Hunting construction
Soft-point, bonded, partitioned, and monolithic expanding bullets are designed differently. Their intended impact-velocity ranges and use cases come from the bullet or ammunition manufacturer.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SPORTING & MATCH RIFLE
.338 Lapua Magnum
A large, beltless .338-caliber magnum used in long-range rifle and sporting applications. Its case belongs to a separate family from the belted .338 Winchester Magnum.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 3.5610–3.6811 in
90.450–93.500 mm - Case length · max
- 2.7244 in
69.200 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.3390 in
8.610 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.5878 in
14.930 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Sporting & match rifle
- Bullet specification
- 0.3390 in / 8.610 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 7 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 240–300 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.338 Lapua Magnum is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 338 Lapua Mag. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
Published military, match, and hunting loads may use different projectiles and test conditions. Compare exact product records.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The .338 Lapua Magnum entered the civilian market in 1987 after development for long-range military use. Its large, beltless case drew on the .416 Rigby lineage, but was engineered as a modern high-performance cartridge rather than simply carrying forward an older sporting loading.
Lapua also saw a civilian market, and Sako offered hunting rifles in the chambering. Long-range target shooting subsequently became another important part of its identity, supported by specialized .338-caliber match bullets. That mixed military, sporting and competitive history distinguishes it from a cartridge created solely for conventional hunting rifles. It was also an early prominent example of a modern magnum operating without the belt familiar from many older sporting designs. The later reputation of the .338 Lapua reflects the combined development of the cartridge, precision rifles and suitable long-range projectiles.
Historical sources: Sierra: .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Match construction
Open-tip match and tipped match bullets prioritize consistency and aerodynamics. A match designation does not by itself mean the projectile was designed for hunting expansion.
Specialty offerings
Lead-free, reduced-recoil, and premium long-range products are separate load designs when offered. Compare the exact SKU, bullet weight, test barrel, and intended role rather than relying on a cartridge-wide average.
In the cited .338 Lapua Magnum examples, bullet weights are 240, 250, 270, 285, 300 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
240 grains
2,900 fps
CX®
250 grains
2,950 fps
SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP
270 grains
2,800 fps
ELD-X®
Compare all 7 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady82318 | 240 gr 15.55 g | CX® | 2,900 fps 884 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
| FederalGM338LM | 250 gr 16.20 g | SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP | 2,950 fps 899 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| FederalP338LTC1 | 250 gr 16.20 g | TROPHY COPPER | 2,850 fps 869 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| Hornady8230 | 250 gr 16.20 g | BTHP | 2,860 fps 872 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
| Hornady82313 | 270 gr 17.50 g | ELD-X® | 2,800 fps 853 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
| Hornady82300 | 285 gr 18.47 g | ELD® Match | 2,745 fps 837 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
| FederalGM338LM2 | 300 gr 19.44 g | SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP | 2,580 fps 786 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.338 Lapua Magnum: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 240 gr Hornady CX® | Hornady | 0: 2900; 100: 2747; 200: 2600; 300: 2458; 400: 2320; 500: 2186 |
| 250 gr Federal SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP | Federal | 0: 2950; 100: 2789; 200: 2634; 300: 2484; 400: 2339; 500: 2199 |
| 270 gr Hornady ELD-X® | Hornady | 0: 2800; 100: 2680; 200: 2562; 300: 2447; 400: 2336; 500: 2227 |
| 285 gr Hornady ELD® Match | Hornady | 0: 2745; 100: 2636; 200: 2530; 300: 2426; 400: 2324; 500: 2225 |
| 300 gr Federal SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP | Federal | 0: 2580; 100: 2466; 200: 2355; 300: 2248; 400: 2143; 500: 2040 |
| 250 gr Federal TROPHY COPPER | Federal | 0: 2850; 100: 2702; 200: 2559; 300: 2420; 400: 2286; 500: 2156 |
| 250 gr Hornady BTHP | Hornady | 0: 2860; 100: 2722; 200: 2587; 300: 2457; 400: 2331; 500: 2208 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .338 Lapua Magnum?
A large, beltless .338-caliber magnum used in long-range rifle and sporting applications. Its case belongs to a separate family from the belted .338 Winchester Magnum.
What diameter does .338 Lapua Magnum use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.3390 inches (8.610 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
Published military, match, and hunting loads may use different projectiles and test conditions. Compare exact product records.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 136 ↗
- Sierra: .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge background ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.