Home › Browse Calibers › .338 Lapua Mag.
Common uses: Long Range, Tactical, Big Game
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 231gr Lapua Naturalis () |
| Muzzle velocity | 3018 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 4673 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.373 |
| Case length | 69.2 mm |
| Overall length | 93.5 mm |
| SAAMI max pressure | 60916 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:10" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3018 | 4671 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2760 | 3907 | 0 |
| 200 | 2516 | 3248 | -3.1 |
| 300 | 2286 | 2680 | -11.7 |
| 400 | 2068 | 2192 | -26.9 |
| 500 | 1862 | 1778 | -50.4 |
At 1,000 yards, .338 Lapua Mag. (231gr at 3018 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 36.0 MOA / 10.5 MIL, retaining 1109 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2286 | Supersonic | -11.7 | 3.7 | 1.08 |
| 400 | 2068 | Supersonic | -26.9 | 6.4 | 1.87 |
| 500 | 1862 | Supersonic | -50.4 | 9.6 | 2.80 |
| 600 | 1670 | Supersonic | -84.0 | 13.4 | 3.89 |
| 700 | 1496 | Supersonic | -129.9 | 17.7 | 5.15 |
| 800 | 1341 | Supersonic | -191.7 | 22.9 | 6.65 |
| 900 | 1211 | Transonic | -272.6 | 28.9 | 8.41 |
| 1000 | 1109 | Subsonic | -377.3 | 36.0 | 10.48 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .338 Lapua Magnum is best known as a premier extreme-long-range cartridge, valued by military snipers and civilian precision shooters for its ability to deliver accurate, hard-hitting fire well past 1,000 yards. It carries substantially more energy and retains velocity better than standard magnum rounds, giving it a flatter trajectory and superior wind resistance at distance, while remaining far more portable and shootable than a .50 BMG. Those strengths come with real costs: heavy recoil, loud muzzle blast, expensive ammunition, and short barrel life relative to smaller cartridges. Beyond its tactical role, it is used for hunting the largest game and for record-setting long-distance target work, where it remains a benchmark for the class.
Development began in 1983 when Research Armament Industries in the United States set out to create a long-range military sniper cartridge capable of defeating body armor at 1,000 meters. The design was based on a shortened, necked-down .416 Rigby case (after early work with the .378 Weatherby Magnum), and it was finalized into a standardized round by the Finnish ammunition maker Lapua, with the first test lot produced in 1988 and CIP approval following in 1989. It went on to become a widely adopted military sniper cartridge, bridging the gap between .300 Magnum rounds and the far larger .50 BMG.
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