It is a highly specialized, rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire cartridge that came from the .400 Taylor Magnum. 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. .338 Lapua Magnum: A Brief History. You can expect accuracy to deteriorate after heavy shooting without adequate time for recovery using this cartridge. A special thanks to Serbu Firearms! Of course, the remaining components will add on top of that price. The .338 LM meets those specifications with amazing range and heavy-hitting power at long distances. With a hilariously long flight time of 7 seconds, this is getting closer to field artillery skill than it is marksmanship. The .338 LM has more options available. 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.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'gunnewsdaily_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',104,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'gunnewsdaily_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_8',104,'0','1'])); Several rounds from the .50 BMG cartridge can exceed the .9 mark, and the trajectory is nice and flat. The cartridge itself has been made with varying specifications, such as tracer rounds or armor-piercing, but the standard factory issue is the most accessible by civilian shooters today. Finally, we have a clear winner. Today on Kentucky Ballistics we join Edwin Sarkissian and Gasparito to shoot some watermelons with a 338 Lapua and a 50 BMG! I hope you enjoy the video and thanks for watching! The terminal ballistics of the .338 LM make it ideal for taking down elk and moose, and the longer range makes it ideal for precision shooting in long range competitions. Both of these cartridges are capable of high accuracy at long distances, and both have extreme stopping power. Rounds can cost between $11 to $16 each from most stores, but bargain hunting can potentially reveal wholesale prices as low as $5-$6. The terminal ballistics of the .338 LM make it ideal for taking down elk and moose, and the longer range makes it ideal for precision shooting in long range competitions. The recoil on this ammunition is, of course, considerable. In certain aspects and specific situations, one or the other might have the advantage, but each scenario needs to be considered separately. The bullet hangs in the air for a full seven seconds at this range and has a significant drop in elevation. Both cartridges have the velocity needed for long range shooting though the 50BMG seems to show slightly higher velocities and this gap between the cartridges widens as the rounds move downrange. Though the .338 Lapua Magnum significantly outperforms the 7.62x51mm or .300 Win Mag round at longer ranges, it can also perform many of the missions assigned to .50 BMG. Most competitions will not allow a .50 caliber round overall, but the .50 BMG will put out a beautiful arcing shot that can put rounds on target beyond 1000 yards. 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. It saw service wit… 458 Win Mag (400-500g bullets, 2,100fps), Alaskan stopper. 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. And although some shooters will claim that recoil does not affect their accuracy, this is a wild boast. 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. Don’t discount the value of the .338 Lapua Magnum, though. Most competitions will not allow a .50 caliber round overall, but the .50 BMG will put out a beautiful arcing shot that can put rounds on target beyond 1000 yards. About Us | Write For Us | Advertise| Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer Policy And FTC Affiliate Disclosure |. Just look at the amount of powder that can be loaded into the .300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua … Best ATV Hunting Accessories – Trick out your ATV, .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester: The Better Overbore, Disclaimer Policy And FTC Affiliate Disclosure |. Lapua: Pros. 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. Additional equipment can be added to the platform to stabilize the shots and reduce the recoil, which most shooters will want to consider. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 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. These rounds typically cost $5 per shot, and the platform required to shoot with these cartridges averages around $2000.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'gunnewsdaily_com-box-3','ezslot_9',103,'0','0'])); 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. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please support Kentucky Ballistics on Patreon! It’s simply a matter of physics. 300 Win Mag Vs 338 Lapua Vs 50 Bmg And 80 300 Win Mag Lower Get SPECIAL OFFER and cheap Price for 300 Win Mag Vs 338 Lapua Vs 50 Bmg And 80 300 Win Mag Lower. 1 Attachment(s) [QUOTE=doubledown;548813]Theres a new kid on the block, Savage is building a rifle in .338 lapua. Alex now resides in California. John Kettler 399 Posted Wednesday at 04:32 AM. Humongous, heavy, long and unweildy. The .338 LM cartridge delivers excellent accuracy in the hands of a trained operator. 338 Lapua (225-300g bullets), 15lb rifel, shoots equal bullets about 200-500ft/sec faster than the 338 Win. Winner: .50 BMG (Slight advantage) 338 Lapua vs. 50 BMG Energy. Both of these cartridges definitely have their purpose as sniper rifles or for competitive long distance shooting. These two long range rifle calibers are heavy duty rounds that fulfill a very specific purpose in the shooting world. Accurate, doesnt have as much recoil as a 50,pierce light armor from 1000m, more aerodynamic than a 50 thus meaning greater range and accuracy from a slicker-longer Projectile. 50 bmg vs 338 lapua . You have entered an incorrect email address! When a shooter needs heavy stopping power over extreme long-distance ranges, he looks for cartridges such as these. These rounds typically cost $5 per shot, and the platform required to shoot with these cartridges averages around $2000. The .338 Lapua Magnum is a much better choice for hunting than the .50 BMG. 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. In certain aspects and specific situations, one or the other might have the advantage, but each scenario needs to be considered separately. In 1984, however, RAI contacted Lapua to produce the case for the cartridge. As far as accuracy goes, it can be a pretty subjective measurement sometimes. It is not possible to get the distance, accuracy, and ballistic strength without an equal and opposite reaction impacting the shoulder of the shooter. (If you’re looking for the best .338 Lapua rifle, check out this guide). By John Kettler, Wednesday at 04:32 AM in Combat Mission - General Discussion. It originated from a U.S. Marine Corps request for a long-range sniping round that could penetrate body armor at 1,000 meters. The .50 BMG is HUGE. In regards to ballistics, the .50 BMG has a bigger, heavier bullet that delivers a reliable killing shot at ranges up to 3300 yards and take down medium-sized game at these incredible ranges. Both of these cartridges are capable of high accuracy at long distances, and both have extreme stopping power. The flat trajectory is ideal for aiming quickly without major adjustments. It may seem like an inferior cartridge when all of the specs are listed side-by-side with the .50 BMG, but it can deliver nearly equal performance in almost all of the same scenarios. Field-tested and proven on the battlefield in both Afghanistan and Iraq, military personnel continue to use this ammunition and civilians have followed their example when it comes to hunting and competition shooting. As far as the BCs go for these two cartridges, both show phenomenal numbers. Additional equipment can be added to the platform to stabilize the shots and reduce the recoil, which most shooters will want to consider. Its accuracy at 1000 yards is easily equal to the .50 BMG, but farther shots will probably require more sight adjustment due to the slightly lower muzzle velocity and more dramatic trajectories. 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. The .338 Lapua Magnum (also known as the .338 LM) definitely has a much shorter history than the .50 BMG. In regards to ballistics, the .50 BMG has a bigger, heavier bullet that delivers a reliable killing shot at ranges up to 3300 yards and take down medium-sized game at these incredible ranges. Soon afterwa… And of course, the extreme recoil will impact even the accuracy of the most experienced shooters. Some hunters are committed to using the .50 BMG for hunting, and it’s true, it is very successful at bringing down large game such as elk and moose – even dangerous game. Alex Joseph is an avid bow hunter and father of two boys. The .338 Lapua Magnum has a much shorter history than the other cartridge we will be examining in this article. The .50 BMG will really bite your wallet, however. 50 BMG (570-660g bullet, 2,700fps), 33lb rifle The .338 Lapua Ackley Improved offers several advantages over the .338 Lapua cartridge. 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