338 Lapua vs. 50 BMG: Which Is the Better Extreme Long-Range Cartridge?

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "338 Lapua vs 50 BMG - Long Range Cartridge Comparison"
(https://ammo.com/comparison/338-lapua-vs-50-bmg)

These two military rounds take long-distance shooting to a new level: the 338 Lapua Magnum, and the 50 BMG.

The 50 Browning Machine Gun (aka 50 BMG, .50 cal, 50 Browning, or 12.7x99mm NATO) was designed for anti-materiel applications and is the longest-serving centerfire cartridge in the U.S. military (excluding the 30-06 Springfield, which is still used during ceremonial occasions). The 338 Lapua Magnum is a relative newcomer to the long-range shooting scene, but has become a favorite of many snipers.

Let’s evaluate the 50 BMG vs. 338 Lapua to help you understand the differences between the two rounds and give you a clearer idea of which is better for your long-range shooting needs.

What Is the Difference Between .50 Cal and 338 Lapua?

The key difference between 50 BMG and 338 Lapua Magnum is this: the 50 BMG is the larger cartridge, and accordingly fires a bigger, heavier bullet with more kinetic energy. Although the 338 Lapua has considerably less case capacity than the 50 BMG, both rounds share similar muzzle velocities.

338 Lapua Magnum Pros and Cons

50 BMG Pros and Cons

Cartridge Specs

Perhaps the most obvious difference between these two rounds is their size.

338 Lapua vs. 50 BMG Recoil

The 50 BMG’s enormous case capacity and projectiles come at a cost: massive recoil. The 50 BMG has significantly more recoil than the 338 Lapua. That’s a major reason why many shooters prefer the smaller 338 Lapua for more applications.

It is impossible to perform a pure apples-to-apples recoil comparison on these cartridges, as they are fired in very different firearms. That being said, we can objectively compare the rounds’ free recoil, which is a product of four factors: muzzle velocity (fps), propellant charge weight, bullet weight, and firearm weight.

For 50 BMG, we will consider the Barrett M82 semi-automatic sniper rifle, weighing a whopping 32.7 pounds. For the 338 Lapua, a McMillan TAC-338 bolt-action rifle weighing 13.0 pounds. For ammo, we will compare the military’s standard-issue 50 BMG M33 ball 660 grain FMJ (2,910 fps muzzle velocity) and Lapua’s 338 Lapua Mag 250 grain Lock Base FMJ (2,952 fps).

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Given these parameters, the 50 BMG generates ~82.7 ft-lbs free recoil energy; the 338 Lapua, 36.5 ft-lbs. (To put these massive recoil quantities in perspective, an average 308 Winchester load produces ~20.0 ft-lbs of free recoil.) In no uncertain terms, the 50 BMG has more than double the recoil of the 338 Lapua Mag.

The amounts of recoil produced by the 338 and the 50 BMG are so excessive that virtually every rifle chambered for either comes with a factory-installed muzzle brake. Without it, most shooters would not be able to fire accurately.

Most shooters understand what they’re getting into when they make the decision to purchase a 50 BMG rifle. If you aren’t already experienced with it, then it would be wise to consider professional training to learn how to handle such a mighty round’s recoil.

338 Lapua vs. 50 BMG Ballistic Coefficient and Sectional Density

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Ballistic coefficient (BC) is a measure of how aerodynamic a bullet is and how well it resists wind drift.

The 50 BMG has some of the highest BC values among centerfire rifle cartridges, with heavier bullets exceeding 1.000 G1 BC. The 750 grain A-MAX has a G1 BC of 1.050, while the 660 grain FMJ has a BC of 0.701. In comparison, the 250 and 300 grain 338 Lapua loads compared earlier have G1 BCs of 0.625 and 0.720, respectively.

Sectional density (SD) reflects a bullet’s capacity for penetration based on its weight and diameter.

Narrower bullets typically have an advantage in SD, as they can focus more of their energy on a narrower area. However, 50 BMG bullets are so much heavier that they brute-force their way to higher SD values.

The 50 BMG 750 grain A-MAX has an SD of 0.412; the 660 grain FMJ, 0.357. In contrast, the 338 Lapua 300 grain AccuBond has an SD of 0.375, falling between the two .50 cal bullets.

Practical Uses for Each Cartridge

Initially developed for military use as aircraft and anti-aircraft guns, the 338 Lapua Mag and 50 BMG have both been used by civilians in F-Class shooting competitions.

Since both cartridges are very niche, there are not too many practical reasons to own them (besides being able to brag to your buddies that you have one of the baddest rifles on the planet). Both are good options if you’re a competitive Extreme Long Range (ELR) match shooter or long-range big game hunter (though in most instances there are better options for hunting).

Which Is Better for Hunting?

The 338 Lapua and 50 BMG are relative newcomers to the big game hunting scene. In most cases, I wouldn’t recommend using either for hunting.

There’s no question that 50 BMG ballistics are impressive. No animal on the planet can stand up to it. However, the .50 cal has several downsides for hunting.

The first major issue with using the 50 for hunting is rifle weight. Most hunters would shy away from carrying a 30+ pound rifle into the woods. If you plan on toting a Barrett around, then you’d better start hitting the gym. Although the 50 BMG’s heavy rifle is an issue during long hikes, it is needed to curtail the round’s punishing recoil.

Some hunters criticize the use of 50 BMG for hunting large game due to the lack of expanding bullets available for the cartridge. This is somewhat of a moot point, as a 0.510” diameter bullet inflicts more than a wide enough wound channel to ethically harvest large game. Its extraordinary striking power does not hurt its case.

The 338 Lapua, on the other hand, is gaining in popularity among large-game hunters, as evidenced by the wide selection of hunting rounds from manufacturers such as Berger, Browning, Federal, and Nosler.

A long-range rifle chambered in 338 Lapua would make an excellent choice for hunting elk or moose. It allows hunters to engage dangerous game like grizzly bears from safe distances, too.

Although you can find plenty of YouTube videos of shooters hunting animals like feral hogs with 50 BMG, the 338 Lapua is the better choice for big game hunting due to its lower recoil, lighter rifles, ever-growing hunting ammo selection, and lower prices.

Ammo Cost/Availability

Firing either of these cartridges is a massive financial investment. Regardless of which round you choose, you’ll find that ammo and rifles are both very expensive.

The 338 Lapua has considerably more ammo varieties available. Most 50 BMG ammo is either ball (i.e. FMJ) or match grade (i.e. specifically designed for long-distance target shooting), while the 338 offers multiple big game hunting and target loads.

For a closer look at how specific 338 Lapua loads perform on paper and in the field, see our 338 Lapua ammo review.

338 Lapua vs. 50 BMG Ballistics Charts

Check out these ballistics tables the Ammo.com team created to see how the two rounds compare to each other.

50 BMG Ballistics

Note: This information comes from ammo manufacturers. Actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

For a more complete dataset across all manufacturers and bullet weights, visit our 50 BMG ballistics page.

338 Lapua Magnum Ballistics

Note: This information comes from ammo manufacturers. Actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

For the full dataset across all manufacturers and bullet weights, see our 338 Lapua ballistics charts.

Which One Should You Choose?

The 338 Lapua Magnum and the 50 BMG are two heavy-hitting rounds that have proven their capabilities on the battlefield time and time again.

The 50 Browning Machine Gun currently holds six out of the top ten longest confirmed sniper shots in history, having an effective range of nearly two miles.

The 338 Lapua Magnum is a high-power cartridge designed to bridge the gap between the 300 Win Mag and the 50 BMG. It is a long-range hunting and target shooting cartridge with a flat trajectory and excellent terminal ballistics.

Although the 50 BMG is the more powerful cartridge by far, most shooters opt for the 338 Lapua because it is less expensive and offers more rifle/ammo options. If you seek a dedicated ELR round that pushes even farther than the 338 Lapua, see how the 50 BMG stacks up against a modern precision powerhouse in our 408 CheyTac vs. 50 BMG breakdown.

No matter which cartridge you choose, make sure you stock up on ammunition here at Ammo.com. I’ll see you at the range!

Written by

Wes Littlefield