History
Nosler introduced the 33 Nosler in 2016 as the .338 of its beltless magnum family. The brief was near-.338 Lapua ballistics from a standard-length action and an ordinary bolt face, putting that kind of reach in a normal-sized rifle instead of the oversized platform the Lapua requires. Heavy bullets, driven fast and flat, for long-range hunting.
It is overbore like the rest of the line, burns barrels accordingly, and lands in a crowded .338 field. For the hunter who wants maximum .338 performance in a standard action, it hits its mark.
Lineage
It shares the beltless Nosler magnum case with the 26, 28, and .30 Nosler, a .534 inch head descended from the .404 Jeffery, headspaced on the shoulder and necked to a .338 inch (8.59mm) bullet that fits a standard-length action. Rivals run from the belted .338 Winchester Magnum and .340 Weatherby through the .338 RUM, and a tier up in case size, the .338 Lapua and .338 Norma.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Case type | Rimless, bottlenecked (beltless magnum) |
| Bullet diameter | 8.59 mm (.338 in) |
| Neck diameter | 9.40 mm (.370 in) |
| Shoulder diameter | 13.44 mm (.529 in) |
| Rim diameter | 13.97 mm (.550 in) |
| Case length | 62.48 mm (2.460 in) |
| Overall length | 84.84 mm (3.340 in) |
| Case capacity | ~98 gr H2O (nominal; varies by brand) |
| Primer size | Large rifle magnum |
| Belted | No |
| Rifling twist | 1 in 10 in (SAAMI reference); 1 in 9 in (recommended, for heavy match) |
| Max pressure | 65,000 psi (SAAMI) |
| Recommended barrel | 36 in, 1:9 twist |
Barrel Design
A large powder charge behind a .338 inch bore means the cartridge depends on barrel length to deliver its velocity. For the long-range and ELR mission this site is built around, I set the baseline at 36 inches. That length lets the slow powders finish, collects the velocity the case is built to give, and tightens standard deviation on the heavy match loads.
Twist should be 1:9 for the heavy 265 to 300 grain match bullets that justify a case this large. Nosler's SAAMI reference is 1:10, fine for 225 to 250 grain hunting bullets, but the longest high-BC match bullets want the faster twist to stay stable into the transonic range downrange.
Drop to a 26 inch barrel and you give up some velocity for a hard-hitting, far more portable hunting rifle, a fair trade when you do not need the last of the reach. Either way, plan on shorter barrel life than a milder .338. The tables below are computed at the 36 inch recommended barrel.
Range Ammo Performance
Nosler · 225 gr E-Tip $3.47/rd
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Elevation (mil) | Energy (ft-lb) | Windage (mil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3135 | -0.3 | 4910 | 0.3 |
| 100 | 2982 | 0.0 | 4442 | 0.2 |
| 200 | 2834 | -0.3 | 4012 | 0.3 |
| 300 | 2691 | -0.8 | 3617 | 0.5 |
| 400 | 2552 | -1.4 | 3254 | 0.6 |
| 500 | 2418 | -2.0 | 2920 | 0.8 |
| 600 | 2287 | -2.7 | 2613 | 1.0 |
| 700 | 2161 | -3.5 | 2332 | 1.2 |
| 800 | 2038 | -4.4 | 2075 | 1.4 |
| 900 | 1920 | -5.3 | 1841 | 1.7 |
| 1000 | 1806 | -6.3 | 1630 | 1.9 |
| 1100 | 1698 | -7.4 | 1440 | 2.2 |
| 1200 | 1595 | -8.6 | 1270 | 2.4 |
| 1300 | 1498 | -9.9 | 1120 | 2.7 |
| 1400 | 1407 | -11.3 | 989 | 3.0 |
| 1500 | 1325 | -12.9 | 876 | 3.4 |
| 1600 | 1250 | -14.7 | 781 | 3.7 |
| 1700 | 1186 | -16.6 | 702 | 4.1 |
| 1800 | 1131 | -18.6 | 639 | 4.5 |
| 1900 | 1085 | -20.9 | 588 | 4.9 |
| 2000 | 1046 | -23.4 | 547 | 5.3 |
| 2100 | 1013 | -26.0 | 512 | 5.7 |
| 2200 | 984 | -28.9 | 483 | 6.1 |
| 2300 | 957 | -31.9 | 458 | 6.5 |
| 2400 | 934 | -35.1 | 435 | 6.9 |
| 2500 | 912 | -38.6 | 415 | 7.3 |
| 2600 | 891 | -42.2 | 397 | 7.7 |
| 2700 | 872 | -46.0 | 380 | 8.1 |
| 2800 | 854 | -50.1 | 365 | 8.5 |
Muzzle velocity 3135 fps is estimated at 36 in from the 26 in factory figure of 2975 fps at about 16 fps per inch. Expect your own barrel to read a little differently. Velocity is color coded green supersonic, yellow transonic, red subsonic; treat transonic and subsonic rows as approximate.
Match Ammo Performance
Nosler Trophy Grade · 265 gr AccuBond LR $4.25/rd
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Elevation (mil) | Energy (ft-lb) | Windage (mil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2935 | -0.3 | 5068 | 0.3 |
| 100 | 2814 | 0.0 | 4658 | 0.2 |
| 200 | 2695 | -0.3 | 4274 | 0.3 |
| 300 | 2579 | -0.9 | 3914 | 0.5 |
| 400 | 2466 | -1.6 | 3578 | 0.6 |
| 500 | 2356 | -2.3 | 3265 | 0.8 |
| 600 | 2248 | -3.0 | 2974 | 1.0 |
| 700 | 2144 | -3.9 | 2705 | 1.2 |
| 800 | 2042 | -4.8 | 2455 | 1.3 |
| 900 | 1944 | -5.7 | 2222 | 1.6 |
| 1000 | 1847 | -6.7 | 2007 | 1.8 |
| 1100 | 1753 | -7.8 | 1807 | 2.0 |
| 1200 | 1660 | -9.0 | 1622 | 2.2 |
| 1300 | 1570 | -10.3 | 1451 | 2.5 |
| 1400 | 1482 | -11.7 | 1293 | 2.8 |
| 1500 | 1397 | -13.2 | 1148 | 3.1 |
| 1600 | 1314 | -14.8 | 1015 | 3.4 |
| 1700 | 1234 | -16.6 | 896 | 3.7 |
| 1800 | 1158 | -18.5 | 789 | 4.1 |
| 1900 | 1098 | -20.6 | 710 | 4.5 |
| 2000 | 1064 | -22.9 | 666 | 4.9 |
| 2100 | 1037 | -25.4 | 633 | 5.3 |
| 2200 | 1014 | -28.1 | 605 | 5.7 |
| 2300 | 993 | -31.0 | 580 | 6.1 |
| 2400 | 973 | -34.1 | 557 | 6.5 |
| 2500 | 954 | -37.3 | 536 | 6.9 |
| 2600 | 936 | -40.7 | 516 | 7.3 |
| 2700 | 919 | -44.3 | 497 | 7.7 |
| 2800 | 903 | -48.0 | 479 | 8.1 |
Muzzle velocity 2935 fps is estimated at 36 in from the 26 in factory figure of 2775 fps at about 16 fps per inch. Expect your own barrel to read a little differently. Velocity is color coded green supersonic, yellow transonic, red subsonic; treat transonic and subsonic rows as approximate.
Trajectory
FAQ
What barrel length and twist should I run?
For ELR, a long 36 inch barrel and a 1:9 twist so the overbore case delivers its velocity and stabilizes heavy 265 to 300 grain match bullets. A 26 inch barrel makes a more practical long-range hunting rifle, paired with a 1:10 for lighter bullets.
How does it compare to the .338 Lapua Magnum?
The 33 Nosler reaches a large fraction of .338 Lapua performance from a standard-length action and a smaller, beltless case, which means a lighter, more conventional rifle. The Lapua has the larger case, more case capacity, and a far deeper ecosystem of rifles and ammunition. The Nosler is the more packable option; the Lapua is the more capable and available one.
How does it compare to the .338 Winchester Magnum?
The 33 Nosler is meaningfully faster and beltless, where the .338 Win Mag is a milder belted hunting magnum with universal availability. The Nosler trades barrel life and powder for reach.
What is the 33 Nosler good for?
Long-range and ELR hunting where maximum .338 velocity from a standard-length rifle matters and barrel life is an accepted cost. It is a specialist's hunting magnum.