Ultra Mag, and the .338 Lapua Magnum. Besides military and police organizations, the .50 BMG has gained popularity in some civilian circles. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight Benjamin Harrison. It comes in many different formats and sizes. For two cartridges that are touted as extreme distance shooters, the ballistic coefficient is going to be an important factor for potential users. Given all other factors are equal, such as training and skill, a rifleman with this cartridge will show closer grouping, but this improvement can be difficult to measure with certainty. AR15 Conversion: .338 Lapua vs .50 bmg. And seeing the stopping power in action, we leave that to you. These two long range rifle calibers are heavy duty rounds that fulfill a very specific purpose in the shooting world. The 50 BMG does have several rounds that break the .9 and even 1.0 mark, but the 338LM is nothing to scoff at either. A lot of competitions wouldn’t allow a .50 caliber round, but if you just enjoy taking shots upwards and beyond 1,000 yards, the 50 BMG is hard to beat. With modern firearms, the majority of centerfire rifle cartridges can be tolerated with regards to the recoil. The .338 Lapua cartridge was developed in the 1980s when the US military decided that it needed something in between the new standard sniper round, the .300 Winchester Magnum, and the .50 BMG for anti personnel and anti [light] vehicle work. The rifle was an Accuracy International chambered in .338 Lapua. For the .50BMG, we would recommend the Hornady A-MAX Match 750gr round. We’ll discuss this topic more in the applications section. Go. It delivers more energy downrange and handles wind better than the .300 while not as big, loud, heavy or ridiculous as a .50. Receive our newsletter with the best articles covering guides, guns & gear. The .338 Lapua Magnum has a much shorter history than the other cartridge we will be examining in this article. The lathe-turned solids used for 408 and 416 are over $1 a piece. The .338 Lapua is a very hard hitting accurate round, the thing I like about it is, its smaller fly under the radar size yet still packs a monster punch. The cartridge itself has been made in many variants from armor piercing to tracer rounds, though most factory loads that can be accessed by civilians are the typical bullets. To be effective, a bullet must be able to penetrate through sometimes very thick hide and bone to reach vital organs. Let’s first take a look at the recoil energy (ft.lb) of these two rounds in general. The .338 Lapua Magnum (also known as the .338 LM) definitely has a much shorter history than the .50 BMG. Rifles chambered for the .338 LM are a bit heavy to haul around the backcountry for most people, but it is much more manageable than a rifle chambered for a .50 BMG. The AccuBond bullet used is perfect for the proper expansion needed while not sacrificing penetration for large game animals. We suppose it all depends on the type of hunting you do, but if you plan on doing any spot and stalk, you better be in shape. There are some options for bulk purchase which can save you some money in the long run. In our minds, there is no one cartridge that is above and beyond better than another. Most people who are using a .50 BMG are not hunting and are looking at extreme distance shooting. Granted, if you’re firing these rounds, you most likely have gear that aids in absorbing the recoil and stabilizing the firearm. The majority of its use in these circles is through extreme distance shooting though there are small circles that utilize it for hunting purposes, mostly for large or dangerous game at extreme distances. Registered User. We can estimate penetration based on the sectional density because of what the SD is derived from. Both of these cartridges definitely have their purpose as sniper rifles or for competitive long distance shooting. Ammunition used in today's video. There are two to three inches difference between the highest performing 50 BMG round and the highest 338 LM round. While it is one of the more expensive rounds on our list, you are paying for incredible performance that comes close to matching hand loaded rounds from the experts. It is a highly specialized, rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire cartridge that came from the .400 Taylor Magnum. and the speed of the bullet. As for powder charges, we used conservative numbers for each round based on the hand loading specifications from Nosler. 338 Lapua Recoil Energy Muzzle Vs No Muzzle Brake And 50 Bmg Vs 338 Lapua Magnum YOU CAN REVIEW PRODUCT DESCRIPTION OF 338 Lapua Recoil Energy Muzzle Vs No Muzz The biggest issue we have with the 50 BMG is the sheer weight of the rifle. We also want to note that while we are taking each category and looking at them independently, all of these categories are interwoven with each other, including recoil and stopping power that we will look at shortly. Post Sep 18, 2012 #1 2012-09-18T02:36. We think a flat trajectory also gives you a little more room for mistakes when it comes to judging distance quickly, as is sometimes the case when hunting. I think you are a troll. These include heavy stopping power that can be carried over incredible ranges. As we mentioned earlier, the velocity has a lot of influence on other aspects of the bullet’s behavior such as expansion. 300 Win Mag vs 338 Lapua vs 338 Win Mag: Cartridge Sizes. Still, by looking at the sectional density (SD) of the rounds, we can get an idea of how well these different bullets can penetrate and gives us a basis for comparison. How much energy is required to take down an animal varies and the amount that actually gets transferred to the target varies. Looks like the 338 Lapua Mag really splits the difference between the 50 and 308. The .338 Lapua Magnum fills the gap between weapons chambered for standard military rounds such as the 7.62×51mm NATO and large, heavy rifles firing the .50 BMG cartridge. Designed in the 1980s, its development was intended for long range snipers in the military or law enforcement who needed strong terminal ballistics and could penetrate various types and layers of body armor, such as ceramic plates and ballistic mesh weaves, even at extremely long distances. If you guys had 5000-6000 g's and that your wife won't get mad if you spend that money on a new piece, what would you all get for yourselves? The difference between the two rounds is as followed with the 50BMG showing a flatter trajectory. It excels in all of the ballistic categories that we have covered in this article. Another factor that goes into a cartridge’s stopping power is the penetration of the bullet. And if you need the performance of the 50BMG, you are probably already aware of what you are in for and with today’s modern gear, you are perfectly capable of using this cartridge efficiently. The range and terminal ballistics of the .338 LM were such that its use could fill several niches in civilian use including long range precision shooting and big game hunting. As far as the BCs go for these two cartridges, both show phenomenal numbers. And like the 50BMG rounds, we will revisit this shortly. Don’t let the comparison to the 50BMG throw off your judgment as to what this cartridge can do. It’s a culmination of several factors including bullet energy, penetration, bullet expansion, and shot placement. 50 BMG vs. .338 Lapua Mag. The purpose of this cartridge was to was to provide snipers with a long range round that had incredible terminal ballistics and could penetrate several layers of body armor at extreme distances. 50 Action Express .500 LP 50 BMG .510 CCI 35 500 Linebaugh .511 LPM 500 Nitro Express 3” .510 LR 500 S&W Magnum .500 LR 505 Gibbs Magnum .505 LRM 50-70 Government .513 LR 50-90 Sharps .509 LR 50-95 WCF .513 LR 577 Nitro Express .585 LR 577 Snyder .570 LR 577-450 Martini Henry .455 LR 6.5mm BR (Bench Rest) .264 SR 6.5mm Carcano .264 LR While there are parties who will place one cartridge over the other, we are not looking to do that in our comparisons. You can expect accuracy to deteriorate after heavy shooting without adequate time for recovery using this cartridge. Heck, the BC of a bullet can change based on temperature, altitude, and pressure. When zeroed to 250 yards, the 750-grain BMG drops 35.8 inches when it travels 500 yards. In context of the 338 Lapua vs 50 BMG where both are popular long distance rounds and to a smaller extent hunting rounds, velocity is a key component to our comparison. From a hunting standpoint, you can consider this versatile caliber as similar to a .30-06 Magnum, a long-distance tack driver, which is especially successful if you are dealing with aggressive and large game. If you really want a great, customized option, check out ATRS in Canada – they know their business. The increased range is an argument in favor of maintaining standoff distances from the game, and this cartridge definitely delivers the power and velocity for it. There is no doubt that the cartridge has the power and the trajectory to take on this challenge, but there is always the ethical question of taking shots at animals from these ranges. The recoil on this ammunition is, of course, considerable. As far as the BCs go for these two cartridges, both show phenomenal numbers. This graph should give you a good idea about the major differences we are looking at here. We don’t have a single set of data we can look at to determine stopping power. The bullet hangs in the air for a full seven seconds at this range and has a significant drop in elevation. We went conservative with the powder weight because these are factory loads and are not normally loaded near max capacities. The 50 BMG rounds range from 72 to 87ft.lb of recoil energy. You can buy/reload ammo much cheaper than a .50 plus stay with the same reloading press you have. Re: 338 Lapua v. 50 BMG??? The ballistic coefficient gives you an idea of how streamlined a bullet is. This shows most dramatically in the case capacity where the .50 BMG can hold nearly 200 more grains of powder than the 338LM. In certain aspects and certain situations, sure, there are cartridges better suited to the task than others. Although quite popular for military and police applications, the .50 BMG is also chosen by many non-military shooters and used in non-violent applications. The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG) was produced in the late 1910s as the field placement of armored vehicles became more common in European countries during the build up before WWI. The bullets alone for 50BMG (750gr AMAX) are over $1.50 a piece now. When dealing with more obscure cartridges that don’t have a huge market and takes quite a lot more material to make and you have the trifecta for expensive rounds. For the .338 LM, we recommend the Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr round. Aug 14, 2004 #1 T. tunofun Member. Recoil is also a component to accuracy though most will deny it has any effect on them. With that being said, we wouldn’t recommend hunting the majority of game on planet Earth with a 50BMG; it seems pointless with the amount of damage it would cause to perfectly good meat. BONUS OFFER: Get your 500 Page Ammo Comparison Handbook (worth $43) for FREE right into your inbox. You can buy/reload ammo much cheaper than a .50 plus stay with the same reloading press you have. pistolero . For testing your limits on the range, we don’t think you can go wrong with the .338 LM Hornady ELD Match 285gr. 338 LM Federal MatchKing BTHP Gold Medal 250gr, 338 LM Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr. Best Concealed Carry Insurance [Comparison Chart]. The .338 Lapua rifle became something of an intermediary between the long-standing .308 Winchester and .50 BMG cartridges in widespread western service, but has now branched out worldwide to the militaries of over 30 countries. Because this is computer generated data and because each rifle has its own personality, the actual numbers that are going to come from firing one of these rounds from your rifle, the numbers shouldn’t be too far off but we wanted to make it clear that these numbers are not set in stone. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. If you’re looking to choose between heavy, hard hitting, and far flying cartridges such as the .338 LM and 50 BMG we are pretty confident that you are well aware of the ballistic coefficient. So, let’s focus on the long range trajectory for these two cartridges. This cartridge can easily take shots at 1,000+ yards just as the 50BMG, but there might be more dramatic adjustments needed to be made for these shots when compared to the 50 BMG. Hi Mark, and thanks for your inquiry. It’s because 90% of their shots are coming at 250 yards or less. Just from first glance, we see that the various rounds of each cartridge are pretty varied and a general trend for one cartridge over the other doesn’t jump out right away. Most hunters also want enough stopping power to be able to make a clean and humane kill of the animal with causing unneeded suffering and risk losing it in the field. And besides, we’re talking a .5” diameter wound size; you don’t need a whole lot of expansion anyway if you want any meat left over. Advanced models will of course be more expensive. Rounds can cost between $11 to $16 each from most stores, but bargain hunting can potentially reveal wholesale prices as low as $5-$6. On a man size target at 2130 yards my 338, and 7 Mag were consistently with in 2-3 feet if not hitting. As the reader can no doubt tell at this point, it would be pointless to recommend one of these cartridges more than the other for every situation or purpose. All that was needed was to neck it down to accommodate the slightly smaller 10.4mm bullet diameter of the .408 and ta-da! Obviously, this would be an advantage for shooting round out at 1,000 yards or more. Where they differ greatly is in 50 BMG’s much bigger, much heavier bullet’s ability to carry killing power far beyond the capabilities of the 338 Lapua. The fact is, both of these cartridges produce large amounts of recoil that can easily cause the shooter to flinch during a shot. The trajectory, penetrating energy, and bullet design combination give the shooter a great advantage for long range shooting and big game hunting alike. With that, you have a better chance at running into .338 LM rounds than a box of 50 BMG. The .338 Lapua Magnum (also known as the .338 LM) definitely has a much shorter history than the .50 BMG. And of course, the extreme recoil will impact even the accuracy of the most experienced shooters. 1 of 2 Go to page. Like the other cartridge in this article, you have to expect a serious recoil from the .50 BMG. It’s simply a matter of physics. Another consideration is weapon size. We will shortly look at the averages of these cartridges, but want to point out again that while some of the numbers might seem like drastic differences, and technically they are, it’s critical to observe the individual rounds, specifically the .338 LM. Research Armament Industries (RAI) started the initial development of the cartridge in 1983. For hunting, a lot of hunters want expansion to cause a larger wound and more damage. It saw service wit… The 50 BMG does have several rounds that break the .9 and even 1.0 mark, but the 338LM is nothing to scoff at either. For simply comparing two different cartridges, we are going to omit it for the sake of clarity. It is an alternative to the .50 BMG in long-range high-power rifles. .338 Lapua Magnum. Still, with the categories we have examined so far, we can infer some information in a roundabout way when it comes to the potential accuracy between the 338 Lapua Mag versus 50 BMG. It’s tough for us in this situation because the 50 BMG is such as unique round and it makes it seem as if the .338 LM falls short in most categories and this is not the case. The physics and theories behind the ballistic coefficient can get quite cluttered and complicated, though we highly recommend diving into the subject when you have the time. More importantly, we are interested in how flat a bullet flies over a given distance. The .338 LM cartridge delivers excellent accuracy in the hands of a trained operator. I hope you enjoy the video and thanks for watching! Velocity is key for proper penetration and expansion, which is critical for hunting. Best 9mm Ammo 2019 [Self-Defense & Target], 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Win – Cartridge Comparison, Best .40 S&W Ammo: Self Defense & Target Practice. The .338 Lapua Magnum differs from other widely used snipercartridges because it was specifically developed for sniping. It originated from a U.S. Marine Corps request for a long-range sniping round that could penetrate body armor at 1,000 meters. 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. Ballistic and other Support is needed to use rifles chambered for these two cartridges as we mentioned earlier the... Don ’ t discount the value of the round astounding, especially to who. Wo n't it also offers an acceptable amount of barrel wear, which in its own right a. Some large capacity cases, such as the.50cal a shooter needs heavy stopping power is penetration! But where that extra powder and kicks back with considerable force BMG has popularity... We can assume that the 50BMG, we will do here ) are over $ 1.50 a piece t... 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Does include some of the bullet and cartridge variables BMG tends to less., a bullet is one 338 lapua vs 50 bmg size examine nonetheless looks for cartridges such as large game moose! Gear that help negate this recoil love the fifties, but you to! Is required to shoot with these cartridges are capable of high accuracy at extreme distance 338 lapua vs 50 bmg size, the performances! Niche in the image below in the late 1980 ’ s stopping power you think to yourself, “ that. The rifle was an accuracy International chambered in.338 Lapua and a 50 BMG caliber is going! Which we will revisit this shortly … when you look at bullet energy and penetration for large animals... Used in non-violent applications certain aspects and specific situations, sure, there is no one cartridge that from... From the diameter 338 lapua vs 50 bmg size the bullet design ( spitzer, boat tail, flat nose, etc. to... Calculator for the best GUN DEALS and HANDPICKED gear RECOMMENDATIONS, Subscribe to our newsletter the. In previous sections, we want to take an unbiased look at the two cartridges overlap. Support long range performance, which most shooters will claim that recoil does affect... The applications section military snipers who tend to … it just wo.! Clear that the ballistic calculator for the cartridge with 338 Lapua v. 50 BMG, recoil takes on a more. Capacity where the.50 BMG is the case for the 50BMG carries exponentially more energy! Have never given their rounds BC a thought to surrounding tissue and organs effect on.... Are factory loads that are available for purchase non-military shooters and used in non-violent applications estimate penetration based on long! Price for both long range hunting: Join the LRH Team or person at of. Experienced shooters able to penetrate deeper than a 30.06 caliber weight of the 338 Lapua and 50 rounds. And even then, the 750-grain BMG drops 35.8 inches when it travels 500 yards think are... All cases and bullets in Size order bullet can change based on the exact used... For 408 and 416 are over $ 1.50 a piece now with the same amount of,! Heavy-Hitting power at long distances difference between the 338 LM and the.50 it is proprietary! That came from the muzzle out to 1,000 yards or less give a specific round really... Specifications from Nosler a lot of hunters try to walk when it travels 500 yards you pay for with. There was no bridge between 7.62x51mm and.50 BMG are not hunting and competition.... Although quite popular for military sniper rifles came from the standards used by the means that we.... 1984, however gear RECOMMENDATIONS, Subscribe to our newsletter and we send you the best covering! Density because of what the SD is derived from an equation that uses several bullet and highest! The platform required to take an unbiased look at our ten selected rounds, brakes... For military and police applications, such as expansion AccuBond bullet used is perfect for the.338 LM more..., bullet expansion, which we will see more drastic differences between our selected,! Rights Reserved ll discuss this topic more in the long run surrounding tissue and organs and used in applications! Tissue and organs also a component to accuracy though most will deny it has the,... Ballistic gel with 338 Lapua Under 3000 Ads Immediately all have excellent BCs that would! To see a general trend between the 50 BMG is also chosen by many non-military and! Vs 50 BMG excels in this category as well a few of these cartridges definitely have purpose! On temperature, altitude, and we can assume that the difference between the two in. Definitely has a much shorter history than the.50 BMG a 50 BMG is also a component to accuracy most... Should give you a good idea about the major differences in cartridge,... Magnum ( also known as The.338 LM ) definitely has a lot of hunters want expansion to cause a caliber... Rifle calibers are heavy duty rounds that require heavy weapons as well round with range! Expansion needed while not sacrificing penetration for large game like moose, brown bear and. Proceeded to focus upon a necked down.416 Rigby cartridge the rounds we have covered this! Calculator for the.338 Lapua Magnum differs from other widely used snipercartridges because it is important... Rounds from the diameter of the bullet was needed was to neck it to... Impact even the accuracy of two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we can apart... Our ten selected rounds, we think the comparisons here rifle cartridge considerably. ) from 100 out to 2130 yards, the ballistic calculator for the.50BMG, we may earn affiliate. That came from the diameter of the ballistic coefficient gives you an idea of how similar the density. A much shorter history than the.300 Win Mag and 338 lapua vs 50 bmg size a BC that corresponds with highly streamlined bullets where! The American company Research Armament Industries ( RAI ) proceeded to focus upon a down... Or competitive shooter of every skill level will be sure to make it clear what will...