7mm Rem Mag vs 338 Lapua Mag

I am considering trying a 338LM for ELR shooting. However on looking at the actual ballistics rather than hype there is virtually nothing in it. A Hornady 162gr ELD Match @ 2990 vs a Berger 250gr OTM @2850 are very close even out to 3000m for both elevation and wind drift. I wonder what I am missing. The 338LM costs much more to load and is not as pleasant to shoot. The only plus for the 338LM I can see is the bigger bullet splash to spot your misses. Moving to anything bigger is not an option so 375s are out. Any comments are appreciated.

Your Handicapping yourself at the start with the 250 gr pills in the 338 for target work mate.
The 300 gr otm has a much better bc
The comparison on numbers may be close, get a windy day at 1500 yards and It's like comparing a 17hmr to a 243.
Hope that helps.


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You are missing the fact a 338 can push a 300 grain Berger to 2850.

They aren't that comparable. Shooting a 338 is certainly a different experience that shooting a normal magnum. You say elr, that typically means well over a km so look at wind drift rather than drop. The 338 300 grain at 2850 eats a 7mm mag past 1300m

What they said, and with a decent brake they're not that bad to shot either.

Himmmmmm not criticising but wondering where the extra velocity comes from for a 300gr when Berger lists the max at 2700? If those velocities are achievable then what are you guys who are loading pushing 250gr bullets to?

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Originally Posted by Dermastor

Himmmmmm not criticising but wondering where the extra velocity comes from for a 300gr when Berger lists the max at 2700? If those velocities are achievable then what are you guys who are loading pushing 250gr bullets to?

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i know plenty of guys with 338's and no1 shots the 250gr 300 all the way

1500 yards
Wind 20mph at 90 degrees
7mm remmag
300 norma
330 edge

Drop is irrelevant its the wind that will get you.
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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...92b394c7d5.jpg

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Same as above but 7-375r with 162 amaxhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...af7608dc08.jpg

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As a hunter first before a shooter I like the energy and wind numbers on the 338 edge and 300NM. If was on a budget 7mm rem mag.

Run the numbers on a 7mm 195gr berger at 3100, it has 191" of windage at 1500 yards with 20 mph, or a 7mm 180 eld-m at 3200, it has 183" (if Hornadys listed BC is correct).

Both of these can be pushed at those velocities from a 26" barreled 28 Nosler, with a whole lot less recoil than a 300gr at 2850 fps. The tradeoff is barrel life, but hey we wear out tyres on our trucks too.

Obviously the 300gr 338 has higher energy, but how much do you need? You have to hit the target first before energy matters

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Originally Posted by GWH

Run the numbers on a 7mm 195gr berger at 3100, it has 191" of windage at 1500 yards with 20 mph, or a 7mm 180 eld-m at 3200, it has 183" (if Hornadys listed BC is correct).

Both of these can be pushed at those velocities from a 26" barreled 28 Nosler, with a whole lot less recoil than a 300gr at 2850 fps. The tradeoff is barrel life, but hey we wear out tyres on our trucks too.

Obviously the 300gr 338 has higher energy, but how much do you need? You have to hit the target first before energy matters

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The 195 are definitely a an impressive bullet when going at speed. top of my list for the next build

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Originally Posted by 199p

The 195 are definitely a an impressive bullet when going at speed. top of my list for the next build

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Same! My build is underway [emoji6]

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Originally Posted by GWH

or a 7mm 180 eld-m at 3200, it has 183" (if Hornadys listed BC is correct).

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Hornady listed BC is smack on to 900 yards with a 8 twist barrel....no adjustments required at all

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Originally Posted by GWH

Run the numbers on a 7mm 195gr berger at 3100, it has 191" of windage at 1500 yards with 20 mph, or a 7mm 180 eld-m at 3200, it has 183" (if Hornadys listed BC is correct).

Both of these can be pushed at those velocities from a 26" barreled 28 Nosler, with a whole lot less recoil than a 300gr at 2850 fps. The tradeoff is barrel life, but hey we wear out tyres on our trucks too.

Obviously the 300gr 338 has higher energy, but how much do you need? You have to hit the target first before energy matters

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Throw in some wind Clint and the 338 still destroys it even if numbers suggest otherwise.
Maybe not a lot but the difference is between a hit and a miss.
Everyone would rather carry the 7mm and at hunting ranges trumps the 338 in most applications imo.


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Originally Posted by BRADS

Throw in some wind Clint and the 338 still destroys it even if numbers suggest otherwise.
Maybe not a lot but the difference is between a hit and a miss.
Everyone would rather carry the 7mm and at hunting ranges trumps the 338 in most applications imo.


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The numbers suggest the 7mm 195gr berger beats the 338 300gr by about 29" in 20mph at 1500 yards. Obviously no one is likely to be shooting at a deer at that range in those conditions.

One of the places i hunt, theres plenty of 1000 yard shots at deer on offer, and in only 5mph of wind, the 195gr at 3100 has 15.8" windage, where as 300gr at 2850 has 21". Generally the numbers dont lie. But yeah mines a hunting rifle.

Barrel life on the nosler is abysmal . No good for a target gun. Add to the 338lm ability to drop deer with a hit anywhere in the front half ( or back half for that matter)
You can also a.i the 338 and get the 300s going at 3k without to much hassle. I know someone running them at 3k with a standard case and 30 inch barrel, hot loads but not overboard. Recoil isn't as bad as you would expect and even with just a can is completely manageable. Components are a killer but buy quality brass and you will be set. I loaded mine very mild with the 285s doing 2655 they shot amazingly well out to 1500. With plenty if room for more speed I shot deer out to 1000 and anything this side of it was guaranteed dead. I plan on building one or something similar in the near future . I will add, in practise the winds seems to affect the heavy pills far less than the lighter ones of same b.c in smaller cals. I know that's not ment to be the case in theory but its my experience in practise.

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Originally Posted by Cartman

Barrel life on the nosler is abysmal . No good for a target gun. Add to the 338lm ability to drop deer with a hit anywhere in the front half ( or back half for that matter)
You can also a.i the 338 and get the 300s going at 3k without to much hassle. I know someone running them at 3k with a standard case and 30 inch barrel, hot loads but not overboard. Recoil isn't as bad as you would expect and even with just a can is completely manageable. Components are a killer but buy quality brass and you will be set. I loaded mine very mild with the 285s doing 2655 they shot amazingly well out to 1500. With plenty if room for more speed I shot deer out to 1000 and anything this side of it was guaranteed dead. I plan on building one or something similar in the near future . I will add, in practise the winds seems to affect the heavy pills far less than the lighter ones of same b.c in smaller cals. I know that's not ment to be the case in theory but its my experience in practise.

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Yep hard to argue with any of that, a new barrel is less $ than new set of tyres on the truck (and hopefully lasts as long). Even if i tire of the 28N, im only a barrel change from a 338 edge eh.

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Originally Posted by GWH

Yep hard to argue with any of that, a new barrel is less $ than new set of tyres on the truck (and hopefully lasts as long). Even if i tire of the 28N, im only a barrel change from a 338 edge eh.

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Sorry just to clear up I'm not knocking the caliber infact I've eyed a couple myself. But for the use of elr we will assume it's for mostly steel, where I think barrel life of the lapua wins out along with the other reasons mentioned.

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You will be heaps cooler shooting a .338lm than a 7mm mag :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Cartman

Sorry just to clear up I'm not knocking the caliber infact I've eyed a couple myself. But for the use of elr we will assume it's for mostly steel, where I think barrel life of the lapua wins out along with the other reasons mentioned.

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Yep very fair point indeed

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I shoot LR too. I'd take a read of Nathan Fosters books and website. Pretty much arrives at similar conclusions. A 162eldx or M at 3000+or is a dam fine thing. To equal its ballistics I need to lob my 208gr 300 BM at least 3050 which does hit harder at both ends. (Makes a good ole smack on the gong though at any distance)

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Originally Posted by Cartman

Barrel life on the nosler is abysmal . No good for a target gun. Add to the 338lm ability to drop deer with a hit anywhere in the front half ( or back half for that matter)
You can also a.i the 338 and get the 300s going at 3k without to much hassle. I know someone running them at 3k with a standard case and 30 inch barrel, hot loads but not overboard. Recoil isn't as bad as you would expect and even with just a can is completely manageable. Components are a killer but buy quality brass and you will be set. I loaded mine very mild with the 285s doing 2655 they shot amazingly well out to 1500. With plenty if room for more speed I shot deer out to 1000 and anything this side of it was guaranteed dead. I plan on building one or something similar in the near future . I will add, in practise the winds seems to affect the heavy pills far less than the lighter ones of same b.c in smaller cals. I know that's not ment to be the case in theory but its my experience in practise.

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Great post, the point I was trying to make earlier.
Despite the numbers real world experience with big 7mms and lots of 338s says the 338 is way ahead in the breeze.

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Some good advice in this thread already.

If you are mainly shooting steel at ELR then look at one of the 338’s or maybe a 300 Norma Mag or similar cartridge over any 7mm.
Put a good brake on it such as a T3 and it will be fine recoil wise.
The extra mass of the bigger bullets just make hits so much easier to spot, gongs swing more and they just seem more able to deal with the different winds that they encounter on the really long shots.
Barrel life will also trump any 7mm that has to push the 180’s and 195’s in the 3100fps range.

If hunting with a 338, the 300 Bergers are underwhelming on deer, even at 3000fps from my 338 Lapua Improved their expansion was lacking.
I have just worked up a load with the 285 ELD-M’s at 3030fps and they shoot under an inch at 400 yards (4 shots)...yet to shoot an animal with one but I’m expecting good results and they certainly kill rocks more convincingly than any 7mm bullet at any range.

I did take a stag at 1040m a couple of weeks ago with the 28 Nosler and 180 ELD-M and it performed very well, but they just don’t quite keep up with the 338 at ELR despite what the numbers suggest.

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Originally Posted by Matt2308

Some good advice in this thread already.

If you are mainly shooting steel at ELR then look at one of the 338’s or maybe a 300 Norma Mag or similar cartridge over any 7mm.
Put a good brake on it such as a T3 and it will be fine recoil wise.
The extra mass of the bigger bullets just make hits so much easier to spot, gongs swing more and they just seem more able to deal with the different winds that they encounter on the really long shots.
Barrel life will also trump any 7mm that has to push the 180’s and 195’s in the 3100fps range.

If hunting with a 338, the 300 Bergers are underwhelming on deer, even at 3000fps from my 338 Lapua Improved their expansion was lacking.
I have just worked up a load with the 285 ELD-M’s at 3030fps and they shoot under an inch at 400 yards (4 shots)...yet to shoot an animal with one but I’m expecting good results and they certainly kill rocks more convincingly than any 7mm bullet at any range.

I did take a stag at 1040m a couple of weeks ago with the 28 Nosler and 180 ELD-M and it performed very well, but they just don’t quite keep up with the 338 at ELR despite what the numbers suggest.

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The 285s kill very well. Fist sized hole through the animal.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cartman

The 285s kill very well. Fist sized hole through the animal.

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Good to hear, that’s exactly what I am expecting.

As someone that has owned and extensively used both... I had to take a rifle down south for a hunting trip. Chamois,thar, reds. I took my 338.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...99db827ed6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...21ee975cdf.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ad6f7baf97.jpg


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[QUOTE=338;690932]As someone that has owned and extensively used both... I had to take a rifle down south for a hunting trip. Chamois,thar, reds. I took my 338

what projectile are you using through your 338 mate? anyone else had underwhelming results with 300 bergers?

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Originally Posted by 338

As someone that has owned and extensively used both... I had to take a rifle down south for a hunting trip. Chamois,thar, reds. I took my 338.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...99db827ed6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...21ee975cdf.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ad6f7baf97.jpg


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Whats the rifle? Edge or lapua? Cheers

[QUOTE=ARdave;690938]

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Originally Posted by 338

As someone that has owned and extensively used both... I had to take a rifle down south for a hunting trip. Chamois,thar, reds. I took my 338

what projectile are you using through your 338 mate? anyone else had underwhelming results with 300 bergers?

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300 bergers elite hunters. 2850 out of the edge... BIG holes on animals


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Never had any trouble with 300 Berger hunter elites but only shot a handful of animals