[Gene Econ]

I am in the market for a new rifle. Primary purpose: Hunting.
Secondary purpose: Long range marksmanship training/competition.
I have scoured the board, and this forum in particular, for .338 and Lapua... vague references at best.

Hunting I can see it. Long Range competition generally means NRA Long Range and they won't allow calibers over .30. I am sure there are big bore competitions but if so, they don't hit the radar screen.

I'm looking at purchasing something in .338 Lapua. Everything I have heard from professionals across the board is positive about this caliber.

I just estimated about $1.25 per shot if you buy your components in bulk to get discounts, and you handload. This includes the cost of a $500.00 barrel that will be shot out at 1500 rounds maximum.

It's funny that your biggest component cost is the bullet followed by barrel wear! Sierra's 2007 Drop Ship prices show the 250 Match King to cost $208.00 for 500 bullets. That comes to forty cents per bullet and if you live in Alaska you must order $2,000.00 worth of bullets to qualify for their drop ship program. Next is barrel wear that I estimate to be $.30 per shot given the very liberal statement that a .338 Lapua Magnum barrel of top quality will last 1500 rounds before accuracy suffers at ranges past 600 yards. Next is brass that will cost you over one dollar per piece and will last maybe four firings -- $.25 per shot. 100 grains of powder per shot comes to about the same -- $.25 per shot. Primers will be about $.03 per shot.

All in all look at about $1.25 per shot and most matches consist of unlimited sighters and three strings of twenty for record. Look at around $90.00 for ammo per match.

It also meets the generalized requirement of 2K+ Ft/Lb of force... out past 400m. The general rule of thumb for hunting in alaska is that 2k kills anything here. I tend to agree.

I certainly won't argue with that works. I haven't hunted for years but I do find it strange that requirements would be measured in foot pounds of energy as opposed to using the right bullet, at the right speed, at the right ranges -- and holding what ever kill zone is required for that specific game.

I have 3 rifles currently under scrutiny for possible incorporation into the family armory: Remington M24A3 Armalite AR-30 McMillan TAC-338.

I defer to Rick for this as he can shoot these rifles without having to buy them or pay for the ammo. I do advise you to not waste your money on an Armalite product. I also think that McMillan tacks on a good 30% for their name. Remington is Remington -- take the good with the bad.

One thing I will advise is this. If you intend on firing sixty plus rounds in a few hours -- that .338 is going to weigh a good 16 - 20 pounds and have a barrel that is about 30 inches long. Even if you have a comp on the rifle, after about thirty rounds fired in competition you will get a lesson on the effects of recoil on marksmanship skills and the effects of overpressure on your physiology.

Great cartridge for huting where you shoot one or two rounds in a day. Exceptionally accurate cartridge for long range precision. Deadly on the shooter and his bank account.

Gene