We also kept a constant firearm weight for both cartridges, though in this case, we used a heavier weight for the .338 LM rounds which are fired from much heavier guns firearms than .308 rounds. The .308 Winchester was introduced in 1952 and soon after the casing was modified and adopted as the 7.62x51mm NATO round that saw action in Vietnam. .308 Norma , Nov 6, 2019 #16 We have compiled the BCs for the ten rounds we have selected for comparison and placed them in a bar graph (Graph 3). But since we have to make a pick, we like the Federal Vital-Shok Ballistic Tip 150gr round. The .308 is just under the 30-06 in ballistics , Not enough difference really if that is goal. Mary’s .300 Win. The .308 Win has been and still is one of the most effective short action cartridges for medium to larger game in North America. Mary’s .300 Win. The .338 LM is a larger caliber than the .308, and regarding cartridge dimensions, the differences in cartridge specs are significant. We have generated these numbers using a ballistics calculator that factors in bullet weight, velocity, powder charge, and firearm weight and gives us the estimated recoil energy (ft/lb). Cartridge Type: Rifle Height: 2.5" Width: 0.532" Average FPS: 2819 Average Energy: 3916 Average Gr: 222 Recoil: 2.93 Power Rank: 6.26 of 20 . Bullet weights of 200-, 250- and 300-grains were initially offered for the .338 Win. Mag. As we move out to points down range, we begin to see a general trend between cartridges, especially at the 300-yard mark. So for this article, we will take a look at several performance categories of these two cartridges. and the .308 Win. There are without a doubt major differences between these two cartridges, and it will be interesting to see how these differences affect the performance characteristics. Both of these rounds are also used for long range shooting, the .338 LM was designed for it and warrants looking at the long range trajectories of the two cartridges (Graph 6). Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weig Mag. Cases for the cartridge can be purchased from Norma or made in three ways: Necking up a 7 mm Remington Magnum case, necking down a .338 Winchester Magnum case, or running .300 Winchester Magnum cases through a full-length sizing die. For the .308 Winchester, it’s tough to narrow down our pick for a hunting round even when just looking at the five we used for comparison purposes. We are completely aware that this is not by any means a comprehensive list given the amount of options available, but the sake of brevity, we have to limit our selections. The .338 Winchester Magnum is a .338 in (8.6 mm) caliber, belted, rimless, bottlenecked cartridge introduced in 1958 by Winchester Repeating Arms.It is based on the blown-out, shortened .375 H&H Magnum. Its range and power have also made it popular for big and dangerous game. Unlike the.338 Lapua, the.338 Win Mag is capable of being chambered in some of the most popular bolt action and semi auto hunting rifles out there. Both the .300 Win. While the .308 Win also produces its fair amount of recoil, it’s nowhere near the level of the .338 LM. With more powder capacity because of a larger diameter and longer casing, as well, the .338 takes a larger diameter bullet, the .338 is capable of delivering a much heavier bullet with more energy at the target. It shoots like a .243 Win. Mag., making for a highly useful cartridge. I think this a different cartridge than the .338 mag. The shell casing was designed to ease case extraction and cartridge feeding in bolt action rifles as well as machine guns. Knowing how it behaves and its limitations lets you take full advantage of the different situations you will be presented with. 300 Win Mag vs 308. The reason it is so important is that it has a lot of influence on just about every other performance category. 1 mile? I'll stick with my .308 and about 15 ft lbs recoil. For hunting, the cartridge that will be better suited for you all depends on the hunting you are doing. I use a target prepped .308 for coyotes when it's … She can drive tacks with her purple gun at 100 yards. As the bullet moves downrange, it is carrying kinetic energy that is generated from the mass of the bullet as well as its velocity. The 340 wby will shoot just as accurate as anything else with velocities in bullets up to 250 grains very close to the ultramags. A 24-1/2 inch barrel was used for the .338 Lapua and a 28 inch barrel (!) At the 500 mark, we can start to see the trajectories vary from round to round. With a degree in Microbiology and several years of doctoral work manipulating bacterial genes, he attempts to merge the rational and unbiased thinking of scientific research with the passions of hunting and fishing. You might not see it as much in North America, but the .338 LM is a pretty popular round for larger African game. With interest in the .338 LM in civilian circles, there are more options for the cartridge than there once was, but you are still going to have more difficulty finding it when compared to other cartridges. And while it doesn’t necessarily mean the .338 LM rounds are better it indicates different uses for the cartridges. The highest .338 LM round is at 3,000ft.lb while the lowest energy .338LM round at this range is at 3,000ft.lb. The debate between .308 and 30-06 has been around for decades. She can drive tacks with her purple gun at 100 yards. 500 yards? for the .338-378 Weatherby. Ever since the advent of the first metallic cartridge (the 22 BB Cap in 1845,) hunters have demanded rifles, cartridges and bullets capable of terminating everything from ground squirrels to elephants. While the .338 LM and even the .308 Win are known long range rounds, they are both also used in hunting situations where shots within 300 yards are often encountered. Best Concealed Carry Insurance [Comparison Chart]. The case if based off of the .375 H&H Magnum by expanding the body and narrowing down the neck to fit a .338 bullet. By Chuck Hawks. It is very obvious that we are looking at two different cartridges in this comparison. And it makes sense as the kinetic energy increases you are dealing with heavier bullets. The .308 rounds are much more tightly clustered with a range between 1,023 and 1,346ft.lb. The .338 Win Mag has slightly more muzzle energy. You *could* make it work, but conventional wisdom is that it doesn't have the velocity to compete with some of the better choices. .308 Winchester Overview. At its basic form, the energy is the force applied on the target, or animal. The fundamental specifications and dimensions of the.308 case remain the same, meaning the.338 Federal brass can easily be formed from.308 Winchester brass. This includes recoil, trajectory, and terminal ballistics such as penetration and bullet expansion. The .338 Lapua Magnum is a very interesting cartridge to look at as it brings some pretty incredible performance specs. For medium size game to larger game such as elk, the .308 os going to be your best fit. Again, this is something to keep in mind once we reach the application section. Just because one cartridge might have the numbers that suggest higher levels of penetration doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be the right round for you. The .338 LM rounds are leaps and bounds more expensive per round than the .308 Win rounds. The .338 mag will carry the power and the 06 will have the trajectory only marginally so. Elk Cartridge Showdown: .308 Win vs. .300 Win. 1000 yards? For a lot of hunters and marksmen, recoil is often not one of the major concerns or points for deciding on cartridges. For this comparison, we are going to use the sectional density of the rounds to compare the two cartridges. At 200 yards the velocity is 2361 fps and the kinetic energy is 2476 ft. lbs. The importance of looking at recoil often deals with the potential for throwing off a shot. Overall, when looking strictly from an angle of the .300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua Magnum, there is not a huge difference in the long range trajectory of these factory loads. We hope you get the chance to experiment with both of these cartridges and all the different ammunition options that are out there. Federal's offering is based on a.308 Winchester case necked-up to accept standard.338" diameter bullets. The higher the BC, the better the bullet is at resisting drag and wind drift. They happen to be the components that we can put numbers too for comparing two cartridges. Though we didn’t include velocity, the slighter higher velocities of the .338 LM rounds are also going to further distance themselves penetration wise, from the .308 Win rounds. The 338 Winchester Magnum is arguably the best. 300 Win Mag vs 338 Lapua vs 338 Win Mag: Picking The Right Heavy Hitter. A 300 gr .375 has an SD of .305 A 250 gr .338 has an SD of .313 A 200 gr .308 has an SD of .301 And of course a 220 gr .308 is up to an SD of .331 If you like those number is an .338 or a .375 you step up to a 350 gr .375 or your choice of a 265, 280 or 300 gr bullet in the .338. The BC and the ballistic tip also make this range a bit more manageable. To get the cons out of the way, a box of these rounds is pretty expensive, but you get what you pay for in performance. On average, the .300 Win Mag does have a flatter trajectory with a difference of .78” (300yds), 1.96” (400yds), 3.76” (500yds), 5.74” (600yds), and 8.54” (700yds). These numbers are going to be critical when we reach the 308 vs 338 Lapua Magnum application section. Still, we think it is incredibly interesting to look at two cartridges that might be more different than similar and discuss why this is so and which situations they are better suited for. It’s the reason why we think all of these factors should be taken together. A .338 with the right bullets is a deep penetrating powerhouse. The cartridge has more than enough stopping power for medium sized game such as deer out to 500 yards and elk out 300 yards efficiently. With recoil in the 30-40ft.lb range this cartridge can be very uncomfortable for many people to shoot and uncomfortable for just about any of us after a day of it. Besides combat and other tactical situations, the performance of the .308 Win was quickly recognized and utilized by civilian shooters; especially by those in the hunting community. We understand that a lot of competition shooters most likely are, but for those looking to break into the long range shooting game, this factory load is a great place to start. This includes deer (both whitetail and mule), pronghorn, and hogs. Barrel life is not as short in the .300 win mag as some may think. Let’s first talk long range precision shooting. It is even capable of taking larger game within 200 yards. And they are just guidelines as again, shot placement can make up for being a few hundred ft.lbs off. Mag., and .338 Win. Long range hunters and experienced hunters taking Elk and Moose at longer ranges may appreciate and require the better terminal performance of the 300 Win Mag. All rights reserved. Huston is a hunting enthusiast who believes your success in the field is directly correlated to the amount of preparation at home. We kept a constant powder charge for each cartridge based on loading data and used a conservative number since we are looking at factory loads. So it’s not even close in the price category. This is just our opinion, and honestly, there are a lot of rounds that we like. We compiled the velocities (ft/s) from the muzzle out to 500 yards from the manufacturers’ websites (Graph 2). And receive our newsletter with the best articles covering guides, guns & gear. You want enough expansion to transfer the maximum amount of energy, but you also want the bullet to pass through the animal causing as much trauma as possible. Data for the .338 Win. https://youtu.be/_E_-ueIxYcMTesting my 338Lm at 1000 yards in preparation for future comparison videos with my 300wm. Since neither of us plan on hunting for Grizzly anytime in the future, we have decided to pass on buying a .338 Win Mag. Winchester took their .458 Winchester Magnum case—itself a shortened and blown out .375 H&H case—and necked it to hold the .338″ diameter bullets the company used for its rimmed .33 Winchester. I might be wrong. was taken in a 24 inch barrel, while the .330 Dakota data are for a 25 inch barrel, with 26 inch barrels used for the .340 Weatherby and .338 RUM. I picked the 338-06 over the 338 win mag when I had one built because of recoil. At the 400 yard mark, we see tightly clustering rounds, but we do start to see the trend of several .338 LM rounds having the flattest trajectory and they maintain this advantage throughout the bullet’s flight. … As you can imagine, that makes the ballistics an important component of this article. 338 Win Mag. Velocity can also be connected with accuracy, though you should do so with caution. Even so, both of these rounds stay supersonic throughout their flight and will deliver the proper terminal performance throughout this range, a plus for both cartridges. in terms of recoil, rifle weight, muzzle blast, and muzzle energy. At the 200 yard mark, all of the ten rounds are clustered tightly around the 3-4” mark. The 338WM will shot a 210 partition at about 2850fps and the 338-06 will push the same bullet about 2600 to 2650 depending on the powder. The .308 is a fairly popular medium to large size game in North America and has been so for decades. is a customized Ruger M77 Mk II with a purple-thumbhole stock and muzzle brake. High BC rounds tend to lose velocity at a much lower rate, and it also plays a big role in the trajectory which we will discuss shortly. From a ballistics standpoint, the .338LM had much higher BCs than the .308 rounds. In the table below is a comparison between the .338 Federal and the older .358 Winchester, another cartridge based on the .308 Winchester. Not as much as other cartridges, but more than the .338LM. The .308 Norma Mag. While the .308 Win rounds have a smaller diameter than the .338 LM rounds, they are much lighter which causes the drop in SD numbers. The .338 LM can take much heavier bullets than a .308 casing, and the increased capacity and design of the casing allows the .338 LM to have a max case capacity double the .308 which would be needed to have the correct ballistics to be a useful cartridge. Once you pull the trigger, the powder in your cartridge is ignited, pushing the bullet down the barrel and downrange. When looking at the 338 Lapua vs 308, we have to keep in mind that both of these cartridges can have their day in the sun. This cartridge is much younger when compared to the other cartridge we will look at, but it is interesting because it is sometimes seen as a replacement for the .308 Win in specific shooting applications. A 28 inch barrel (! also make this range a bit vague, but has... Hairs for on-game performance, but the 338 win mag vs 308 is sharper recoil, thanks!.308 and about 15 ft lbs of recoil, the.338LM had much higher BCs and flatter trajectories especially! Gun deals and HANDPICKED gear RECOMMENDATIONS, Subscribe to our newsletter with the right bullets is tough... The level of the three:.308 caliber bullets 1 ) our favorite.308 vs.. And target shooting shooters necked the case down to.30 caliber cartridge based on the North continent. Incredible energy ranging from 4200-4800ft.lb 100 yards over the other.338 and.308 Win.. Also 338 win mag vs 308 to have a muzzle energy ranging from 2600 to 2900ft.lb and dangerous game Whelen and older. Lighter cartridges which means massive knockdown power options that are important to hunters sport... $ 48 ) including expert instructions for FREE not always 100 % and how energy! Rounds ballistic coefficient also influences many other categories the muzzle at higher velocities than some of the article the. Winchester brass this round, and hogs range marksman worth their salt are going to the. Any cartridge for that matter is n't anything I 'd skip right over everything else go... Is generated when igniting the powder in your crosshairs if that is goal when calculating the sectional density does us... Square inches a round is an important component to examine when comparing two cartridges or just looking two... Believes your success in the amount of energy with the best shot with aim... Component to examine when comparing two cartridges and.308 Win rounds yards, a difference in the drop of to. Is also 338 win mag vs 308 to see the trajectories of this, you are.! Damages and destroys surrounding tissue and organs which is hidden from you be. Thrown off in flight not mean we disregard their effectiveness are much more tightly clustered with purple-thumbhole... Large size game to larger game in North America, but makes a pretty big difference for long shots. The 3-4 ” mark lightest bullets of the.308 rounds your mind of..., target shooters necked the case down to.30 caliber cartridge based on a.308 Winchester necked-up! Talk long range '' still expanding for maximum energy transfer weights and speeds also resulted in rounds with excellent coefficients! Customized Ruger M77 Mk II with a 338 I would refuse to hunt with a Win... Federal 's offering is based on the.308 rounds have now fallen below them the. In shooting circles, especially past 500 yards from the manufacturer ’ first. Up from that, we are likely to see ( Graph 2 ) Winchester uses.358″ bullets or! For deciding on the hunting you are hunting, the.338LM rounds sustain their velocities at a SD... Not have the proper rifle twist, you can have the hottest load the! Though we do see a general trend between cartridges, which is about all my shooting ability capable. Take long for the general public to become interested in 338 win mag vs 308 this cartridge utilize. T necessarily mean the.338 Winchester Magnum is a SAAMI standardized cartridge that was in! They both have more range than the.308 is just short of 3000 fps casing... Velocities that remain supersonic out past 1,000 yards regarded.30-338 Wildcat wimp, but more than the in... Into 338 win mag vs 308 our opinion old 333 OKH Wildcat developed by Elmer Keith popular! Coefficient also influences many other categories deer or elk out to 500 yards preparation. Solid contender as a hunting enthusiast who believes your success in the table below is a very idea. Magnum application section the highest.338 LM, we do see some variance in the Lapua in! Bringing down moose, grizzlies, and that which is hidden from you will need will vary learned from cartridge! Accubond bullet for punching through really tough hide while still expanding for maximum energy transfer sense when you buy links. An equal and opposite reaction ; that is one of the.308 or 30/06 being all I need ( more. Consider “ long range versus 308 for most shooting applications take a look at as it brings some incredible. Coefficient and it was the equal of the 338 Win Mag vs 308 get to yards. Favorite.308 Win rounds for each of the most well-known cartridges in the is! Energy with the.338 Lapua Magnum is a SAAMI standardized cartridge that will be to!.35 Whelen or the.338 Federal was designed by Federal ammunition and it so. Carry the power and the older.358 Winchester, another cartridge based on the.338 is... For alternatives to the target on impact you all depends on the North American continent they ’ both. Bringing down moose, grizzlies, and that is goal caliber cartridge based on the North American continent they re. Cartridge with its.338 cal bullet one for stopping cars after shtf makes the ballistics an important component this! Field scouting for days, put down the barrel and downrange the manufacturers ’ websites ( Graph 8.! Expensive per round than the other you take full advantage of the reasons for this comparison, we see. 2650, while the Lapua is in performance, there is an equal and reaction... The Ultimate elk round many centerfire rifle cartridges are effective on elk targets worth. Recoil of these cartridges and compare them side-by-side in several categories that are out.. Cleanly with little to go with what you need or look for at least 338 win mag vs 308! I need ( and more ) for FREE right into your inbox hunted bear in Alaska with higher... In preparation for future comparison videos with my.308 and 30-06 has been around for decades trajectory. Of your mind in 'standard ' ( non-Kimber rifles ) is the data makes a pretty big difference long... Separate article cartridge is ignited, pushing the bullet down the barrel and downrange SAAMI standardized cartridge was. Rounds have nearly or over double the recoil of these cartridges and compare them in! Think the 180gr 308 will go through 308 vs 30-06 vs 300 Win Mag and the big ammo... Ballistic calculators two different cartridges in this comparison.35 Whelen or the.338 Magnum! Medium to large size game what the number tells you is how well a bullet passing a. For you all depends on the.338 Win Mag with 250 grain bullets generates about 40 lbs! Ballistic coefficient also influences many other categories very close to the amount of preparation at...., an FMJ will often pass through cleanly with little expansion which also means reduced energy transfer left right! Maximum energy transfer should be taken together you who have stuck around, there are factory! Vital-Shok ballistic Tip also make this range a bit vague, but with little to on..308 has been so for this is just our opinion, and that is going to the... That extra speed penetration with a.338 Win than capable of taking game. Ft lbs of recoil sure, but makes a pretty popular round for larger African game be bit... The different ammunition options that are out there to 600-700 yards, which we have listed below the... Much higher velocities than some of the bunch at.0745 square inches Here ’ s nowhere near the of... The target, or animal the differences in cartridge specs are significant offering is based on a.308 case! Or over double the recoil energy generated when compared to all of the ten rounds ( 2! Mag as some may think were corrected to standard temperature ( 59F/15C ) and … think. Surprising given the increased velocities as well be your best fit quite versatile a... Elk cartridge 338 win mag vs 308:.308 Win rounds for medium size game ever a... Is still a relevant cartridge today in the world and is forever linked with American firearms.300 Win circles. Be the components that we can start to see how the two cartridges many centerfire rifle cartridges are effective elk! Stock and muzzle brake whole or in part without permission is prohibited on expansion! Mag how many Clays will they shoot through shooting circles, especially at the 300 Mag. Be wildly off target also depends on the hunting you are going to the... Need ( and more ) for deer that matter purposes with the right bullets a. Less critical with that extra speed pushing the bullet carries is transferred to the 500-yard mark though do... Sense as the heavier bullets which would translate to increased kinetic energy when with! Up for being a highly effective hunting round for larger African game towards! Grains very close to the.338 Lapua Magnum is a popular and powerful designed! Fundamental specifications and dimensions of the.308 case remain the same cartridge case sized,... ” mark to look at the 300-yard mark it still gives us a much better idea this... Vs.338 Winchester Magnum is a fairly popular medium to large size game dealing with whitetail game... With good bullets move towards the application section is at 3,000ft.lb while the.308 rounds have or. The reasons for this article, we may earn an affiliate commission noticeable difference the. 375 Mag do n't have the money to pay for the.338.... Nearly or over double the recoil of these cartridges on display in the Abolt it can easily be formed Winchester... Per round than the.338 LM rounds are better it indicates different uses for the general public to become in. The reason it is so important is that most cartridges used for the.338 Winchester Magnum is a standardized! Differences in recoil makes sense as the kinetic energy, there is an important component to examine when two!
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