308 vs 338 Lapua: Which Is Better? (Explained)

Q: How much muzzle energy does a 338 Lapua produce?

The muzzle energy produced by the 338 Lapua can vary depending on factors like barrel length, powder charge, and seating depth. It offers users 880 to 915 m/s or 2890 to 3000 ft/s muzzle energy.

Are you having a tough time selecting the 308 vs 338 Lapua? You are not alone! Shooters have to understand technical factors such as velocity, trajectory, energy, bullet weights, etc. These characteristics of the cartridge make them ideal for the best scenarios while hunting or practicing.

In order to choose the right cartridge, I invite you to check out this comparison review based on specs, pros, cons, and more. Let’s explore the further details!

The Origin Story of the .338 Lapua and .308 Winchester

Let’s have a look at the origins of both rounds. Read on!

.338 Lapua Magnum

The .338 Magnum (LM) was first introduced in the late 1980s by the Finnish ammunition manufacturer Lapua. It was exclusively designed for military snipers to engage targets from long distances.

It stands out for its potential to penetrate barriers and body armor. This makes it highly effective in tactical situations.
The cartridge consists of a .338 Lapua caliber bullet with a weight of 200 grains delivering exceptional knockback.
The ballistic coefficients showing trajectories make it suitable for long-range shooting. The .338 LM cartridges have remained a favorite of big game hunters preferring longer ranges.

.308 Winchester

The .308 Winchester first came into the market in 1952 and since then it is known as the most widely used rifle cartridge globally especially in firearms made in the USA.

It was adopted by the military and police but it is famous among civilians, especially in the hunting community.
In North America, the .30 caliber bullet in the 150-180 grain range delivers excellent performance for medium and big games.
The .308 Winchester offers amazing trajectory and performance which makes it suitable for shooting ranges too.

Now that we have covered the background, let’s take a sneak peek at the specs.

308 vs 338 Lapua: Detailed Comparison of Cartridge Specs

In the table below essential details about the specs of the rounds are presented. Let’s get a better understanding by studying them!

Parameters	338 Lapua Mag	.308 Win
Parent Case:	416 Rigby, 338/416	.300 Savage
Bullet Diameter:	.338 in	.308 in
Neck Diameter:	.372 in	.34 in
Base Diameter:	.587 in	.4709 in
Case Length:	2.724 in	2.015 in
Overall Length:	3.681 in	2.8 in
Case Capacity:	114.2gr	56gr
Max Pressure (SAAMI):	60,961psi	62,000psi

Positives and Negatives of .338 Lapua Magnum Round

Let’s check out the perks and downsides of the .338:

Pros

The .338 Lapua delivers an extremely high muzzle velocity.
Most shooters can take advantage of the flat trajectory.
It is a highly-effective long-range round.
For big game (Moose, Elk, etc) hunting the .338 Lapua is the best choice.

Cons

The strong recoil is not suitable for beginner shooters during long-distance shooting and hunting situations.

Positives and Negatives of .308 Winchester Round

Here are the pros and cons of this round:

Pros

It is a versatile cartridge.
The cartridge is very cost-effective compared to other cartridges.
These factory loads perform excellently during small-game hunting and for competition shooters.
It can reach targets at long distances making it suitable for such scenarios.

Cons

The cartridge does not have ample power in comparison to the competition.

308 vs 338 Lapua: Comparison of Different Parameters

The 308 and 338 Lapua both are excellent rounds in different hunting or target shooting situations. To grasp a better understanding and help you make a sound decision to choose the best, I have discussed some factors below. Let’s explore the technical details of the cartridges!

1. Understanding the Recoil Energy

Recoil is one of the major concerns for hunters and marksmen while selecting a round for their rifles. The .338 Lapua and .308 Winchester have significantly varying recoil energies. It affects the accuracy especially if the shooter is less experienced or if the fatigue level is increased after firing multiple rounds.

To evaluate the recoil, I recorded the data after testing the rounds on a shooting range. Factors like bullet weight, powder charge, velocity, and firearm weight play a vital role in the results.

The .308 Winchester rounds generating around 20 ft/lb of energy produced manageable recoil.
In contrast, I found out that the use of an increased precision rifle weight for the .338 Lapua Magnum rounds still produced nearly double or more recoil energy.

Winner: The .308 Winchester stands tall in the first category due to its manageable and user-friendly cartridge with significantly lower recoil than the .338 Lapua Magnum!

2. Comparing the Cartridge Size for Better Insight

The .338 Lapua and .308 Winchester cartridges show visible differences in size and case capacity. Let’s head toward the table below for a better understanding!

Cartridge	338 Lapua	308 WIN
Parent Case:	416 Rigby, .338/.416	.300 Savage
Bullet Diameter:	0.338 in	0.308 in
Neck Diameter:	0.372 in	0.3433 in
Base Diameter:	0.587 in	0.4709 in
Case Length:	2.724 in	2.015 in
Overall Length:	3.681 in	2.8 in
Case Capacity:	114.2 grains	56 grains
Max Pressure (SAAMI):	60,961 psi	62,000 psi

The Lapua features a heavier bullet, more powder charge, and larger case capacity along with 30% greater muzzle energy.

The .308 is a 56-grain bullet while the .338 is a 114.2-grain round. This gives the Lapua double the advantage over the Winchester in terms of cartridge size and powder capacity.

Winner: If you prefer greater muzzle energy, you should go for Lapua as it has more grain and case capacity (bullet diameter)!

3. The .308 and .338 Lapua Centerfire Rifle Cartridges and Their Ballistics

The range, sway, speed, and other similar factors ensure that the bullet hits its target with reliability. The ballistics of any round predict the outcome of the bullet from the time it leaves the barrel. Any marksman or shooter would like to have a cartridge loaded in their gun that behaves the way they most likely predict it to.

Here are the ballistic readings of the two cartridges that are tested on the field. This insightful data will help you discover the potential of both rounds. Check it out!

Ballistics for .338 Lapua Rifle Chambered Round

Muzzle VELOCITY (fps)
338 Lapua Magnum Bullet WEIGHT	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
250 Grain	2900	2685	2481	2285	2098
250 Grain	2963	2795	2640	2493	n/a
250 Grain Match	2900	2760	2625	2494	2366
285 Grain	2745	2616	2491	2369	2251
285 Grain Match	2745	2623	2504	2388	2275
300 Grain	2660	2544	2432	2322	n/a
Muzzle ENERGY (ft. lbs.)
338 Lapua Magnum Bullet WEIGHT	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
250 Grain	4668	4002	2416	2899	2444
250 Grain	4842	4341	3881	3458	n/a
250 Grain Match	4668	4229	3825	3452	3108
285 Grain	4768	4331	3926	3552	3206
285 Grain Match	4768	4352	3966	3608	3275
300 Grain	4715	4313	3940	3592	n/a
TRAJECTORY (in.)
338 Lapua Magnum Bullet WEIGHT		100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
250 Grain		1.9	0	-7.9	0
250 Grain Match		1.5	0	-6.6	-18.8
285 Grain		1.8	0	-7.4	-21
285 Grain Match		1.8	0	-7.3	-20.8
300 Grain		1.9	0	-7.8	n/a

Ballistics for .308 Lapua Rifle Chambered Round

Muzzle VELOCITY (fps)
308 Winchester Bullet WEIGHT	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
55 Grain	3770	3215	2726	2286	1888
110 Grain	3165	2830	2520	2230	1960
120 Grain	2850	2497	2171	n/a	n/a
150 Grain	2820	2533	2263	2009	1774
150 Grain Superformance	3000	2772	2555	2348	1962
155 Grain	2775	2553	2342	2141	1950
Muzzle ENERGY (ft. lbs.)
308 Winchester Bullet WEIGHT	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
55 Grain	1735	1262	907	638	435
110 Grain	2447	1956	1551	1215	938
120 Grain	2164	1662	1256	n/a	n/a
150 Grain	2648	2137	1705	1344	1048
150 Grain Superformance	2997	2558	2173	1836	1540
155 Grain	2650	2243	1887	1577	1308
TRAJECTORY (in.)
308 Winchester Bullet WEIGHT		100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
55 Grain		-2	1.4	-3.8	-15.8
110 Grain		1.4	0	-6.9	-20.9
120 Grain		0	-2.8	n/a	n/a
150 Grain		2.5	0.4	-8.5	-26.1
150 Grain Superformance		1.5	0	-6.9	-20
155 Grain		1.9	0	-8.3	-24.2

Knowing the behavior of the bullet helps the hunter to take full advantage of the various scenarios like hunting or self-defense. The above table shows that the .308 trajectories are not as flat as the .338 Lapua but they are very consistent on different distances.

Also, the Winchester round is more manageable making it highly efficient in accuracy and quick follow-up shots. The Ballistic coefficient is not comparable with the Lapua cartridge but still, the .308 offers performance and reliability to the shooter.

Winner: The .308 Winchester wins with its versatility, balanced ballistics, and performance on different distances on the range!

4. Comparing the Velocity of These Two Sniper Rifles Staples

The .338 Lapua Magnum has impressive muzzle velocities especially with specific rounds surpassing even the .308 Win’s speeds. Although the .338 Lapua has an increased recoil, its exceptional velocity is an advantage for long-range shooters and precision applications.

The .308 Winchester may not reach the same muzzle velocities as the .338 Lapua Magnum. But, it delivers consistent and reliable speeds while ensuring adequate terminal performance. It is a popular and versatile choice for medium to longer-range engagements.

Winner: Let me put it simply. If you prefer velocity, go for .338 Lapua. But, if consistency and reliability are important for you then 308 is not a bad choice either.

5. Trajectory: Which Rifle Chambered Round has Less Bullet Drop?

Trajectory plays a vital role in the overall accuracy of the round. You can understand it as the path the bullet takes from the muzzle of a gun barrel to the target it hits. Some people might think that the round follows a straight line and does not decline or deviate along the way. It is a wrong concept!

The pressure of air, distance, powder charge, size of casing, and weight of the bullet are some factors that contribute to the bullet’s flight path. Let’s find out about the .308 Winchester and .338 Lapua from the table below.

.338 Lapua Magnum	.308 Winchester
It offers a flatter trajectory, especially after 500 yards mark	The bullet drops slightly at 200 yards
Several rounds (grain type) have flatter trajectories at 300 yards (e.g. -11, -12.2, -12.6 inches)	Only 150 and 165-grain rounds have similar trajectories at 300 yards (for example -13.2 inches)
It outperforms the .308 at distances greater than 500 yards	The bullets drop about 50″ at 500 yards and even the lightest rounds decline at a 45-46″ drop
The Lapua will only drop 17″ and 30″ at 600 to 700 yards distance	The .308 shows more drop at 600 yards and greater distance
They have an average of 56″ less drop rate at 500 yards than the Winchester	At longer distances the drop rate increases drastically

Winner: The .338 Lapua wins with flying colors as it has a flatter trajectory at multiple distances compared to its counterpart.

6. Stopping Power for Big and Medium-Sized Game

Most hunters consider stopping power and hard-hitting cartridge as the main factor when hunting medium and big game. They want to put down their target quickly, especially over long distances. You need to understand the main components that allow you to make informed decisions for choosing a suitable cartridge.

The three main components are:

Kinetic energy;
Bullet momentum;
Penetration.

Declaring the superior round from the .338 Lapua and .308 Winchester is a very tough challenge.

.338 Lapua Magnum: It is stronger at stopping things because its bullets are bigger and heavier. It shoots farther and hits harder, making it better for shooting accurately from far away and hunting big games.
.308 Winchester: On the other hand, .308 Winchester does not offer as strong power as .338 Lapua because they are lighter in weight and smaller in size.

Winner: Comparing both under the 500 yards range will show quite comparable results. But, on long-range the .338 Lapua wins with its ability to maintain impressive stopping power!

7. Which Round has Better Penetration?

Penetration and stopping power go hand-in-hand as they deliver enough damage to the target. This is a critical factor in deciding the potential of the round to reach the vital organs of the game you are hunting.

To get a better understanding of penetration, we are comparing the sectional density (SD) of the cartridges that will present the measure:

A higher SD indicates exceptional penetration.
However, this factor does not take into consideration aspects like bullet design, expansion factor, and velocity.

Let’s have a look at the Lapua and Winchester rounds we have in this article. The .338 shows unbelievably higher sectional density values across the board that are above 3.1. While the .308 presents a reading of .271.

Winner: The .338 Lapua is the winner as its sectional density reflects its potential for deeper penetration compared to the .308 Win rounds!

8. Finding Out the More Accurate Round for Long-Range Shooting Style!

When discussing the accuracy of these two cartridges, judging from the other parameters we can come to some conclusions such as:

The .338 Lapua has higher Ballistic Coefficients (BC) than the .308 rounds resulting in an advantage in various weather conditions.
At 300 yards the trajectory of both rounds were close to identical.
Beyond the 500 yards mark, the bullet decline was significant in the .308 which needed more shot adjustments.
The .308 with less recoil could prove to be better for long-range shooting but only in the hands of a highly experienced shooter to handle the bullet drop.

Winner: This is a draw as both cartridges can be advantageous depending on the skill level and environmental conditions they are used in!

9. Pricing and Availability in Stores

Here are the two main factors that will help in understanding which one is better. Let’s have a look!

Comparing the Cost

The .308 Winchester outshines the .338 Lapua Magnum. It is significantly more affordable with FMJ practice rounds priced at around $1 per round and premium hunting ammo at about $1.50 per round.

Comparatively:

The cheapest .338 Lapua FMJ practice ammo is roughly $4.45 per round.
It is still four times more expensive than .308 ammo.
If we talk about the Premium .338 Lapua hunting rounds, they can cost around $8 per round which further increases the cost gap.

Availability and Variety

The .308 Winchester has widespread availability and diverse options giving it an extra edge! Shooters have a wide range of bullet weights and profiles to choose from. This makes it an extremely versatile cartridge for various applications.

Meanwhile, the .338 Lapua Magnum has a higher material production cost as it is a bigger round. Very limited ammo options are available for shooters to choose from, especially for hunting applications. The use of this ammo in military applications results in fewer ammo options being made for hunting.

Winner: The .308 Winchester emerges victor with the significant difference in ammo cost as well as the greater availability and variety!

10. Application: What are the Cartridges Ideal for?

The .338 Lapua Magnum and .308 Winchester both have amazing potential on the field at long-range precision shooting. But, the .338 outperforms the .308 at distances greater than 500 yards. The velocity, trajectory, stopping power, and ballistics all point in favor of the Lapua being better suited even for 1000+ yards range.

Winner: The .338 Lapua ticks all the major check boxes and eventually wins this category!

Before reading the final thoughts, I would recommend you check out this helpful video and find out how Win Mag compares against Lapua.

Final Thoughts

After careful analysis of the data and information in the above parameters, here’s my final say about the two rounds:

.338 offers a larger cartridge size, better ballistics, higher velocity, flatter trajectory, greater stopping power, and superior penetration, and is more suitable for long-range precision shooting.
On the other hand, the .308 Winchester offers a better recoil and is more pocket friendly.

FAQ

What is the difference between a 338 Lapua and a 308?

The difference between a 338 Lapua and a 308 is that the Lapura variant offers better stopping power and long-range shooting while the 308 boasts medium power and is affordable.

Is 338 Lapua stronger than 50 BMG?

No, the 50 BMG has a bigger cartridge and it fires a large-sized and heavier bullet consisting of more kinetic energy than the 338 Lapua.

How much muzzle energy does a 338 Lapua produce?

The muzzle energy produced by the 338 Lapua can vary depending on factors like barrel length, powder charge, and seating depth. It offers users 880 to 915 m/s or 2890 to 3000 ft/s muzzle energy.

How far can a 338 Lapua Magnum Scream?

The 338 Lapua Magnum has a maximum lethal range of about 1,750 meters or 1,910 yards. Also, this round can penetrate better-than-standard military body armor at ranges of up to 1000 meters.

Conclusion

Summing it up, when comparing the two cartridges, the .338 Lapua Magnum emerges as the top choice for long-range precision shooting and hunting large game. Its parameters outweigh the .308 Winchester in cartridge comparison.

For medium-sized game hunting and target shooting at shorter distances the .308 Winchester is the best budget cartridge.

After reading my big game hunting blog of both cartridges, which one did you like the most? Let me know in the comments section!

Dave Motl

My first deer at the age of 45 I joined the deer hunting fraternity a little late, but the desire to hunt has always been there. I love hunting, so I often have to deal with hunting equipment.