OK, the Lapua CAN hit harder at 600 yards and drop and drift CAN be less. But...
Using Nosler AccuBond data and normalizing for 24" barrel on the Lapua (-50fps from the 26" barrel Nosler used), my Point Blank calculator shows the following. All calculations are for 50F, 7500ft and MPBR zero for a 6" diameter target and a 600 yard range. Recoil calculations are for a rifle/ammo/scope @ 8.3 pounds.
.300WM, 24" barrel
180g @ 3160fps = .507 B.C., .271 S.D., -44.1", 2325fps, 2160fpe, 16.7" drift, recoil @ 31.8 ft-lb
200g @ 2972fps = .588 B.C., .301 S.D., -49.9", 2271fps, 2291fpe, 15.4" drift, recoil @ 32.9 ft-lb
.338WM, 22" barrel (Mine, with handload)
225g @ 2742fps = .550 B.C., .281 S.D., -63.8 ", 2033fps, 2064 fpe, 18.7" drift, recoil @ 33.8 ft-lb
.338WM, 24" barrel
225g @ 2882fps = .550 B.C., .281 S.D., -55.7 ", 2151fps, 2311 fpe, 17.5" drift, recoil @ 37.0 ft-lb
250g @ 2780fps = .575 B.C., .313 S.D., -60.6 ", 2094fps, 2433 fpe, 17.5" drift, recoil @ 40.6 ft-lb
.338 Lapua, normalized for 24" barrel at -50fps M.V.
225g @ 3054fps = 550 B.C., .281 S.D., -47.3", 2296fps, 2633fpe, 15.9" drift, recoil @ 50.5 ft-lb
250g @ 2891fps = .575 B.C., .313 S.D., -54.5", 2187fps, 2655fpe, 16.6" drift, recoil @ 48.5 ft-lb
From a practical and personal perspective, the .338 Lapua would mean a heavier and much more expensive rifle, brass that costs $1.40 to $2.00 more per piece, a higher rate of powder consumption and significantly more recoil. Adding a brake to the Lapua would reduce recoil but, apples to apples, a .300 WM with a brake would have far less recoil.
At 600 the .300WM wins the race in drop or drift, depending on which load you look at. The 180g load wins the drop race and loses in drift by less than 1". The 200g load wins the drift race and falls in-between the Lapua loads for drop.
Again at 600, my slowpoke 22" .338WM only gives up 2.1" to 2.8" in drift to the Lapua and adjusting for the extra 9.5" to 16.5" in drop is easily done - so much so that I've shot clay pigeons at 600 with it and regularly use it to bang 10" steel at that distance. All with significantly less cost and recoil.
While my .338WM/225g AB load is a hammer on elk, my .300 WM/180g TTSX load is no slouch. Both are Ruger MKII rifles in skeleton boat-paddle stocks and both are reasonably light weight with easily tolerated recoil, but the .300WM shoots flatter with 600 yard drop and drift at -50.6" and 18.8" respectively. The .300WM/180g TTSX load delivers 2185fps/1908fpe at 600, similar to a .30-30 at the muzzle.
For me the choice is a no-brainer. Out to 600 I'll take quite a few cartridges over the .338 Lapua. That list includes my 6.5-06AI, .280 Rem, 7mm RM. .30-06, .300 WM, .338WM and a bunch of others I don't already own.
Last edited by Coyote_Hunter; 04/22/17. Reason: "bu,t" to "but,"
