The 338 Norma Magnum and the 300 Norma Magnum are two high-powered cartridges designed for long-range shooting and hunting. While both cartridges are relatively new, they have quickly gained popularity among shooters and hunters alike. In this article, we will compare the 338 Norma Magnum to the 300 Norma Magnum to help you decide which cartridge is best suited for your needs.
Here is the short answer:
The 338 Norma Magnum has more energy than the 300 Norma Magnum making it better for hunting big game. The 300 Norma Magnum has less drop, less wind drift, and also less recoil than the 338 Norma Magnum making it better for long range shooting.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, their best uses, and see how they compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 338 Norma Magnum
The 338 Norma Magnum is a powerful and highly desirable large game cartridge that offers impressive performance when it comes to hunting big and potentially hazardous creatures. It has been derived from the 300 Norma Magnum cartridge, however, its case capacity has slightly increased in addition to the pressure level being somewhat higher. This amplified casing capacity permits reaching greater velocities than those of the original model while still keeping recoil levels low.
It is widely acknowledged that the 338 Norma Magnum has become a popular choice for hunting moose, elk, caribou, and bears in areas with strenuous landscapes or hostile climatic circumstances. Additionally, it has been utilized successfully on African plains game such as kudu and eland. The unique blend of velocity (up to 3200fps with certain bullet designs), and heavy bullet weights renders this caliber exceptionally adept at bringing down sizeable creatures swiftly even from distances out to 1000 yards or further depending upon the kind of rifle being employed.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 338 Norma Magnm with a 300-grain Sierra MatchKing bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2700 | 4856 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.1 | 2641 | 4645 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.5 | 2582 | 4441 |
| 150 | -1.2 | 1 | 2524 | 4244 |
| 200 | -3.7 | 1.8 | 2467 | 4054 |
| 250 | -7.6 | 2.7 | 2411 | 3871 |
| 300 | -13.1 | 4 | 2355 | 3695 |
| 350 | -20.1 | 5.6 | 2300 | 3524 |
| 400 | -28.8 | 7.5 | 2246 | 3361 |
| 450 | -39.3 | 9.7 | 2193 | 3203 |
| 500 | -51.5 | 12.1 | 2140 | 3051 |
In-Depth Look at the 300 Norma Magnum
Released in 2007, the 300 Norma Magnum cartridge has become a favorite among long-range shooters. Its design is based on that of the 338 Lapua Magnum, but features a different case and smaller bullet diameter. This particular caliber offers greater accuracy at extended distances with low recoil due to its comparatively light bullet weight. Furthermore, it has been highly successful when employed against large game animals such as elk or moose from considerable ranges when loaded with heavy bullets.
The 300 Norma Magnum is a cartridge that is commonly used to take game such as elk, moose, bear, bison, and African plains game. The high energy of this cartridge is the main reason for its popularity among big game hunters as there are few cartridges that offer this level of performance in a 30-caliber bullet.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 300 Norma Magnum with a 215-grain soft point bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 3000 | 4296 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2930 | 4099 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.4 | 2861 | 3909 |
| 150 | -0.8 | 1 | 2794 | 3726 |
| 200 | -2.8 | 1.7 | 2727 | 3550 |
| 250 | -5.9 | 2.8 | 2662 | 3382 |
| 300 | -10.2 | 4 | 2597 | 3219 |
| 350 | -15.8 | 5.5 | 2533 | 3063 |
| 400 | -22.8 | 7.2 | 2470 | 2913 |
| 450 | -31.1 | 9.2 | 2408 | 2769 |
| 500 | -41 | 11.5 | 2347 | 2630 |
In-Depth Comparison
When comparing the 338 Norma Magnum to the 300 Norma Magnum, there are several factors to consider, including ballistics, recoil, barrel life, availability, and cost.
Ballistics: The 338 Norma Magnum fires a larger and heavier bullet than the 300 Norma Magnum, which results in greater energy. The 338 Norma Magnum can launch a 300-grain bullet at over 2,700 feet per second, while the 300 Norma Magnum typically fires a 230-grain bullet at around 3,000 feet per second. The lighter faster moving bullets of the 300 Norma Magnum makes it better for long range shooting because it has less drop and less wind drift.
Recoil: Due to its larger size and heavier bullet, the 338 Norma Magnum produces more recoil than the 300 Norma Magnum. Therefore shooters who are more sensitive to recoil would desire the 300 Norma magnum however, the 300 Norma magnum still produces a significant among of recoil.
Barrel Life: The 300 Norma Magnum typically has about the same barrel life as the 338 Norma Magnum. Both these rounds shoot big bullets at the same pressures and at a slow enough velocity, it won’t cause a super fast barrel burnout.
Availability: Both cartridges are relatively new and may not be as widely available as other cartridges. However, the 300 Norma Magnum has gained popularity among long-range shooters and is now offered by several major ammunition manufacturers.
Cost: The 338 Norma Magnum typically costs more than the 300 Norma Magnum due to the higher cost of materials and manufacturing. Shooters can expect to pay a premium for ammunition and components for the 338 Norma Magnum.
Conclusion
When comparing the 338 Norma Magnum to the 300 Norma Magnum, it’s clear that both cartridges have their strengths and weaknesses. The 338 Norma Magnum offers greater power, while the 300 Norma Magnum has less recoil and better ballistics.