Shooting Tips

0
441

Extended Ballistics: The .338 Lapua Magnum, 250-Grain BTHP Match Round

by Major John L. Plaster, USA (ret)

Lately I’ve done a lot of firing with my Savage 110BA, .338 Lapua Magnum rifle, taking on targets up to 1400 yards away.

My preferred load is the 250-grain match round, which is offered by Black Hills and Hornady, both of which have proved accurate in my rifle. To begin the process of fine-tuning ballistic data, I calculated the target knob settings for elevation and windage out to 1500 yards. My Millett LRS scope has 1-10th mil increment knobs, so I first worked up this data in mils.

This 1-10th Mil data is also useful for my Bushnell HDMR riflescope, which has both 1-10th Mil knobs and a Horus H59 reticle, which contains a grid of holds and leads at increments of 1/5th Mil.

Knowing that most other shooters have 1/4 MOA target knobs, I worked up that data too, offering you both Mil and MOA versions. Whichever you use, KEEP IN MIND that this data is a starting point and, like me, you’ll fine-tune it by firing at assorted distances.

Although there are slight variances between the Hornady and Black Hills loads (due to a 50-feet-per-second difference in muzzle velocity), their trajectories are so close that you can use this as starting data for fine-tuning either round.

Also, note that my LRS scope has a 35mm tube and a 56mm objective lens, requiring that it be mounted 2 inches above the bore, a half-inch higher than some other scopes.

I analyzed the trajectory differences between mounting it 2 inches above the bore, and 1-1/2 inches, and found the variances less than 1/2 MOA all the way to 1000 yards – or less than 2/10ths of a mil. Again, that’s close enough to start, after which you can fine-tune your data.

See also  Ammo Grain Weight: What is it? Does it Matter?

This original trajectory and windage data were computed using Sierra Infinity 6 software, after which I manually converted it into 1/10th mil and 1/4 MOA target knob settings. Sierra’s software assumes a 24-inch barrel, sea-level altitude and 59-degrees F. temperature and, as cited above, my scope mounted two inches above the bore.

1/10th Mil Settings for the .338 Lapua Magnum, 250-grain BTHP Match Round

Settings rounded off to the closest 1/10th of a Mil Distance Trajectory Path 1/10th Mil Elev. Setting 10 MPH Wind Drift 1/10th Mil Wind Setting Yards Inches Mils + 1/10th clicks Inches Mils + 1/10th Mil clicks 100 Zero Zero Zero Zero 125 -0.18″ None None None 150 -0.64″ 0 Mil + 1 click 1.1″ 0 Mils + 2 clicks 175 -1.39″ 0 Mil + 2 clicks 1.5″ 0 Mils + 2 clicks 200 -2.45″ 0 Mil + 3 clicks 2.0″ 0 Mils + 3 clicks 225 -3.81″ 0 Mil + 5 clicks 2.5″ 0 Mils + 3 clicks 250 -5.50″ 0 Mil + 6 clicks 3.1″ 0 Mils + 3 clicks 275 -7.51″ 0 Mil + 8 clicks 3.8″ 0 Mils + 4 clicks 300 -9.86″ 0 Mil + 9 clicks 4.6″ 0 Mils + 4 clicks 325 -12.55″ 1 Mil + 0 clicks 5.4″ 0 Mils + 5 clicks 350 -15.60″ 1 Mil + 2 clicks 6.3″ 0 Mils + 5 clicks 375 -19.02″ 1 Mil + 4 clicks 7.3″ 0 Mils + 5 clicks 400 -22.80″ 1 Mil + 6 clicks 8.4″ 0 Mils + 6 clicks 425 -26.99″ 1 Mil + 8 clicks 9.5″ 0 Mils + 6 clicks 450 -31.57″ 2 Mils + 0 clicks 10.8″ 0 Mils + 7 clicks 475 -36.56″ 2 Mils + 1 click 12.0″ 0 Mils + 7 clicks 500 -41.98″ 2 Mils + 3 clicks 13.5″ 0 Mils + 8 clicks 525 -47.83″ 2 Mils + 5 clicks 15.0″ 0 Mils + 8 clicks 550 -54.13″ 2 Mils + 7 clicks 16.5″ 0 Mils + 8 clicks 575 -60.90″ 3 Mils + 0 clicks 18.2″ 0 Mils + 9 clicks 600 -68.14″ 3 Mils + 1 click 20.0″ 0 Mils + 9 clicks 625 -75.87″ 3 Mils + 4 clicks 21.8″ 1 Mil + 0 clicks 650 -84.10″ 3 Mils + 7 clicks 24.0″ 1 Mil + 0 clicks 675 -92.87″ 3 Mils + 8 clicks 25.8″ 1 Mil + 0 clicks 700 -102.17″ 4 Mils + 0 clicks 28.0″ 1 Mil + 1 click 725 -112.03″ 4 Mils + 3 clicks 30.1″ 1 Mil + 2 clicks 750 -122.44″ 4 Mils + 5 clicks 32.5 1 Mil + 2 clicks 775 -133.45″ 4 Mils + 8 clicks 35.0″ 1 Mil + 3 clicks 800 -145.00″ 5 Mils + 0 clicks 37.5″ 1 Mil + 3 clicks 825 -157.30″ 5 Mils + 3 clicks 40.2″ 1 Mil + 4 clicks 850 -170.20″ 5 Mils + 6 clicks 43.0″ 1 Mil + 4 clicks 875 -183.70″ 5 Mils + 8 clicks 46.0″ 1 Mil + 5 clicks 900 -198.00″ 6 Mils + 1 click 49.0″ 1 Mil + 5 clicks 925 -213.00″ 6 Mils + 4 clicks 52.0″ 1 Mil + 6 clicks 950 -229.00″ 6 Mils + 7 clicks 55.0″ 1 Mil + 6 clicks 975 -245.00″ 7 Mils + 0 clicks 59.0″ 1 Mil + 7 clicks 1000 -262.00″ 7 Mils + 3 clicks 62.0″ 1 Mil + 7 clicks 025 -280.00″ 7 Mils + 6 clicks 66.0″ 1 Mil + 8 clicks 1050 -299.00″ 7 Mils + 9 clicks 70.0″ 1 Mil + 8 clicks

See also  Delaware Deer Season 2024-2024: DE Deer Hunting Guide [Schedules, Licenses, and Regulations & More!]
Previous article4 Best Thermal Scopes of 2024 [All Budgets]
Next articleWhat Good Are They (porcupines)
Ethan Smith
Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>