Hey guys I wanna get into long range shooting don't want to spend a fortune . I found a savage long range hunter in .338 Papua but don't know . I do reload and will mostly use it on whitetail deer probably like to shoot out to 8-900 yards any other caliber suggestions will help but keep in mint I don't have a lot to spend on this thinking like $1500-$1800?
thinking about a .338 lapua! talk me in or out of it!
- Thread starter schmidty
- Start date
CatShooter
New member
Why is this question in two forums at the same time??
Originally Posted By: schmidty I do reload and will mostly use it on whitetail deer probably like to shoot out to 8-900 yards any other caliber suggestions will help but keep in mint I don't have a lot to spend on this thinking like $1500-$1800?
After you buy the rifle will you have a lot to spend on reloading components?
338 LM brass runs around $260 per hundred.
There are a lot of other calibers that will do what you need at 8-900 yards, and do it a lot cheaper.
After you buy the rifle will you have a lot to spend on reloading components?
338 LM brass runs around $260 per hundred.
There are a lot of other calibers that will do what you need at 8-900 yards, and do it a lot cheaper.
Tim Neitzke
New member
Very expensive to feed !!
lyotehunter
New member
an edge will do the same for less not worth it to me.i have shot both
kyyotestalker
New member
If your just getting into long range shooting a 338 is about the worst caliber you can pick, very expensive to shoot and has a lot of recoil.
If you goal is 800-900 yards and whitetail deer i'd pick one of the 6.5's specificaly a 260rem, or 6.5 creedmoor shooting either a 130 berger, 140 berger, or 140 a-max if on a budget. performance at said distance will be great and you will be able to get back on target much master after recoil.
on a 1500-1800 dollar budget id look into either a savage model 12 LRP in 6.5 creedmoor or purchase a used savage 10, add a criterion 6.5creed or 260 rem barrel, and a bell and carlson medalist stock, for a total or 800-900 dolars plus scope.
also a good scope is everything when it comes to long range shooting. Id look into atleast a vortex viper HS LR 4-16x44 which will run around $550 add to that a set of seekins rings and 20MOA base for $250 and one of the savages listed above and youd have one heck of a rifle for LR shooting.
If you goal is 800-900 yards and whitetail deer i'd pick one of the 6.5's specificaly a 260rem, or 6.5 creedmoor shooting either a 130 berger, 140 berger, or 140 a-max if on a budget. performance at said distance will be great and you will be able to get back on target much master after recoil.
on a 1500-1800 dollar budget id look into either a savage model 12 LRP in 6.5 creedmoor or purchase a used savage 10, add a criterion 6.5creed or 260 rem barrel, and a bell and carlson medalist stock, for a total or 800-900 dolars plus scope.
also a good scope is everything when it comes to long range shooting. Id look into atleast a vortex viper HS LR 4-16x44 which will run around $550 add to that a set of seekins rings and 20MOA base for $250 and one of the savages listed above and youd have one heck of a rifle for LR shooting.
kyyotestalker
New member
6.5x284 is a great Long range performer just very hard on barrels.
Originally Posted By: kyyotestalkerIf your just getting into long range shooting a 338 is about the worst caliber you can pick, very expensive to shoot and has a lot of recoil.
If you goal is 800-900 yards and whitetail deer i'd pick one of the 6.5's specificaly a 260rem, or 6.5 creedmoor shooting either a 130 berger, 140 berger, or 140 a-max if on a budget. performance at said distance will be great and you will be able to get back on target much master after recoil.
on a 1500-1800 dollar budget id look into either a savage model 12 LRP in 6.5 creedmoor or purchase a used savage 10, add a criterion 6.5creed or 260 rem barrel, and a bell and carlson medalist stock, for a total or 800-900 dolars plus scope.
also a good scope is everything when it comes to long range shooting. Id look into atleast a vortex viper HS LR 4-16x44 which will run around $550 add to that a set of seekins rings and 20MOA base for $250 and one of the savages listed above and youd have one heck of a rifle for LR shooting.
That's good info there.
A .260 with Scenar 139's, or a 6.5x47L or CM with 130 VLD's will go the 900 yards in style.
If you want to go longer distance and have a good shooter that won't break the bank, the good old 300 Win Mag will work great.
Like ky said, get the best scope you can afford.
If you goal is 800-900 yards and whitetail deer i'd pick one of the 6.5's specificaly a 260rem, or 6.5 creedmoor shooting either a 130 berger, 140 berger, or 140 a-max if on a budget. performance at said distance will be great and you will be able to get back on target much master after recoil.
on a 1500-1800 dollar budget id look into either a savage model 12 LRP in 6.5 creedmoor or purchase a used savage 10, add a criterion 6.5creed or 260 rem barrel, and a bell and carlson medalist stock, for a total or 800-900 dolars plus scope.
also a good scope is everything when it comes to long range shooting. Id look into atleast a vortex viper HS LR 4-16x44 which will run around $550 add to that a set of seekins rings and 20MOA base for $250 and one of the savages listed above and youd have one heck of a rifle for LR shooting.
That's good info there.
A .260 with Scenar 139's, or a 6.5x47L or CM with 130 VLD's will go the 900 yards in style.
If you want to go longer distance and have a good shooter that won't break the bank, the good old 300 Win Mag will work great.
Like ky said, get the best scope you can afford.
Ricky Bobby
New member
I just got the chance to shoot a Savage 10 BA chambered for .308 the other day & it was freakin awesome! It had some cool Springfield optics on top of it & I have no doubt that this particular setup could be pushed to 1000 yards no problem. Check them out.
Tim Neitzke
New member
A 338L is not a 800-900 yard chambering,it's a 1000 -1500 + yard chambering.
Get sumtin smaller....
Get sumtin smaller....
Onebad06vtx
Member
The 260 is very hard to beat!
It works well past the yardages your talking about and does as well as a whitetail gun.
But just for targets I shoot a 6 BR but I think its to light for long range whitetails.
I would buy a cheap savage,replace the barrel,stock and trigger and you will still be under a grand with a rifle that will shoot lights out to 1000 yds.
It works well past the yardages your talking about and does as well as a whitetail gun.
But just for targets I shoot a 6 BR but I think its to light for long range whitetails.
I would buy a cheap savage,replace the barrel,stock and trigger and you will still be under a grand with a rifle that will shoot lights out to 1000 yds.
skinney
Director
Originally Posted By: fw707
There are a lot of other calibers that will do what you need at 8-900 yards, and do it a lot cheaper.
+1... @ 800-900 yards a 7mm or 30 cal will be sufficient enough to kill big game, and much more congruent when it comes to cost. Don't get me wrong, if you got the funds, and want to torch 300grain pills 2800fps sledgehammer style do it... but in the long run your costs will outweigh your benefits at this range... My 338 Norma doesn't come out of the dark unless we are going over 1K, most of the time its for 2K+.
There are a lot of other calibers that will do what you need at 8-900 yards, and do it a lot cheaper.
+1... @ 800-900 yards a 7mm or 30 cal will be sufficient enough to kill big game, and much more congruent when it comes to cost. Don't get me wrong, if you got the funds, and want to torch 300grain pills 2800fps sledgehammer style do it... but in the long run your costs will outweigh your benefits at this range... My 338 Norma doesn't come out of the dark unless we are going over 1K, most of the time its for 2K+.
Ricky Bobby
New member
Originally Posted By: skinneyMy 338 Norma doesn't come out of the dark unless we are going over 1K, most of the time its for 2K+.
I envy you guys who have the places to shoot these kind of distances!
I envy you guys who have the places to shoot these kind of distances!
Idahoelkaddict
New member
Another nod for the 260... and 7mm... and 300wm... and... and... Oh its a tough choice there. The 260 is awesome, but will lack energy to kill big critters at distance. I suppose that's the elk hunter in me talking. But it is an excellent choice. Heavy 7mm bullets are ballistic champs. The 338 is just a costly option and is tantamount to swatting flies with a sledgehammer. At the risk of being laughed to scorn... I have killed about a dozen rock chucks over 750 with my 20" RRA predator 223 and 69gr smk. One confirmed kill at 984. I'm not saying that its really a long range rig, but having a certain rig dialed in, shooting it enough to be intimately familiar and doping the distance is more important than the caliber choice IMHO. Good luck.
Tim Neitzke
New member
A 223 is a good choice to learn LR skills with a budget.
I run a .223AI and 75Amax and have a hand full of back to back kills in the 640 yard area. Rock chucks that is.
I run a .223AI and 75Amax and have a hand full of back to back kills in the 640 yard area. Rock chucks that is.
If you're into shooting big bore magnums and the recoil of a 300WM feels like a love tap, go for it. Also, bear in mind that you'll be lighting off 90 to 100 grains of powder with each primer. IOW, just shy of twice a std 30-06 charge. Bullets and brass are not cheap either so it's not cheap date, even if you reload.
Otherwise, I'd suggest a 26"-28" 6.5-06, a 6.5-284, or a .260. The first two are proven 1000 yd shooters and the .260 gets close(ish). The 30-06 is no slouch at long distances.
I sorta see the magnum fetish, I just have no interest in them. That said, if it blows your skirt up, it's your money.
Otherwise, I'd suggest a 26"-28" 6.5-06, a 6.5-284, or a .260. The first two are proven 1000 yd shooters and the .260 gets close(ish). The 30-06 is no slouch at long distances.
I sorta see the magnum fetish, I just have no interest in them. That said, if it blows your skirt up, it's your money.
Ricky Bobby
New member
Not trying to steal from this thread at all because I know very little about long range shooting ... but is a .308 chambering not any good for 800-1000 yard distances? Just wondering why other choices would be considered better? Is it because of the BC of the bullets being used?