After looking through Hornady's website, the 300 win mag with a 180 grain bullet comes out of the tube at 3100 fps with Hornady's Superformance Ammo, with it, comes 3900 ft lbs of energy. The 338 win mag, with a 225 grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of 2850 and 4200 ft lbs with the Superformance ammo. So the 338 is slightly slower, but has 300 ft lbs more energy at the muzzle.
But by the time these two bullets reach 500 yards, the 180 grain bullet is traveling at 2200 with 1900 ft lbs, and the 225 grainer is going 2000 fps with 2000 ft lbs. But heres the difference, at 500 yards, the 300 win mag only drops 34 inches, and the 338 drops 42.
So, my question is, since the 300 and 338 are pretty darn close when it comes to middle/long range ballistics, is there any reason to buy the 338? Is there some advantage it has that I am missing? The 300 will have less recoil, drop less, and according to ballistics, have only 100 ft lbs of energy less, so why not stay with the 300 win mag?
Thanks!
But by the time these two bullets reach 500 yards, the 180 grain bullet is traveling at 2200 with 1900 ft lbs, and the 225 grainer is going 2000 fps with 2000 ft lbs. But heres the difference, at 500 yards, the 300 win mag only drops 34 inches, and the 338 drops 42.
So, my question is, since the 300 and 338 are pretty darn close when it comes to middle/long range ballistics, is there any reason to buy the 338? Is there some advantage it has that I am missing? The 300 will have less recoil, drop less, and according to ballistics, have only 100 ft lbs of energy less, so why not stay with the 300 win mag?
Thanks!