338 Lapua barrel

[etisll40]

Looking to buy a custom 338 Lapua barrel 32" with break. Considering buying a new reamer and selling it after one use. Shooting out to 1500 meters. Any recommendations as to barrel, reamer and break greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Ed

 

[surgeon260]

Kind of a confusing question you pose. Why do you want such a long barrel? A 26" barreled Lapua will get you to that distance no problem. So will a factory rifle like a Ruger RPR.

What action are you using?

 

[C.O. Shooter]

I'm all for a longer barrel. I'm using a heavy palma, 30" 1-9, 5R Bartlein. Seeing all the new mono bullets, I would consider a 1-8.

Something else to consider is hauling the rifle. Such as airline travel. You go any longer than 30", cases get pretty expensive.

 

[jimbires]

I'm running a 10 twist , 30" + brake bbl now . it has a 1" muzzle diameter . when I rebarrel I'll have a 9 twist , maybe an 8 twist , and I think I'll be going to a 32" + brake length . I might even go to an improved case design .

if you don't have the reamer , or dies , I would really consider an improved . it will add a little more case capacity , more velocity , and better brass life .

 

[surgeon260]

A 32" barrel simply isn't needed for the OP's performance window. Now if he wanted to push it out to 2500m, I would say sure, you're going to need all the velocity you can get.

But if he had the skill and experience to shoot 2500m, he wouldn't need the advice of strangers on the internet.

I still question why he wants such a long barrel.

 

[BallisticsGuy]

Terminator T3 or T4 brakes are wicked effective. Bartlein 400MODBB blanks give a lot of extra life. Dave Manson is my go to for custom reamers.

 

[sp6x6]

Hes been on forum since 2009, Id guess he'd have a idea of where he wants to start.If i had it to do again,I have 2-338NM.I got one for a deal.Id go 338 LAI in a LRMK form,bull pup from DE,to get the longer barrel and have a real long range hammer.

 

[etisll40]

Hes been on forum since 2009, Id guess he'd have a idea of where he wants to start.If i had it to do again,I have 2-338NM.I got one for a deal.Id go 338 LAI in a LRMK form,bull pup from DE,to get the longer barrel and have a real long range hammer.

I like Shawn and DE, but sometimes having my head next such a big cartridge scares me. Although I probably should go to his site and peruse. I have a 26" barrel now and I'm still working into the 1000-1500m range, not sure Lapua is really for anything much longer. 2500 not skilled yet enough and probably would move up 50 BMG if I develop the skill to go that far. My thought is I'm at 26" but if I went to 32" and didn't gain more speed I could it cut back to 30". 32" is long looking! I am going to look at that Fat Bastard break. 338improved, I've heard brass life is a lot better and maybe 30" improved is max out for Lapua? I guess I'm looking for optimum length and 26" isn't it? 30" does sound like max I also wonder if 26" improved is = to 30" Lapua? Either way I'm really mostly in the process of getting a new barrel/break right now.

 

[surgeon260]

There is a lot of bad information in that post.

First, pretty much every 26" Lapua out there (which you say you have) will hit the 2750 node with a 300 Berger. That combo should easily take you to 2000+ yards supersonic. Your comment that you are "not sure Lapua is really for anything much longer" than 1000-1500 is showing your ignorance on this topic. Your 26" Lapua is MORE THAN ENOUGH gun to shoot 1000-1500. A puny Creedmoor in capable hands can make reliable hits at 1000-1500. Adding 6 more inches of barrel to your Lapua is not going make any difference in your ability to hit targets at 1000-1500.

Second, 50 BMG is a terrible choice for someone learning ELR for a whole host of reasons. Cost, recoil, muzzle blast, necessity for new reloading equipment, lower inherent precision than something like an XC or Cheytac. Just no. If you really wanted to graduate to the next performance tier (which it sounds like you do not have the skill or experience to do), something like a 33 or 37XC makes way more sense. And it would be compatible with your current action.

You still have not answered my question - what is it you think a 32" Lapua will do that a 26" Lapua will not? And what action do you have? Your inability to articulate this tells me that you aren't even close to having the skill level to maximize the performance of your current rifle. It's like someone with a Ferrari who has never driven it over 60MPH wanting to upgrade to a Bugatti because they think that is what is necessary to drive faster.

I shoot a 30" Lapua Improved and I am pretty much maxing out the performance of the Lapua case: 30" barrel, max capacity 40 degree chamber, long throat for 300 Bergers at 3.9+ OAL, single shot action, RL33 powder. It's about as extreme of a setup as you can get with the Lapua case short of the stepped throat Terminator design. The difference between my rifle and your 26" standard Lapua is about 200-250 fps with a 300 Berger. The extra velocity of even the most extreme, long barrel Lapua Improved setup will make almost no difference in your ability to reliably hit targets at 1000-1500.

Not trying to rain on your parade or be disrespectful, but you aren't asking the right questions.

 

[jimbires]

why can't a guy build what he wants ?

 

[surgeon260]

He came to an ELR forum asking for recommendations.

 

[VLD Pilot]

He came to an ELR forum asking for recommendations.

He's looking for recommendations on barrel, reamer and brake manufacturers not whether he should go shorter or longer than he seems to be wanting. Unfortunately many times when you come to these forums, you get told what you need and don't need by guys that don't even know you. Bartlein and if you can find a Broughton barrel, they are two good options for the 338 LM barrel as well as other good makers. For your range an 9.3 twist is great for the long heavy 300+ bullets. Muzzle brakes and more makes good reasonable priced brakes in 4-5 port. For a reamer JGS has prints of the 338 LM improved reamers. Just need to decide on freebore, neck size basically. If you have a 26" barrel already, I'd chamber it up and use it. See what it does for your desired range needs and go from there.

 

[etisll40]

There is a lot of bad information in that post.

First, pretty much every 26" Lapua out there (which you say you have) will hit the 2750 node with a 300 Berger. That combo should easily take you to 2000+ yards supersonic. Your comment that you are "not sure Lapua is really for anything much longer" than 1000-1500 is showing your ignorance on this topic. Your 26" Lapua is MORE THAN ENOUGH gun to shoot 1000-1500. A puny Creedmoor in capable hands can make reliable hits at 1000-1500. Adding 6 more inches of barrel to your Lapua is not going make any difference in your ability to hit targets at 1000-1500.

Second, 50 BMG is a terrible choice for someone learning ELR for a whole host of reasons. Cost, recoil, muzzle blast, necessity for new reloading equipment, lower inherent precision than something like an XC or Cheytac. Just no. If you really wanted to graduate to the next performance tier (which it sounds like you do not have the skill or experience to do), something like a 33 or 37XC makes way more sense. And it would be compatible with your current action.

You still have not answered my question - what is it you think a 32" Lapua will do that a 26" Lapua will not? And what action do you have? Your inability to articulate this tells me that you aren't even close to having the skill level to maximize the performance of your current rifle. It's like someone with a Ferrari who has never driven it over 60MPH wanting to upgrade to a Bugatti because they think that is what is necessary to drive faster.

I shoot a 30" Lapua Improved and I am pretty much maxing out the performance of the Lapua case: 30" barrel, max capacity 40 degree chamber, long throat for 300 Bergers at 3.9+ OAL, single shot action, RL33 powder. It's about as extreme of a setup as you can get with the Lapua case short of the stepped throat Terminator design. The difference between my rifle and your 26" standard Lapua is about 200-250 fps with a 300 Berger. The extra velocity of even the most extreme, long barrel Lapua Improved setup will make almost no difference in your ability to reliably hit targets at 1000-1500.

Not trying to rain on your parade or be disrespectful, but you aren't asking the right questions.

I appreciate the 2nd to last paragraph as you seem to have the max experience with Lapua and improved. It took awhile but you answered my question, MAX would be 30" improved. I wanted to move toward a max setup and getting a 300+ grain bullet to 2950-3000 is my final goal. I may have to call McMillan and tell them their 50BMG for elr is not the way to go and ask they remove it from consideration as an ELR choice. lol https://www.mcmillanfirearms.com/SACItem.aspx?Item=MCMTAC50C.

 

[VLD Pilot]

I appreciate the 2nd to last paragraph as you seem to have the max experience with Lapua and improved. It took awhile but you answered my question, MAX would be 30" improved. I wanted to move toward a max setup and getting a 300+ grain bullet to 2950-3000 is my final goal. I may have to call McMillan and tell them their 50BMG for elr is not the way to go and ask they remove it from consideration as an ELR choice. lol https://www.mcmillanfirearms.com/SACItem.aspx?Item=MCMTAC50C.

I run a 30" barrel on my 338 LM improved. Getting 3000fps w/300 Bergers. The 32" barrel offers a little better velocity but not sure enough to make a difference. IF I were going last 2200 yards, I'd be getting into a 375/416 option in a Cheytac not the 50BMG option. Lots of info out there on those options.