which is more accurate ? .50cal or .338

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AKD

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witch is more accurate? How far u ask? Dam far.

Witch round has more consistency?


I think the ultimate in long range consistency sounds like the .416cal but when its a battle between the .338 and the .50 who wins?
 
'Witch' is more accurate? The one that rides a broom.
Sorry,couldn't resist ! :p

As far as which one would be more consistent might depend on how the operator could handle the rifle, recoil and the trade !
 
I don't think anyone could ever say that one cartrige is more accurate than another. Accuracy is about the rifle, load development, and the nut behind the gun. I've seen a .50cal barely able to hit a sheet of paper at 200yards. My 22LR can do better than that. I think out of 5 shots the guy only hit 4 times and he is not a bad shot. Now to blame the cartrige for that seems pretty unfair.

Now from the rifles I've seen the 338's are way more accurate. It has anything to do with the cartrige though. I think the problem has more to do with the 50 cal owners doing the proper load development and getting to know the rifle.

With the .338's being a fifth of the cost to shoot, a guy is way more likely to shoot a hundred or so rounds to find an accurate load and spend the time learning the rifle and how it shoots.

Dave
 
From a strict MOA performance standard if guns were evaluated equally the 338 would be more accurate to its effective accuracy range. The 50 is effective to a greater distance where it will be more accurate. I think for most purposes the 338 can be considered "more accurate" however your mileage may vary...
 
IMO, a 338 bullet is lighter than a 50BMG and will be affected by wind/atmospheric drag/conditions more than the 50BMG. I'd say the best long-distance performance would come from 50 BMG, 416Barrett and 408 Cheytac, as they have the flattest trajectories and will always have the greatest inertia at any given point. I would also expect a heavier bullet to be more stable when going sub-sonic.
 
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rsp1761 said:
From a strict MOA performance standard if guns were evaluated equally the 338 would be more accurate to its effective accuracy range. The 50 is effective to a greater distance where it will be more accurate. I think for most purposes the 338 can be considered "more accurate" however your mileage may vary...
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Agreed. The .338 is likely inherently more accurate - but the .50 has advantages that could make it more useful in certain circumstances.
 
The range needs to be specified to really determine this...at 1800m it would be the 50. at 1000 under most conditions I think it would be 338.
 
a group of us were shooting 308's to 1400yrds this winter with good results. dont get me wrong it was no 1moa target but none the less we were still making hits at that distance so i see no reason why a 338 wouldnt do good at the 2km mark. does anyone know what the velocity differences between the two calibre's is? lets say a 750gr A max versus a 300gr SMK?
 
If looking at pure accuracy, the 338 wins...PERIOD.

simple function of bullets. Just do a search for 1000yd BR results. On average, the sub 50's shoot far smaller groups.

There are precious few 50cal bullets made to the same accuracy level as 338's. And there are better 30's then 338's. And there is arguably better 6mm and 6.5's and a few 7mm bullet that are better then most 30's.

If and when Berger comes out with their 338's, I expect many of the unlimited records to fall.

As for the 40's, I have only shot the ABC bullets but not on paper. Have no idea how these group but they were certainly min of boulder accurate at 1400yds.

Will the higher BC of the 50's become an advantage at LR? NO. The bullet has wandered too far to matter.
Jerry
 
A 1/4 moa is a 1/4 moa, so regardless of the caliber a rifle that is capable of regularly producing 1/4 moa is not going to be any more accurate than another rifle in a different caliber that is also capable of consistent 1/4 moa groups.
I own several 338s and 50s that fit into this situation.
To claim 1 caliber is more accurate is ridiculous. 1 rifle/ammo combination may be more accurate, but then you are not comparing the same thing anyway.
The 50 has more reach than the 338, but how many can really make use of 3000 yards or more?
I find I can shoot more out of the 338s as the concussion from the brake is less than with the 50s.
I believe it is easier to be a more accurate shooter with a lighter caliber, but if the rifles and ammo are both capable of the same degree of accuracy, a skilled shooter would be able to produce the same results at the same distances with either to the maximum range of the lesser caliber.
 
X2 A T R,
I think the difference would come down to how much punishment your comfortable with, My limit was 42 rds in an afternoon with the 50, the .338 is alot easier to withstand for longer periods of time.

The best group of my life was shot through my PGW 50 at 100 yds while load testing.
8 shots through one hole, after measuring the hole and subtracting the bullet diameter it left .076 "
I havn't beat that with my PPC yet.

Either way no one likes to shoot beside John and I , laff.

M.
 
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alberta tactical rifle said:
A 1/4 moa is a 1/4 moa, so regardless of the caliber a rifle that is capable of regularly producing 1/4 moa is not going to be any more accurate than another rifle in a different caliber that is also capable of consistent 1/4 moa groups.
I own several 338s and 50s that fit into this situation.
To claim 1 caliber is more accurate is ridiculous. 1 rifle/ammo combination may be more accurate, but then you are not comparing the same thing anyway.
The 50 has more reach than the 338, but how many can really make use of 3000 yards or more?
I find I can shoot more out of the 338s as the concussion from the brake is less than with the 50s.
I believe it is easier to be a more accurate shooter with a lighter caliber, but if the rifles and ammo are both capable of the same degree of accuracy, a skilled shooter would be able to produce the same results at the same distances with either to the maximum range of the lesser caliber.
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Does this say you have more than 1 50 BMG rifle that regularly produce 1/4 MOA accuracy? What distance is this evaluated at?

Also, I believe the root of the OP's question was really weather one chambering could be more accurate than another. Certainly additional parameters are required to base this on such as range and as you correctly note the 50 has more "reach" which would likely make it more accurate at extreme range IMO

Mysticplayer noted that currently available bullets play a huge role in his opinion on the matter and I would concur along with the quality of brass available in 338 over 50 (not to mention factory loads if they are being used to evaluate).

I also saw mention of shooting a 20" plate at 3125 yards with a 338 (I assume Lapua??) The only way I could do that would be with some major horseshoe power and that would certainly not be on a consistent basis.
 
Limiting factor is good bullets and brass. It is much easier to produce quality bullets in the smaller cals. Not to mention selection of brass. If Lapua doesn't make it, you are probably wasting time. For pure accuracy work you can't beat the smaller cals. You can see this in the long range group shoots. Very little is shot over 30 cal.
 
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