In recent years, 338-caliber cartridges have become popular among long-range shooters and hunters for their superior ballistic performance. The 338 Norma Magnum and 338 Lapua are two popular cartridges in this caliber, known for their long-range capabilities and versatility. In this article, we will compare the 338 Norma Magnum and the 338 Lapua in terms of their history, ballistics, recoil, availability, and price.
Short Answer:
The 338 Norma is a shorter fatter version of the 338 Lapua that has better ballistics. However, the 338 Lapua is a much more popular cartridge so it will be easier to find. If you value ballistics, go with the 338 Norma. If you appreciate an easy-to-find cartridge that still has good ballistics, go with the 338 Lapua.
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 cartridge that was designed in 2008 by the Swedish ammunition manufacturer Norma. The cartridge was designed to improve upon the 338 Lapua case and make a more effective round better for long range shooting.
The 338 Norma Magnum is known for its exceptional accuracy and flat trajectory, making it a popular choice among long-range shooters and military snipers. One downside to this round has too much energy for hunting most game. There is a small group of long range big game hunters or dangerous game hunters who have used this cartridge, but it is mostly limited to long range shooting.
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 338 Lapua
The 338 Lapua was designed in the 1980s by Lapua. The cartridge was originally designed for long-range military snipers, but it quickly gained popularity among long-range shooters due to its high long range energy. The 338 Lapua is based on the 416 Rigby case, necked down to a .338-inch bullet.
This cartridge is known for its exceptional accuracy, long-range capabilities, and flat trajectory making it a popular choice for those who are shooting at ranges beyond 1000 yards. However, you will run into the issue that this cartridge is very expensive and often costs upwards of 6 dollars a round.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 388 Lapua Magnum with a 300-grain Nosler Accubond bullet:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2650 | 4678 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.1 | 2588 | 4461 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.4 | 2527 | 4253 |
| 150 | -1.3 | 1 | 2467 | 4053 |
| 200 | -3.9 | 1.8 | 2407 | 3860 |
| 250 | -8.1 | 3 | 2349 | 3674 |
| 300 | -13.9 | 4.4 | 2291 | 3495 |
| 350 | -21.3 | 6.2 | 2234 | 3324 |
| 400 | -30.5 | 8.3 | 2178 | 3159 |
| 450 | -41.6 | 10.6 | 2122 | 3000 |
| 500 | -54.5 | 13.2 | 2068 | 2847 |
In-Depth Comparison
Ballistics: Both the 338 Norma Magnum and 338 Lapua are capable of exceptional long-range ballistics. However, the 338 Norma generally has a slight edge in terms of ballistics, with a flatter trajectory, higher muzzle velocity, and better long-range performance. This is largely due to the larger case capacity of the 338 Norma, which allows for greater powder capacity and higher velocities.
Recoil: Recoil is a significant factor when it comes to selecting a rifle, particularly for long-range shooting. Both the 338 Norma and the 338 Lapua Magnum generate a significant amount of recoil, which can be challenging for some shooters to manage.
Price and availability: The 338 Lapua is a more established cartridge than the 338 Norma Magnum and is therefore more widely available. The 338 Lapua also tends to be less expensive than the 338 Norma Magnum, which is a consideration for many shooters.
Versatility: The 338 Lapua is a highly versatile cartridge that is capable of taking down large game at long distances. The 338 Norma Magnum can also be used as a hunting cartridge in very niche situations, but it is primarily designed for long-range shooting and is not as well-suited for hunting as the 338 Lapua.
Conclusion
The 338 Lapua tends to have an edge in terms of popularity and versatility. While the 338 Norma Magnum has slightly better ballistics and is better suited for long range shooting.