Long range shooting, 300 win mag vs 338 lap mag

[Gsd99]

Hey guys,

Hoping to hear from a few of you on pros/cons from people who either own one of or preferably both of the calibres above.

Have used both with work but obviously didnt have to worry about bullet costs/re sale value. I am not recoil shy. Would be looking at creating a long range rifle and wouldnt be used on deer.... could potentially be used on game abroad however.

Kind regards
Josh

 

[linusr]

Hey guys,

Hoping to hear from a few of you on pros/cons from people who either own one of or preferably both of the calibres above.

Have used both with work but obviously didnt have to worry about bullet costs/re sale value. I am not recoil shy. Would be looking at creating a long range rifle and wouldnt be used on deer.... could potentially be used on game abroad however.

Kind regards
Josh

I've waited for other comments on this, but as none have come, I'll say this is a huge call.... .338LM on Game - is it Dangerous Game mate? TBH I love and send 338LM all day on the range, and with the forthcoming ban on 10,000joules it's my preferred choice for a build over a .50. That said perhaps .375 LA Mag or CheyTac for distance, but even 338LM is looking like a NutriBullet blender on anythywith teeth...Now I've opened the floodgates for a complete sledging session on why the great 300WinMag still exists...just think your asking for too many things from too many options - I'll probably get nailed for this

 

[enfieldspares]

Hello Josh, I don't think that there are enough long range rifle shooters here in the UK to get a broad based reply. You could join the Accurate Reloading Forum and that has many sections including one on long range shooting. Also .50 Browning shooting where they also discuss all the "exotics" based on that case. There's also things like .30/.378 and that sort of thing. Good luck and have fun looking.

 

[MTLEADFARMER]

Define long range

 

[Gsd99]

Hey guys, appreciate the initial comments, i get the whole thing with shooting game with 338lm but yea it would likely only be dangerous game like bear ( this would be only a handful of events at max). Long range for me is anything over 500m, ive taken the 300win mag out to 1200m and the 338 further....

 

[enfieldspares]

Hello there to our member in Montana. In UK fullbore target shooting the British NRA defines anything at 500 yards or 600 yards was mid-range. Anything below that short range and anything above which was usually at 900 yards and 1000 yards long range. What distances does US target shooting use? Longest I've shot to was 1,000 yards. But it was a long time ago!

 

[Muir]

I am nowhere near the long range shooter that MTLF is, but if I wanted to shoot a lot without going bankrupt, I would shoot the 300 Win Mag. I recently bought one for just that purpose. I don't shoot much past 1000 yards but MTLF stretches it to 1800. His views are something I would give serious consideration.~Muir

 

[Muir]

Hello there to our member in Montana. In UK fullbore target shooting the British NRA defines anything at 500 yards or 600 yards was mid-range. Anything below that short range and anything above which was usually at 900 yards and 1000 yards long range. What distances does US target shooting use? Longest I've shot to was 1,000 yards. But it was a long time ago!

Where we shoot the closest target is 675 yards if that gives you any idea.~Muir

 

[MTLEADFARMER]

At 1825 yds Lapua 300 grain matchking @2703fps VS win mag 208 ELD-M @2870fps. The Lapua elevation difference is 3.25moa higher. Windage @10mph 3 o'clock difference is 2.5moa less and 40fps faster with about 300lbs more energy. The win mag is roughly a 1/3 cheaper to load for.

 

[ejg]

The 300 win mag seems to be in favour with the Navy again as replacement for the 308 M40 and the German SF's are using it also side by side with the 338. I had put myself a lightweight 300wm tactical rifle together with 24" 11 twist wich can still be used for longer range hunting. The only thing is getting ammo. Even when I went to the states earlier this year with a 308 and 300wm we spent days driving around finding ammo for the wm. Recon it would have been worse trying to get 338 lm ammo.
1800 yds is impressive. For me the wm with 24" seems more like a 1200m gun.
edi

 

[Southern]

A good general article comparing the 300 Win Mag to the 338 Lapua.
.300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua Magnum Cartridge Comparison

The .300 WM with a 180 and .338 LMag with 250 shoot to about the same place out to 700 yards. The .338 LMag starts to be better beyond 1,000 yards with the right bullet, which is a long ways, where a lot of skill factors come into play, especially off the target range and in the field.

The .338 LMag with heavier bullets will resist the wind better, and it delivers more energy, which are the main advantages, and reason for military use.

 

[linusr]

A good general article comparing the 300 Win Mag to the 338 Lapua.
.300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua Magnum Cartridge Comparison

The .300 WM with a 180 and .338 LMag with 250 shoot to about the same place out to 700 yards. The .338 LMag starts to be better beyond 1,000 yards with the right bullet, which is a long ways, where a lot of skill factors come into play, especially off the target range and in the field.

The .338 LMag with heavier bullets will resist the wind better, and it delivers more energy, which are the main advantages, and reason for military use.

Good answer, but for the OP what game is he shooting @1000yds pls?

 

[Greener Jim]

You’d be limited with a 338 for dangerous game, by which I mean you wouldn’t be able to use it for such in Africa. Personally I’d look at a long range rig tailored around the range you want to be shooting and if that’s possible relatively local to you or how far you’re willing to travel, no point getting a 300wm if you could do the job with a 6.5 or 7mm unless you just want a 300 of course or if there isn’t a long distance range anywhere near you and you don’t want to travel. A good think about the exact job you want to do and where you’ll use it will help you decide and others advise.

Then i’d pair that with a hunting rifle in an actual dangerous game cartridge, which would be 375 H&H/Ruger or bigger, as and when you need one.

 

[Sidewinder]

The 338 lap blows the win mag away in every aspect- better killing power, better accuracy etc. Its a modern cartridge designed to penetrate several layers of body armor at 1000 yards, and works wonders past that. The win mag is kept alive in the military because its cheaper to run and the US Army could easily convert their M24s (which are based on a long-action) from the 7.62.

I have shot both a lot and found the Lap to be useless as a hunting round. The lap is best in a pretty heavy configuration. No offense, for the life of me, why would anyone want to lug one of them around shooting at deer, whether here or abroad.

Despite its belt and short neck, the win mag once took a lot of 1000 yard comps before the 284s came around....

-Z

And if you do globally somehow find a shooting range that will take you, and you show up with your boomer, muzzle break and tactical beard, you will be the embodiment of the "tacti-cool!" I guess its all relative at the end of the day and whatever floats your boat...

 

[linusr]

Hey guys, appreciate the initial comments, i get the whole thing with shooting game with 338lm but yea it would likely only be dangerous game like bear ( this would be only a handful of events at max). Long range for me is anything over 500m, ive taken the 300win mag out to 1200m and the 338 further....

Looks like it's gonna be .338LM

 

[Whitebeard]

.300 RUM, at 3200fps will drop a 190g SMK onto a 16"x11" plate at one mile.

Ian

 

[Outback]

There are ranges that a 338 is used in a military class comp along with other F class rifles shooting open and ftr in the Manchester area ……….
The long range hunters in the States favouring the 300wm like 28 barrels and 215 bergers to good effect .

 

[wraith]

7mm rem mag dont over look it bud 162a max at near 3000fps at 1000yards still has a lot off thump i was going to get a 300win mag but after comparing balisticks the 7mm was better look it up for most things far far away

 

[Kano383]

Dangerous game at 600 yards is not dangerous to you... So get closer. The reason DG is most alway taken as close as possible is that you do not want a wounded dangerous animal roaming the countryside, and chewing on passers-by to vent his unhappiness.

At long range, you can’t put a follow-up shot into something running in the sunset...

Get the best caliber for your own tastes and needs for long range target shooting (that could even be a 6.5x55, these loooooong skinny bullets are impressive when you check their far-away ballistics), or for the occasional mountain goat, and get another rifle for big bad things.

 

[Gsd99]

Good answer, but for the OP what game is he shooting @1000yds pls?

Just to clarify... i wouldnt be shooting game at 1000yards, it would be a rifle for range work that could also be used for other hunting purposes