Savage 338 Lapua LRH

[cfvickers]

I am wanting a big 338 just because. Other than just shooting I really have no need for it, but they look cool and are big enough to leave me as the only real limitation. I am too poor to build a custom AND put good glass on it. I have a 6.5-284 111 LRH and it is the most accurate sporter weight rifle I have ever fired barring none, and I have played with/worked up loads for some VERY nice rifles that I did not own. So I got to hold and rub on a savage 338 Lapua a while back and I can't get her out of my mind. My only real concern is the 26 inch barrel, is this enough to get sufficient burn from this cartridge? What type of experience have those of you who own them had? Any other options in the 12-1400.00 range for a bare rifle? It will pretty much just be a range toy but may see a bean field hunt or three at times, and might use it on the occasional errant coyote that my 22-250 or 6.5x55 cant reach easily. In all honesty I just want something big with a big gigantic break on the end just cause I don't have one.

In summation, is this a good choice for my purpose???

 

[Greyfox]

I have the Savage 111FCP 338 in the same length barrel(and the LRH 6.5x284). No problem getting slow powders like Retumbo to burn on the 26" tube. You can expect 2700-2750 with this powder with 300 gr Bergers, and the same kind of accuracy that your LRH produces. I get .25-.5 MOA out of my FCP. I would opt for the FCP over the LRH for the HS stock that's very nice, and the beefier barrel, but that's a personal preference.

 

[JMUPT]

Greyfox, would you mind sharing your load data and set up? I have the same rifle and it shoots everything about MOA but not much better.

 

[Greyfox]

Greyfox, would you mind sharing your load data and set up? I have the same rifle and it shoots everything about MOA but not much better.

Sure.
I use Lapua brass, FL sized with a competition Redding .365 bushing dye. 300 VLD .030" off the lands, 89.2 gr Retumbo. New brass shoots the same as fired, but I expand the neck to .365". Velocity is 2700FPS.

 

[Joe King]

I am wanting a big 338 just because. Other than just shooting I really have no need for it, but they look cool and are big enough to leave me as the only real limitation. I am too poor to build a custom AND put good glass on it. I have a 6.5-284 111 LRH and it is the most accurate sporter weight rifle I have ever fired barring none, and I have played with/worked up loads for some VERY nice rifles that I did not own. So I got to hold and rub on a savage 338 Lapua a while back and I can't get her out of my mind. My only real concern is the 26 inch barrel, is this enough to get sufficient burn from this cartridge? What type of experience have those of you who own them had? Any other options in the 12-1400.00 range for a bare rifle? It will pretty much just be a range toy but may see a bean field hunt or three at times, and might use it on the occasional errant coyote that my 22-250 or 6.5x55 cant reach easily. In all honesty I just want something big with a big gigantic break on the end just cause I don't have one.

In summation, is this a good choice for my purpose???

yea me too, im thinking of building it on a savage action to spread the cost out over time

 

[billn17]

Have you priced 338's? You might try a 300 win mag in the same rifle. Cheaper to shoot and will do the same thing you are wanting to do.

 

[cfvickers]

My 6.5-284 will do pretty much anything I could do with a 300 win mag with less powder and less recoil. I had one and got rid of it because I had no more use for it. I want a 338 Lapua because of the big massive cool looking brake on the end of the barrel. I could give you a thousand uses I may someday find for it but the bottom line with my desire for a 338 is the "cool factor" Any good purpose I give will be frivolous filler. My 6.5-284 is very capable of everything I "Need" from a rifle. I "want" something that "Could" kill a deer a mile away "if" I ever learn how! It is far more than I need but I still want it. Kind of like some guys who want or have a 50. No great purpose for it, but it sure is cool to have and shoot.

 

[kaseyfied]

i have a custom lapua mg with a 26 inch tube on it.. I get 2715 for velocity and have kills over 1200 with it.. and shoot out o 1800 right now.. the savage fcp is going to be a better rifle than the long range hunter version.. mostly de to stock.. in my opinion ofcourse