i have always been a 300 win mag man, but have been doing some reading on the laupa. would really appreciate as much input as i can get on this matter. thanks for all your help in advance!!!!
It depends on what you want to accomplish with the bullets at the 1000 yard mark. If you just want to put holes in paper or ring steel, I don't think it matters that much. If you want to have plenty of kinetic energy at 1000 yards that you can use to accomplish a task on an animal or a threat, the .338 Lapua has a big advantage.
I'm definitely not a long range marksman, but it's my take that developing the load for your rifle and then loading it for shooting is as much a part of the process as the marksmanship and the rifle.
If you're going to use factory ammo, you might want to go with .308. It doesn't have much left at 1000 yards, but it can hit paper and there is a huge array of factory ammo available.
I have never seen the 338 on the 1000 yard target line. I can't imagine shooting that cartridge all day long....Even the Army stopped shooting the 300 WinMag at 1000 yards. There are many better choices with much less recoil for paper target shooting. The 308 is not one of them either.
Having said that, my 1000 yard rifle is a 40X with a 1X13 Kreiger, 308 barrel which can hammer a target with 155's. Not so good with 175's.
You don't say what you want to do at 1000 yards though...
I have a Remington 700 in 300 win mag.
My cousins husband has a Sako TRG42 in 338 Lapua, it "is" beautiful.
HOWEVER:
PRVI AMMO 300 WIN MAG 165gr PSPBT 20/bx 25/cs
Item Number: PPA300MAG · Price: $19.99 · Availability: In stock
Black Hills Ammunition 338 Lapua Magnum 300 Grain Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail Box of 20
Status: Out of Stock, Backorder OK
Date Expected In-Stock: 6/11/2010
Our Price: $120.99
I say if those are ur choices go with the 338 u don't build a 1000 yard rifle because you want a cheap project. Beside to shoot to a grand u should reload and the luapa will give u lots better brass get a 30 inch tube and chamber it for the improved 338 shoot 300 smk and run ur numbers an look at the dif in drift plus u can stretch the distance out if u want
I would say .300 for the affordability. However the heavier 338 has a lot of advantages and you could also look at some of the other .338 calibers. .338 Remington Ultra Mag has similar ballistics to the Lapua and ammo and the rifles are a lot more affordable.
Plus, if you reload you can buy .338 RUM or .300 RUM brass. simply running the .300 Remington Ultra Mag brass through the resizing die will work to use it with the .338 bullet.
dad always told me to only buy a gun that you can buy the ammo for it at the hardware/sporting goods store!!! grandpa always said be careful of the man who carries the single-shot rifle - he knows how to shot! thinking your advice is good too $20.00 versus $120.