Ballistic comparison of .338 caliber rounds
- Thread starter Mr. T
- Start date
- Status
You can look up load data for all of them in one spot here.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
To get individual factory loads you will have to go to each manufacturers website and look them up individually.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
To get individual factory loads you will have to go to each manufacturers website and look them up individually.
TheGoldenSaber
member
I have no knowledge of .338 rounds but knowing noting I would personally go with .338 Lapua because it seems like a lot of the records are being set with that. I believe that's what Chris Kyle used.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
A lot would depend on what the OP intends to use the .338 for.
A .338 Lapua would be the worst choice he could possibly make if he wants a .338 hunting rifle.
It will do absolutely nothing a .338 WinMag won't do better.
Except kick the living snot out of him, ruin his shooting by making him flinch, and cost 4 times as much per shot to practice with!
rc
GooseGestapo
Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2003
- Messages
- 6,153
The .338RUM and .338Lapua are near ballistic twins. ie: 250gr bullet at ~3,000fps
The .338Fed shoots 200gr bullet to ~2,700fps (24"bbl) 20"bbl ~2,600fps.
The .338WinMag and .338Ruger are near ballistic twins at ~250gr bullet at 2,600fps
(at least the ones I've chronographed)
p.s. The .338Fed uses the same basic case as .308. Very easy to reform ofb for reloading. ditto the .338/06 w/.30-06 brass
The .338RUM uses same cases as 7mm, .300, .375RUM and is generally available.
The .338WinMag is similar to the .300WinMag and is also very available
The .338Ruger is a propriatary case and is only available from Hornady. Possibly can be made from .375Ruger or similar cases.
The .338Lapua is also an "odd" size and currently only available from Lapua, Norma, and PPU. The PPU cases are reasonably
priced, if you can find them.
The .338Fed shoots 200gr bullet to ~2,700fps (24"bbl) 20"bbl ~2,600fps.
The .338WinMag and .338Ruger are near ballistic twins at ~250gr bullet at 2,600fps
(at least the ones I've chronographed)
p.s. The .338Fed uses the same basic case as .308. Very easy to reform ofb for reloading. ditto the .338/06 w/.30-06 brass
The .338RUM uses same cases as 7mm, .300, .375RUM and is generally available.
The .338WinMag is similar to the .300WinMag and is also very available
The .338Ruger is a propriatary case and is only available from Hornady. Possibly can be made from .375Ruger or similar cases.
The .338Lapua is also an "odd" size and currently only available from Lapua, Norma, and PPU. The PPU cases are reasonably
priced, if you can find them.
Last edited:
ExAgoradzo
Member
Goose, what did you mean by this? That the recoil is similar? The ballistics? The energy?
I'm not getting snotty, I'm really asking...
Thanks,
Greg
The 338 Lapua is losing a lot of its appeal. The military played around with it a bit but settled on the 300 WM instead.
One of the problems almost all of the 338 caliber rifles have is that they offer very little real advantage over similar 30 caliber rifles. Pick any of them, 308 vs 338 fed, 30-06 vs 338-06, or 300win mag vs 338 win mag. In every case the 338's shoot equal bullet weights only slightly if any faster than the 30's. But with equal bullet weights the 30's are far more aerodynamic. The 338's have a very slight energy advantage at the muzzle, but beyond about 100 yards the 30's will always shoot flatter and have more energy. The greater the range, the more the advantage swings toward the 30's. The 30's with equal bullet weight and construction will always out penetrate the 338's too.
To have any advantage over the 30's a 338 has to significantly up bullet weight to get the same BC. The 338 Lapua is the only 338 that will shoot bullets heavy enough to compete with the 30's at anything but short range. Although the 340 Weatherby and the 338 Remington ultra mag are close. Then recoil becomes a huge issue. Most people find one of the 30's loaded with heavy bullets will equal anything most of the 338's will do.
One of the problems almost all of the 338 caliber rifles have is that they offer very little real advantage over similar 30 caliber rifles. Pick any of them, 308 vs 338 fed, 30-06 vs 338-06, or 300win mag vs 338 win mag. In every case the 338's shoot equal bullet weights only slightly if any faster than the 30's. But with equal bullet weights the 30's are far more aerodynamic. The 338's have a very slight energy advantage at the muzzle, but beyond about 100 yards the 30's will always shoot flatter and have more energy. The greater the range, the more the advantage swings toward the 30's. The 30's with equal bullet weight and construction will always out penetrate the 338's too.
To have any advantage over the 30's a 338 has to significantly up bullet weight to get the same BC. The 338 Lapua is the only 338 that will shoot bullets heavy enough to compete with the 30's at anything but short range. Although the 340 Weatherby and the 338 Remington ultra mag are close. Then recoil becomes a huge issue. Most people find one of the 30's loaded with heavy bullets will equal anything most of the 338's will do.
ExAgoradzo
Member
Thank you JMR40,
That was the clearest answer I've ever read on that question. I appreciate it.
Greg
That was the clearest answer I've ever read on that question. I appreciate it.
Greg
- Status