338 Lapua Magnum Ballistic Charts and Cartridge Guide

338 Lapua Magnum Ballistic Charts

This 338 Lapua Magnum ballistic chart shows 270 grain Hornady ELD-X Precision Hunter:

This 338 Lapua Magnum ballistic chart shows 300 grain Federal Premium Nosler AccuBond:

338 Lapua Mag History and Uses:

The 338 Lapua, not to be confused with the 338 Win Mag, is a powerful long range centerfire rifle cartridge. Certain loadings, like the ones shown above in the ballistics charts, produce over two tons of energy even after the 100 yard mark.

The cartridge came about when the Military searched for a new sniper cartridge during the 1980s. They took a .416 Rigby cartridge case and necked it down to accept a 33 caliber projectile.

It was designed in a way that could penetrate through armor at greater distances, which is one of the reasons why it is still used today by a few different world militaries.

It is also somewhat used as a big game hunting cartridge that can easily take any game animal in the North American Continent, and is overkill for all but the biggest of animals.

Also, because the rifles chambered in 338 Lapua Magnum tend to be heavy to help absorb recoil, they tend to chosen last by hunters, for a more easily maneuvered rifle.

338 Lapua Magnum Recoil

The 338 Lapua is a hard hitting cartridge, that produces quite a bit of recoil too. This is not a good cartridge for newer shooters or those sensitive to recoil.

A few years back a good friend’s dad had asked me to sight in his bolt action rifle chambered in the hard-hitting 338 Lapua Magnum.

I don’t remember many of the specs regarding the rifle itself but this was a bucket list item for me because I could never afford the rifle, nor its ammunition, chambered in this round.

I jumped at the chance and sighted the rifle in. It was a blast with a good amount of recoil.

Check out our big rifle ballistics chart for more calibers.