338 Lapua Ammo
The .338 Lapua Magnum is the benchmark long-range rifle cartridge for military snipers, competitive shooters, and serious big-game hunters who need reliable terminal performance beyond 1,000 yards. Developed in the 1980s for military use, the .338 Lapua fires a 250–300 grain bullet at 2,850–3,000 fps, staying supersonic past 1,500 yards and delivering elk-class energy at distances where most cartridges have run out of steam. Impact Guns stocks match-grade, hunting, and practice loads for this demanding cartridge.
Read our full .338 Lapua Ammo Buying Guide ↓
.338 Lapua vs. .300 Win Mag: Choosing Your Long-Range Cartridge
The .300 Win Mag has more rifles chambered for it, significantly lower ammo cost, and adequate performance to 800–1,000 yards for most hunters. The .338 Lapua extends that envelope by 30–50%, staying supersonic to 1,500+ yards and hitting harder at distance due to its heavier bullet. For competition shooting beyond 1,000 yards or dangerous big game at long range (Cape buffalo, grizzly), the .338 Lapua’s advantages become decisive. For hunting elk and deer at ranges most shooters actually shoot, .300 Win Mag or even 6.5 Creedmoor is more practical and dramatically cheaper to feed.
.338 Lapua Bullet Weights: 250gr vs. 285gr vs. 300gr
The most common .338 Lapua bullet weights are 250 grain (the military-standard Sierra MatchKing load), 285 grain (Hornady A-MAX/ELD Match — the highest BC option), and 300 grain (heavy hunting loads for maximum retained energy). The 285 grain Hornady ELD Match has largely become the competition standard for its exceptional ballistic coefficient. For hunting, 250–285 grain bonded or polymer-tipped bullets from Federal, Nosler, or Hornady deliver controlled expansion on large game. Match loads prioritize consistency and BC over expansion — not suitable for hunting use.
Best .338 Lapua Ammo Brands: Federal, Hornady, Lapua & More
Lapua (the Finnish manufacturer the cartridge is named for) produces the most consistent brass and loaded ammunition available — the standard for precision reloaders. Federal Premium and Hornady produce excellent factory match and hunting loads that deliver consistent accuracy from quality rifles. For training and practice, brands like Sellier & Bellot offer more affordable .338 Lapua loads that are adequate for zeroing and fundamentals work. Expect to pay $4–$8 per round for quality .338 Lapua — budget accordingly and consider reloading for high-volume use.
What Rifles Are Chambered in .338 Lapua?
The most common .338 Lapua platforms are purpose-built precision rifles: the Barrett MRAD, Savage 110, Tikka T3x, and various custom bolt guns built on Remington 700 actions. Most .338 Lapua rifles are heavy — 14–20 lbs — which is necessary to manage the cartridge’s significant recoil and provide the stable platform long-range accuracy demands. Semi-automatic .338 Lapua rifles exist (Barrett M107 variants) but are rare and expensive. For most shooters entering the .338 Lapua cartridge, a quality bolt-action precision rifle is the right starting platform.
.338 Lapua Reloading & Related Pages
.338 Lapua is one of the most cost-effective cartridges to reload given the high per-round cost of factory ammo. Lapua brass is renowned for case life and consistency — 10+ reloads are common with proper preparation. See our reloading page for press and die options. For related long-range cartridges, see .300 Win Mag and .308 Win ammo. For rifles chambered in .338 Lapua, see our bolt-action rifles and Barrett Firearms pages.