Hello one and all. Just a quick question. Can someone tell me how the .338 Mag recoil compares to the .308. The reason I ask is that I used to shoot a lot of 7.62mm (.308) in my R.A.F days, but know I have a craving for an AI AWM. I'm 5'10" and of slight build, hence the question...... I don't want to get hammered in the name of fun. Any help/advice would be welcome. Many thanks. Chris.

-- Chris Wilson (chrismel@chrismel.plus.com), February 22, 2003

Answers

Hi, I made a long-range rifle in 338 Lapua Mag. I used a CZ 550 AF action, Hart SS 27.5in BBL 1.25dia., MPI Tactical Stock, adjustable butt plate and cheek piece , Harris bipod. I toped it with a Valdada 4-14 scope. This rig weighs in at 20lbs. The recoil is equal to my match M1A. No muz brake needed. I have clocked 250gr bullets at 3025fps and it is holding .375min of angle. It is not too expensive to shoot if you reload. The Lapua brass is a little much at $130.00 per 100. I love it and it is now my favorite bolt gun.

-- David C. Terrana (mterrana@earthlink.net), July 10, 2004.

Chris, if you have mastered the basic fundamentals of shooting with the .308, than you will do fine with the .338 win. mag.. just limit your pracice to fewer rounds. At the risk of pissing a lot of people off, I believe the .338 win. mag. (if properly hand-loaded) is a superior round to the lapua-- much cheaper to learn to shoot well, much more available data, and much harder to follow should you someday use it for the advancement of civil liberties. Do not fall prey to the market; shoot one rifle well, and you will become a dangerous man.

-- patriotcop (sgervase406@hotmail.com), May 11, 2004.

i have a rifle in .338 lap mag for long range, recoil is no more than a .243, maybe even less, I have it fitted with a moderator, comes as standard on this custom rifle, fired 50 rnds in one and a half hours and time and money permiting would have fired it all day. check out www.gunsmiths.tv

-- mark wallin (sales@yorkandwallin.co.uk), January 14, 2004.

Hello to all of you and congratulations for this nice site.

In relation to the above question I belive Chris refers to .338 Lapua Magnum and not .338 Winchester Magnum. I totaly agree with the 1st reply but in case you are really interested in very long range and few shoots, then you get the right caliber. With the Sako TRG 42 with compensator/recoil reducer you will experience a mild recoil compared to a .460 Wby Mag.

-- Edgar (renovobanho@mail.telepac.pt), November 12, 2003.

I have a 338 mag with a BOSS and it has no more recoil than a 308

-- Doug (jessejames201@yahoo.com), November 09, 2003.

AIAW is pretty comfortable in 0.338Lap. But now way would you want to be shooting the same number of rounds as a 7.62 system. Develop skills on 7.62 and develop the "one shot" mentality with the 0.338Lap. More than a dozen rounds or so per range visit and you risk loosing the edge. You often see this with any major calibre system....start off ok, get better some rounds later and then performance (esp. accuracy) starts to deteriorate with many rounds fired. The time/no of rounds required varies a lot between operators and their reaction to calibres. Take a look in the Miscellaneous section / Competitions / 2001 and scroll down to the pics me and Mr. U with the webmasters 0.460 Weatherby Magnum......very serious recoil here, and also two different reactions. I loved it...that was my second follow up shot. 500grn softies at fig11 at 50m....hardly buff, but 2 c.o.m. hits. Adam . . . out

-- Adam (fireforcefour@yahoo.co.uk), March 24, 2003.

Shooting for fun you won`t like it. Probably over twice the recoil of the .308. A muzzle break would drop it down to .308 level though. Would be expensive to shoot for fun. Excellant big game cartridge for elk, moose, and big bears though.

-- Paul Eshleman (redneckpaul2000@aol.com), February 22, 2003.