i cant seem to find good numbers on the 338 vs 50 cal. what are the pros and cons of each? especially interested in 800-1000 yard shooting.. anyone have velocity and drop numbers for 800 yards? im a total newbie, but want quality info before i spend the big bucks
338 vs 50 cal?
- Thread starter nightster
- Start date
No comparison ... im not going to dig up numbers but your talking about a 650gr in the 50 cal vrs a 300gr in a 338. I think the 50 cal can run over 700gr bullet if i remeber correctly. If you jump from a lapua to an Allen 338 the Allen will launch a 300 VLD at 4000fps with a 34 inch barrel.
Depends on what you want to do. 338 lapua is still realistic for hunting.
Depends on what you want to do. 338 lapua is still realistic for hunting.
I would have t asume the 338 will be flatter ... not sure the numbers
Actually ... the 50 has an Average BC of 1.050 on the 750gr bullets at 2850 FPS ... Its a beast. I would have to asume its flatter ... goolge it
Browning 50 cartridge is a monster compared to the 338 ... but its made for armored verhicles. 338 is for hard and soft targets. Not even in the same class
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Any decent scope is going to get you well past 800m with either of these so what difference does it make if one's slightly flatter shooting over the other?
my .338Lapua load is 4.36m low at 800m (200m zero) requiring 5.4mil up. My .50BMG with 650gr. pulled surplus (poor B.C) is 7.1m low at 800m requiring 8.8mil up.
With a 750gr. Match bullet it would improve signifigantly: 4.1m drop and 5.1mil come-up. but at a price approx 2x that of .338Lapua and 3x as expensive if buying ammo.
Most complain about the cost of .338 never mind .50. I have both, yet recommend neither. Get a .308 or .260 or whatever if 800m is your max range
The caliber alone is not really relevant – it’s the BC of the bullet that really matters.
If we compare a Hornady 50 Cal .510 750 gr A-MAX with a BC of 1.050 to a 338 Cal .338 285 GR BTHP Match with a BC of .700 both starting out at the same muzzle velocity, the 50 cal velocity at 1050 yards will be about equal to the 338 velocity at 700 yards.
The wind drift in MOA is the same scenario…. The MOA wind drift of the 50 cal at 1050 yards will be about equal to the MOA wind drift of the 338 at 700 yards for any given wind.
I don't exactly recall off the top of my head, but I think bullet drop in MOA is linear as well. Off the top of my head I think the 50 cal bullet drop at 1050 yards in MOA will also very closely equal the bullet drop in MOA of the 338 at 700 yards. Again, assuming both bullets are fired at the same muzzle velocity.
You can crunch the numbers for yourself on jbmballistics.com
If we compare a Hornady 50 Cal .510 750 gr A-MAX with a BC of 1.050 to a 338 Cal .338 285 GR BTHP Match with a BC of .700 both starting out at the same muzzle velocity, the 50 cal velocity at 1050 yards will be about equal to the 338 velocity at 700 yards.
The wind drift in MOA is the same scenario…. The MOA wind drift of the 50 cal at 1050 yards will be about equal to the MOA wind drift of the 338 at 700 yards for any given wind.
I don't exactly recall off the top of my head, but I think bullet drop in MOA is linear as well. Off the top of my head I think the 50 cal bullet drop at 1050 yards in MOA will also very closely equal the bullet drop in MOA of the 338 at 700 yards. Again, assuming both bullets are fired at the same muzzle velocity.
You can crunch the numbers for yourself on jbmballistics.com
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Pro's, 50bmg will smash bigger rocks and ring the gong louder if you have your own unregulated shooting spot.
Pro's, chicks love the .50BMG and you can post cool pictures of it online, which is about 99% of its civilian use apparently...
Con's, you can't use either in competition.
Con's, very few ranges with a .50 BMG template, some provinces have no place at all to shoot one for practice.
Pro's, most ranges do allow .338 lapua.
Pro's, chicks love the .50BMG and you can post cool pictures of it online, which is about 99% of its civilian use apparently...
Con's, you can't use either in competition.
Con's, very few ranges with a .50 BMG template, some provinces have no place at all to shoot one for practice.
Pro's, most ranges do allow .338 lapua.
As a total newbie you should forget about the .50BMG Vs. .338 LM question for shooting 1000 yards. Think more along the lines of, "should I go with a .223 or .308 for 1000 yards?"
- Location
- Western Canada
Using some lathe turned solids in a 338, the 338 is flatter then a 50 using Amax. Interesting article about it here:
http://snipersparadise.com/sniperchat/index.php?showtopic=15350
http://snipersparadise.com/sniperchat/index.php?showtopic=15350
Paladin308
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- The Man Cave
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This is the advice you need. If you don't know this stuff already a 50 is a waste of your time and money. If you have an extra 6-10k around go for it. Some red neck clown with a Savage/Remington 308 will make you look like a fool if you try to out shoot him at 1000 yards though.
I love my .308 for being cheap, fun, and doing most of what I ask of it, but I think my next rifle will be a 300WM. My buddies have them and they are quite impressive. I even had the chance to hit a target at 1900 yards with one.
The power delivered by the 300 vs .308 is no comparison. His will swing a dong that mine doesn't even move at 800 yards.
.338 and 50cal are just for "that was cool" shots. Then I imagine they get pretty boring (and pricey) to shoot. Then again I don't have the pesso's to fund either of those guns.
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
.308 obviously, at 1000M you'd have better luck with a stern look than a .223
You might think...with the right bullet and barrel you are comparing apples to apples...
90 gr VLD's and 178gr gr HPBT's are a close match.
Paladin308
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- The Man Cave
A job? taking out something that hugely beautiful is a divinely inspired act of pure enjoyment (Now if only I could get the ladies to say the same
).
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A job? taking out something that hugely beautiful is a divinely inspired act of pure enjoyment (Now if only I could get the ladies to say the same
You're right, "event" would have been a more suitable word.
Sure does. If you turn the settings up to HD on this vid, you get one of the clearest gong noises I have ever heard on camera from 1000.
Jamie (the moderator) shooting my HS-50 about a year and a half ago.
