Help me justify another rifle! .338 Lapua

[revturbo9967]

Still considering it just would load it down and take break off for trip to Africa. I can make it behave like a 375 h&h for the trip I think. I need to read up some to confirm. Then when I get home I can load it back to its full potential and put the break back on for long range fun

I have a 338 I’ve been toying with selling , pm if interested

 

[TheGrayRider]

Skip the rifle and go on more hunting trips to Africa. You can buy the latest, fashionable rifle anytime. African hunting experiences are worth much more than any new rifle or piece of equipment.

 

[gin535]

Welcome to AH. Nice to have you as part of our community. Enjoy the forum, it's very addicting!

 

[fte45]

Welcome to AH! We look forward to you sharing your stories!

 

[Jörg Krüger]

Welcome to AH! We look forward to you sharing your stories!

You think you guys can put the animal together again when shot with a 338 Lapua

 

[Global Rescue]

Welcome to AH! It is a great site, glad to have you here.

 

[Longrifle]

You need another rifle!

 

[Alaska338]

I have 338 Lapua here in Alaska it’s my Stand gun mainly for Moose hunting off BOGG tripod ball Mount with Arca Swiss mount.
A Christensen Mesa Bronze in a Bronze CA MPR stock it’s 13.7 pounds with scope and tripod attached. Makes shooting very enjoyable and long shots easy with Barnes 250gr LRX and 97.0 of Ramshot Grand.

 

[Alaska338]

I’m all for buying another rifle but I didn’t have much luck with the two Christensen Ridgelines I bought. One in 6.5x284 and the other a 300 Win. Couldn’t get either to group well with factory or handloads - lots of different loads and weights….I ended up sending the 300 back to Christensen and they said yes it was a bad barrel, rebarreled and sent back to me. Tried again but could only get MOA out of each. For $1800 a piece I expect more - I have $500 beaters that shoot 1/4 MOA.
If you are looking for a long range boomer without the tactical look I’d lean towards the previously recommended 340 WBY. A couple options available in the Mark V.

300 WM try Hunter Powder at 71.0 with 200gr Speer in WW cases with Fed 215 works great in my CA.

 

[mark-hunter]

I stumbled upon this thread, went through and developed a feeling I stepped on another planet.
338 LM in Africa?

 

[steve white]

I pronounce you, JUSTIFIED.

 

[grand veneur]

The cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum remains a cartridge caliber 338, so why not use it for hunting in Africa?

The problem lies more with the rifle required to fire this cartridge. As a hunting rifle, it is rather similar in size to a big bore rifle, without actually being one. Furthermore, this cartridge does not reach its full potential with the standard 26" barrels we have on our hunting rifles nowadays. Ultimately, you end up at the ballistic level of a classic larger cartridge 338 Magnum. I owned a hunting rifle caliber 338 Lapua Magnum and still own a tactical one, but I also own a rifle caliber 340 Weatherby Magnum. I have shot game with both hunting rifles, and the cartridge caliber 340 Weatherby Magnum delivered the same performance in a much smaller and lighter rifle. The cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum is primarily a cartridge for long range shooting and for tactical use, not a hunting cartridge.

McMillan Talon caliber 338 Lapua Magnum, 29" barrel, 130cm long, 7kg heavy. Not ideal for hunting in the African bush or in high mountains, but very good external ballistics up to 1000m.