"Cost of Ownership" 338 Lapua and 300 Win Mag

deepcore · September 4, 2010, 12:43 AM

Curious about cost per round to reload 338 Lapua vs say 300 Win Mag.
One of those if/will I ever own one, things.
Getting into reloading rifle .308 (only been reloading pistol til now).

Thanks

kdog70 · September 5, 2010, 07:24 PM

This isn't exact but generally when I looked into getting a gun.

338 L
2 bucks a piece for brass (lasts a long time)
1 buck for a quality bullet
Primers depend on where you are at in the country
Powder also depends on where you are at.

300 win mag
30 bucks for a box of 50 (amax)
44 bucks for 50
primers and powder same as above.

The Lapua is expensive in every way, expensive rifle,need a quality scope to maximize the gun. The 300 win mag can be just as expensive but can be made a bit cheaper.

Unless you plan on shooting over 2000 yards I would get the 300 win mag. That's what I did and haven't looked back got hits to mile. The 300 win mag "Can" hit 2000 mark but the 338L will do it.

308 can be reloaded cheap you can get cheap military pulled bullets or a bit more expensive quality bullets. I don't know your purpose but I might be able to help you from there.

dawico · September 5, 2010, 08:02 PM

Believe it or not, it is cheaper to buy and load for a 50 BMG than it is for a 338 Lapua. Anyways, look up componant prices, and use this http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp to figure the prices to reload each.

Zak Smith · September 5, 2010, 10:07 PM

Lapua 250gr or 300gr .338LM match bullets can be had for $0.59 and $0.62 respectively.

The .338 uses about 90gr powder while the .330WM uses about 80.

Barrel life is similar.

Crankylove · September 5, 2010, 11:24 PM

http://handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

As already posted, the cost calculator gives a pretty good idea of the cost per round, so you can compare different cases, bullets, powder, etc.

If I like the gun/caliber, the cost to reload isn't such a big issue for me, but I do use the cost calculator every once in a while just to see what it is actually costing me, versus my estimated costs.

deepcore · February 4, 2011, 02:06 PM

I was told there would be math

thanks for the calculator but couldn't get it to work
with "0" cost for brass (since it's not a factor for subsequent reloads).

So had to break out the small calculator.

All prices are from Midway (non-sale) catalog.

Brass (lapua) $2.62/round
Bullet (Lapua 250g lock base) .69/round
Powder (Alliant 1 lb 85 gr load) .26/round
Primer (magnum rifle) .35/round
Sound of big boom: priceless

So $3.92/round for first load. Minus the brass cost for
the following reloads....carry the one....$1.30.

Cost of course depends on sales and quantities buy.
Of course you don't buy a Ferrari and complain about how much gas it uses.

mapsjanhere · February 4, 2011, 02:09 PM

You really want the 300 RUM anyway, no dealing with belted brass

deepcore · February 4, 2011, 02:09 PM

Thanks for the help guys.
Sorry for bringing up this old thread and for thinking out loud.
Passed by the store yesterday for incidentals and saw the Savage 110 on the rack and the old "itch" came back.

Zak Smith · February 4, 2011, 02:10 PM

7RM or 7WSM, FTW. Other than bullet mass it rivals .338LM performance at 1500 yards.

deepcore · February 4, 2011, 04:35 PM

I guess the kicker here is the brass life of the .338 Lap.
Is any shorter or longer vs the other calibers mentioned so far?

September 4, 2010, 12:43 AM	#1
deepcore Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2010 Posts: 364	"Cost of Ownership" 338 Lapua and 300 Win Mag Curious about cost per round to reload 338 Lapua vs say 300 Win Mag. One of those if/will I ever own one, things. Getting into reloading rifle .308 (only been reloading pistol til now). Thanks

September 5, 2010, 10:07 PM	#4
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Lapua 250gr or 300gr .338LM match bullets can be had for $0.59 and $0.62 respectively. The .338 uses about 90gr powder while the .330WM uses about 80. Barrel life is similar. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

September 5, 2010, 11:24 PM	#5
Crankylove Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: 8B ID Posts: 1,753	http://handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp As already posted, the cost calculator gives a pretty good idea of the cost per round, so you can compare different cases, bullets, powder, etc. If I like the gun/caliber, the cost to reload isn't such a big issue for me, but I do use the cost calculator every once in a while just to see what it is actually costing me, versus my estimated costs. __________________ The answer to 1984 is 1776

February 4, 2011, 02:09 PM	#7
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	You really want the 300 RUM anyway, no dealing with belted brass __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

February 4, 2011, 02:10 PM	#9
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	7RM or 7WSM, FTW. Other than bullet mass it rivals .338LM performance at 1500 yards. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

September 5, 2010, 07:24 PM	#2
kdog70 Member Join Date: September 18, 2008 Location: Marquette,Mi Posts: 89	This isn't exact but generally when I looked into getting a gun. 338 L 2 bucks a piece for brass (lasts a long time) 1 buck for a quality bullet Primers depend on where you are at in the country Powder also depends on where you are at. 300 win mag 30 bucks for a box of 50 (amax) 44 bucks for 50 primers and powder same as above. The Lapua is expensive in every way, expensive rifle,need a quality scope to maximize the gun. The 300 win mag can be just as expensive but can be made a bit cheaper. Unless you plan on shooting over 2000 yards I would get the 300 win mag. That's what I did and haven't looked back got hits to mile. The 300 win mag "Can" hit 2000 mark but the 338L will do it. 308 can be reloaded cheap you can get cheap military pulled bullets or a bit more expensive quality bullets. I don't know your purpose but I might be able to help you from there.

September 5, 2010, 08:02 PM	#3
dawico Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2009 Location: Lampasas, TX Posts: 326	Believe it or not, it is cheaper to buy and load for a 50 BMG than it is for a 338 Lapua. Anyways, look up componant prices, and use this http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp to figure the prices to reload each.

February 4, 2011, 02:06 PM	#6
deepcore Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2010 Posts: 364	I was told there would be math thanks for the calculator but couldn't get it to work with "0" cost for brass (since it's not a factor for subsequent reloads). So had to break out the small calculator. All prices are from Midway (non-sale) catalog. Brass (lapua) $2.62/round Bullet (Lapua 250g lock base) .69/round Powder (Alliant 1 lb 85 gr load) .26/round Primer (magnum rifle) .35/round Sound of big boom: priceless So $3.92/round for first load. Minus the brass cost for the following reloads....carry the one....$1.30. Cost of course depends on sales and quantities buy. Of course you don't buy a Ferrari and complain about how much gas it uses.

February 4, 2011, 04:35 PM	#10
deepcore Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2010 Posts: 364	I guess the kicker here is the brass life of the .338 Lap. Is any shorter or longer vs the other calibers mentioned so far?