Just as a foreword: this is a totally bunk comparison. 300 Winchester magnum and 338 Lapua magnum are both more than capable of taking down any game animal in North America at most any distance you’ll see them at. I just thought it’d be fun to compare and contrast the two of them. And while both these cartridges are being tested by the US Military as a sniping round, I’m just comparing the two for hunting purposes below.
Killing Power
When you look at the two cartridges together, you think to yourself, “well that’s notthat far off. Sure the 338 is just a tiny bit wider and the bullet is just a tiny bit bigger, but does that really make a lot of difference?” If you were to ask a deer shot at typical distances of 100-200 meters, the answer would be a definitive NO. But where that extra powder and weight come in handy is at extreme distances. Muzzle energy is usually measured in ft-lbs (even here in Canada), and a typical rule of thumb is that you should be hitting a deer with at least 1000 ft-lbs on impact. They’ll die with way less than that, and a heavier bullet will still over-penetrate, but a slow non-expanding bullets through the lungs is not going to mess them up like I’d want to and that might mean tracking a wounded deer into the bush. If you read bullet manufacturers manuals, most of them recommend more than 1000 fpe to reliably expand and do what they’re supposed to on game. So where does that leave our 338 Lapua and 300 Win Mag? If we use that 1000 ft-lbs of energy as our benchmark, a lowly 30-30 will still kill that deer dead out to 200 yards with most bullets. It’s 2200 ft-lbs at the muzzle isn’t much, but neither is 200 yards when you’re talking about long rang shooting. The 300 Winchester Magnum is in a class way above the 30-30, and with a 180 grn pill, will provide over 1000 ft-lbs of energy just up to 900 yards. The 338 Lapua kicks things up a notch. With 250 grain bullets, it’ll hit 1300 yards before crossing the 1000 ft-lb mark and with heavy 300 grain bullets, it’s good to 1600 yards. That’s totally ridiculous. Even with a super rifle capable of .5MOA, you’re talking about a grouping of 8″ at 1600 yards. That’s outside the 6″ vitals that you should be able to hit every time to make a clean kill. Heck, that rule of thumb gets passed at 1200 yards. With a more accurate rifle and a knowledgeable experienced shooter, even 1600 yards is doable.
Speed
They’ll both launch a bullet at 2950 fps. The difference is that the 300 win mag will do it with a 180 grn bullet, whereas the 338 lapua will do that with a 250 grain bullet. That weight makes a big difference in ME with the 300 win mag doing 3500 ft-lbs at the muzzle compared to the 338 lapua’s mighty 4832 ft-lbs.That’s approaching safari rounds.
Practicality
No question, the 300 win mag is the more practical round. You can get it in almost any long action rifle, you can buy a box of ammo at the local store, and you might even have a buddy that fires the same thing. 338 Lapua Magnum is only offered in select (expensive) rifles, $90 for a box of 20 rounds is normal, and NO ONE in your hunting party is going to have it. In fact, your loud muzzle brake is going to keep most of your hunting buddies miles away. It’ll also keep your ears ringing long after the hunt is done (if you forgot hearing protection). If you want to shoot 338 Lapua, you HAVE to reload to avoid the ridiculous $5/shot that you’ll be paying with factory ammo. With reloading, you can keep costs to much reasonable levels. On the brass front, oh boy, you’re going to pay. Better Lapua brass costs $3 per case for 338, BUT you can make it last well into 20 reloads if you’re careful. With 300 Winchester Magnum, you’re playing withmuch cheaper brass, but the belt can be a bit annoying when reloading.
Summary
So there you have it, the mighty 300 win mag and the mightier, but more ridiculous 338 lapua. If you just want to hunt anything, look no further than 300 win mag. If you want the biggest, baddest round in your hunt camp, the 338 lapua is your only option beyond the insane 50 BMG.
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FAQs
Shot placement is the difference between a clean harvest and wounding the poor beast. And the truth is that most shooters are more accurate with a 300 Win Mag due to lower recoil than a 338 Lapua. Better accuracy means more meat in the freezer, and that's the goal of every hunter.
How much does a .338 drop in 300 yards? ›
1/10th Mil Settings for the .338 Lapua Magnum, 250-grain BTHP Match Round
| Distance | Trajectory Path | 10 MPH Wind Drift |
|---|
| 300 | -9.86" | 4.6" |
| 325 | -12.55" | 5.4" |
| 350 | -15.60" | 6.3" |
| 375 | -19.02" | 7.3" |
36 more rows338 Lapua has earned its reputation as a long-distance hammer, and it can still hold its own. It's seen worldwide military use, and is a devastatingly effective hunting cartridge.
How hard does a .338 Lapua kick? ›
The 225-grain bullet traveling at 3,000 feet per second out of a . 338 Lapua magnum generates 37.2 foot-pounds of energy against your shoulder. Its customary for the . 338 Lapua tactical rifles to incorporate a muzzle brake on the barrel to reduce the physical battering to the operator.
Is 338 Win Mag too big for deer? ›
338 Win. Mag. isn't too much for deer and antelope, and with a heavy-for-caliber, tough bullet designed to break heavy bones and penetrate deeply, it's an outstanding choice for big bears. A broad array of projectile types and weights enables the hunter to tailor it to the specific task.
Is 338 Lapua too big for elk? ›
Because elk are so tough, the farther the shot, the harder you ought to hit them! Ideally, something like the . 338 Lapua Magnum makes sense but, realistically, that is too much recoil. So, next best thing: If you're serious about longer shots on elk, man up and use a fast .
How much does a 338 Lapua drop at 1000 yards? ›
Around 263 inches of drop at 1000 yards for a . 338 Lapua Magnum cartridge.
How many yards will a 338 Lapua shoot? ›
It can penetrate better-than-standard military body armor at ranges of up to 1,000 metres (1,090 yd), and has a maximum effective range of about 1,750 metres (1,910 yd) with C.I.P. conforming ammunition at sea level conditions.
How much does a 338 Lapua drop at 1 mile? ›
Note the angle of elevation and drop regarding the 250-gain 338 Lap bullet at 1,400 yards (651 inches of drop). Now, push to almost the full mile being 1,760 yards and the bullet drop is coming like raindrops out of the sky at a 1, 155.5-inch drop or 32 yards incoming overhead.
What round is better than 338 Lapua? ›
338 Norma mag rounds were designed to outperform the “king” of long range shooting rounds, the . 338 Lapua; and it does it's job beautifully. Some hunters are already naming it as the “Next King” of long-range cartridges.
The 338 Lapua outperforms the 30-06 in every ballistic category. However, I've heard some chatter among hunters that they're considering adding a 338 Lapua for extra-large or dangerous game hunts. So, let's compare the warhorse 30-06 to the 338 Lapua Magnum.
Can you hunt moose with 338 Lapua? ›
Rifles chambered in . 338 Lapua typically aren't the brush-busting, swamp-wading kind, but if your style of hunting suits it, it will put moose down with authority, and is the go-to choice for several moose hunters I know here in Alaska.
What is so special about the 338 Lapua? ›
Remember that it was originally developed for snipers who needed to engage hostile targets at distances exceeding 1,000 yards. In civilian terms, the 338 Lapua is an excellent competition rifle for long-range shooters. It's also a potent cartridge for hunters pursuing big game like elk, moose, and bear.
What is the advantage of 338 Lapua? ›
338 Pros: extended range and energy carried downrange compared to a 300WM. Better ballistics and accuracy compared to most . 50 cal alternatives and a much lighter rifle for anti-personnel use. Highly trained , highly talented , and very experienced .
Can you survive 338 Lapua? ›
It is highly unlikely, the . 338 mag is a big round that has a ton of energy.
Is a 338 more powerful than a 300 Win Mag? ›
In terms of kinetic energy at the muzzle of each, the . 300 Win topped out at around 4000 ft-lbs and the . 338 Win at 4500 ft-lbs. Those were top loads from a 200gr Nosler AccuBond in the .
Is 300 Win Mag overkill? ›
A 300 WinMag has the potential to kill any animal on the planet. It's actually overkill for a deer. 300 WinMag is one of the most powerful rifle cartridges out there.
Do snipers use 300 Win Mag? ›
The . 300 Win Mag sees use in long-range benchrest shooting competitions and has been adopted by law enforcement marksmen and by a few specific branches of the U.S. Military for use by snipers. Maximum effective range is generally accepted to be 1,210 yards (1,110 m) with ammunition incorporating low-drag projectiles.
