Why 338 Super Mags

Why 338 super Mags like the 338 Lapua, Dakota etc... When the old 338 Win Mag is only a few hundred feet per second slower, cost 1/2 the price per round, and less recoil. Also if you reload you can work up rounds very close to the lapua, but the recoil and presures will increase. In my own opinion I believe the 338 Win Mag offers the best of the 338's from hunting to long range Accuracy and Precision. It seems to me that soon as the new and shinny comes on the market everybody and thier brother jumps on the band wagon. The 6.5 creedmoore is a great example people went out bought the 6.5 now they have to have the 6mm, when the old 7mm-08 will give them a run for thier money if not better them espeacialy in down range energy. So in my oppinion and mine alone, if i had to have a 338 it would be the Win Mag, more rifle avalibility, can be had in a lighter package, less recoil but then again in a lighter package recoil may be on par with the lapua, Ammo alot cheaper for us non reloders and more factory ammo bullet selection. For the 308 cased ammo I believe the 7mm-08 will better all of them as a better all around cartrage as for hunting and long range shooting. As for the medium action cases it's hard to beat the 270 Win. in fact with the new Hornady precision hunter and the SST Super performance your knocking on the door of the 7mm Rem Mag now thats just my opinion. Wold love to see a comparison between the 270 Win and the 7mm Rem Mag. The 7mm-08 vs the 6.5 CM vs the 6mm CM. Not to mention the great 338's, Win Mag and the lapua to see the just how much difference there really is. My educated guess would be not enough to justify $80-$120 per box for the lapua. I'm a firm beliver that if you have one good rifle and you learn it itimately you will become more perficent than the guy who has to learn the in's and out's of a new shinny rifle and the newest greatest cartrige rage. It's been my experience that alot of people who opt for the newest and greatest, when it's all said and done those same people when the new wares off and the rage settles down. They end up opting for the old standby's the 243 Win., 7mm-08, 308 Wn, 270 Win, 30-06 Spr, 7mm Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag and of course the 338 Win Mag for in my opinion and again mine only these cartridges are the ones that i believe all others are measured. Pick one and become perficent with that one rifle, scope and cartrige package. Just Say'in

2 comments

lawlasaurusrexx

Mar 09, 2017

I it's my cursory understanding that the .338 Lapua is more accurate than the win mag..

bbice

Mar 10, 2017

I've heard that the LaPua is more accurate too, though I've no idea why. Someday I'll hunt down some books on the science of cartridge shapes and try to figure it out. I agree that if you're just in it for fun and/or learning, any rifle you have that you can shoot consistently and get consistent and predictable muzzle velocity will do fine. My off-the-shelf .270 works dandy now that I've finally got a decent scope on it (and bedded the action). It's no tack-driver but it's at least sub-MOA and that's been good enough to have fun with (up to 960m so far, though not hitting a 12 inch plate as often as I'd prefer at that range -grin).

But I've seen the ballistics on a 6.5mm Grendel for comparison and that teeny cartridge with minimal recoil and a 123 gr slug has about the same max range as the .270 with it's huge cartridge and recoil. And the impact energy at 1000m isn't that vastly different, though the .270 does have a bit more. I'm only using 135gr slugs in the .270 though. I could never get the 150gr slugs to shoot sub-moa at any muzzle velocity. I think I just don't have enough twist for the heavy slugs.

Anyway, I say if ya got $$ go get an uber-rifle and if not, shoot what ya got that's sub-MOA and have fun!