Real world ballistics 338LM vs 300WM (non-military usage)

[MJY65]

I had an earlier thread going about the TRG 42 in 300WM, but decided to start a new one since this is not TRG specific.

I have a bunch of 308s, including a TRG22 and a 300WM hunting rifle. I was thinking about adding either a 300WM or 3338LM target rifle for a bit more capability at longer ranges. In running the ballistics calculators, it looks like the trajectory and drift differences between a 300WM w/200gr and 338LM w/250gr are pretty insignificant out to 1000yds. Obviously, the 338 carries considerably more energy, but it seems that would rarely come into play away from the battlefield. Component cost and availability for loading the 300 is certainly an advantage. No question, bragging rights and cool factor go to the 338, but at a fairly high price. In your experiences, is this an accurate assessment? Anything I'm missing that should cause me to take another look at the 338?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[meyersa88]

Everytime I hear people talk about 338 LMs, they're talking about shooting the 300 smks or the 285 Berger. Maybe you should crunch some numbers of the 230 gr .308 vs 285 .338 vs 300 .338 and then see what comes out on top.

 

[BGE541]

My go to rifle is a 300 WM pushing 230 bergers. You can't beat it for price, load dev abilities, fairly low cost to reload and very manageable recoil... if I could only have one cal. 300 WM is it... FWIW

 

[jonthomps]

Everytime I hear people talk about 338 LMs, they're talking about shooting the 300 smks or the 285 Berger. Maybe you should crunch some numbers of the 230 gr .308 vs 285 .338 vs 300 .338 and then see what comes out on top.

Berger doesn't make a 285gr pill. Are you referring to the Hornady bullet?

Otherwise I do agree that the OP needs to calculate ballistics based on the 338 300gr bullets. I hunt with a 338 LM. It's heavy, but I can take an animal as far as I care to so long as the weather conditions are right. Cost for ammo is a consideration with the Lapua, no way around it, but the pain is offset a little if you reload. The 300 WM is obviously a good choice as well, I just don't have the necessary experience to speak intelligently about it!

 

[SigsauerP229]

Are you only shooting to 1000 yards? If so I wouldn't waste my money on the 338.

 

[MJY65]

Are you only shooting to 1000 yards? If so I wouldn't waste my money on the 338.

The longest "official" range within reasonable driving distance is 1000. I guess having the capability to go farther is always nice, but may not be something I utilize with any degree of frequency.

 

[ZLBubba]

I wouldn't even consider a 338LM unless I was planning on shooting 1500+ often. A 300WM with the right load will get you out there, though without as much energy as the Lapua. If you're only shooting at a thousand, then you've got a dozen great cartridges to choose from that will all be accurate and cost-effective to shoot at that range.

 

[MJY65]

Everytime I hear people talk about 338 LMs, they're talking about shooting the 300 smks or the 285 Berger. Maybe you should crunch some numbers of the 230 gr .308 vs 285 .338 vs 300 .338 and then see what comes out on top.

I'm still learning, so please don't take this as a challenge to your comment. When I ran the ballistics on the 300SMK it looked like you would give up more drop than you gain in drift over the 250. Is that correct or did I do something wrong?

 

[Masked]

Just a thought but, you could do a Savage for example and have both options available to you...

That's what I'm shooting for on my next build -- Well worth the 15 minutes to swap out the barrels...

Just my 2c.

As to caliber, I agree w/these guys...300WM IMO, would be preferred over the 338LM.

 

[varmint slayer]

I'm still learning, so please don't take this as a challenge to your comment. When I ran the ballistics on the 300SMK it looked like you would give up more drop than you gain in drift over the 250. Is that correct or did I do something wrong?

Yeah you must not have ran the numbers right because a 300 SMK going 2800 and a 250 SMK at 2950 have the almost the same vertical drop but the 300 has about a 1.2 MOA advantage in a 15 MPH 90 degree crosswind. If you are shooting a .338 then shooting the heavy (285-300) is really a must or you really aren't gaining much over a .300WM running 230 grain for target shooting. Even then it is pretty damn close and close enough that a lot just go 300WM due to component and ammo costs. I went .338 for the better brass, non belted case, heavier bullet, and more energy down range which equates to a louder gong when shooting steel out to 2K yards plus. If you are only going to shoot 1000K yards even %70 of the time, I would go with the 300WM if you are set on one or the other. Personally I would just get something in 6 or 6.5 mm and call it a day for 1000 yards and in. Save a lot of money and beat you up a lot less.

 

[X-fan]

I have built a few big 338s and while they have a place in my collection they mostly collect dust.
Until the market will accept a bullet 300+gr VLD 8-9 twist only I think it will stay that way.
The 338s are costly on all fronts to include recoil. If you want to shoot something big and fun at 1000 shoot a 50.

By comparison I continue to shoot the barrels off my 300Win, 7mag, and 6.5s.

 

[MJY65]

Yeah you must not have ran the numbers right because a 300 SMK going 2800 and a 250 SMK at 2950 have the almost the same vertical drop but the 300 has about a 1.2 MOA advantage in a 15 MPH 90 degree crosswind. If you are shooting a .338 then shooting the heavy (285-300) is really a must or you really aren't gaining much over a .300WM running 230 grain for target shooting. Even then it is pretty damn close and close enough that a lot just go 300WM due to component and ammo costs. I went .338 for the better brass, non belted case, heavier bullet, and more energy down range which equates to a louder gong when shooting steel out to 2K yards plus. If you are only going to shoot 1000K yards even %70 of the time, I would go with the 300WM if you are set on one or the other. Personally I would just get something in 6 or 6.5 mm and call it a day for 1000 yards and in. Save a lot of money and beat you up a lot less.

I took the velocity from the Hodgdon website. Most of the loads are in the mid 2500 range with the best being 2654 with Retumbo and 2677 with US 869. I didn't see any that made 2800 with the 300SMK.

 

[varmint slayer]

I took the velocity from the Hodgdon website. Most of the loads are in the mid 2500 range with the best being 2654 with Retumbo and 2677 with US 869. I didn't see any that made 2800 with the 300SMK.

The numbers I posted are factory loaded Black Hills ammo. 2800 with a 300 isn't too hard to achieve. Most of the data on Hodgdons website is pretty conservative.

 

[[email protected]]

With the new accubond LR 190 gn .308 wit a Bc of .64 I'm going with the 300WM all the way. It will easily get to 1500 Yards and not go subsonic. That's my favorite caliber, you can do anything with it.

 

[sinister]

Real world ballistics 338LM vs 300WM (non-military usage)

Define what you need or want.

If it's just to poke holes in something paper or to hear a plate ring then a 300 Win Mag will probably fit your needs (out to extended ranges with heavy bullets and fast-twist barrels).

If you're actually planning on using it to hunt (pronghorns, mule deer, elk) then you need to make an honest assessment of your shooting and range-finding abilities before analyzing your energy and projo construction and penetration requirements. Most folks will realistically not want to push their abilities, weighed against lost or crippled animals.

 

[kiwiaug]

back in the 90's i got a rem sendero 300wm for freerifle(NRA open class) when started, used 175s as they had just come out from sierra, was doing about 3150fps from memory.it was fine out to 1000yds with 27mins up to get there from 100 zero with 75.4grs win mag powder. also used half the wind of the 308s there, as i was new it was hard to know the wind, would ask a good guy and half it . sold that rig and was looking at getting another, bitten by l/r again but going 260 as uses less powder and less wind etc and costs less to rum with better performance, the steel/paper not going to know.

 

[MJY65]

With the new accubond LR 190 gn .308 wit a Bc of .64 I'm going with the 300WM all the way. It will easily get to 1500 Yards and not go subsonic. That's my favorite caliber, you can do anything with it.

Those new Accubonds do look intriguing. It looks like 1/10 twist is recommended for the 210grain, with 1/11 being the minimum. The TRG 42 is supposed to have a 1/11. I wonder how that will work out. I was planning to order one for when they are available in the fall, but now might have to look at other options.

 

[meyersa88]

Berger doesn't make a 285gr pill. Are you referring to the Hornady bullet?

Otherwise I do agree that the OP needs to calculate ballistics based on the 338 300gr bullets. I hunt with a 338 LM. It's heavy, but I can take an animal as far as I care to so long as the weather conditions are right. Cost for ammo is a consideration with the Lapua, no way around it, but the pain is offset a little if you reload. The 300 WM is obviously a good choice as well, I just don't have the necessary experience to speak intelligently about it!

Yes, that's what I meant. I agree with what everyone else has been saying. If you're going to be shooting under 1500 yds, the 300 win is plenty for that. Also, I'd rather have a bullet that drops a little more but bucks the wind better than a bullet that shoots a little flatter but gets knocked around by the wind.