1000 yard gun - .300 or .338 laupa???

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • slcorson

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 19, 2010
    31
    6
    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!!!!
     

    Bubba

    Expert
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Apr 10, 2009
    1,141
    38
    Rensselaer
    standard.jpg
     

    rhino

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    24   0   0
    Mar 18, 2008
    30,906
    113
    Indiana
    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.
     

    rhino

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    24   0   0
    Mar 18, 2008
    30,906
    113
    Indiana
    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.
     

    fireball168

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    23   0   0
    Dec 16, 2008
    1,745
    38
    Clinton
    Yes, there are heavier projectiles commonly loaded for both cartridges.

    Yes, I saw an opportunity with the advertised muzzle velocities of the Black Hills loads below being exactly the same.

    Yes, folks load both cartridges considerably hotter than in the examples below.


    IMHO wouldn't waste my money on the 338 Lapua if I was limiting myself to 1000.

    Although, I wouldn't consider a belted cartridge to do it if I had the choice.

    If I wasn't limiting myself to 1000, I'd skip the 338 Lapua entirely and go 375-505/CheyTac.

    300WM.jpg


    338Lapua.jpg
     

    sloughfoot

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    26   0   0
    Apr 17, 2008
    7,153
    83
    Huntertown, IN
    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...
     

    JAMZ

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 5, 2010
    50
    6
    My 308 does just fine and ammo is plentaful and not too expensive................YET
     

    Panama

    Shooter
    Rating - 100%
    27   0   0
    Jul 13, 2008
    2,267
    38
    Racing Capital
    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 like my Remington 700 in 300 win mag just fine!
     

    ambushunter

    Plinker
    Rating - 80%
    4   1   0
    Dec 30, 2009
    99
    8
    Northern IN
    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
     

    OneBadV8

    Stay Picky my Friends
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    52   0   0
    Aug 7, 2008
    55,147
    101
    Ft Wayne
    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.

    Good luck and happy hunting (for a rifle)
     

    slcorson

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 19, 2010
    31
    6
    have a few thousand rounds of the 300 win mag in stock - kind of leaning that way - thanks for the insight
     

    slcorson

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 19, 2010
    31
    6
    paper mostly, but if i really needed it for other "things" want to know i have it! been thinking about the "follow-up" shots too....hmmmm!
     

    slcorson

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 19, 2010
    31
    6
    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.
     
    Top Bottom