Guide

.338 Lapua Magnum Ammo 2026: Match and Long Range Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 12 current .338 Lapua Mag loads on Federal's, Hornady's, Nosler's and Berger's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 2 from Federal, 3 from Hornady, 2 from Nosler and 5 from Berger. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 4 makers, not every .338 Lapua Magnum load sold.

Grouping follows the usage label Federal prints on their own pages. Hornady, Nosler and Berger are listed in their own tables, because Hornady and Berger print no usage label, and Nosler uses a different one. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses.

Match and range loads

These are the loads Federal label "Competition, Long Range, Target Shooting".

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing	338 Lapua Mag	GM338LM	250 gr Sierra Matchking Boat-Tail Hollow Point	2,950 fps	4,830 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing	338 Lapua Mag	GM338LM2	300 gr Sierra Matchking Boat-Tail Hollow Point	2,580 fps	4,434 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line, such as Match and Precision Hunter. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady Match	338 Lapua	8230	250 gr BTHP Match™	2,860 fps	4,540 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Match	338 Lapua	82300	285 gr ELD® Match	2,745 fps	4,768 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Precision Hunter	338 Lapua Magnum	82313	270 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter®	2,800 fps	4,699 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page

Nosler loads

Nosler lists a use line on each page ("Elk/Moose Sized Game" and "Target/Match"). The status is from Nosler's online store. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each page's ballistics table.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Nosler Custom Competition HPBT	338 Lapua Magnum	43136	300 gr Custom Competition	2,650 fps	4,677 ft-lb	24 in	20	In stock (Nosler store)
Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond	338 Lapua Magnum	49323	300 gr AccuBond	2,650 fps	4,677 ft-lb	24 in	20	Out of stock (Nosler store)

Berger loads

Berger's pages list a "20ct" part number, which we show as the item number and a 20-round box, and the muzzle velocity and energy from its specification list or ballistics table. They show no stock status.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Berger Elite Hunter	338 Lapua Magnum	81060	250 gr Elite Hunter	3,005 fps	5,014 ft-lb	26 in	20	Discontinued
Berger Elite Hunter	338 Lapua Magnum	81050	300 gr Elite Hunter	2,725 fps	4,947 ft-lb	26 in	20	No status shown on maker page
Berger Hybrid OTM Tactical	338 Lapua Magnum	81110	300 gr Hybrid OTM Tactical	2,725 fps	4,947 ft-lb	26 in	20	No status shown on maker page
Berger Lapua Scenar	338 Lapua Magnum	81122	250 gr Lapua Scenar	2,944 fps	4,812 ft-lb	26 in	20	Discontinued
Berger Lapua Scenar	338 Lapua Magnum	81132	300 gr Lapua Scenar	2,710 fps	4,893 ft-lb	26 in	20	Discontinued

Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each maker's ballistics table. Test barrel is the length the maker lists. "Box" is the round count per box. Status is the maker's own wording on its product page, and it changes daily. All pages checked November 4, 2026.

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Loads in our table run from 250 gr to 300 gr. The lightest is Federal Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing (GM338LM) and the heaviest is Federal Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing (GM338LM2). The fastest listed muzzle velocity is 3,005 fps, Berger Elite Hunter 250 gr (81060), from a 26 in test barrel. The highest listed muzzle energy is 5,014 ft-lb, Berger Elite Hunter 250 gr (81060), from a 26 in test barrel. Because test barrels differ or are not listed, compare across makers with care.

The makers label loads for game or for target use. They don't tell you one weight is right for a species. The right choice depends on bullet construction, range and your state's rules. Check your state hunting rules and your state wildlife agency before you buy.

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 12 loads, 5 list 24 in, 5 list 26 in, 2 list no test barrel. The loads with no test barrel are from Federal. A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's test barrel for the .338 Lapua Magnum is 24 in.

No barrel-length-velocity page exists yet for the .338 Lapua Magnum, and we have not charted one. Our barrel length vs velocity data covers other cartridges. The closest we have are .300 Winchester Magnum barrel length data, for the .300 Winchester Magnum (a different, smaller magnum cartridge), so do not read those numbers as .338 Lapua Magnum data.

.338 Lapua Mag: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "338 LAPUA MAGNUM [338 LAPUA MAG]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, its centerfire rifle standard (approved Feb. 10, 2025). The cartridge drawing was issued 01/14/2013 and revised 03/08/2022. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 650 in psi/100). Crusher pressures are not established. Cartridge overall length runs from 3.5610 in minimum to 3.6811 in maximum. Case length is 2.7244 in (−.0201), and bullet diameter is .3390 in (−.003). Bore is .330 in and groove is .338 in, with 6 grooves and a twist of 1 in 10.00 in, right-hand (marked optional). SAAMI reference velocities are Not yet verified, because the PDF text does not clearly pair each bullet weight with its velocity. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.4 PDF.

SAAMI says all standard rifle test barrels are 24 in long and that exterior ballistic data for centerfire rifle cartridges is based on that length. Its listed exceptions (7.62x39, 277 Sig Fury, 30 Carbine, 300 AAC Blackout, 300 HAM'R, 350 Legend, 350 Remington Magnum, 360 Buckhammer, 400 Legend and 44 Remington Magnum) do not include the .338 Lapua Magnum.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: we found no Winchester .338 Lapua Magnum item in its sitemap. The Winchester rifle pages we opened for other calibers on Nov. 4 said "There is no ballistics data available at this time."
Remington: Remington's rifle pages we found for .338 are .338 Win Mag and .338 Ultra Mag, not .338 Lapua Magnum, so no Remington load is in the table.
Federal: the other Federal .338 pages we found (Trophy Bonded Tip, Fusion Rifle and two custom-shop items) are .338 Win Mag or .338 Federal, which are different cartridges and are left out.
Hornady: item 82318 (240 gr CX Custom) shows "ballistic data coming soon" and no figures, so it is left out. Hornady's 338 Lapua 250 gr and 285 gr pages name the cartridge "338 Lapua," and we show the name as the page prints it.
Nosler: items 28075 (250 gr AccuBond NoslerCustom) and 28087 (300 gr AccuBond Long Range NoslerCustom) have no ballistics table on their pages and are left out. Nosler's .338 Lapua Mag brass is a component and is also left out.
Berger: the loads shown as Discontinued list only the muzzle figures in their specification list (the muzzle row in their ballistics table is blank), and we copied the specification-list figures. Berger's "338 Caliber" pages are bullets, not loaded ammunition, and are left out.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we did not verify its product pages.
Barnes, Browning, Norma and others: not checked this round, so none are in the tables.
Federal: Federal's loads were found through its sitemap, site search and caliber pages, so a load missing from those would not be here.
Hornady: loads come from Hornady's product sitemap, so a load missing from that sitemap would not be in the table.
Test barrels and stock status: Federal pages list no test barrel on some loads, and Hornady's pages list no stock status.
SAAMI: reference velocities for this cartridge are Not yet verified (PDF layout is ambiguous), so none are copied.

3 loads in the tables carry a "Discontinued" badge or title on the maker page as of Nov. 4, 2026: Berger Elite Hunter 81060, Berger Lapua Scenar 81122, Berger Lapua Scenar 81132. We list them because the maker page still shows them.

Rifles for .338 Lapua Mag

The .338 Lapua Magnum is a rifle cartridge, and the loads in the tables run from 250 gr to 300 gr. See also new rifle releases and the new hunting rifles of 2026.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal, Nosler and Berger show availability on their own product pages (Nosler shows it in its online store). Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see .338 Win Mag ammo, .300 Win Mag ammo, .300 PRC ammo, 7mm Rem Mag ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, .308 Win ammo, the barrel length vs velocity data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .338 Lapua Magnum?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi for .338 Lapua Mag, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 (the table shows 650 in psi/100).

What grain is .338 Lapua Magnum ammo?

In our tables the bullets run from 250 gr to 300 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your rifle is set up to shoot.

How fast is .338 Lapua Magnum ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 2,580 fps to 3,005 fps, and muzzle energies from 4,434 ft-lb to 5,014 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.

What does test barrel mean?

It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box.

Do you list prices or stock for .338 Lapua Magnum ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

.338 Lapua Magnum Ammo 2026: Match and Long Range Loads From the Makers

Match and range loads

Hornady loads

Nosler loads

Berger loads

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

.338 Lapua Mag: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles for .338 Lapua Mag

Where to buy

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

Match and range loads

Hornady loads

Nosler loads

Berger loads

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

.338 Lapua Mag: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles for .338 Lapua Mag

Where to buy

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

The Gun Release Report