The Best .338 Lapua Rifles

The .338 Lapua is a powerhouse of a long-range cartridge that quickly rose to the top of the precision shooter’s ammo pyramid. The 8.6mm projectile sits on top of a 69.2mm case and provides a round that reaches out to a mile…with the right rifle. What’s the right rife? Well, that’s what we are talking about today, but first, let’s explore the .338 Lapua and talk about its history, success, and why it might be the best caliber for you. 

History of the .338 Lapua

Development started on an 8.6mm projectile-based cartridge in 1983. The intent was to develop a long-range sniper round. They wanted a rifle cartridge that could pierce five layers of military body armor at 1000 meters. That’s quite the goal. 

Eventually, the project combined a .338 projectile with a .416 Rigby case to create the .338 Lapua. Research Armament Industries designed the cartridge in the United States and also produced a rifle for the cartridge. Hornady produced the projectiles, and an American company produced the cases. 

The cases failed. The guys at RAI turned to Lapua of Finland to build stronger cases to contain the power of the round. These cases worked, but RAI suffered financial difficulties and dropped out of the program. Lapua of Finland put the cartridge into production, and that’s where the Lapua in .338 Lapua Magnum comes from. 

Finnish riflemaker Sako designed a rifle, and so did Accuracy International. This brought success to the cartridge and its adoption by military forces, which would expand to long-range shooters and even hunters.

Why the .338 Lapua 

Let’s say you need a long-range round, but you don’t need something as obnoxious as the .50 BMG. It’s a job that .308 Winchester can’t do, but you don’t need a 750-grain round and a thirty-pound rifle either. That’s where the .338 Lapua Magnum fits. 

It’s well-suited for long-range, accurate shooting and packs a serious punch. It fits in a rifle that’s easy to carry, and you could hike up a ridge or over a hill. It’s capable of taking big game humanely and safely. 

When picking a .338 Lapua rifle, you must consider what you intend to use the weapon for. Hunting options tend to be lighter and simpler, which makes them easier to carry. The precision-oriented designs are often quite heavy but equipped with a modern chassis system for accessories and as much accuracy as possible.

The Best .338 Lapua Rifle

Editor’s Choice Christensen Arms Mesa .338 Lapua Magnum		Cerakoted Barrel and Action Seamless Radial Muzzle Brake Adjustable Trigger	Check It Out
Barrett MRAD SMR 338 Lapua		Adjustable Trigger Muzzle Brake AAdjustbale Stock	Check It Out
Savage Impulse Elite		Straight Pull Bolt MDT Chassis ARCA Handguard	Check It Out
Ruger Precision Rifle Gen 2		Adjustable Stock M-LOK handguard Muzzle Brake	Check It Out
Sako TRG 42		Adjustable Stock Cold Hammer Forged Barrel and Receiver Two Stage Trigger	Check It Out
Steyr Arms SSG 08		Two Stage Trigger Modern Chassis Design Muzzle Brake	Check It Out
Savage 110 Long Range Hunter		Button Rifled Muzzle Brake AccuTrigger	Check It Out

Reviews of the Best .338 Lapua Rifles

Christensen Arms is a small company that reigns like a behemoth in the hunting community. Their famed rifles are known for their accuracy, their carbon fiber-wrapped barrel sleeves, and slick actions. They are also known for their high price, but the Mesa defies that expectation for the most part. While it’s not a budget rifle, it’s an affordable Christensen Arms that chambers the mighty .388 Lapua. 

It’s not a surprise that the Mesa uses a Remington 700 action, and that provides a rugged, reliable, and common option for a bolt-action rifle. The end of the barrel is threaded, and it comes with a seamless radial muzzle brake. Seamless is an apt descriptor for a device that looks like part of the barrel. We get an adjustable trigger from Triggertech that can be dialed in from 1.5 to 4 pounds, 

The entire action and barrel are Cerakoted for weather protection. Christensen Arms doesn’t make safe queens. I figured that with the Cerakote in place, the bolt might feel gritty since it tends to have that effect. Imagine my surprise when the bolt still moved as smoothly as a hot knife through butter. The Christensen Arms quality does not disappoint. 

The rifle isn’t heavy for a .338 Lapua, but it’s heavy for a Christensen Arms rifle. The lack of the carbon fiber barrel wrap increases the weight but decreases the price point. This is a dedicated hunting rifle, and as such, weight can be an issue depending on where and how you are hunting. The benefit of that weight is recoil reduction. Speaking of, the brake also does a great job of taming recoil. 

The Mesa is still a thumper, but it’s not any more painful than a 12-gauge shotgun, in my experience. Even if it did kick my butt, the accuracy would be worth it. Rarely is a gun 1 MOA all day, but the Mesa is truly a below 1 MOA all-day rifle. 

I only have one complaint, and that’s the bolt throws kinda high, and if you wanted to mount a scope low, it might prove challenging. Then agai,n for a rifle like this, you are probably moutning a larger scope that can’t sit all that low anyway.

Christensen Arms Mesa Pros and Cons

There is no doubt about it; the Barrett MRAD is just cool. Cool isn’t an objective criteria, but I think anyone interested in guns would agree the MRAD looks cool. What’s even better is that the rifle performs even better than it looks. 

The MRAD SMR is a slightly more affordable variant of the MRAD, and I think it’s the variant that makes the most sense for long-range shooters in the civilian market. The savings on the lack of a folding stock and the quick change barrel system are worth it to me. 

The MRAD series was designed to meet a SOCOM requirement. Barrett has always been extremely civilian-friendly. They make their rifles available to the average Joe, and the MRAD is no different. SOCOM wanted a long-range precision rifle with an adaptive design, so Barrett took the 98B, built it to SOCOM’s needs, and called it the MRAD. 

The .338 Lapua MRAD features a 26-inch fluted barrel topped with a great big brake to cut recoil. The bolt action receiver sits inside a modern rifle design with a long handguard and massive monolithic rail across the top of the gun. We have tons of space for whatever optic you want, and you have room to mix in night vision optics of all types.

The MRAD SMR stock doesn’t fold, but it offers an adjustable cheek riser for a greater degree of comfort. The rifle comes with a match-grade adjustable trigger that’s addictive to pull. This rifle is absurdly accurate and shoots sub-MOA. It’s a one-mile rifle if you have the skill and equipment to make it work. 

The bolt moves super smooth, and the removable magazine makes reloads easy. It’s a hefty rifle that weighs 12 pounds. This isn’t a great option for hunting, but it’s not a huge concern for precision long-range shooting. The rifle’s brake and weight help keep recoil controllable, but holy heck, it’s loud! 

Barrett MRAD SMR Pros and Cons

The Savage Impulse Elite Precision brings us straight pull bolt speed with the power of the .338 Lapua Magnum. A straight pull bolt moves back and forth rather than up, back, forward, and down. This design makes it easy to shoot quickly and smoothly without a sacrifice in accuracy or the need to go to a heavier, more expensive semi-auto platform. 

The Impulse action moves quickly and is insanely smooth. I love shooting the Impulse, and it’s one of the few bolt action rifles whose action I describe as fun. Shooting a .338 Lapua quickly often isn’t a big concern. It’s a long-range cartridge, so speed isn’t always a major factor, but it’s still nice to have. 

The Elite Precision features an MDT 1-piece aluminum ACC chassis. This provides a stable bedding platform for the rifle and a free-floating barrel to help get every drop of accuracy out of the gun. We also get a nice long M-LOK ARCA rail handguard to attach a bipod or to attach the platform to a tripod. We get a stock that allows for an adjustable length of pull and an adjustable cheek riser to get the perfect fit. 

The precision button-rifled barrel is stainless steel and features a modified Palma contour barrel. This thick barrel profile keeps things controllable and precise for the might .338 Lapua. The end of the barrel is threaded and comes with a self-timing taper-aligned muzzle brake to help tame the powerful .338 Lapua. 

That brake does a great job reducing recoil, and so does the weapon’s overall weight. This makes it controllable and almost pleasant to shoot. The slick straight pull bolt feels oh-so-satisfying and makes the gun a ton of fun to shoot. An accurate design makes it easy to put a handful of rounds into a fairly small group at nearly any range. 

It’s a hefty rifle and an expensive rifle. The straight pull bolt action design does add some cost to the rifle’s design, which makes it a bit more expensive than most other options. Is the straight pull bolt design worth the extra cash? That’s on you.

Savage Impulse Elite Precision Pros and Cons

The Ruger Precision Rifle Gen 2 is here, and it’s loud and proud about being one the best first steps for a new precision, long-range rifle shooter. The Ruger Precision Rifle is an almost plug-and-play option for budding long-range shooters. All you need to add is a scope and either a bipod or a sandbag, and you’re off to the races, or the range in this case. 

The .338 Lapua option gives you a proven long-range cartridge in a proven long-range rifle. The Ruger Precision Rifle Gen 2 gives you a ton of modern precision rifle features without the price that’s often associated with this platform. That’s not to say the gun’s cheap, but it’s a value option. 

These features include a stock with length of pull adjustments and the ability to adjust the cheek rest to fit their needs. These are very precise adjustments to get things just right. A rail exists to add a monopod to top things off. The stock places the action in line with your shoulder to help reduce muzzle rise and make the recoil more controllable. 

The handguard uses long M-LOK slots to mount all accessories. The bottom is flat, making it a great rest for barrier shooting, sandbags, and anything else you might rest your gun on. The heavy barrel and muzzle brake keep the gun controllable and work well with the inline recoil system. 

The Ruger Precision Rifle might not be the costliest rifle but don’t tell the accuracy department that. The gun stacks rounds right where I want them and deliver SUB MOA accuracy as long as you’re a sub-MOA shooter. Personally, I am…as long as the gun’s on a tripod! 

I’m impressed by the gun’s simple ergonomics. It’s got an AR-like grip, a great stock, and isn’t as heavy as you’d expect. At 10 pounds, it’s no slouch, but not as heavy as some of the competition. The only thing that I’m not impressed by is the bolt movement. It’s a bit rocky but has no effect on the gun’s performance.

Ruger Precision Rifle Gen 2 Pros and Cons

The Finnish know how to build an accurate rifle. That whole Nordic area appreciates rifle accuracy, and it shows in their high-end rifle designs. The TRG 42 offers you a brilliant but simple and easy-to-use precision rifle in .338 Lapua. At first glance, the rifle might not stand out amongst our field of precision weapons, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. 

On the inside we have a cold hammer forged barrel and receiver. This design provides tons of strength while reducing weight. Sako uses a hex-style profile on the action which increases strength and durability. Sako calls the bolt resistance-free, and it does have an insanely slick action that glides like its on ball bearings. The bolt has three massive lugs that keep things strong. 

The stock is fully adjustable to fit the end user, and Sako reinforces it with lightweight but durable aluminum. Up top, we have integral scope mounting rails with recoil stop slots to deal with that hefty .338 Lapua. 

This is a rifle built to last forever or dang close. Besides durability, it also offers extreme accuracy. It’s a half MOA or better gun. All that cold hammer forging helps, as does the rigid receiver. The two-stage trigger is perfect for precision shooting and is very European. I like two-stage designs, and it helps me settle in for that last second before the shot’s fired. 

So what’s the downside? Well, you might have to fly to Finland to find one. I joke, but Sako takes their time making these rifles, which can make them tough to find at times. When you find them, expect to pay a pretty penny. 

Sako TRG 42 Pros and Cons

Steyr might be one of the msot underrated companies in the gun industry. They don’t seem to get the attention they deserve in the States, which can often be traced to their high prices and lack of availability. You can likely guess the downsides of the Steyr Arms SSG 08 already. If you can find one and afford one, you have your hands on one of the finest .338 Lapua rifles known to man. 

This is a super modern precision rifle platform designed for putting big bullets into tiny groups. According to Steyr, EKO Cobra helped design the rifle and intended to use it for counter-terrorism purposes. The SSG 08 is a more modernized version of the SSG 04. The main difference is the aluminum stock and the more modern design. 

The rifle uses the classic cold hammer forged barrel, the Safe bolt System, and the two-stage trigger of the 04. The gun still feeds from a detachable magazine as well. The stock provides adjustments for both the length of pull and for your cheek. It’s also equipped with a spike monopod for great stability. 

Up front, we get a bipod that plays well with the monopod for accuracy. The rifle weighs thirteen pounds, so the bipod will be used quite a bit. The SSG 08 features an integral Picatinny scope rail as well as M-LOK slots for all sorts of accessories. It’s a modern rifle for modern shooters.

Steyr puts the precision in a precision rifle. The SSG 08 delivers sub-MOA performance without a problem. The chassis helps, as does the two-stage trigger and cold hammer forged barrel. They combine like Voltron to create a precision shooting machine. What’s crazy is that it’s surprisingly easy to shoot. The recoil doesn’t leave you feeling like Marvis Frazier in 1986.

Steyr Arms SSG 08 Pros and Cons

None of these guns are budget-priced. You simply can’t get into .338 Lapua at 500 dollars, and if you find a 500 dollar .338 Lapua, be cautious. The closest we can get to a budget-worthy .338 Lapua is the Savage 110 Long Range Hunter. Savage delivers affordable bolt action platforms, and the Long Range Hunter is no different. 

As the name suggests, it’s designed to be fairly light and transportable. At less than nine pounds, it’s not too tough to tote up the hill or into the tree stand. The rifle has a very traditional layout without anything too exciting in terms of features. 

You can adjust the length of pull via a system of spacers to get the right length stock for you. It’s not subtle adjustments but functional. The receiver has an integral rail, which is nice to see. A muzzle brake sits at the end of the barrel to help reduce recoil. 

We get button rifling inside the barrel to increase accuracy and put the long in long range. The rifle is accurate enough for hunting purposes and, with the right ammo, can shoot 1 MOA easily enough. The gun uses the AccuTrigger, which is one of the nicest stock triggers on the market. 

While the gun is accurate, it does have a bit of recoil to it. The light design and traditional stock will do that. The muzzle device does a decent job, but it can’t take all the sting out of the mighty .338 Lapua. The Savage 110 Long Range Hunter is a great way to get into long-range shooting, and the .338 Lapua caliber, but it lags behind the other rifles on this list. 

Savage 110 Long Range Hunter Pros and Cons

The .338 Lapua Magnum – A Powerhouse 

The .338 Lapua Magnum is a great way to climb into the world of long-range shooting. It’s an established cartridge with a proven history of success. It comes in a wide variety of rifles, and various load types exist for various purposes and needs. We’ve covered a variety of rifles that will provide you with what we feel are the best choices. However, let’s turn it over to the comments section. 

Which rifle would you prefer? Do you prefer something that’s not on the list? Let us know below!