From this example, we see that the .338 LM round is showing an overall flatter trajectory than the .300 Win Mag round with the biggest difference being 10″ at the 500-yard mark. The drawback to this cartridge for hunting has to do with the firearm. This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by the generous contributions of members. Rifleshooter.com and its authors, do not assume any responsibility, directly or indirectly for the safety of the readers attempting to follow any instructions or perform any of the tasks shown, or the use or misuse of any information contained herein, on this website. Too hot of a round can be dangerous due to extreme pressures and if the round is not paired with the correct twist rate of the barrel, the bullet can be highly unstable in flight. I decided to shoot the two most common weight bullets, 250 and 300 grain. Barrel length, Barrel length and velocity, External Ballistic Data, Precision Rifles Now, there are of course rounds for both the exceed their average by quite a bit and those rounds that fall below. As we move out to the 300-yard mark, we see the different rounds begin to space themselves out. Sample size is a problem we continually encounter in these barrel length and velocity studies. While I’ve mostly been shooting Sierra, a few readers have asked about the Hornady. I don’t know of anyone with a 20″ 338 Lapua Magnum that is happy that they went short. With the larger data set, the results are nearly identical to the numbers that we saw above. We will also take the distance out to an extra 100 yards. The velocity is a critical performance spec for any cartridge comparison because of the influence that it has on just about all the other performance categories we will look at. The higher the momentum, the better the bullet can overcome resistance such as thick hide and bones. The longer barrel comes with the advantage of higher velocity and increased downrange performance at the price of mobility and weight. Because of that, there is no harm in looking at the numbers within 400 yards. While both of these rounds are known as having the capability to be used in long range situations, both are also used in a hunting capacity, which means shots taken at a shorter range are probable, so we will also take a look at the short range trajectories. 5 Reasons to consider gunsmithing as a hobby, Howa 1500 with MDT ESS chassis system in 6.5 Creedmoor, Metallic Cartridge Case Preperation Made Easy: Sinclair Power Center Review, Custom 1911 Project: Part 7- machining ball cuts on a 1911 slide, Smith and Wesson Model 39: The gun that wanted to replace the 1911 and helped inspire the modern generation of compact service pistols, JEC Customs Recoil Reduction Muzzle Brake Review and Installation, Building a custom Remington 700 hunting rifle, Custom 1911 Project: Part 2-undercut trigger guard, Remington 870 extractor identification: MIM v. bar stock, Custom 1911 Project: Part 4- Machining a chain link front strap. A heavy 1.350″ shank that ran straight for 6″, until tapering to 1″ at 30″ in length! For this reason, I present the graph above with a little reservation. The purpose of this post is to examine how barrel length affects muzzle velocity in the 338 Lapua Magnum. Never miss a post! That’s not to say that they start tumbling all over the place, but they are more susceptible to environmental factors which makes shots past this marker more difficult. I don’t understand why the 340 Weatherby (above, left) isn’t compared more to the 338 Lapua Magnum (above, right), especially with the 250 grain class bullets. The average velocities, when we add in more rounds, are near identical to the trends we just looked at. The increased interest in the .338 LM in civilian circuits has resulted in more round options though still limited compared to other competition and hunting rounds. Below are the averages for the two cartridge’s sectional density. Load Data IMR 4831, mag primers 300 Wim Mag, 180 gr Nosler partition: Starting load 69. specifications of interest to reloaders: bullet diameter . This is an extremely popular caliber for long-range shooters including those chasing big game and those in precision shooting competitions. Flatter trajectories, less bullet drop, make it easier to adjust for long range shots and for two cartridges designed to give long range performance, it’s an important performance characteristic to examine closely. Just look at the amount of powder that can be loaded into the .300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua Magnum. He cut a 338-378 Weatherby (larger case capacity) down from 46″ to 24″ in 2″ increments. Of course, there are other factors, but most of us are not going to run into many scenarios where 100lb/ft.s of momentum is needed and 80lb/ft.s will not be enough. Learn how to build a 338 Lapua Magnum custom rifle, click here. This is important, especially when dealing with cartridges with a reputation for taking large and dangerous game as you want those rounds to get to and pass through vital organs while causing damage. HPBT MatchKing Box 50pz. Just loaded some 270 bullets up with IMR 4831 and my speer reloading manual showed 58 gr as max and 56 gr was right at 3000 fps. In this section, we will take a look at several ballistic categories including the velocity, the ballistic coefficient, as well as the short and long range trajectory of the .300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua Magnum. My F-TR load and rifle: Caliber .308 Win, Lapua brass, CCI BR-2 primers, Berger 185 Jugs seated 0.010" OTL, Rem 700 action, Benchmark 30" 1:10 twist 5 gr SS barrel with a short freebore of 0.110" and using Varget 42.7 gn load. It’s going to be tough hauling around a 12-15lb weapon in the field. So, we have calculated the bullet momentum for the ten selected rounds and graphed them below (Graph 9). 300 Win Mag 180gr Accubond 3050fps 2000ft 70F] Field data (optional) FIELD DATA TO ENTER? Build on a modified 416 Rigby case, the Lapua dispenses with the head spacing belt traditionally associated with magnum cartridges for a rimless case. Others, not so much. All 7mm, 30 Cal, .338 and UP. From just the aspect of factory loads, the .300 Win Mag gives a slightly flatter trajectory, though there are rounds for both cartridges that behave very similarly in long range trajectory. Just by knowing the velocity of the bullet and how well it maintains its speeds along its flight path can tell you a lot about the terminal ballistics such as bullet expansion and at which ranges you can have maximal energy transfer and penetration. The only factory parts I’ll typically use are the receiver and bolt assembly, everything else is upgraded. Note: this isn’t showing velocity, so a horizontal line would show the velocity is decreasing and the rate of change is constant. Note the ubiquitous 175 SMK (above, left), looks like a baby compared to the 250 gr SMK (above, middle) and 300 gr SMK (above right). The reason this is useful to marksmen is that when bullets fall below supersonic flight, they become more unstable. For simply comparing cartridges we have left this part out, but understanding your bullet design, how it expands, and the velocity needed for proper expansion and penetration is a huge part of successful hunting. When we look at the larger sample set, we do see some differences from previously. The problem stems from a number of variables that go into accuracy that are hard to account for in the data. I’ve further dis-aggregated the data set by load. We don’t want to have to track an animal for miles, and we don’t want to put an injured animal out there with unnecessary suffering. Had I proceeded in 2″ increments, this increase would not appear in the data. What we are saying is that the differences in performance here will translate to differences in performance for you when using the same firearms, so the comparisons are still valid in our opinion. Carlock set about creating a basic .338-300 RUM wildcat, eager to obtain data and study its potential while expecting the same cartridge to be formalized as a Remington Chambering. Quite a few factors can influence the recoil such as bullet weight, the amount of powder, as well as the firearm weight. When comparing to other popular hunting rounds, the .300 Win Mag is a relative newcomer, but it has had enough time in the rotation for us to understand its strengths and weaknesses. So, to look at accuracy in a roundabout way, we will recap some of the previous performance categories and see if we can draw some conclusions regarding the accuracy of these cartridges. While this cartridge has been and is still used in sharp shooting corners of the military, the majority of its action is found in the hunting world. So while there are options for both cartridges to give you a flat trajectory, it might come down to whether or not the stopping power is where you need it for your intended game, especially for hunters. While both of these can be considered large cartridges, especially when compared to others, the .338 LM is at another level. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! How well a bullet is stabilized also affects the trajectory of the bullet. The majority of popular civilian rounds for the .338 LM are going to fall within the 250-300gr bullet weight range, though there are more options when it comes to handloading. We are looking at the bullet drop (in inches) over this range with the firearm zeroes in at 100 yards. Hand loading these rounds can save you some money per round, but the materials are still going to be more expensive compared to smaller cartridges. For reference purposes, drawings of the 338 Lapua Magnum are available from both the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI, page 116) and Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms (CIP). We still see that the .338 LM rounds have quite the edge over the .300 Win Mag when it comes to the BC. One of the decisions we make when we build or buy a rifle is how long the barrel should be. Let’s examine this further and see if the trajectories also back this up. The issue is that if you need the distance and power that these cartridges provide, you’re going to have to fork out some extra cash to obtain them. Our reasoning for this was to provide you with more information and it also let’s us double check the results we see with the smaller sample size and that the results reflect the cartridges actual performance. For this particular category, there is a clear distinction between the two cartridges. And we don’t want to discount this method of demonstrating accuracy. For the 300 grain SMK, velocities ranged from 2,871 feet/second (29″) to 2,492 feet/second for a total velocity loss of 341 feet/second. For the .338 LM we think big game hunting, and for taking down large and often dangerous game, we lean towards the Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr. Benchrest targets on a roll, throw them in a bag and don’t be stuck without precision rifle targets again! Savage B22 Precision Rimfire Rifle Review, Beretta M1951 mystery- cutting our way to the truth, Gunsmithing: replacing a curved steel butt plate with a rubber recoil pad, Project Guns- Gunsmithing articles and posts, Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI, page 116), Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms (CIP, Brandon, one of the moderators from Precision Addiction, Accuracy International AX chassis (with handguard removed), SMK is part #2650 and 300 gr. The takeaway is that the BCs that accompany a lot of these rounds give further indication that both of these rounds can excel at long range, especially the .338 LM. And that’s the goal of this article; we are not looking to claim one of these cartridges is better than the other. We used a ballistics calculator to generate the recoil energy (ft.lb) generated from firing each of the ten factory loads that we have chosen for comparison. With that, the .338 LM rounds have the advantage when it comes to hand loading as they can be loaded slightly hotter and the heavier bullet and higher BC might sway you towards it as your long range cartridge of choice, but we could easily make the argument for the .300 Win Mag as well. This way we can shoot the same ammunition from the same barrel, in the same chamber, with the same action at the same ambient temperature. As with most cartridge comparisons, a lot of the decision eventually comes to what you are comfortable using and what you are confident in using. Overall, there are are significant differences between the amount of momentum that we see between these two cartridges. Stopping power is going to be more of interest for marksman in certain shooting circles than others and more specifically important to hunters since we are talking civilian factory loads. Regarding recoil, the .338 LM cartridge produces quite a bit more recoil than the .300 Win Mag. I’ve sent hundreds of rounds of 340 Weatherby down range and was enamored with the cartridge in the late 90s. We see that the cartridges for each round tend to group somewhat tightly throughout the range of their flight though there is some drop off for the Hornady 265gr round. There are rounds with higher velocities from the muzzle out to 500 yards, but it is dependent on the specific round. bullet is part #9800. We have listed these ten rounds below. Match load's trajectory ("bullet path") -- first into Minutes of Angle elevation, and then, into target knob settings for knobs having either 1/4 Minute-of … Before we wrap up this cartridge comparison, we do want to take a few moments to outline a couple of our favorite factory loads for each cartridge for certain shooting categories. Berger Bullets 1st Edition Reloading Manual (2012), the Vihtavuori Reloading Guide for Centerfire Cartridges and Western Powders Reloading & Load Data Guide, are among the three I have. Like we saw with the smaller set of rounds, there is a wide margin of difference between these two cartridges. Stopping power is critical, especially to hunters for several reasons. This extra force may or may not be needed depending on the game you are chasing. To get an idea of how these two cartridges compare in their ballistic and other performance categories, we need a selection of rounds for each cartridge. From this graph, we see that the .338 LM rounds have on average, higher BCs than the .300 Win Mag rounds. So while the average indicates that the .300 Win Mag is the flatter shooting round, we think some more advanced statistics and data would be needed to say so for certain. This high amount of recoil energy is going to be a “necessary evil” to obtain the speeds, range, and power that comes with these two cartridges. The 300 SMK load showed a slight increase from 30 to 29″. The data for the metallic cartridges has been derived from our more comprehensive No. Even so, the .338 LM rounds are significantly more expensive than the .300 Win Mag rounds. The energy that is carried by the bullet is only one factor of a round’s stopping power, but it is an important one nonetheless. Purchase this hard-bound book and get reloading results. 17 of the 173 shooters surveyed said their match rifle was chambered for the 6.5×47 Lapua. To help facilitate discussion about how barrel length affects velocity, I plotted the rate of change for both cartridges on the same set of axes. SMK is part #2650 and 300 gr. Understanding the limits of your cartridge will greatly increase your ability to put the animal down quick with one shot. The SD and velocity paired with the controlled expansion of the heavy 300gr AccuBond bullet make this a deadly round for big game at a wide selection of ranges. The .338 LM was designed and produced in the late 1980’s. More penetration does not mean you have a bullet with more stopping power. ... Hornady listed just the one load for the .338 Winchester Magnum, a Heavy Magnum load featuring the 225 grain Interlock soft point bullet at 2950fps. The barrel was headspaced with Manson gauges. And once we get out to the 1,000 yard mark, the .338 LM has actually lost less altitude than the .300 Win Mag round. At the 200 yard mark, all of the rounds are tightly clustered around the -3” mark though averages give a slight (.5”) advantage to the .300 Win Mag rounds. The 250 grain 338 Lapua Magnum load had a maximum velocity of 2,942 feet/second with a minimum velocity of 2,547 feet/second, for a loss of 395 feet/second. So, let’s take a look at the recoil energy (ft.lb) between the .300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua Magnum rounds that we have selected for comparison (Graph 1). Phone: (877) KENTON-1 I just needed to put it on a rifle. And as we stated earlier, while looking at the SD is perfectly fine for simply comparing two cartridges, it alone is not a full picture of the penetration the round will show in the field. What is different is that with more rounds, the difference between the averages has gotten narrower by several inches. And a lot of shooters out there will tell you that the .300 WM has some kick to it. Plus you can save favorites, add notes and more. This transfer is also affected by how the bullet reacts on impact, such as how the bullet expands. In fact, you should check multiple sources if possible, and consult with individuals who actually load for that cartridge. ALL 160 gr 185 gr 200 gr 210 gr 215 gr 225 gr 230 gr 231 gr 245 gr 250 gr 265 gr 275 gr 280 gr 285 gr 300 gr As you’ll see below, first I listed the distance in yards as the left column. We mentioned earlier that the momentum and the sectional density have a lot of influence over the penetration of the bullet. You’ll notice the 250 SMK loads dropped fairly consistently. For cartridge comparisons, we are going to look at the energy and the penetration which includes the sectional density and the bullet momentum. That’s the simplest way of thinking about SD and penetration. First, a look at how barrel length affects drop. I suspect it is primarily due to the small sample sizes being used along with the relative proximity of muzzle velocities in adjacent lengths. It influences recoil, it influences trajectory, and it even influences stopping power of the bullet, and that is only the categories that we are looking at specifically in this article. The .338 Lapua Magnum has a much shorter history than the .330 Win Mag. If we look at individual rounds and disregard the cartridge, the four rounds with the flattest trajectory are a mix of two .300 Win Mag and two .338 LM rounds. The shorter guns are quicker to handle and often easier to tune, but have lower muzzle velocities and a louder muzzle report. We have compiled the BCs for the ten rounds we are using for comparison and have graphed them here (Graph 3). In this article looking at the .300 Win Mag vs Lapua Magnum, we hope that the data presented and discussed has outlined which applications both of these cartridges are better suited for and given you a better resource for making that decision. Of our selected .338 LM rounds, the Hornady ELD Match maintains its velocity at a high rate through 500 yards and will remain supersonic well over 1,000 yards. Above 26″ things look pretty good, below 22″ they change quickly. Factory ammunition for a test like this is cost prohibitive, $6-7 a shot! When picking out a round for use, it is important that you take into account all of the factors when determining the amount of penetration you will need from your round. The cartridge is also able to be to take a variety of bullet weights. Sierra MatchKing, Lapua brass, CCI #250 primer, 89.0 gr. The .300 Win Mag can take a withstand a whopping 64,00psi according to SAAMI specifications. There is a fine balance between maximal velocity and maximal performance. And while the amount of momentum generated with these rounds might seem weak compared to the .338 LM, in reality, they have more than enough and sometimes way more for just about any hunting scenario. And while a lot of people associate these rounds with longer distance shots, we have to remember that these are hunting rounds as well, and with hunting, shots can present themselves at short range at any time. With these results, given the much heavier bullets used by the .338 LM, it will be interesting to see what the velocities look like. Huston is a hunting enthusiast who believes your success in the field is directly correlated to the amount of preparation at home. The 338 Lapua has a case capacity of 114.2 gr of water, while the 340 Weatherby- 98.0 gr, 338 Remington Ultra Mag- 113, and the capacity of 338-378 Weatherby is 125 gr. This is the test gun I came up with. Three shot groups. While this is fine for comparing specific rounds, it doesn’t mean that the numbers are set in stone. Let’s start out with talking precision and long range shooting. They are only safe in the rifle shown and may not be safe in yours. Both bullets weigh 100gr, but one has a diameter of .300″ while the other has a diameter of .200″. We should also note that there were both high performing and low performing rounds for each cartridge, so there are definitely viable options for both cartridges when you want a flat shooting round. Momentum is simply how well an object, bullet in this case, in motion can stay in motion. That represents 10% of these top-ranked competitors, which made it tied for the 3 rd most popular cartridge this group was using. I […], Over the years I’ve built quite a few custom rifles on Remington 700 actions. Getting around 2685 fps. Best 9mm Ammo 2019 [Self-Defense & Target], 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Win – Cartridge Comparison, Best .40 S&W Ammo: Self Defense & Target Practice. I used the DRO on the lathe to lay out cut lines along the barrel in 1″ increments. …6x47 Lapua, 6XC, 6mm Creedmoor, 243 Win., 6.5x47 Lapua, 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Rem., 6.5-284 Norma, 308 Win., 300 Win Mag, 300 Norma Mag and 338 Lapua. 530 New Los Angeles Ave #115. So how do these results affect our ability to hit targets downrange? He shot a larger sample size, 20 rounds at each barrel length, but didn’t control for temperature. We also have the chance now to see how the recoil energy generated between these two cartridges compare when fired from a rifle of the same weight. There is definitely some variation between cartridge to cartridge as the .338 LM rounds vary from between .431 to .789. You also have the recoil to consider. This type of testing requires a test gun with a donor barrel (which is destroyed during the process), which can get quite expensive. Another important factor in stopping power that has to come into play before any metrics is the user’s ability to put the bullet on target and in the vital area. 2 loading guide. I do think the data presented here provides a data set that allows for comparison of barrel lengths as long as the limited data set is acknowledged. For hunting, both of these cartridges carry a considerable amount of bullet energy and potential penetration for large game. With that being said, we will note that .338 LM do use larger caliber bullet compared to the .308 and when looking at the same bullet, you’re going to have a larger wound created with the larger caliber bullet. Each of the following tables shows the barrel length, muzzle velocity (MV), standard deviation (SD), change in velocity from the previous barrel length (CHG), change in velocity from the initial barrel length (CHG 30″) and the rate of change which is calculated by dividing the total change in velocity by the number of inches the barrel has been reduced. Moorpark, CA 93021. For long range shooting, the increased BCs for several of the .338 LM rounds are better able to resist certain environmental conditions and could result in slightly better accuracy. To each their own, but the .300 Win Mag is going to give you more range along with more power and flatter trajectories than most other hunting cartridges used for the same game. Prezzo: 306,50 € Special Price 249,00 € ... Sierra 338 (.338) 300 GR. Instead, we want to take an unbiased look at the performance of both and use that information to make better decisions of which cartridge will better serve you depending on the situation. Results are displayed in MRAD. This is because the energy driving the bullet is localized to a smaller area effectively pushing it further with less resistance than a larger diameter bullet would impose. Only the 6mm Dasher and 6mm Creedmoor had more shooters represented than the 6.5×47 Lapua. We have kept some of these variables as constants to better compare the two cartridges. We know that F=(m)(a) so this tells us that the characteristics of different cartridges are going to give us different terminal performance. It’s all about demand, and the .300 Win Mag is still a much more popular hunting round than the .338 LM which means manufacturers are making more of .300 Win Mag rounds. The 338 Lapua is a “newer” cartridge and designed from the ground up for military usage. I took him up on his offer and he sent me his used Pac-Nor chrome moly barrel with about 600 rounds though it. Reloading data is available as low as 99¢ per cartridge or purchase a subscription and receive new data before the next edition of the book is printed. Like anything, you’re favorite round might be completely different from what we outline here and as long as its getting the job done and your happy with its performance, go with it. We have also added a 1,000 yard marker. The bullet must be able to penetrate deep enough into the tissue to reach and disrupt vital organs. Penetration is another component to a bullet’s stopping power. Sierra Bullets offers free load maps which, in general, are fairly conservative. This thing was a beast! When thinking about the availability of these rounds, both can be difficult to come by unless you are at major retail stores that carry a large assortment of ammunition. 6.5 Creedmoor load development: Hornady 147 ELD with H4350 and H4831SC Hornady bullets are popular with the 6.5 Creedmoor crowd. Plenty of bullets specifically designed for long-range match shooting exist, including (left to right) Sierra 95-grain Tipped MatchKing, Nosler 105-grain Custom Competition, Hornady 105-grain BTHP Match, Lapua 105-grain Scenar, Nosler 105-grain Reduced Drag Factor, Nosler 107-grain Custom Competition, Sierra 107-grain MatchKing, Hornady 108-grain ELD Match, Sierra 110-grain … This speed along with the sectional density is going to be more than enough to penetrate to and through vital organs of big bull elk and moose at long ranges. When we look at the cartridge specs for the .300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua Magnum we see some immediate differences that will likely lead to differences in how these two cartridges perform. The .338LM rounds lost momentum at a slightly lower rate than the .300 Win Mag rounds. We are dealing with bullets, not bowling balls. We still see that there is a definite edge in kinetic energy associated with the .338 LM rounds and that is from the muzzle out to 500 yards.
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