.338 Problems

longhairedape · 10-03-2007, 03:18 AM

I recently posted about a 25-06 for a long range target/hunting rifle. After a few suggestions I decided to go with a .338 Lapua. I love the gun and everything works fine on it. However, my ammo is dropping real fast at long ranges. I just wanted to make sure this was just the ammo i needed to change, or should I change to a longer barrell? If it is the ammo, what kind of ammo would be suggested?

Thanks.

aris_unlimited · 10-03-2007, 05:15 AM

It might be more helpful if you could tell us what ranges you notice the drastic change in dropping going on. I know you said long ranges, but how long?

longhairedape · 10-03-2007, 10:36 AM

drastically between the 550 and 1000 meter ranges. ive been told the drop is compared to a rainbow. so expect a lot of drop. but should i change up the ammo, or is there something else i can do? if there is anything else you need to know, let me know. 1000 is as far out as i have gone, but i have heard yo can expect 1200 out of the average long range shooter and i believe as much as 2000 meters from a high quality shooter, with the right scope and equipment.

BattleRifleG3 · 10-03-2007, 09:01 PM

Bullets do tend to drop faster at longer ranges. Especially when you nearly double the range.

Is the bullet deviating from published trajectory data?

lefty o · 10-04-2007, 08:19 AM

pretty much all bullets, from all cartridges drop like a rock after 500yds. you need to find yourself some ballistic charts.

samuel · 10-04-2007, 09:14 AM

Gravity is a constant.Fps is a variable.When a bullet leaves the muzzle at about 2800+fps atmospheric resistance slows this bullet down.The further it goes the more atmosphere slows it.The more it slows the longer time gravity has to pull on it in a given horizontal distance.In other words it drops little at 2800fps,drops faster at 1800fps,and very rapidly at 800fps.This is called per second per second,or gravitational pull in one second which never varies to one second in flight which varies.There are ways to deal with this.More speed.smaller diamiter,more weight for diameter. I am not going to look up what I wrote on this before but I can guarantee it wasnt to go to a very large diamiter bullet.I emagine I promoted the 6.5 which leaving the barrel about 600fps faster and much smaller in diameter takes much less time to travel 1000yds and so has less time for gravity to pull on it so the "drop" is much less.In the case of .20cal verses .22cal even with a 40gr bthp in both and the .20 leaving the muzzle slower,at 400yds the .20 cal is outperforming the .22cal because of less drag on the smaller diameter bullet.Long range requires high BC bullets.The reason you can increase the velocity in a given cal.,but not change the drop table much is you still have the same drag but the heavier bullet maintains speed better. sam.

rfc357 · 10-08-2007, 08:12 PM

I don't know what you mean by "drastically," but if you find a cartridge you can shoot from the shoulder that doesn't have a lot of drop past 300 yards, a few thousand elk hunters will beat a path to your door!

10-03-2007, 03:18 AM	#1
longhairedape Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	.338 Problems I recently posted about a 25-06 for a long range target/hunting rifle. After a few suggestions I decided to go with a .338 Lapua. I love the gun and everything works fine on it. However, my ammo is dropping real fast at long ranges. I just wanted to make sure this was just the ammo i needed to change, or should I change to a longer barrell? If it is the ammo, what kind of ammo would be suggested? Thanks.

10-03-2007, 05:15 AM	#2
aris_unlimited Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Payson, UT Posts: 82	It might be more helpful if you could tell us what ranges you notice the drastic change in dropping going on. I know you said long ranges, but how long? __________________ "Strength is not in numbers, it's in singular determination." Life Member NRA Life Member NAHC

10-03-2007, 09:01 PM	#4
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401	Bullets do tend to drop faster at longer ranges. Especially when you nearly double the range. Is the bullet deviating from published trajectory data? __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

10-04-2007, 09:14 AM	#6
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,638	Gravity is a constant.Fps is a variable.When a bullet leaves the muzzle at about 2800+fps atmospheric resistance slows this bullet down.The further it goes the more atmosphere slows it.The more it slows the longer time gravity has to pull on it in a given horizontal distance.In other words it drops little at 2800fps,drops faster at 1800fps,and very rapidly at 800fps.This is called per second per second,or gravitational pull in one second which never varies to one second in flight which varies.There are ways to deal with this.More speed.smaller diamiter,more weight for diameter. I am not going to look up what I wrote on this before but I can guarantee it wasnt to go to a very large diamiter bullet.I emagine I promoted the 6.5 which leaving the barrel about 600fps faster and much smaller in diameter takes much less time to travel 1000yds and so has less time for gravity to pull on it so the "drop" is much less.In the case of .20cal verses .22cal even with a 40gr bthp in both and the .20 leaving the muzzle slower,at 400yds the .20 cal is outperforming the .22cal because of less drag on the smaller diameter bullet.Long range requires high BC bullets.The reason you can increase the velocity in a given cal.,but not change the drop table much is you still have the same drag but the heavier bullet maintains speed better. sam. Last edited by samuel; 10-04-2007 at 09:19 AM.

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10-03-2007, 10:36 AM	#3
longhairedape Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	drastically between the 550 and 1000 meter ranges. ive been told the drop is compared to a rainbow. so expect a lot of drop. but should i change up the ammo, or is there something else i can do? if there is anything else you need to know, let me know. 1000 is as far out as i have gone, but i have heard yo can expect 1200 out of the average long range shooter and i believe as much as 2000 meters from a high quality shooter, with the right scope and equipment.

10-04-2007, 08:19 AM	#5
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,546	pretty much all bullets, from all cartridges drop like a rock after 500yds. you need to find yourself some ballistic charts.

10-08-2007, 08:12 PM	#7
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	I don't know what you mean by "drastically," but if you find a cartridge you can shoot from the shoulder that doesn't have a lot of drop past 300 yards, a few thousand elk hunters will beat a path to your door!