inch carbon fibre proof research barrel with a Terminator T4 muzzle brake. Timney Calvin Elite trigger etc etc. Its a puppy to shoot recoil wise and punches 3x 300 grain bergers into one stretched hole at 100mtrs. For me as a long range hunting rifle it has far more capability than I do and no animal has ever had time to flinch or reply

Thanks for thosenice photos SAUM and MSL. It occurred to me after putting that post that the 5-20 compact with its illumination band is really best with a one piece mount and a rail which is not so good for the sako 85. and it will be too Short to reach across the long action. My 3-12 is just right over the S action (7mm08). a hunting scope like the Leupold VX6 would be much more Feasible.

It’s good to see two such nice long range hunting rifles - food for seventeenths mate.

Thanks for the feed back and ideas team as it's all much appreciated.

My mate is keen only for a .338 Lapua so he's still looking for ideas. It'll be used ALOT in the north Island where he's from and there's no shortage of deer where it'll be used.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seventenths

Thanks for the feed back and ideas team as it's all much appreciated.

My mate is keen only for a .338 Lapua so he's still looking for ideas. It'll be used ALOT in the north Island where he's from and there's no shortage of deer where it'll be used.

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Then buy a Sako 85LR, TRG, M10, Blaser Tac, Rem 700P, XCR, Savage etc, they are cheap enough....apart from the M10 ...beautiful firearm though :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

Thanks for thosenice photos SAUM and MSL. It occurred to me after putting that post that the 5-20 compact with its illumination band is really best with a one piece mount and a rail which is not so good for the sako 85. and it will be too Short to reach across the long action. My 3-12 is just right over the S action (7mm08). a hunting scope like the Leupold VX6 would be much more Feasible.

It’s good to see two such nice long range hunting rifles - food for seventeenths mate.

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I have a 338 Sako 85 long range and put a canted Near rail on it to fix this issue. Works well