50 BMG or 338 LM

If you can only get one of the two, start with a .338 lapua magnum. You will get more use out of it. I have both 50 and 338 so I'm pretty objective here.

338
- easy to get projectiles off the shelf
-standard large rifle magnum primers
-not as noisy
- very accurate
-15lb rifle
I load top quality component match bullets for $2.25 because I'm resourceful

50
- 50 cents a primer and can be a pain to find (stock up and you're fine)
-projectiles usually need to be ordered but are easy enough to get
-heavy rifle 25-35lbs
-pure awesome to shoot...once you find a good spot
-I load top quality component match bullets for $4.50 because I'm resourceful and buy in quantity

I'm not comparing performance because that has a lot more to do with you and how much you shoot than either cartridge
 
swissinn said:
I have tons of experience with both of these calibers and I always prefer the 338 over the 50. The 50 is brutal on your body and ears after about 30 rounds. And as others have said, you can't shoot it everywhere. And if you have neighbours close by they will hate you more than anything. 300gr Bergers out of the 338 will easily be as accurate as anything you can shoot out of the 50. The 338 is actually man portable and you can take it hunting! And if you are looking to the future, there is no chance the 338 will ever be prohibited and taken away from you. Admit it guys! it could happen. I love both so much but the 338 is the easy winner for me.
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I also have lots of experience with both and agree totally. Thanks for saving me the typing.
 
backdoorsally said:
I agree that the 338 is much more portable and you can take it hunting a lot easier then you can a 50 cal. I would not say theres no chance that the 338 won't ever get taken away thats for sure.

I think the 50 being hard on your body all depends on what muzzle brake you use and how much the rifle you are shooting weighs. What model of 50 cal do you have experience with? What brake did it have on it?
I’m definitely not saying the 338 is a bad caliber don’t get me wrong. It’s a great caliber, and yes it is also very accurate. But there is no way you can say a 750gr or 800gr bullet out of the 50cal is not going to be better in any amount of wind then a 250gr or 300gr out of the 338. Much less wind drift

Both great choices, if I was doing it I would go all the way and get the 50BMG
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The recoil on the 50 with the can is what rattles your teeth. I am referring to the Tac 50. Shooting with the brake is much more pleasant but the majority of my experience with the Tac 50 is with the can on.
 
Other than the noise a windrunner 50 is very pleasant to shoot and has felt recoil like a .308, this is from the very effective brake and heavier weight.
 
Lots of good advice here. I have both as well (LRT-3 and DTA SRS) and find I shoot the 338LM more. I have a McMillan brake on the 50, and while it is very effective at taming the recoil, I find the concussion gets to me after 15-20 rounds. The 338 I can shoot all day, but others may be less sensitive than I am. I hunt with the 338 as well, and although I usually bring the 50 along for "playtime" after the hunt is done, I find that everything about it, from carrying, transporting, set-up, storing, etc, is just more cumbersome. That being said, the "wow" factor of the 50 is tough to beat. Neither round is what I would call cheap to shoot, although it's definitely easier to buy and reload for the 338.
Jim
 
twoshots said:
Other than the noise a windrunner 50 is very pleasant to shoot and has felt recoil like a .308, this is from the very effective brake and heavier weight.
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My brother has a windrunner in 50 and is thinking of sending it back to edm to get a .338 Lapua barrel and bolt for it so he can use it more. It sure is a nice rifle to shoot though, kicks less than my 30-06.
Kristian
 
Your real issue is the range thing. And it's more like most ranges are not approved for .50 BMG(actually developed as an anti-tank cartridge). .50 BMG needs a huge fall zone.
What factory ammo is $3 and $4 each. Least expensive I've ever seen for either is $10 plus per shot. Just curious. Both of 'em are so far out of my monetary comfort zone they're invisible.
 
sunray said:
Your real issue is the range thing. And it's more like most ranges are not approved for .50 BMG(actually developed as an anti-tank cartridge). .50 BMG needs a huge fall zone.
What factory ammo is $3 and $4 each. Least expensive I've ever seen for either is $10 plus per shot. Just curious. Both of 'em are so far out of my monetary comfort zone they're invisible.
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sellier and bellot match is $30 per 10rnd box at various retailers for the lapua and lever arms just had a sale on the Federal xm33 for the 50BMG at $399 per 100rnds
 
stevesummit said:
There are some I teresting rounds in between the 338 lm and the 50 . Might be worth while to check out the cheytac stuff and the snipetacs . I have a 408 cheytac and a 338 snipetac and over all they hands down beat the 338 lm and at the same time they are still ballisticly better then a fifty . The only thing they give up to the 50 is energy . But on paper or steel it's a moot point anyways
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Good point. Also consider the 416 barrett
 
swissinn said:
I shoot a suppressed MacMillan Tac 50. The noise is nothing but the recoil is horrendous. But this rifle doesn't apply to this debate. DG's LRT3 sucks the snot out of your face when you shoot it. It's hardly pleasant. I know a certain individual who has been hospitalized by shooting too much 50(concussion). The 300 grain Berger has a better BC and is more slippery than the 709 Sniper Elite round we shoot out of our Tac 50. So yes, The 338 can buck the wind better and stay supersonic longer than the 50 can in some instances.
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I would not want to shoot a 50 with a silencer. I also would not want to shoot a 50 with mcmillans muzzle brake on it. Probably the worst brake for the shooter I have ever experienced. There are way better options as far as muzzle brakes. Unfortunately the LRT 3 has the same brake as the McMillan. No idea why they did that. I had a 50cal with a VAIS brake on it and the shooter felt absolutely nothing coming back from the brake.

I kinda feel like you just compaired about the best bullet possible for the 338 to a marginal bullet in the 50. Try some comparisons using a 750gr or 800gr solids. That's an entirely different situation. Best bullet I ever used in my 50 was the Barnes solid projectiles.
 
Reloading components, cost, recoil, weight, portability, acces to places shoot, ballistics, muzzle brakes............

I'm sure we could all put in our opinions all day long. We will agree on some points and disagree on others. It will still all be great info for the OP to consider.

I think one point myselfe and maybe a few others are missing is that this rifle is not for us. It's for the OP, he needs to decide what he is most looking for and what meets those goals.

One very important consideration is what other rifles does the OP already own? Maybe he already has a wide selection of rifles, heavy rifles light portable rifles, tactical rifles or long range rifles. If that's the situation then I stick to. Y original opinion. Get the big bad 50, park it on a hill a mile a way and go to town.

If the OP has a very slim selection of rifles and does not already have a tool for every job. Well then some of the other posters have some valid points with avalibility of components, Avalibility to find shooting locations, portability if you are going to want to do anything other then target shooting with the rifle is a very valid point.

Once my mind was set on owning a 50bmg there was no going back. I have owned 5 since then. And back then reloading components where far and few between. Price was almost double. Since the lifting of the export ban the world of 50 has expanded significantly and dropped by half or more in price. I remember when places like ATRS charged like $6 for once fired brass and it wasn't even good brass. Now you can get Lapua 50bmg brass brand new for like what $3 a piece.

Sometimes once ur mind is set on something you just gotta go for it!!!
 
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sunray said:
Your real issue is the range thing. And it's more like most ranges are not approved for .50 BMG(actually developed as an anti-tank cartridge). .50 BMG needs a huge fall zone.
What factory ammo is $3 and $4 each. Least expensive I've ever seen for either is $10 plus per shot. Just curious. Both of 'em are so far out of my monetary comfort zone they're invisible.
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The last batch of PMC Bronze I ordered was $699/200 rounds. Shipping from Alberta was less than the PST I would have paid if I bought it in BC.
Kristian
 
There is got to be someone/ somewhere that has both for sale. Maybe , just maybe you can try them both out. And then decide ..... But if it was me , it would be the big dog 50 cal all the way. And yes it would be just a single shot. Looking to gain experience and how to, so play with the big dog, you won't loss your money, they always seem to hold there value.
On the EE I see a lot more 338 then 50 cal. For sale that has to say something.
Cheers
Brian
 
The LRT 3 now comes with a different brake to work with the B&T suppressor the gasses are directed closer to 90 degrees to the muzzle instead of back at the shooter.
 
Base... You answered the question yourself. You have your mind set on the 50. Buy it. If you don't you will always wish you had. Both are wants so buy the one you want more. Folks can argue all day which is better and both sides are right....so the arguments don't really apply. Just buy the 50 because its the one you want. I did the same thing a while back with a car. I paid the extra for the horsepower.....not because I needed it but because I wanted it...and man was it a hoot. No regrets. You will have regrets if you go 338.
 
I have both, go with the lapua to start you won't regret the decision, you can shoot it at most ranges, it's easier to pack around and it won't beat the snot out of you.
 
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