Can You Hunt Elk With A 338 Lapua?

Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter, and Outdoorsman.

Because of their size and thick bone structure, finding the right ammunition for elk can sometimes prove to be a challenge. The .338 Lapua has built a fanbase. But is it a good choice when you are hunting for elk?

A .338 Lapua has more than enough power to shoot an elk from a long distance. You might even be able to shoot one from 600 yards away if your aim is good enough. But for most hunters, this will be too much power, with the risk that the bullet does too much damage, leaving the meat unusable.

The .338 Lapua has a lot of pros, making it a suitable bullet for hunting elk. But there are also some downsides that you want to consider. Keep reading to learn whether this is a good fit with your hunting style.

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In this post, we'll cover:

Performance of the .338 Lapua

Let’s start by getting a better idea of how this ammunition will perform. This will give us a better idea of whether it is a good choice for elk.

Accuracy

If you are going to hunt for elk, you should prize accuracy. You will need to hit a vital area to land a kill shot. This is one of the areas where the .338 Lapua will shine. It was originally developed by the United States Army, to be used for snipers. Because of this, it will be very accurate, even over long distances.

To give you some idea of its potential, the military used it to make one of the furthest kills in history. In 2017, a terrorist was shot from around 3,540 meters away. Though this was made with specialized sniper rifles, it does give you a good indication of how accurate this ammunition can be.

While regular hunters might not be able to get the same extreme range, you should be able to get above-average performance. For example, you might be able to kill a deer or hog from around 600 to 700 yards away.

Amount of Damage

This is one of the most important elements to consider when hunting for elk. Because of the size of the animals, and their thick bones, it’s vital that you pick a bullet that offers enough force to deliver a kill shot. This is another area that you don’t need to worry about when you are using this ammunition.

When it leaves the gun, a 270 grain will be traveling with around 4,700 foot-pounds of force. When it reaches 500 yards, it will still have 2,973 foot-pounds of power. To put this into perspective, this is close to double the amount it takes to kill an elk, which is 1,500-foot pounds.

The .338 Lapua was built for the military, it has enough power to bust through a range of obstacles. As an example, the bullet will be able to get through:

Body armor
Concrete or brick
Bone

Because of this, an animal like the elk shouldn’t give you too many problems. This is especially true if you are using a hollow point. It will be able to expand when it hits the target. This ensures that you will do a lot of damage, allowing you to kill your target. If you miss, you will be left with a strong blood trail. However, when using such a powerful bullet, it’s better to stick with heavy-grain solid bullets. These will put a large hole through the elk, passing cleanly out the other side.

However, this can sometimes come with a downside. Because of the amount of force, you will be unleashing, you will likely end up doing a lot of damage to the elk. This can cause a lot of problems when it comes time to harvest the meat. The bone fragments will make it nearly inedible.

This is why some hunters will prefer to stick to a lower caliber round. While it means that they will need to get closer to the animal before they take their shot, it also limits the amount of damage they can do. This ensures you don’t need to deal with a mangled mess.

Recoil

The .338 Lapua is one of the most powerful hunting guns on the market. But this comes at a cost. It means that you will experience a lot of recoil. It will be around 37 foot-pounds of energy. For comparison, you will be getting almost 10 pounds more recoil force than you can expect from the .300 Winchester.

Because of this, it’s important to make sure that you hit the target on the first try. These rifles are loud, even from a distance. With their sensitive hearing, the elk should pick up on the sound and move out of the area. Once the recoil is over and you have time to take another shot, the elk will have left the area.

The good news is that there are some ways you can manage this. Here are some of the tips you can use:

Get the right stance. This will help better prepare you for the recoil, so you can manage the pushback. It’s often a good idea to place your cheek against the rifle, this stops it from coming up, reducing perceived recoil.
Change the stock. The stock controls how much control you will have over the weapon.
Move to a lighter load. Sometimes, the best solution is to move to a new lower load. Though this is often taken as a matter of last resort. After all, you don’t want to reduce the amount of power you have at your disposal.

Cost

The type of bullet you are using will often influence how much you will need to pay. However, the .308 Lapua is a more specialized caliber. Because of this, you can expect to pay a little more for your bullets. As a general rule, you will need to pay around $5 per round. While it’s not one of the most common hunting calibers, it shouldn’t be too hard to track down.

Type of Gun Required to Shoot

As we mentioned, this is a more specialized caliber, designed for military use. Because of this, you will need to use a larger gun to shoot it. Some of the most common options include:

Remington MSR
Ruger Precision Rifle
AR-30A1

There are some key differences between these guns. It’s always a good idea to try multiple options before deciding which one will be the right option for you. But there is an important element that they all share, their size.

This is one of the biggest drawbacks to using this caliber. You will need to carry the unwieldy weapon around. This causes some problems when you are in for a long hike to the hunting ground, or if you need to climb into a tree stand.

Range of the .338 Lapua

The .338 Lapua offers plenty of power. In some circumstances, you will be able to take down an elk from up to 300 to 400 yards away. If you are an accurate shooter, using the right bullet, you might be able to extend this range even more. Skilled hunters will be able to kill elk from 600 to 800 yards away.

The power of the ammunition is an important factor when determining the range of the weapon. This is something that the .338 Lapua can deliver on. But this isn’t the only element that you should be looking at. Here are some of the other things you should consider:

Accuracy. As we mentioned, the .338 Lapua has enough firepower to kill soldiers from over 2,100 yards away. But it still takes a lot of skill to make a shot like that. For most people, it’s best to stick to a more manageable range. This gives you the best chance of hitting a vital area and delivering a kill shot.
Weather. Factors like temperature and humidity can have an impact on the flight of the bullet. The good news is that this isn’t something you need to worry about too much, due to the power of the .330 Lapua.
Location. When you are hunting, you need to consider the terrain. You will need to make sure that you have a clear shot at the animal. This can sometimes limit your opportunity for long-range shooting, as you’ll need to pick an area that doesn’t have obstacles like trees.

It’s a good idea to take some practice shots with the .338 Lapua before you start shooting. This allows you to get used to working with the ammunition. You will get a better idea of the distance that you can be from the target and still hit it accurately. The more you practice, the more accurate you will become. This will increase your effective range.

Due to the power of the caliber, you will be able to hit the target from a long way away. In some cases, you will be able to hit the target from around 500 to 600 yards away.

Can You Shoot an Elk With .338 Lapua?

You will be able to kill the elk with a .338 Lapua with ease, due to the power of the caliber. But many hunters choose not to. It might be too powerful, often causing problems when it comes time to harvest the animals.

In the big game hunting world, there is a concept known as ‘enough gun’. It means that if you are going after a larger species you need to be confident that you have enough power to kill it. In this case, the .338 Lapua will certainly meet the bill. It was developed as a sniper rifle for the military. It can cut through concrete walls and body armor.

However, this ammunition can often be overkill. This can lead to some problems, especially if you are planning on harvesting the material. If you hit a bone, it will lead to a lot of fragments inside the meat. If you are planning on mounting the elk on the wall or stuffing it, the damage caused by the bullet can make this difficult.

It should be noted that this aspect can be adjusted, depending on the type of bullet you are using. It’s best to stick to a heavier grain, solid bullet. These should pass straight through the elk. If you use a hollow point, the resulting damage will mangle the insides.

It should also be noted that, just because you are using a more powerful bullet, that doesn’t mean that you will have a better chance of killing your target. You could be using a rocket launcher. If you aren’t accurate enough to hit the target, you won’t be able to kill the elk.

Other Animals You Can Shoot With a .338 Lapua

Of course, elk isn’t the only species that you can shoot with a .338 Lapua. Some of the other species that you can explore will be:

Hogs. This is ideal if you want to shoot from a long distance. Using the caliber, you’ll be able to kill a hog from 600 to 800 yards away.
Deer. This is one of the most popular animals to hunt in North America. This ammunition offers plenty of power to kill these animals, especially if you like hunting from a distance.
Bear. This ammunition is more than enough to kill a bear.
Elephant. It should be noted that this will often be illegal, as most hunts require you to have a .40 caliber weapon. But, if you were to use the .338 Lapua, you would be able to kill your target. This gives you a good idea of how effective this ammunition is.

All the species you will be hunting for in North America can be killed with a .338 Lapua. But, unless you are planning on hunting from a long distance, it will often be overkill.

Practicalities of Using a .338 Lapua

The .338 Lapua offers plenty of power. Despite this, it hasn’t become very popular within the hunting community. This is because of the practicalities associated with using this type of weapon.

The biggest issue that you will face is the weight and size of the rifles you need to fire a .338. The heaviness can cause a few issues, particularly if you need to hike through the mountains. Thankfully, there is an easy way you can solve this problem. You will need to use an ATV or bike to transport your gear.

The other thing you need to consider is how often you intend to shoot the rifle. When you are using .338 caliber rounds, you will need to be prepared to pay a lot more than regular hunting ammunition. As we mentioned, this delivers superior performance. But if you intend to hunt frequently, these additional costs can quickly add up.

Finally, it’s important to look at the laws of shooting the .338 Lapua in your state. If you are caught with the wrong type of ammunition, you could be facing a serious fine.

Tips For Shooting Elk With a .338 Lapua?

Shooting elk with a .338 Lapua is certainly possible. But even the most powerful gun in the world won’t deliver a guaranteed kill. Often your results will depend on your mindset. Here are some of the things to keep in mind during the hunt:

Focus. There are dozens of things that will be running through your head as you are hunting. But you will need to have a clear head to aim properly. Because of this, you need to get used to blocking everything out.
Manage the recoil. As we mentioned, the .338 Lapua has a bit of kick to it. There are some techniques you can use to reduce the amount of recoil you experience. But the best option is to keep taking practice shots, so you get comfortable using the rifle.
Learn where the elk will be. If you have a closer range rifle, you will be able to actively stalk the elk. But when you are working from a longer range, you need to get used to the elk coming to you. This means doing a little more research, to find a local population and predict where they will be.
Get the right optics. You need to choose a sight that will allow you to get a clear look at your target. It’s also a good idea to take a good set of binoculars with you.
Wear warm clothes. Most of the time when you are shooting from distance, you will be lying down and waiting for an opportunity to present itself. But that doesn’t mean that you have to be uncomfortable.
Be patient. Stalking the elk is active while shooting from a distance is more passive. You’ll need to wait until the elk arrive. Even when they do, you’ll have to wait until you have a clear shot. But, if you are prepared to wait, you will often be rewarded with a dead bull.

Final Thoughts

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There are dozens of calibers on the market. For snipers and other long-range lovers, the .338 Lapua has become a popular choice. It combines incredible accuracy with strong penetration, giving you excellent odds of being able to take out an elk.

Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.

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