338 Lapua Barrel Life

[jsali]

I know alot of you guys shoot 338 Lapuas so I'll throw this out to you. What in your opinion is the accurate life of a 338 Lapua Match grade barrel (assuming all proper care and cleaning is taken)?

 

[BountyHunter]

I am at the 300 rd mark on this barrel and from guys I know that have them, with reasonable care etc. you should be able to get 1000-1400 rds at least depending on how hot your run them and how many shot at a time.

BH

 

[jsali]

Isn't that about the same as you could expect from a 300 win mag? I though it would be considerably less. The reason I ask is that I am considering getting a 338 Lapua and was wondering if it would be worth my while. I currently own a 300 win mag Sendero. Is it possible to have a 300 win mag rebarreled to a 338 Lapua? Is the bolt face and action length sufficient?

 

[Richard338]

I'm at just over 1000rd and the accuracy is excellent. My friend is at about 2300rd, and his is still good, but maybe just starting to go.

 

[jro45]

I shoot the 338 RUM but I take very good care of my RUM. I fire two then let it cool all the way back to an unfired barrel, then two more and do this until I'm done shooting.I expect to get 3000 rounds out of it. So far it doesn't have a 100 rounds thru it yet.

 

[demarpaint]

Johnny 5

Rem 700 in 300 Win mag can be re-barreled to a 338 Lapua. The bolt face will have to be opened up, a Sako extractor installed and some modifications to the feed rails (magazine?), unless you want to use it as a single shot.

 

[Steve Shelp]

Johnny5,
When I shot my 338 Yogi in 1000yd BR competition I shot the original barrel up until 1356rds. It was still shooting at that point and I finished top 5 in the yearly aggs in VA at that point.
I had that barrel setback 2 inches and now have over 2300rds?? through it. The last time I shot it was at the NBRSA 1000yd Nationals in 2003 and finished top 10 I think in all the HG catagories. But Dave Tooley was in the pits and was watching the groups form on the target and said the barrel was probably getting a little tired. It still has a decent throat in it and will still shoot exceptionally well, but it doesn't have the "edge" to it anymore.
That barrel was Lilja 6 groove 10" twist 1.850 dia x 32" and I moved the throat .027" in the first 1356rds before it was set-back. So I got really good wear from that barrel. Definitely not as bad as you would think for such a big case. There's a couple of guys I shoot competiton with that shoot 338s also, that have experiences similar barrel life also.
Also remember in 1000yd BR HG competition we shoot anywhere from 5-10 sighters in 6mins, and then depending on the conditions we might hammer the 10 record rounds in 30secs if needed. Then a full cleaning and do it again. The barrel can get hot after 15-20 rounds.
The barrel still shoots good enough that I wouldn't hesitant to shoot long range PDs or a mile competition for fun. It still has good life in it.... so it's not done yet.


Good luck with your project.

Steve

 

[Archery1973]

How many shots before cleaning a 338 LM?

 

[Broz]

How many shots before cleaning a 338 LM?

If it is a new rifle, one shot.

 

[Archery1973]

If it is a new rifle, one shot.

No.....broken in barrel with 200 down the tube.

I ask because I notice my groups really tighten up after 15 shots. I'm not sure if it's the fouling or the guy behind the gun.

It's a McMillan EOL Outdoorman with a 300 grain Berger. Using Kelly's load data, it has done 0.277" at 100 yards (3 shot group).

I shot it at 500 yards today. I was completely off target the first few shots (it had 4 shots fired before I started this session) and then dropped down to about a 3" group at 500 yards with shots 15, 16 and 17.

 

[Broz]

No.....broken in barrel with 200 down the tube.

I ask because I notice my groups really tighten up after 15 shots. I'm not sure if it's the fouling or the guy behind the gun.

It's a McMillan EOL Outdoorman with a 300 grain Berger. Using Kelly's load data, it has done 0.277" at 100 yards (3 shot group).

I shot it at 500 yards today. I was completely off target the first few shots (it had 4 shots fired before I started this session) and then dropped down to about a 3" group at 500 yards with shots 15, 16 and 17.

I would clean every 40 to 50 rounds now. Then after a few hundred more maybe increase that a bit. Mainly let the rifle tell you when it needs it. If the groups start to open up it is asking to be cleaned.

Jeff

 

[Archery1973]

Thanks.....that's what I needed to know.

 

[baseballandhunting]

I know alot of you guys shoot 338 Lapuas so I'll throw this out to you. What in your opinion is the accurate life of a 338 Lapua Match grade barrel (assuming all proper care and cleaning is taken)?

Can a person try and sell a barrel on this site? I would potentially have an upshot factory 338 lapua weatherby barrel and brake to sell and just wanted to see if there would be interest in it or not.

 

[rafterfp]

I have 2210 rounds through a 338 LM. 300 OTM @ 2710fps 28 inch brux
9.7 twist. Rifle still shoots an honest
( not internet ******** ) 5 shot 3/4 MOA. Out to 1250 yrds. Round count 200-1700ish it was 1/2 min gun.
My opinion is one of the most efficient
Long range options has very good barrel life, in context.