While hanging out on Reddit the other day, I came across a celebratory post for achieving a hit at over a mile. This is a pretty big deal, because that’s a really long shot. So I congratulated the poster and mentioned that a hit at a mile with the .338 Lapua Magnum (.338 LM) is on my bucket list. I’ve taken mine out to 1,065 yards. The poster responded that he didn’t know much about the .338 LM and bet it would put his 6.5mm Creedmoor (6.5 CM) to shame.
Since I hunt with a 6.5 CM, it got me wondering about the differences between the .338 Lapua Magnum and the 6.5mm Creedmoor. And so here we are.
These are two completely different cartridges, but both are known for being able to go the distance. Because they are so different, this isn’t going to be an apples to apples comparison. Regardless, I think it will be fun to compare them. For this comparison, I will look at the advertised ballistics of Hornady’s Match product line for both cartridges, each using an ELD Match projectile.
Advertised Ballistics: .338 LM vs 6.5 CM
| 6.5mm Creedmoor | .338 Lapua Magnum | |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet | 140 grain ELD Match | 285 grain ELD Match |
| Sectional density | .287 | .356 |
| Ballistic coefficient | .646 (G1) .326 (G7) | .789 (G1) .394 (G7) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,710 fps | 2,745 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 2,283 ft-lb | 4,768 ft-lb |
The advertised ballistics should make the differences between the .338 Lapua Magnum and the 6.5mm Creedmoor obvious. Both projectiles have a fairly similar advertised muzzle velocity, with the .338 LM being 35 fps (about 1.3%) faster than the 6.5 CM. Both have really good ballistic coefficients, but the .338 LM’s is significantly better. That means its trajectory will be flatter, and it will experience less wind drift than the 6.5 CM. The .338 LM projectile is also about twice as heavy as the 6.5 CM projectile. In turn, that translates into about double the muzzle energy and much more recoil.
Velocity and Effective Range
First, the following table compares the velocity of the projectiles at various distances:
| Distance | 6.5mm Creedmoor | .338 Lapua Magnum |
|---|---|---|
| 500 yards | 2,059 fps | 2,198 fps |
| 1,000 yards | 1,516 fps | 1,765 fps |
| 1,500 yards | 1,135 fps | 1,332 fps |
| 1,750 yards | 1,026 fps | 1,185 fps |
Velocity is important to keep in mind when shooting at extended distances with supersonic projectiles. Once the velocity has dropped enough to cross the transonic barrier (when the projectile goes from supersonic to subsonic), most projectiles begin to tumble. As a result, accuracy suffers significantly. So for precision shooting, this is what determines a cartridge’s effective range.
Generally, the rule of thumb I’ve heard is 1,200 fps for the transonic barrier. While a bullet is faster than that, it is supersonic and stable. Below that, it enters the transonic barrier and begins to destabilize. However, depending on atmospheric conditions and projectile design, the bullet may remain stable enough to stay accurate as it approaches 1,100 fps.
Using the advertised ballistic data in a ballistic calculator, the approximate effective range of the 6.5 CM is about 1,500 yards. The approximate effective range of the .338 LM is about 1,750 yards. Still, there are a few things one can do to push these ranges out a bit further. For example, one could use a longer barrel to increase muzzle velocity. One could also develop custom hand loads that are hotter (higher pressure) than these factory loads.
Bullet Drop
Okay. That’s cool. But how much drop will these projectiles experience at the same extended distances?
| Drop | 6.5mm Creedmoor | .338 Lapua Magnum |
|---|---|---|
| 500 yards | 53.1 in | 49.2 in |
| 1,000 yards | 316.8 in | 280.7 in |
| 1,500 yards | 970.6 in | 813 in |
| 1,750 yards | 1,531.3 in | 1,249.6 in |
Sure enough, the drop data confirms that the .338 LM has a flatter trajectory than the 6.5 CM. At 500 yards, the difference in drop between the two projectiles is about 3.9 in (0.7 MOA or 0.2 mils), which is not a huge difference. However, at 1,500 yards the difference in drop is 157.6 in (10 MOA or 2.9 mils). That’s pretty significant.
The reason this matters is that at 1,500 yards, equipment selection becomes very important. At this distance, for example, the 6.5 CM will require a come up of 61.8 MOA or 18 mils. To the best of my knowledge, that exceeds the mechanical adjustment limits of many scopes. So one will need a very high end scope, a scope base with an elevation adjustment, or both. Since the .338 LM experiences less drop, one can get away with less specialized optics at similar distances.
Wind Drift
Next, let’s look at wind drift.
| Drift | 6.5mm Creedmoor | .338 Lapua Magnum |
|---|---|---|
| 500 yards | 14 in | 11 in |
| 1,000 yards | 67 in | 51 in |
| 1,500 yards | 173 in | 130 in |
| 1,750 yards | 247 in | 187 in |
Similarly, the drift data confirms the .338 LM is less susceptible to wind drift than the 6.5 CM. This also implies the .338 LM can be a little more forgiving, requiring less specialized equipment at similar distances.
However, reading wind is a skill that takes time to develop, and in my opinion it is more of an art than a science. Perhaps it is due to my limited experience with long distance shooting, but I hold the opinion that most misses at extended distances are the result of bad wind calls. Sure, one can have a bad distance call as well. At least there are tools like laser rangefinders that, when used properly, take the guesswork out of the equation. To me, this means a projectile that is less susceptible to wind drift will be a little more forgiving of wind call estimates.
Recoil, Ammo Availability and Price
After writing all of this, it might seem that I am saying the .338 LM is the better choice for long distance shooting. After all, it has a longer effective range, a flatter trajectory, and less wind drift. All else being equal, I think it would be correct to declare the .338 LM the better choice. Unfortunately, there are some additional things to consider.
Compared to the 6.5 CM, the .338 LM has significantly more recoil. That recoil may be a non-starter for some folks. It also means follow up shots will generally be slower, since it takes a little longer to get the crosshairs back on target after a shot.
Besides recoil, the .338 LM’s other drawbacks are ammunition availability and price. Perhaps availability differs by locale. However, my experience has been that I can find a significantly larger selection of quality match grade 6.5 CM ammunition and components in just about any store that sells ammunition. Selection for .338 LM, meanwhile, is limited at best and non-existent at times. Then there is price. Just compare the typical retail price of about $35 for a 20 round box of 6.5 CM Hornady Match versus $100 for a 20 round box of .338 LM Hornady Match.
Which Is Better, .338 LM or 6.5 CM?
So which one is better, the .338 Lapua Magnum or the 6.5mm Creedmoor? Ultimately, it comes down to the application and the size of the wallet. If the application is hitting targets consistently at a distance of one mile, then my choice is the .338 LM. Otherwise, for long distance shooting at targets at 1,250 yards or less, my wallet is going to pick the 6.5 CM more often than not.
The .338 LM sucks to shoot, I’ve hit 1-mile with 3 of my 6.5 CMs, and ALL were done with 147 gr Hornady ELD-M box ammo. 1 also succeeded with 140 gr on my highest end custom Factory Steyr. The issue is bullet time and trigger pull follow through. There are 13 frequencies that travel up and down barrel several times before bullet exits barrel. This causes crown to expand and contract, each barrel is different slightly as well. You want bullet to exit being squeezed by crown for ultimate accuracy. IF you don’t have perfect trigger pull follow through, you ADD another frequency and alter bullet time. That means that the bullet doesn’t exit perfectly true, and once transonic catches the ass end of bullet and travels through it, it can cause to tumble and fall out of sky at about 1,560 yds so even IF D.O.P.E is perfect, you’ll NEVER see your misses at 1-mile to account for any adjustments needed. Keep in mind that even the BMG .50 Cal is subsonic at 1-mile, but it’s 750 gr so it’ll handle transonic so much easier. Lastly, even though Hornady has muzzle velocity at 2,695 fps for 147 gr, you’ll need to D.O.P.E. as if 2,630 fps as starting point, Transonic takes about 65 fps out of calculations. The aiming point is roughly 135 feet of drop, actual drop is approximately 95 feet. Anyway, I shot my buddy’s .338 LM and it sucked at 200 yds, and even with massive brake, kicked like a mule, which will decrease your likelihood of good trigger pull follow through. Ps go to my YouTube Channels, I’ve got video proof of who I am and what I’ve done.
I have a 338 Lapua with a large muzzle brake and the felt recoil is less than my 280 Remington 700, my 30-06 Remington 700 and my 30-06 Winchester 70. And I don’t mean a little less. I mean easy to compare, it is clearly less than the others. I think that from your statement about kicking like a mule, that it shows you to be recoil sensitive. This recoil sensitivity would affect your follow through and your point of aim. For people with such recoil sensitivity, it is better to stick with the 6.5CM, or even 22LR.