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.338 Lapua Magnum Trajectory Calculator

See how .338 Lapua Magnum stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every rifle caliber side by side.

The .338 Lapua Magnum is a dedicated long-range cartridge used by military snipers and extreme-distance shooters worldwide. With a 250-grain bullet at 2,860 fps and a 100-yard zero, expect about 3.2 inches of drop at 200 yards, 11.6 inches at 300 yards, and 25.7 inches at 400 yards. The cartridge retains over 3,000 ft-lbs of energy at 400 yards, over 2,700 ft-lbs at 500 yards, and still carries 1,520 ft-lbs at 1,000 yards—enough to be effective on large game at distances most cartridges can't reach.

Use the calculator to match your specific load. Click "Modify Calculation" to enter your bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and ballistic coefficient. Loads range from 250-grain hunting bullets to 300-grain match projectiles. You can also factor in wind, shooting angle, and atmospheric conditions—all of which matter significantly at the ranges this cartridge can reach.

.338 Lapua Magnum Trajectory Chart

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.338 Lapua Magnum Ballistics Data

Range (yd) Elevation (in) Elevation (MOA) Elevation (MIL) Windage (in) Windage (MOA) Windage (MIL) Time (s) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lbs)
0 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2860.0 4541.8
50 -0.19 0.36 0.104 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.053 2790.26 4323.0
100 0.0 -0.0 -0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.108 2721.83 4113.56
150 -0.98 0.62 0.182 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.164 2654.46 3912.43
200 -3.2 1.53 0.444 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.221 2588.07 3719.17
250 -6.71 2.56 0.745 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.28 2522.64 3533.52
300 -11.59 3.69 1.073 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.34 2458.18 3355.24
350 -17.91 4.88 1.421 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.402 2394.61 3183.94
400 -25.74 6.14 1.787 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.465 2331.95 3019.5
450 -35.17 7.46 2.17 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.53 2270.21 2861.73
500 -46.29 8.84 2.571 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.597 2209.37 2710.4
550 -59.18 10.27 2.988 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.666 2149.43 2565.33
600 -73.96 11.77 3.423 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.737 2090.44 2426.46
650 -90.73 13.33 3.876 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.81 2032.4 2293.58
700 -109.59 14.95 4.348 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.885 1975.31 2166.54
750 -130.69 16.64 4.84 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.962 1919.23 2045.27
800 -154.14 18.4 5.351 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.041 1864.18 1929.61
850 -180.1 20.23 5.885 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.123 1810.19 1819.46
900 -208.7 22.14 6.441 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.207 1757.32 1714.74
950 -240.12 24.13 7.02 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.293 1705.64 1615.36
1000 -274.52 26.21 7.625 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.383 1655.23 1521.29

Take this table to the range

The .338 Lapua Magnum reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.

Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.

Customize this card

Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.

Available .338 Lapua Magnum Ammunition Ballistics

Product Velocity (fps) BC 100yd Drop 200yd Drop 300yd Drop
Barnes Precision Match .338 Lapua Magnum 300gr OTM BT Ammo Ballistics 2600 0.716 0.0" -4.2" -14.6"
Barnes VOR-TX .338 Lapua Magnum 280gr LRX BT Ammo Ballistics 2600 0.667 0.0" -4.2" -14.8"
Cor-Bon Performance Match .338 Lapua Magnum 300gr JHP Ammo Ballistics 2650 0.72 0.0" -3.9" -13.9"
Federal American Eagle .338 Lapua Magnum 250gr SP Ammo Ballistics 2875 0.555 0.0" -3.3" -11.9"
Federal Gold Medal Match .338 Lapua Magnum 250gr Sierra MatchKing BTHP Ammo Ballistics 2950 0.587 0.0" -3.0" -11.0"
Federal Premium Sierra MatchKing .338 Lapua Magnum 300gr HPBT Ammo Ballistics 2580 0.768 0.0" -4.2" -14.7"
Hornady Match .338 Lapua Magnum 250gr BTHP Ammo Ballistics 2860 0.67 0.0" -3.2" -11.6"
Hornady Match .338 Lapua Magnum 285gr ELD Match Ammo Ballistics 2745 0.789 0.0" -3.5" -12.6"
Hornady Precision Hunter .338 Lapua Magnum 270gr ELD-X Ammo Ballistics 2800 0.757 0.0" -3.3" -12.0"
Norma Match .338 Lapua Magnum 250gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT Ammo Ballistics 2950 0.587 0.0" -3.0" -11.0"
Prvi Partizan .338 Lapua Magnum 240gr Solid Copper Ammo Ballistics 2950 0.45 0.0" -3.1" -11.6"
Remington Express .338 Lapua Magnum 250gr Scenar Match Ammo Ballistics 2970 0.648 0.0" -2.9" -10.6"
Underwood Custom Competition .338 Lapua Magnum 300gr HPBT Match Ammo Ballistics 2700 0.8 0.0" -3.7" -13.1"
Winchester Expedition Big Game .338 Lapua Magnum 300gr AccuBond CT Ammo Ballistics 2650 0.72 0.0" -3.9" -13.9"
Winchester Match .338 Lapua Magnum 250gr MatchKing HPBT Ammo Ballistics 2900 0.587 0.0" -3.1" -11.5"

Zeroing the .338 Lapua Magnum

Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 250gr G1 .670 at 2,860 fps, with a 1.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). A hunting rifle with a scope in standard rings sits about 1.5" over the bore; the zero you choose sets how far you can hold on hair without thinking about the range. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.

.338 Lapua Magnum zero comparison

.338 Lapua Magnum 250gr reference load zero comparison at 1.5" sight height over bore
100-yd zero 200-yd zero
Near zero 67 yd 33 yd
Far zero 100 yd 200 yd
Max ordinate +0.1" +1.7"
Max ordinate distance 83 yd 117 yd
Hold-dead-on window (8" vital zone, ±4") 0–213 yd 0–267 yd
Sight in at 100 yd 0.0" (0.0 MOA) +1.6" (+1.5 MOA)
Drop at 300 yd -11.6" -6.8"
Drop at 400 yd -25.7" -19.4"
Energy at 300 yd 3,355 ft-lb 3,355 ft-lb
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How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.

Key terms

Near zero
Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
Far zero
Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
Max ordinate
The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
Point blank range (MPBR)
The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.

.338 Lapua Magnum with a 100-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 250gr load first crosses the line of sight at 67 yards, peaks +0.1" at 83 yards, returns to zero at 100, and is -11.6" at 300 and -25.7" at 400 yards.

Download CSV
.338 Lapua Magnum 250gr reference load, 100-yard zero, 1.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -1.5" 0.00 0.00 2,860 4,542 0.0
25 -0.7" -2.68 -0.78 2,825 4,431 0.1
50 -0.2" -0.36 -0.10 2,790 4,323 0.1
75 +0.1" +0.06 +0.02 2,756 4,217 0.3
100 0.0" 0.00 0.00 2,722 4,114 0.5
125 -0.3" -0.26 -0.08 2,688 4,012 0.8
150 -1.0" -0.62 -0.18 2,654 3,912 1.1
175 -1.9" -1.05 -0.31 2,621 3,815 1.5
200 -3.2" -1.53 -0.44 2,588 3,719 1.9
225 -4.8" -2.03 -0.59 2,555 3,625 2.4
250 -6.7" -2.56 -0.75 2,523 3,534 3.0
275 -9.0" -3.12 -0.91 2,490 3,443 3.7
300 -11.6" -3.69 -1.07 2,458 3,355 4.4
325 -14.6" -4.28 -1.24 2,426 3,269 5.2
350 -17.9" -4.88 -1.42 2,395 3,184 6.1
375 -21.6" -5.51 -1.60 2,363 3,101 7.0
400 -25.7" -6.14 -1.79 2,332 3,020 8.0
425 -30.3" -6.79 -1.98 2,301 2,940 9.1
450 -35.2" -7.46 -2.17 2,270 2,862 10.2
475 -40.5" -8.14 -2.37 2,240 2,785 11.5
500 -46.3" -8.84 -2.57 2,209 2,710 12.8

250gr G1 .670 at 2,860 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.

.338 Lapua Magnum with a 200-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 200 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 250gr load first crosses the line of sight at 33 yards, peaks +1.7" at 117 yards, returns to zero at 200, and is -6.8" at 300 and -19.4" at 400 yards.

Download CSV
.338 Lapua Magnum 250gr reference load, 200-yard zero, 1.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -1.5" 0.00 0.00 2,860 4,542 0.0
25 -0.3" -1.15 -0.33 2,825 4,431 0.1
50 +0.6" +1.17 +0.34 2,790 4,323 0.1
75 +1.3" +1.59 +0.46 2,756 4,217 0.3
100 +1.6" +1.53 +0.44 2,722 4,114 0.5
125 +1.7" +1.27 +0.37 2,688 4,012 0.8
150 +1.4" +0.90 +0.26 2,654 3,912 1.1
175 +0.9" +0.47 +0.14 2,621 3,815 1.5
200 0.0" 0.00 0.00 2,588 3,719 1.9
225 -1.2" -0.51 -0.15 2,555 3,625 2.4
250 -2.7" -1.04 -0.30 2,523 3,533 3.0
275 -4.6" -1.59 -0.46 2,490 3,443 3.7
300 -6.8" -2.16 -0.63 2,458 3,355 4.4
325 -9.4" -2.75 -0.80 2,426 3,269 5.2
350 -12.3" -3.36 -0.98 2,395 3,184 6.1
375 -15.6" -3.98 -1.16 2,363 3,101 7.0
400 -19.4" -4.62 -1.34 2,332 3,019 8.0
425 -23.5" -5.27 -1.53 2,301 2,940 9.1
450 -28.0" -5.94 -1.73 2,270 2,862 10.2
475 -32.9" -6.62 -1.92 2,240 2,785 11.5
500 -38.3" -7.31 -2.13 2,209 2,710 12.8

250gr G1 .670 at 2,860 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.

Maximum Point Blank Range for the .338 Lapua Magnum

Maximum point blank range (MPBR) is the zero that keeps the bullet inside a vital zone, never more than half its height above or below the line of sight (an 8" zone is ±4"), for as far as possible. Zero at the distance in the table and you can hold dead-on from the muzzle to the far edge of the window.

.338 Lapua Magnum maximum point blank range by vital zone size
Vital zone Zero at Hold dead-on from To (MPBR) Max ordinate Near / far zero CSV
8" (whitetail, pronghorn) 278 yd 0 yd 327 yd +4.0" at 153 yd 23 / 278 yd Download
10" (elk, moose) 303 yd 0 yd 358 yd +5.0" at 165 yd 21 / 303 yd Download

MPBR assumes a centred hold, a level shot and no wind; it is a ceiling, not a licence to skip ranging. The far edge of the window is where the bullet has already fallen half the vital zone.

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Stock Up On .338 Lapua Magnum Ammo for the Range

PRODUCT PRICE/RD
Federal Gold Medal Match .338 Lapua Magnum 250gr Sierra MatchKing BTHP Ammo
$5.43
20 Rounds
Hornady Match .338 Lapua Magnum 285gr ELD Match Ammo
$5.70
20 Rounds
Hornady Precision Hunter .338 Lapua Magnum 270gr ELD-X Ammo
$6.11
20 Rounds
Prvi Partizan .338 Lapua Magnum 240gr Solid Copper Ammo
Sold by: Lucky Gunner
$6.24
10 Rounds
Hornady Match .338 Lapua Magnum 250gr BTHP Ammo
$6.62
20 Rounds
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