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338 for elk hunting- Build a lightweight rifle

338 edge, bare rifle
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I have a 338 Lapua in the above mentioned Christenson arms TFM. It shoots well, and as mentioned with the factory brake has a fair amount of recoil. My cousin also has one- also shoots well.

My rifle of choice is my 338 LAI. Rifle weighs 11.5 pounds with scope and bipod. It is an honest .5MOA rifle. I shoot 270 ELD-X's at 3040 FPS out of a 24 in proof barrel. I put a NF on the Improved since the photo.
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This might help:
 
What kind of ranges are you shooting? A 7mag would cut some ammo weight and come pretty close to 338 ballistics in the right configuration.

Also think about cutting barrel length to 24-26" if weight is the main concern.

Muzzle break or suppressor is necessary to tame recoil.

Scope is a good place to shed weight. I'm using a 16oz 4.5-14x40 Mark 4 LRT. You don't need a 40oz 5-25x56 scope to hit an elk.

My 26" (light varmint contour) 7mag with scope and bipod is 10.5-11lb and recoils like a 243.
 
Nice work on the elk!
Man I've been down this road before with a 9.5lb scoped 338 RUM.
It took everything I had to shoot that thing accurately, and tracking my shots was a fools errand.

There really isn't any need for a 338 when there are such awesome 30 cal bullets out there.
I'd look at a 30 nosler or 300 norma, the ballistics on a 245 or 230 Berger will keep up just fine with a 338 and kill anything with 4 legs.
I'd have to disagree. Elk are big animals with long hair. Regardless of how far away they are or how deadly a cartridge is, finding a **** elk can be a problem.

That's where the 338 shines. Better blood trail is important. You can kill elk with a variety of cartridges but finding them is a whole different story.
 
What kind of ranges are you shooting? A 7mag would cut some ammo weight and come pretty close to 338 ballistics in the right configuration.

Also think about cutting barrel length to 24-26" if weight is the main concern.

Muzzle break or suppressor is necessary to tame recoil.

Scope is a good place to shed weight. I'm using a 16oz 4.5-14x40 Mark 4 LRT. You don't need a 40oz 5-25x56 scope to hit an elk.

My 26" (light varmint contour) 7mag with scope and bipod is 10.5-11lb and recoils like a 243.
Ranges are 400 to 800 yards. Typically windy too. lol
 
Lightweight and big recoil usually don't go well together. I personally wouldn't want a 338 Lapua in a rifle any less than 11-12lbs. I have shot one that was about 15lbs with a big brake and it was manageable but I couldn't imagine something much lighter than that. Not really the recoil punishing you, but trying to see your hits and controlling it for precision shots.
If the recoil from a 10 lb 338 Lapua doesn't punish you then you are one tough sumbitch...but your brain will know you're being punished and will not let you remain physiologically unchanged by it after a few shots.
 
I have a 7.25lb Scoped and loaded High Tech Shadow 340 Wby. Does anything a Lapua can with cheaper brass, less recoil and less powder (thus much cheaper). And performance on game is bang/plop.
Never understood the need for the 338 Lapua when the 340 Wby has been available for years. Same ballistics, less expensive ammo.
 
I currently have a 338 lapua, it comes in at 14.4 lbs. Im looking at building a light weight 338 lapua or Improved shooting 300gn bergers. I elk hunt with my current rifle but would like to drop a few pounds with all the hiking we do. Just returned from WY and hiked 32 miles in 5 days. Our group went 5 for 5 on cows.

Anyone have experience with a light weight rifle in these calibers?
Would you go improved or standard 338 lapua?
I can probably get you close to 10lbs
 
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