338 lapua

[6mm06guy]

Ok guys I have a lot of guns.... but most are varmint rigs. I'm going to purchase the new savage stealth ba in 338 lapua mag. Never owning a rifle of this caliber or this size of magnum I had a few questions. Have any of you handeled this rifle, what glass should I use ($1000), will the magazine Handle the 300 gr berger bullets.

It's not a gun that will be shot a million times, but I would like to be proficient at 1000 yards with it on game. I do shoot at 1000 with some of my other rifles, just as a side note.

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[toddc]

Ok guys I have a lot of guns.... but most are varmint rigs. I'm going to purchase the new savage stealth ba in 338 lapua mag. Never owning a rifle of this caliber or this size of magnum I had a few questions. Have any of you handeled this rifle, what glass should I use ($1000), will the magazine Handle the 300 gr berger bullets.

It's not a gun that will be shot a million times, but I would like to be proficient at 1000 yards with it on game. I do shoot at 1000 with some of my other rifles, just as a side note.

Thanks in advance guys.

I would tell you to look at the Savage Magnum 112 before buying the BA. Solid bottom target action with red blade trigger. Most Lapua's aren't really setup for offhand running fast anyway. The BA is hard for me to run on a bench or prone with the mag and it doesn't ride bags well. My personal opinion is the M112 is the real bargain and is better suited to Lapua territory than the BA. Just something to think about.

Glass? Depends on the what for....Some kinda reticle with 30 MOA or a MIL setup if you prefer. Sightron, Vortex, Athlon etc. Or something nicer used.

Will the mag handle the Bergers? Depends on where they wanna be really. Most guys with BAs end up going single on Bergers. Another reason to just buy the M112 lol.

Seriously the M112 is a lot nicer action, trigger is silly good for ANY manufacturer and the stock is really setup better for most LR work. The BA LOOKS mean......the M112 IS MEAN.

Just advice not bashing. The BA is a lot of gun for the $$$ but with the way most 338s are used the M112 may be a thing to look at.

 

[brentc]

I would tell you to look at the Savage Magnum 112 before buying the BA. Solid bottom target action with red blade trigger. Most Lapua's aren't really setup for offhand running fast anyway. The BA is hard for me to run on a bench or prone with the mag and it doesn't ride bags well. My personal opinion is the M112 is the real bargain and is better suited to Lapua territory than the BA. Just something to think about.

Glass? Depends on the what for....Some kinda reticle with 30 MOA or a MIL setup if you prefer. Sightron, Vortex, Athlon etc. Or something nicer used.

Will the mag handle the Bergers? Depends on where they wanna be really. Most guys with BAs end up going single on Bergers. Another reason to just buy the M112 lol.

Seriously the M112 is a lot nicer action, trigger is silly good for ANY manufacturer and the stock is really setup better for most LR work. The BA LOOKS mean......the M112 IS MEAN.

Just advice not bashing. The BA is a lot of gun for the $$$ but with the way most 338s are used the M112 may be a thing to look at.

^^^ This is sound advice if you're hell bent on a Savage 338 LM.

 

[ZSteinle]

Or the FCP HS in 338 lapua

 

[gohring3006]

I would tell you to look at the Savage Magnum 112 before buying the BA. Solid bottom target action with red blade trigger. Most Lapua's aren't really setup for offhand running fast anyway. The BA is hard for me to run on a bench or prone with the mag and it doesn't ride bags well. My personal opinion is the M112 is the real bargain and is better suited to Lapua territory than the BA. Just something to think about.

Glass? Depends on the what for....Some kinda reticle with 30 MOA or a MIL setup if you prefer. Sightron, Vortex, Athlon etc. Or something nicer used.

Will the mag handle the Bergers? Depends on where they wanna be really. Most guys with BAs end up going single on Bergers. Another reason to just buy the M112 lol.

Seriously the M112 is a lot nicer action, trigger is silly good for ANY manufacturer and the stock is really setup better for most LR work. The BA LOOKS mean......the M112 IS MEAN.

Just advice not bashing. The BA is a lot of gun for the $$$ but with the way most 338s are used the M112 may be a thing to look at.

^^^ This is sound advice if you're hell bent on a Savage 338 LM.

I'm with these guys....^^^

 

[6mm06guy]

This is the gun I'm looking at, I'm not against the 112, but I would prefer a repeter incase of follow up shots on game.

 

[gohring3006]

This is the gun I'm looking at, I'm not against the 112, but I would prefer a repeter incase of follow up shots on game.

The one thing I didn't like about the Stealth, is its 24" barrel. I think a Lapua case is a lot of powder to try and use up in 24". Heck 26" is probably too short, but I thought it's better than 24". Not sure if it really matters or not, but I wanted at least 26".
I have a Short Action Precision 2 round holder on my stock, and the recoil of the Lapua is enough that I don't really think I could rack the bolt and load another round any faster from a mag, than I could from the holder...

 

[6mm06guy]

Ok, that's fair, talk to me about the weight. Do any of you guys carry these guns hunting big game? I have an 8mm mag, but bullets are extremely limited and I thought a 338 would be a better choice. I'm open on the gun choice but I'm kinda hung on the 338. The stealth looks light, and that my not be a good thing, I also know my lighter guns are harder to hit long range targets. I guess I'm just wondering if the 112 would be over the #10 mark.

 

[gohring3006]

I'm pretty sure the 112 is 12-14 pounds without the scope. I haven't weighed mine yet.
The Stealth could be lighter.

 

[gohring3006]

The 111 long range Hunter 338 is quite a bit lighter.
I haven't herd how accurate they shoot yet, but i would be concerned with excessive barrel whip and barrel/bullet tourque on the thinner barrel profiles...
It may or may not be hard to tune...

 

[snox801]

I have the .338 lrh in a clean chassi and it is not light even though the chassis is. It's heavy enough you won't be carting it long that's for sure. It wears a Nxs scope and shoots well. But my preference for 1000 yards hunting rig is my 26 inch 300 win mag. Light enough to carry plenty of know down for anything you are gonna shoot.
I run my 6.5 creed or .257 Roy to 800 yards
300 win mag to 1200 and past that I move to my lapua or .375 AM when it finally arrives. The lapua should be set up for a dedicated long range rig with some weight. It's really more of a novelty for most and overkill. That's what mine is anyway cause I live in Michigan so I have to travel to hunt long range.

 

[toddc]

The M112 weighs right at 12lbs. No mass produced 338 is "lightweight". And if you are hotrodding 300gr from it...you'll be glad they aren't.
I run the Lapua STRICTLY LR. My average shot is around 750 and the closest is maybe 450, a lot more shots past 800 than under 500. So I need a bench gun. I carry a table and Bald Eagle front and rear bag. For me the Lapua is perfect. If I was going to carry the rifle or worry about follow up shots I would probably not be running a Lapua. Where I hunt there are places you can pull a vehicle up and glass without freaking anything out because the rancher and windmill techs do it all the time. So FOR ME the Lapua is great.

If I was going to be worrying about follow up shots and such I would probably run a different style rig.

Some guys hunt with Lapuas in the deep woods so I guess that works also.

If you are worried about "HANDLING" and shooting fast.....Lapuas set up for LR generally aren't SHORT RANGE friendly, not impossible.....but not common.

 

[6mm06guy]

I'm more worried about my skill level and confidence than the ability of the rifle, but I suppose if I make a bad shot I doubt I'll get a second

 

[toddc]

I'm more worried about my skill level and confidence than the ability of the rifle, but I suppose if I make a bad shot I doubt I'll get a second

Some will disagree but 2 things about Lapuas and deer.
If ya hit one with a target bullet ya probably wont need another.
If ya miss you probably wont be able to recover fast enough for a QUICK follow up at closer ranges.
I have never run a clip or mag fed 338 or 300. Always too long a COAL to fit in a mag. So I am just used to throwing another in. It's not that much slower.

What kind of hunting are you going to be doing? Range? Animal? Cover? Wind?