Thread: 7mm Rem Mag vs 338 Lapua Mag

I am considering trying a 338LM for ELR shooting. However on looking at the actual ballistics rather than hype there is virtually nothing in it. A Hornady 162gr ELD Match @ 2990 vs a Berger 250gr OTM @2850 are very close even out to 3000m for both elevation and wind drift. I wonder what I am missing. The 338LM costs much more to load and is not as pleasant to shoot. The only plus for the 338LM I can see is the bigger bullet splash to spot your misses. Moving to anything bigger is not an option so 375s are out. Any comments are appreciated.

Your Handicapping yourself at the start with the 250 gr pills in the 338 for target work mate.
The 300 gr otm has a much better bc
The comparison on numbers may be close, get a windy day at 1500 yards and It's like comparing a 17hmr to a 243.
Hope that helps.


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You are missing the fact a 338 can push a 300 grain Berger to 2850.

They aren't that comparable. Shooting a 338 is certainly a different experience that shooting a normal magnum. You say elr, that typically means well over a km so look at wind drift rather than drop. The 338 300 grain at 2850 eats a 7mm mag past 1300m

What they said, and with a decent brake they're not that bad to shot either.

Himmmmmm not criticising but wondering where the extra velocity comes from for a 300gr when Berger lists the max at 2700? If those velocities are achievable then what are you guys who are loading pushing 250gr bullets to?

Originally Posted by Dermastor

Himmmmmm not criticising but wondering where the extra velocity comes from for a 300gr when Berger lists the max at 2700? If those velocities are achievable then what are you guys who are loading pushing 250gr bullets to?

i know plenty of guys with 338's and no1 shots the 250gr 300 all the way

1500 yards
Wind 20mph at 90 degrees
7mm remmag
300 norma
330 edge

Drop is irrelevant its the wind that will get you.




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Same as above but 7-375r with 162 amax

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As a hunter first before a shooter I like the energy and wind numbers on the 338 edge and 300NM. If was on a budget 7mm rem mag.

Run the numbers on a 7mm 195gr berger at 3100, it has 191" of windage at 1500 yards with 20 mph, or a 7mm 180 eld-m at 3200, it has 183" (if Hornadys listed BC is correct).

Both of these can be pushed at those velocities from a 26" barreled 28 Nosler, with a whole lot less recoil than a 300gr at 2850 fps. The tradeoff is barrel life, but hey we wear out tyres on our trucks too.

Obviously the 300gr 338 has higher energy, but how much do you need? You have to hit the target first before energy matters

Originally Posted by GWH

Run the numbers on a 7mm 195gr berger at 3100, it has 191" of windage at 1500 yards with 20 mph, or a 7mm 180 eld-m at 3200, it has 183" (if Hornadys listed BC is correct).

Both of these can be pushed at those velocities from a 26" barreled 28 Nosler, with a whole lot less recoil than a 300gr at 2850 fps. The tradeoff is barrel life, but hey we wear out tyres on our trucks too.

Obviously the 300gr 338 has higher energy, but how much do you need? You have to hit the target first before energy matters

The 195 are definitely a an impressive bullet when going at speed. top of my list for the next build

Originally Posted by 199p

The 195 are definitely a an impressive bullet when going at speed. top of my list for the next build

Same! My build is underway

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Originally Posted by GWH

or a 7mm 180 eld-m at 3200, it has 183" (if Hornadys listed BC is correct).

Hornady listed BC is smack on to 900 yards with a 8 twist barrel....no adjustments required at all

Originally Posted by GWH

Run the numbers on a 7mm 195gr berger at 3100, it has 191" of windage at 1500 yards with 20 mph, or a 7mm 180 eld-m at 3200, it has 183" (if Hornadys listed BC is correct).

Both of these can be pushed at those velocities from a 26" barreled 28 Nosler, with a whole lot less recoil than a 300gr at 2850 fps. The tradeoff is barrel life, but hey we wear out tyres on our trucks too.

Obviously the 300gr 338 has higher energy, but how much do you need? You have to hit the target first before energy matters

Throw in some wind Clint and the 338 still destroys it even if numbers suggest otherwise.
Maybe not a lot but the difference is between a hit and a miss.
Everyone would rather carry the 7mm and at hunting ranges trumps the 338 in most applications imo.


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Originally Posted by BRADS

Throw in some wind Clint and the 338 still destroys it even if numbers suggest otherwise.
Maybe not a lot but the difference is between a hit and a miss.
Everyone would rather carry the 7mm and at hunting ranges trumps the 338 in most applications imo.


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The numbers suggest the 7mm 195gr berger beats the 338 300gr by about 29" in 20mph at 1500 yards. Obviously no one is likely to be shooting at a deer at that range in those conditions.

One of the places i hunt, theres plenty of 1000 yard shots at deer on offer, and in only 5mph of wind, the 195gr at 3100 has 15.8" windage, where as 300gr at 2850 has 21". Generally the numbers dont lie. But yeah mines a hunting rifle.