338 for elk hunting- Build a lightweight rifle

[Deleted member 115360]

Someone beat me to it, but 340 Weatherby would be my suggestion. It is significantly cheaper to shoot and gives you almost identical performance. The 338 Lapua was developed with the latest balliticians using modern rocket science, and it uses tons more powder and recoil to get about 1% better performance than the 340 wby that Roy made in his garage before black and white televisions were invented.

 

[tomsd]

I currently have a 338 lapua, it comes in at 14.4 lbs. Im looking at building a light weight 338 lapua or Improved shooting 300gn bergers. I elk hunt with my current rifle but would like to drop a few pounds with all the hiking we do. Just returned from WY and hiked 32 miles in 5 days. Our group went 5 for 5 on cows.

Anyone have experience with a light weight rifle in these calibers?
Would you go improved or standard 338 lapua?

That will kick like a Mule.

 

[Marine sniper]

Never understood the need for the 338 Lapua when the 340 Wby has been available for years. Same ballistics, less expensive ammo.

The first rifle I ever built was a .340 Wby. I was 16 in 1985 when I put a 30 inch barrel on a 340 Wby, so I love the cartridge. It is certainly enough gun for elk- but the brass sucks, and it will not match the performance of a 338 Lapua. approx 99 grains of powder vs. 114 in the Lapua and 125 in the Lapua improved.

If you hotrod Weatherby brass (Norma) you kill it in a handful of reloads. I have, or have had, 300, 340, 30-378 and 375 Wby's. Now that you can get wby brass made by Bertram, I might start messing with them again, but the factory Norma brass sucks.

 

[surgeon260]

I shoot a 23lb 30" 338 Lapua Improved, pretty much exclusively with a suppressor. 300 Bergers @ 3050fps. 6000+ lb-ft.

I don't think I would enjoy shooting that rifle much if it were 12-14 lbs lighter, nor do I think I would shoot it very well. Even my heavy suppressed rig maintains pretty significant recoil energy. You guys shooting lightweight 338 super mags at long range are way better riflemen than I. My guess is it takes many years of practice to master that skill.

 

[tvarden]

My 11lbs 338 Lapua I just took elk hunting. Less felt recoil then my .308s without brake.

 

[surgeon260]

Never understood the need for the 338 Lapua when the 340 Wby has been available for years. Same ballistics, less expensive ammo.

Not to derail the thread, but 338 Lapua has much better brass (Lapua, Peterson, ADG). It's pretty much a handloader's dream. And the case is about 100 thou shorter than the Weatherby which gives you more seating/feeding options.

And I hope you aren't referring to the cost of loaded ammunition. Weatherby ammo is insanely expensive.

 

[Michael Souther]

I currently have a 338 lapua, it comes in at 14.4 lbs. Im looking at building a light weight 338 lapua or Improved shooting 300gn bergers. I elk hunt with my current rifle but would like to drop a few pounds with all the hiking we do. Just returned from WY and hiked 32 miles in 5 days. Our group went 5 for 5 on cows.

Anyone have experience with a light weight rifle in these calibers?
Would you go improved or standard 338 lapua?

338 win mag will do anything you want. It still has recoil but not as bad and lighter weight rifle. I use mine for deer and elk. I built it years ago on a mauser action Drench walnut stock. Isn't Lapua a bit of over Kill.

 

[gilk1]

what about a 338 edge or 300mag in a 26" barrel? That should have enough velocity/energy left at 800yds to work.

Take a look here (https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html) and see what bullet/cartridge has the terminal ballistics to do what you want and back into a velocity and barrel length.

A high BC 7mm bullet will treat you better than a 30cal. Just make sure the bullet can perform at w/e velocity it is at 800yds.

 

[Pauleye]

I agree with the above post. I don't know how many rifles you have but I suspect you have several. Get one in 30 or 28 caliber. Minimal recoil. Mine is 300 weatherby with no break. It's about 10 lbs with scope. Spend money on a new rifle. Keep your old one for the next T-rex you see

 

[TX mountain hunter]

Here is one I for sale that may fit your mold. Custom WTO 338 edge with everything included. 10.77 # before scope:

Custom 338 Edge Rifle (Krieger, Stiller, McMillan, KUIU, 30 MOA rail, single set trigger)

Custom 338 Edge Rifle (Krieger, Stiller, McMillan, KUIU, 30 MOA rail, single set trigger) 1/4 - 1/2 MOA (I’m not a very experienced reloader or shooter, rifle could likely do better) $3,800: Rifle + Dies + Load Data + Brass + muzzle brake + thread protector + Shipping in a case & insured. No...

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[Deleted member 115360]

Not to derail the thread, but 338 Lapua has much better brass (Lapua, Peterson, ADG). It's pretty much a handloader's dream. And the case is about 100 thou shorter than the Weatherby which gives you more seating/feeding options.

And I hope you aren't referring to the cost of loaded ammunition. Weatherby ammo is insanely expensive.

Weatherby ammo used to be insanely expensive. I shoot at least 5 different Weatherby cartridges currently, and it isn't any more expensive than the standard stuff if you know where to look..

 

[VLD Pilot]

The 338 Improved is about 100 FPS faster than the standard.

Quite a bit better than that from my experience

 

[Idaho Hunter1]

I have a 7.75 lb bare rifle in 338LM that with optics is 9.25 lbs. It has a break and I shove a 300 gr pill out of it. It is not something I want to shoot all day at the range but is not offensive either. It feels like a large push vs a slap at that weight. It is used primarily for Elk/Bear/Moose so it only goes boom a few times a year.

I won't carry a rifle heavier than 10 lbs over the mtns. Good luck!

 

[Idaho Hunter1]

I have a 7.75 lb bare rifle in 338LM that with optics is 9.25 lbs. It has a break and I shove a 300 gr pill out of it. It is not something I want to shoot all day at the range but is not offensive either. It feels like a large push vs a slap at that weight. It is used primarily for Elk/Bear/Moose so it only goes boom a few times a year.

I won't carry a rifle heavier than 10 lbs over the mtns. Good luck!