Recoil Difference?

Outcold

Outcold

CGN Regular
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Location
SW ON
I have a recoil question, I am looking to buy a .300 Win Mag or a .338 Lapua Mag. I have shot a .300 Win Mag and liked it, but I have seen many use the .338 Lapua and it seems like it is more accurate in the longer ranges from what I have seen. I know the .300 Win Mag I shot is a lot lower grain 180gr, and the .338 Lapua Mag is 250gr. But ultimately how much of a difference would there be in the "felt" recoil of these two calibres?

Cheers, Outcold
 
A lot, there is a big difference between 300 wm with a 180 to a .338 with 250gr bullet. A .338 with a brake will recoil a tad less then a 300wm without a break.
 
Thanks for that info, I will look for the read for sure. I love doing long range competitions but don't want to loose my shoulder in the process. I know there is a $ comparison in ammunition, but am not too worried about that.
 
I don't know too many (anyone) guys that use either a .300 WM or a .338 LM in competition. The .338LM will overshoot all the safety templates on DND ranges in Ontario that are used for competition with the exception of Mons Range in Borden.
 
Think physics. Out of the same weight rifle, a heavier bullet produces more felt recoil.
"...in competition..." The .300 is/was used in DCRA 'any rifle, any sight' 1,000 yard matches.
"...am not too worried about that..." The .338 LM is too expensive to shoot regularly. Even reloading it. Think in terms of roughly $4.50 per shot vs about $1.60 for the .300 Win.
"...safety templates on DND ranges in Ontario..." Nonsense. Winona's fall zone is Lake Ontario. Far bigger than the Mons fall zone.
 
Not sure about accuracy, but the 338 Lapua will get you further out. There's a huge difference in recoil between the two. The lapua pretty much has to be braked, the 300 Win Mag doesn't. What distance will you be shooting at?
 
sunray said:
Think physics. Out of the same weight rifle, a heavier bullet produces more felt recoil.
"...in competition..." The .300 is/was used in DCRA 'any rifle, any sight' 1,000 yard matches.
"...am not too worried about that..." The .338 LM is too expensive to shoot regularly. Even reloading it. Think in terms of roughly $4.50 per shot vs about $1.60 for the .300 Win.
"...safety templates on DND ranges in Ontario..." Nonsense. Winona's fall zone is Lake Ontario. Far bigger than the Mons fall zone.
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Any rifle/any sight? You mean F Class. Very few F Class shooters use a .300 WM. The Safety Template at Winona and Cedar Springs extends 2900M from the shore. The whole of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie is not a shot fall zone. (unless you are shooting in Camp Perry where the lake is the backstop)
The safety template at Mons Range will allow up to a .50 BMG.
 
Regardless of whether one cartridge is more accurate, if you are shooting a lot with a heavy recoiling rifle you're going to start thinking about the recoil and reacting to it or anticipating it. If you ask any target shooter if they could eliminate recoil would they be able to shoot better ? Invariably they would agree, yes. Less is more beneficial.
 
338 Lapua is NOT more accurate than 300 Win Mag assuming both are built with same parts and care.
You will require slightly less elevation with the Lapua to make 1000 yards but at the cost of more expensive ammo and increased recoil.
IF you plan to exceed the mile mark I would favor the 338 Lapua over the 300 Win Mag as it makes the shots a little easier due to the heavier bullets and higher B.C. they enjoy.

In my opinion both should have efficient brakes on them if target shooting is the main purpose. On any range day we get, to send 100 rounds of both calibers down range is not uncommon. Hearing protection is a must anyway so why put up with recoil you don't have to.
 
I am looking at a Sako or a Barret in .338 Lapua Mag, and a Rem 700 in .300 Win Mag. I would get a muzzle brake for both, but I would assume the recoil difference would be quite high if I am not mistaken?

Cheers, Chris
 
Outcold said:
I am looking at a Sako or a Barret in .338 Lapua Mag, and a Rem 700 in .300 Win Mag. I would get a muzzle brake for both, but I would assume the recoil difference would be quite high if I am not mistaken?

Cheers, Chris
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.338 Braked will feel like a 300wm without a brake. 300wm with a good break has less recoil then a .308, feels like a .243 when properly braked.
 
I have a couple of 300.'s that I try to shoot regularly. The heavier the gun, in my experience, the less felt recoil. I have a 7.5 pound 300 and while the recoil definitely lets you know when it has gone off, its not enough to really phase me. The 338. would be better suited for extreme ranges, but the 300. is very capable at 1000 yards with good ammunition.
 
Outcold said:
I am looking at a Sako or a Barret in .338 Lapua Mag, and a Rem 700 in .300 Win Mag. I would get a muzzle brake for both, but I would assume the recoil difference would be quite high if I am not mistaken?

Cheers, Chris
Click to expand...

Both the Sako and Barret offer brakes on their guns. Both are reasonably effective, not the most effective but will reduce the felt recoil to less than what a 300 without any brake will deliver.

A very efficient brake will reduce recoil on a 338 Lapua to about the same felt recoil as what 22-250 generates. HOWEVER there is still a fair bit more "movement" in the rifle when comparing the 338 to 300 assuming both are about the same weight.
I don't know how to explain it better but shooting 338 compared to 300 it takes a little longer to get back on target with the 338 due to the amount the gun moves. The amount of force the shoulder feels is about the same, but the bigger calibers do move "differently" than the smaller 1s do.
 
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