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. Check out Kentucky Ballistics Clothing! It is a direct competitor to the .338 Lapua Magnum and .50 BMG long range cartridges. Designed in the 1980s, its development was intended for long range snipers in the military or law enforcement who needed strong terminal ballistics and could penetrate various types and layers of body armor, such as ceramic plates and ballistic mesh weaves, even at extremely long distances. Advanced models will of course be more expensive. The .338LM rifle will be lighter and handier, and there are better hunting bullets available. The bullet hangs in the air for a full seven seconds at this range and has a significant drop in elevation. .338 Lapua FMJ vs .50 BMG FMJ Special Upgrade 4 Tech Tips.338 Lapua FMJ vs .50 BMG FMJ. Both of these cartridges definitely have their purpose as sniper rifles or for competitive long distance shooting. The .338 LM meets those specifications with amazing range and heavy-hitting power at long distances. 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. I know the bullet looks like it's sticking way out on the 338, but that's putting the bottom of the bullet all the way to the bottom of the shoulder (its a 300gr SMK). Don’t discount the value of the .338 Lapua Magnum, though. 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. Alex Joseph is an avid bow hunter and father of two boys. The .338 LM has more options available. Today on Kentucky Ballistics we shoot running engines with a 338 Lapua and a 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. Both of these cartridges definitely have their purpose as sniper rifles or for competitive long distance shooting. 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. The cost of ammunition of this caliber is not going to make anyone happy but the market. If you searching to evaluate Sig Sauer P220 45 Magazine And 338 Lapua Vs 50 Bmg Vs 416 price. When hunting deer or elk, it can deliver an accurate, deadly shot at 1800 yards so long as you use a quality scope. The increased popularity of this cartridge has led to options on the commercial market, making it even more versatile for a wide range of shooters. With a hilariously long flight time of 7 seconds, this is getting closer to field artillery skill than it is marksmanship. Best ATV Hunting Accessories – Trick out your ATV, .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester: The Better Overbore, Disclaimer Policy And FTC Affiliate Disclosure |. The .338 LM meets those spec… Winner: .50 BMG (Slight advantage) 338 Lapua vs. 50 BMG Energy. You have entered an incorrect email address! These two long range rifle calibers are heavy duty rounds that fulfill a very specific purpose in the shooting world. As far as the BCs go for these two cartridges, both show phenomenal numbers. Both of these cartridges are capable of high accuracy at long distances, and both have extreme stopping power. It’s simply a matter of physics. 338 Lapua (225-300g bullets), 15lb rifel, shoots equal bullets about 200-500ft/sec faster than the 338 Win. © Copyright 2020 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved. I hope you enjoy the video and thanks for watching! Please like and subscribe! Lapua: Pros. When hunting deer or elk, it can deliver an accurate, deadly shot at 1800 yards so long as you use a quality scope. 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. This article has hopefully highlighted both the similarities and differences so that the informed shooter can make his decisions and buy the appropriate ammunition for his needs. The .50 BMG is a very large round and as such, requires heavy weapons and supporting equipment in order to fire safely and accurately. The design specifications of this cartridge make it suitable for several civilian applications, such as large game hunting and long range competitive shooting. The .338 LM cartridge delivers excellent accuracy in the hands of a trained operator. The recoil on this ammunition is, of course, considerable. Today on Kentucky Ballistics we perform a pine board box test with 338 Lapua and 50 BMG! 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. The full rifle platform to shoot the .50 BMG will typically cost around $3000. Originally from Tacoma, Washington. .50 BMG vs .338 Lapua This is a discussion on .50 BMG vs .338 Lapua within the Bolt Action forums, part of the Gun Forum category; Yeah .338 was designed for anti-equipment, light armored vehicle destruction. 50 BMG (570-660g bullet, 2,700fps), 33lb rifle Trajectory follows a similar trend where both show very flat trajectories, though the 50 BMG excels in this category as well. Of course, the remaining components will add on top of that price. Alex now resides in California. Since 2001, we have provided the latest in gun rights news, tech reviews and product information. It is not possible to get the distance, accuracy, and ballistic strength without an equal and opposite reaction impacting the shoulder of the shooter. John Kettler 399 Posted Wednesday at 04:32 AM. One reason why the .338 Lapua Magnum dominates the long range competition world is because it is more manageable than the .50 BMG. Today on Kentucky Ballistics we join Edwin Sarkissian and Gasparito to shoot some watermelons with a 338 Lapua and a 50 BMG! The .50 BMG is a very large round and as such, requires heavy weapons and supporting equipment in order to fire safely and accurately. 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 design specifications of this cartridge make it suitable for several civilian applications, such as large game hunting and long range competitive shooting. Additional equipment can be added to the platform to stabilize the shots and reduce the recoil, which most shooters will want to consider. You can also save a little by making match ammo, but the bullets themselves can often cost $5 each. The .50 BMG will really bite your wallet, however. 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. Also like and follow Kentucky Ballistics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! 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. The .338 is also able to be fitted with much heavier bullets than the .300 Win Mag rounds. The increased popularity of this cartridge has led to options on the commercial market, making it even more versatile for a wide range of shooters. We may earn a commission when you purchase through one of our links. Thought this made for a good pic. The bullet hangs in the air for a full seven seconds at this range and has a significant drop in elevation. The full rifle platform to shoot the .50 BMG will typically cost around $3000. Of course, the remaining components will add on top of that price. And of course, the extreme recoil will impact even the accuracy of the most experienced shooters. Both cartridges will also deliver great hunting performance. The rifles that can chamber rounds this big can also be heavy and cumbersome for the kind of outdoor activity that accompanies hunting, but generally the platforms for the .338 LM are more manageable than those for the .50 BMG. Our understanding is that AI (Ackley Improved) means the there will be a 40 degree shoulder. Share Followers 0. The .50 BMG is a force to be reckoned with at long range, but it’s also expensive and packs excessive recoil. Just look at the amount of powder that can be loaded into the .300 Win Mag vs .338 Lapua …