Unless an agency is mandating it, why would I build a Lapua instead of the big Weatherby? Brass and dies are expensive for both. Bullets and powder, close enough. Will a Lapua fit in more actions? Little help here...
tslewisz said:Unless an agency is mandating it, why would I build a Lapua instead of the big Weatherby? Brass and dies are expensive for both. Bullets and powder, close enough. Will a Lapua fit in more actions? Little help here...
That isn't the case here. As I mentioned, I've yet to see a round of .338 Lapua brass, or ammunition for sale anywhere here in Arizona, with the exception of a couple of gun shows. .338-378 Weatherby brass and ammo is everywhere. Cheaper too I might add. Norma makes Weatherby's brass. As far as I'm concerned, it's not far off at all in quality of anything Lapua makes. I've got .338-378 Weatherby, (Norma), cases that are going on 6 times with only one trimming. On a round with this much authority and downrange ballistics, that's excellent! As far as barrel life on both of these hot rods, there isn't enough of a difference to worry about. Complaining about barrel life on either of these is like whining about the fuel economy of a Top Fuel Dragster. Bill T.MikeMiller said:brass is far easier to get around the world
8 to 12 percent more powder isn't going to cut barrel life by over 60%. How a barrel is treated will have a much greater effect on how long it lasts rather than charge weight. More barrels are ruined by foolish "break in" methods, than by being shot out. I've seen these bump fire and dirt shooter AR-15 artists cook a barrel in 3,000 rounds and even less. Anyone can abuse anything until it fails. I've been shooting the .338-378 Weatherby since 1999, and I'm still on the same barrel the rifle came shipped with. It groups as well, or better than the day I took it out of the box. I go by actual results that I myself have achieved, not what somebody tells me. I could care less what is or isn't "available all over the world". I live in Phoenix, Arizona, and I can tell you first hand you are more likely to find a winning Powerball ticket on the sidewalk, than you are a box of .338 Lapua. I've owned and shot big bores for over 35 years, and I would be broke from buying barrels if I got the barrel life many of these "experts" claim. I put their findings into the same category I do these idiotic methods for "barrel break In's". Bill T.MikeMiller said:On BBL life I was going with what SOTIC and Crane have told me average for the 338 Lapuas thye test are. Around 3500 rds. Now I have shot out a 333/378 WB in less than 1500 rds but your mileage may differ. That extra powder and higher pressure will eat a bbl faster no matter how much you believe otherwwise.
On availability of brass. Please the 338 Lapua is a Military Caliber and available around the world. I bet we can find a bit more of it easier than the Weatherby. I can walk in many stores around here and find 338 Lapua ammunition on the shelf. I have yet to see 338/375 Weatherby on a shelf in a gunstore in any part of the country.
I've considered one over and over again for a sporter type rifle. Some day, maybe I shall own one!MikeMiller said:Tyler, I once wrote an article and called the 338 Ultra the poor mans Lapua. **** good caliber. Lots of bang for buck. Originally I could not get same velocoties with RUM but later with some different powders it came out so close its a toss up.
It IS out of line.MikeMiller said:Bill, please I dont know you and you dont know me so you might want to pull in the claws. Talking down to me after a few days here seems out of line.