I wanted a lapua for a very long time and decided to buy the 300 prc just because of the ammo price difference. And after owning it I stopped lusting after a lapua it’s still cool it’s still bigger and badder but the prc is everything I was hoping it was and more. It just makes people giggle it’s a different kind of fun. The lapua is better but 54 a box vs 110. I see the 300 prc as the poor man’s lapua and the 300 win mag as a poor man’s 300 weatherby.
From a purely performance standpoint, 338 LM beats 300 PRC across the board (other than recoil). However, as someone that's (a) not made of money, and (b) doesn't handload, I'd still rather 300 PRC, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, while there aren't many ammo options for 300 PRC, there's no denying that there's more rifle options and what ammo does exist is both cheaper and more available ammo that anything available for 338 LM (also, while choice is always prefered, do you really need anything other than a CX, ELD-X or ELD-M bullet?). Secondly, I think the PRC is the much better choice for both hunting and ELR combined. If I was only interested in ELR, the 300 NM beats both (it's the darling of NF ELR for a reason), but 300 PRC can hang well enough I would never feel undergunned. Meanwhile, I'd much rather fire a 300 PRC from a lightweight hunting rifle than either 338 LM or 300 NM (not to mention, the only animals I think of that need more than a 300 PRC would be better served stepping up to 375 H&H, not 338 LM). TLDR; if I was a baller that handloads, I'd rather a 300 NM for ELR and 300 WM for hunting, but if I wanted one round to do both, without a custom ELR gun or handloaded anmo, I'd pick 300 PRC.
for long range shooting if you get a rifle that feed 300 prc from a detachable magazine then you have a lot more variability in loading than you would from the same gun chambered in a 300 win mag with a shorter magazine capacity.
I maybe alone in my opinion here 🤔. I like the 300 PRC for it's all around efficiency and capabilities. I don't care about shooting 2k and i don't hunt past 400 yards. I can take any game in N. America with the right bullet if i do my part. My dream gun for hunting Alaska is a 300 PRC in a Fierce ct rival. If i can save enough money i will do a minimum 3 species hunt. Grizzly, Moose and Caribou, using a 300 PRC with a 190 grain Hornaday CX bullet. Just my 2 cents 😊.
I can't disagree. Even if you did shoot past 400yd, let's be honest; if 300 PRC isn't enough, can we be sure 338 LM is? By my estimation, the only animals that definitively need bigger than 300 PRC (or even 300 WM, if you handload) are asking for at least 375 H&H, not 338 LM.
Even the military has gotten away from 338Lapua. 300 Norma mag is the new hotness for the military. The MK22 system still uses 338 Lapua, but the 300 Norma mag is considered the anti-personnel caliber for that same system. For what it's worth.
The mk22 has actually moved away from 338LM as well. It's got barrels chambered in .308, 300 Norma, and 338 Norma. I believe I heard somewhere the navy or socom grabbed some .300 PRC barrels as well.
I've got a TRG-42 in 338LM with a custom heavy profile 29 inch barrel and a brake. That rig is heavy and it still rattles my teeth when I pull the trigger! But damn is it fun to shoot! For hunting I mostly run a 28 Nosler with medium weight projectiles (160-175gr). Quick and devastating.
It's kinda funny that this is the video you dropped tonight because I have spent the last few hours digging through reloading data for the 7 and 300Prc and from everything I can find, they're both pretty equally suited for shooting out to a mile.
I happen to be a fan of the 338 cartridges of the 338 cal in general. However, i do have to say when it comes down to a hunting rifle that i shoot fairly often to stay in sync with my weapon recoil becomes a factor.. therefore ill go with the 30 cal and i already own a 300wm which is nipping right on the heels of the 300prc and it has infinitely more availability in amo choices and industry support. The 300prc is not worth the upgrade to me .. i would have to get all new dies etcetera.. Now i do have to say the 338 Lapua for large dangerous game like Kodiak Brown bear and costal brown bear (i live in Alaska) is going to be my weapon of choice. While the 300wm is effective the 338 Lapua is much much more so, the 300prc doesn't even enter the conversation since i really can find any offerings in ammunition that id feel comfortable using on a 1000+ pound bear. The ELDX is about all thats available and while adequate on elk i feel its lacking for heavy bodied thick boned dangerous game.
I too was fooled by all the 338 Lapua hype, I've owned 3 so far and I can't say they're bad, they get the job done. That said, I was later introduced to 338 Norma, this is a highly under rated round which is just as good or arguably better. More efficient on powder with equal or better velocities. Only issue with these types of rounds is you need N570 or H1000 power and Magnum primers for reloading, those things in Alaska are currently rare items. Personal opinion is I'd still take a 300wm or 300nm over the PRC if I'm staying in the 30cal category based on similar performance and ammo availability/cost, but I don't really see any 30cal rounds being on the same level as the 338LM or 338NM.
The only 338 lm I ever picked up needed a set of wheels. Not sure how light of a system they come in but I’m guessing the 300 prc is easier to carry up the mountain for hunting if that’s in the equation. 338 is a big boy cartridge.
338s limiting factor is the cost per round and availability locally. I can pick up 300prc for 40 bucks a box and know it's going to shoot .5moa or better. My 338 ate through a ton of money just finding a load and I have to handload just to not go broke haha. I love them both but for the ranges I have to shoot at the 300 will do everything I need but most of the time at realistic hunting distance so will the 308 lol the deer can't tell a difference No difference in recoil for me. 300prc simply banished the 338 to the safe and will probably sell while there are still people that lust for it lol
I have all both and the .338 Lapua is still my fav. If your into shooting magnums than the cost should not even factor in as they all are on the high end of the cost matrix.
I have both and they are both great cartridges and both are good on game at long range but if you are shooting game at around 1000 yards the 338 Lapua does do a better job it does more damage being 338 cal giving you slightly more margin of error on your shot in my experience. And for me I would not push either of them much past 1100 yards on game and even then you need to be using a soft thin jacketed bullet to get reliable explanation with out hitting bone
I live in Norway so the obvious choice is .338 Lapua because of the prices and availability here in the Nordics... 338 lapua is priced lower and Norma and Lapua factory ammo is readily available. And if I have to go magnum length action I want proper magnum performance, not a fps boosted 30-06 with faster twist
338 lapua, components are easier to get and ammo is some what easy to find. Just wondering what calculator you used to get numbers? Mine loaded to 2732fps 300gr nosler accubond, doesn’t fall off as bad as your numbers?
Like the 300 PRC but if we are talking about an awesome long range cartridge .375 Cheytac or a 338 Allen Magnum. I feel like you’re giving the Lapua a bit more velocity than load data I was seeing around 2750 with a 285gr not a 300gr. But was just my rifle
Power wise it's no contest, but there's been more then a few long range test and the PRC consistently lands more shots at extreme range. There's value in that.
Fair comparison will be the 220 Grns Bullet in 300PRC(87 Grns Water cap))(2900 Fps) Vs 300 Norma Mag (necked down 338 Lapua),(103GrnsWC) (2950Fps) vs 300RUM(103Grns WC)(3000Fps) vs 30-378(120 Grns WC)(3000Fps) the deal is the rifles you can buy in 30 cal hunting/target and the ones in 338 Lapua mostly target and heavy. Expected the 300 NM/338 Lapua to have more powder capacity but the champ is the 30-378 Wby
A 300 Norma is not a necked down 338 lapua. That would be a 300 lapua. The 300 Norma is shorter than the lapua and is made to seat bullets out as far as possible to maximize case capacity. The 338 Norma has very similar capabilities of the lapua
I'm on my third Lapua and it's my favorite. A Savage Model 10 SS loaded with 300 grain Scenars they are magic. I just got a 300 PRC to shoot heavier bullets than my other 300's is my main reason. I have several other 300's WM and WBY as well as a Lazz 7.82. The 300 PRC is a hunting Cartridge the 338 Lapua is not. The PRC is ideal for Elk and big game out to 500 yards or so but it is not made to kill at extreme range.
@@xd.5.45 The Lapua is a great hunting cartridge if you have the right rifle. I killed a Nilgai bull with mine after a stalk on foot. I was using a Remington 700 tactical rifle and it is awkward in that capacity. Most Lapuas are built with tactical or long range precision in mind not exactly what you want in a spot and stalk type rifle.
I'm not knocking the 338 Lapua it's just more rifle than I can shoot accurately a 300 prc is on the very upper limit of what I can personally I prefer something that the recoil is between a 7 mm mag and a 300 win mag
If I had to have one, I will just go with the prc. never been a fan of anything bigger than 30 caliber. And I'm sure the price of ammo is cheaper for the PRC.
I tried buying a .300 AR pistol from a couple of places online, but they were quickly sold out every time I checked. Finally, dejected and heartbroken, I was forced to settle for a Ruger .338 Lapua magnum. Sigh… HA! Kidding! I love my 338 RPR! So what if I have to mortgage the house to buy ammo!
Yes it can kill at that distance, but it's a 200lb human for an 900lb bull elk lol. One you don't care if it's an ethical kill, the other you do. Big difference is "ethical" lol.
Yeah but that was in combat against a human, who he didn't care if he wounded or killed either way was fine we are not in combat with game animals and we have a responsibility to make clean, one shot kills everytime
I own both calibers 338 is savage 110 and 300 is bergara hmr. They are both lights out i shoot a league monthly to 1260 and typically use the 300 for ammo but both are very capable to that and well beyond!
@@ReloadingWeatherby hmm of those two the .338 LM but I think a .338 Norma Mag or .338-.378 WBY would probably suit that better not to mention all the big boys in the ELR world
I think he would be talking about the same issue I have seen with several friends of mine with the .338 LM. They will go buy a precision rifle configuration and expect to carry it on an elk hunt in the mountains. 1) they did not train for that kind of exertion and 2) did not research rifle weights to maximize their capabilities. I advised them to get their hunting kits on and grab there rifle and take a walk!! Only about a 2 mile walk. We live on flat land and all I wanted was for them to do was 2 miles. I was quickly informed that they had made a mistake. I always pointed them to a good .300 WM. I advised that they spend their money on glass and ammo with plenty of range time and build a dope card for it.
Lapua, had one it's in a league of its own. Now saying that, my new 300wby is a close challenger and what it lacks in power and range it makes up for in portability and weight in a normal size hunting rifle...
I agree with pretty much everything in this video. Your 300 PRC fan friend is not wrong either, he’s just a bit hypocritical imo. It’s true that the advantage of a 338Lapua over a 300PRC is small and the cost is so much more expensive, but a 300 Win mag owner could say the exact same thing about 300PRC…The advantages of the 300PRC over the 300WM are also tiny and the ammo and guns are also far more expensive lol
If you are hunting there is no reason to pick 300prc over 300wm. If you are target shooting at 1000yd or more, the 300prc obliterates the 300wm. Heavy, high BC bullets are the reason. Factory ammo for 300wm does not exceed 220gr and it is half again as expensive as 225gr 300prc, the lightest bullet normally found in this cartridge. Cheap 300wm ammo is 180gr, fine for hunting but worthless at long range.
Your Hornady load book shows a 24 inch barrel for the 300 PRC no one is going to go out and buy a 300 prc and neuter it right off the bat by buying one with a 24 inch barrel on it if their serious about ballistics and performance!! 2 inches of barrel length is good for 60 to 80 fps there went what slight advantage the 338 had!!! People get way to wrapped up in the military cartridges look at 223 308 and 30-06 none of them are just great cartridges or optimum there all just ok and better choices in each caliber can be had!!
@@ReloadingWeatherby Not most it’s about 50/50 bergara offers both 24 and 26 same for browning and fierce and if we’re going for pure performance are you going to buy a 22 or 24 when a 26 is available? Would u cut 2 to 4 inches off your 257 Wby? That wouldn’t make much sence! Would you go and search out a 338 with a 20 or 22 inch barrel on it?? If we’re going to compare cartridges need to do it fairly and squarely same barrel lengths optimum bullets and velocity’s!
I have a 300 prc and I have a 300 wm and 300 Weatherby mag and 340 Weatherby and 460 Weatherby Magnum and a 375 Ruger and iv Hunted in Africa and Asia and North america and South America and my 338 Lapua Magnum is by far the best, it Dominates everything, And I don't just go by paper. Or what's in a book I go by actually testing the ammo in Stuff like water jugs meat steel wood and get the same Result for me anyway.
I totally get reading raw data when it comes to a comparison of ammo. My thoughts you need to look at and keep everything in mind with shooting. Bullet BC and velocity go hand and hand. The one thing that makes it all relevant it the rifle. You can not just shorten a barrel to slow one cartridge down to match another FPS. Keeping a bullet BC and FPS is not a true evaluation if you accomplish this by changings factors. Match 2 bullets BC and barrel length and what is your data?
🕵️♂️ Now, If You Want A More "Apples to Apples Comparison", You Can Look at the 30-338 Lapua and Answer That Question (Especially the "Improved" Version)! 😜 No Constest, As It Beats The 300 prc Handily! 🤠
300 norma is superior to the 300 prc in every way. The 300wby is more capable than the prc, and the 30-378 and 338-378 would be superior to both. I know long range shooters shy away from the double radius shoulder, but the last video from weatherby shows an 800something yards with the factory hammers so i see no reason not to shoot the weatherby's if you want the ultimate.
Custom built 338 Lapua with the scope is 18.4 pounds. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in the same age group as you and I am just a huge fanboy of the caliber and the only reason I bought it. It’s still my favorite rifle. I am a big fan of no replacement for displacement. I would get a 50 Cal, but none of my ranges allow them because they can be too destructive, which I understandable. You can get 250 grain planking rounds for about the same price of 300 PRC rounds. Again, I’m just a fanboy of the 338 Lapua I’m not afraid to admit it. I cut seasonal firewood and own a MS661 with a 3 foot bar come at me bro. lol
Not Likely. There is the 338 RPM(2.800 FPS), basically a 338PRC, and a bit faster the 33Nosler(3000Fps) and the 338 Lapua(3100Fps) if you use the same 225 Grns bullet
Hunting open country elk in western colorado it does great surprisingly little meat damage and 1 shot drt every time limit shots to 800yds but haven't been closer than 450( CA mpr suppressed 250gr NAB @2950fps)
At 200 yds. my friends son outshot both if those calibers 20 shots in a row with the 303 British. Well they couldn't hit the 12" Gong not even once. You can get more or less but the 303 British and the 300 Savage are the perfect cartridges. Just saying.
Let's put it this way. For plinking holes in paper in 1000 yards there are better and waaaay cheaper options. For hunting there is no doubt that 338 shits on the 300. The ONLY SINGLE advantage of the 300 PRC is the price. But it has no reason to be. There is no reason why 338 should be over twice the price of 300 PRC. What miiight be happening is market manipulation here due to high demand. Here is a question in 2019 the price difference was the same? Twice?
Hmm... let's see what Applied Ballistics has to say... - .338 Lapua with 300 grain SMKs (factory Fed. GMM, 2580 fps) : 1517" drop, 222" drift @ 1750 yds. - 300 PRC with 225 grain (factory Hornady ELD-M, 2810 fps) : 1306" drop, 214" drift @ 1750 yds. Yeah, the ONLY SINGLE advantage for 300 PRC is the price... AND the superior ballistics (300 grain A-Tip vs 250 grain A-Tip = BC of 0.863 for .338 vs 0.878 for .308)... AND the reduced recoil. Hey, wait a second... that's more than just one advantage!
Nice video. Dove deeper now. You are comparing wildly available 300 grain of 338 to nonexistent 250gr 300PRC (at least factory)..... Also, you need to talk about stopping power if you are talking about hunting. You are saying that the velocity is almost the same ...sure... but its the same of 300gr vs 250gr......
Uhm, no? He compared Hornady A-Tip to Hornady A-Tip, I think that's pretty reasonable. YOU on the other hand are trying to compare a .338 Lapua factory load with 300 grain SMKs or Bergers to a 300 PRC custom handload with 250 grain A-Tips (they are for handloading only and that's why you got no results when you googled "250 grain factory ammo for 300 PRC"). The 300 PRC with 250 grain A-Tips outperforms the .338 Lapua with 300 grain SMKs in drop and drift due to their higher BC. Heck, even the 225 grain factory loads perform better than the 300 grain .338s when it comes to ballistics. But none of that matters to you, I get it. You're just interested in "stopping power" for "hunting" and that the .388 Lapua is "shitting" on 300 PRC... do you play CoD by any chance?
