Does this cartridge or the newer 338 Ultra and similar rounds offer anything special as a light rifle for use on safari? They do not qualify for a "heavy" or DGR in most areas, and while I know they will work it isn't legal so let's limit this discussion to their use as plains game/leopard rifles.
If you like 'em then tell us why and what bullets, etc have made them your favorite!

If you're not going to hunt buff and up, a great rifle for Africa. Any of the premium bullets (in whatever weight you like) will get you almost 4000 ftlbs of muzzle energy without a lot of fuss. I like the 225gr bullet in the .338 as th 250gr can be a bit much in recoil.

The only reason the 338 isn't legal for Buffalo and such is because it wasn't around when they made the laws...and it will kill a Buff as well with its 300 gr. bullet at 2500 FPS as a 375 H&H will with its 300 gr. bullet at 2500,and do it on any given day, but thats a moot argument..

The 338 shines on plains game with the 210 Nosler at 3010 FPS..On Eland I recommend the 250 Nosler or the 300 Gr. Woodleigh, but have used the 210, with good results, on the big antelope...

I don't like any of the 225 or 230 gr. bullets as they are no better than the 210 Nosler and not as good as the 250 Nosler..they are neither fish nor fowl..

In the monolithics they may be fine in a 225 gr. A 225 gr. monolithic is as long as a standard 250 gr. bullet. I have had limited experience with monolithics in the 338 and it wasn't to my liking...

I consider the 338 Win one of the best all around calibers in the world....when paired with a big bore, thats a tough combo to beat.

When hunting plainsgame in Lion, Elephant, and Buffalo country, I always use my 338 as opposed to my 300 H&H...I keep a few solids handy..

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

On a hunt involving the taking of dangerous game, I value the extra measure of security in utilizing my .375 as my light - medium rifle, so that I have a legal back up for my heavy.

For a heavy plainsgame hunt, however, I am fully cognizant of the superb ranging and hard hitting qualities of the various offerings in .338 caliber. While the selection of a rifle in .338 Winchester would certainly constitute a fine choice, to ensure an edge in power over the .300 Magnum class without sacrificing to much in bullet trajectory, I'd likely opt for the .340 Weatherby. Any further increase in case capacity, however, is quite unnecessary and begins to involve rifles of excessive weight, poor handling qualities and diminished field "shootability", IMHO.

Wow... How can you go wrong with a 338 win mag? I do not own one, though I have hunted with them and my good hunting partner uses one a lot. I see great merit in owning one. My own 340 wby MKV is kind of a dissapointment and shoot it much. I realy have to push it to get anything out of it. My friends 338 creeps REALY close to 340. If I was to buy another 338 bore it would probably be a full length 338-378 KT in a single shot, sporting a 28"er. Personaly, I am on my second purchase of a 375H&H, having shot the Brl out of my first one. I am still a very young buck and if I have gone that far with the 375 already I think I will stick with it.

Typo ... ment to say "I dont shoot my 340 much"

Smallfry,
Assuming you are responding to my post, I never said you could go wrong with the .338 Winchester, merely that, when trajectory was key, I'd opt for the .340 which in my view is a more legitimate long range number.

That said, I can understand your thoughts on the .375, as once you go so far as to develope a broad spectrum of loads and shoot out a barrel, you may as well "stick with it", as you put it.

I don't have the African experience of some of they guys here, but I used my .338 WM on my one safari and it worked perfectly on everything I took with it. Nothing seemed to argue much with my 225 grain Aframes and they shoot great in my rifle and to the same POI as my 225 Hornadys.
What I really like about the .338 is the inherent accuracy I find in most of the .338's I have shot and the "shootability" of this round. I can shoot it all day at the range without much of a thought of the recoil, which I can't say about my .375 or the .340's and 338 UM's I've shot. Within reasonable hunting ranges, it is as accurate and as powerful as needed for just about anything on this planet. Keep in mind, I consider reasonable hunting ranges just about anything out to 400-450 yards if pushed and the conditions are right. I just don't see very many rifles, being effective beyond that regardless of marginal gains in ballistics- more due to the rifleman's capabilities and ethics than anything.
If I didn't own a .375, this would be the rifle I would hunt big bears with, along with anything else on the North American continent and most things on the African continent if it were legal. For some, it may be neither fish nor fowl, but I find it more effective than the .300 mags IMHO, and just as easy to manage at the range and in the field. The efficiency of this cartridge is something to be appreciated also. While the .338 UM and the .340 Weatherby have a slight edge in ballistics, it takes a substantial gain in powder charge to accomplish very little above what the .338 will do. Also, the 338 UM and the .340 Weatherby must be built on a longer action, while a .338 can be built on any old 30-06 length action. To me, that just makes the weight and balance that much easier to handle on a long day in the woods or in the bush.
I've never tried the 250 grain bullets or any of the the heavier specialty bullets, mainly because I've only been to Africa once and the .225's have worked great on any of the North American game I've used them on and the Plains game I've taken with them. I would probably be more prone to give them a try if I were hunting in the vicinity of DG on my next safari, but then I will probably be carrying my .375 at those times anyway.- Sheister

Nickudu... No sir... I was not responding to your post. I honestly dont know whats wrong with my 340, perhaps it has a oversized chamber and/or a slow brl. I would hope other 340s dont have my problem. It isnt that it is that bad its just that I have to be carful and I would have thought I would be a step and a half ahead of my friends 338.
I think its my rifle.

Generaly on large game(over 500lbs) I have not taken shots past 350 yards. I have always been able to get closer, found them closer, or just spooked them and never got off a shot . 375 H&H has always worked for me.

Smallfry,

I have noticed that the Wby's like to be loaded on the hot side. My current load is 85.0 grains RL22 with a 250 Partition for 2948 fps.

Every grain of powder I take away from that load seems to make it shoot worse.

I have noticed this in my 270 wby as well.

Smallfry,
Don't look for much difference between to two, as the .338 Win covers all the bases beautifully and is likely the better choice for most. However, when one gets into the 350 yards and out mode the difference in trajectory provides an enhanced ability to hit. There's just no getting away from that fact. Less guesswork equates to more good hits. Just as the .30-06 is likely a better choice than a .300 Magnum to 325 yards or so, if one is inclined to shoot further out under suitable conditions, he'd be better served with the .300 Magnum.
I do not presently own a .340 but I know of no better round for shots, at distance, on tough non-dangerous game, all factors considered.

Bill, from an accuracy standpoint I agree. My real problem however is I live in a Hot climate... Most of my load development has to be done in the summer otherwise I run into problems. I realy have to push on mine to make it go (like it should?), something I dont like to do. I have never been one to be extream with my cartridges. Never the less it still goes bang. Its intteresting to note... my friends 338 win has a 22" brl my wby has a 26... he still climbs within 150 fps. Like I said I think its my rifle.

I always wanted to have a 338-378 KT. I think if you were to have one in a single shot rifle a 28 or even 30 inch brl would be no longer then my MK V. It would be a heck of a shooter.

Nickudu... you speak the truth. I have many "moderate" bore cartridges, however, when I get serious about a particular trophy or hunt I often take a 300 mag or my 340 or 257 wby. Usually I wind up not taking a long shot, but it is always nice to know you are "better" prepared.

Thoes good shots at 400 and 500 yds. are the ones you flinched on or the animal zigged when he shoulda zagged.

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Ray, you could be right but when a cow elk stands broadside in a field or on a hillside, there is no wind, I have a perfect rest, and a tag in my pocket, who am I to pass up this shot?
Two opportunities, two dead elk that didn't go more than a few yards. Not that I do this everyday, but I know that my .338 is up to it, at least in that situation. Besides, I practice zigging and zagging at the range, don't you? LOL - Sheister

John,

While my African experience is also limited, I would have to agree with the majority here. I really can't imagine a better all-round cartridge for plains game the the .338 Win. Mine has done everything asked of it with total aplomb.
Mostly, I have used the 250 Swift. It expands faster then one would thing, yet averages 94% weight retention when given a tough job (given the few bullet I have been able to recover). This year I will be going for smaller game (mostly under 300 lbs) and will also use some NP 210's. I anticipate they will have more anchoring power on the smaller animals.

As to the super .338's, I really don't see the point, unless you're a bona fide 500 yard artist.

As to recoil, if the .338 Win. is of proper weight with a proper fitting stock, it will be a pleasure to shoot. By comparison, my thirdy-thirdy kicks the hell out of me.

Steve

Although Nickudu is my Godfather on this site (dominus vobiscum), I sometimes wonder what the 338 mags are good for. Maybe I need to go to Africa or Alaska to find out. But I get the feeling that if you can't whack a piece of game with, say, a .300 magnum of some ilk, then I guess the next logical step up would be a .400 or .458 magnum and be done with it.

When I was in Germany, there was almost no call for the .338 Win Mag. Part of the reason is that it is an exotic round there. But one customer had one made since the ammo cost only a fraction of the 9,3x64 and he wanted to be able to whack feisty red stag if necessary. But, like most hunters, his usual hunting fare wasn't CIC Gold Romanian stags but the usual under-200 lb boar and the little 50-lb roe deer. He told me that the game ran farther than with his 7x64. Small wonder. And, like most German hunters, he wasn't a reloader nor wanted to be one, otherwise I could have talked him into loading the Hornady 200 gr FP for the .33 Winchester to a lower velocity. He eventually sold the gun. Maybe I should have tried to sell him some A-Square Lion Loads.

I have some experience with the 9,3x62 and it seems to me to be a better balanced yet adequately powered round for the purposes discussed here. And does anyone besides outdoor writers really shoot large game at 300+ yards? And if so, why?

There are times dictated by conditions that make 300+yd shots the only one you might get. The Kalahari desert in Namibia or Botswana can offer up this type of shot on gemsbok, the Serengeti plains of Tanzania will offer it on fringe eared oryx, eland and gazelle.
I remember having quite a time collecting a springbok in Namibia. We were on some pretty open country and the animals were really spooky, I was armed with my 338 and had a devil's own time hitting one! That hunt, which included two weeks in Zimbabwe as well, ruined me on the 338 forever. Between it's useless trajectory and poor bullet performance I quit it and went to the 300 Win. mag., have never looked back.

From shot to shot, species to species, one might favor a different rifle in each instance. We have tough choices to make when traveling far from our gunracks, planning to shoot game from 50 pounds to 1,500. No rifle caliber combination is "just the ticket" for all. I'd like a nice .270 Weatherby for my springbok @ 367 meters but if I am also hunting Eland, Oryx and Mountain Zebra, that's not about to happen.
Experienced trophy hunters prepare for the long shot and the poor angle shot ... I never will accept passing up a good trophy because I had the wrong rifle in my hands. Assuming a proper knowledge of ones bullet trajectory, favorable shooting conditions and acceptable shot presentation, I see no
reason, whatever, to limit my shooting ranges. In hunting, a 400 yard shot can sometimes be easier than a 100 yard shot and long shots can present themselves in most any terrain, even from hillside to hillside in otherwise thick bush. Accepting this, will enable you to make better choices and fuller use of the tool in your hands.

I sat at a local SCI meeting listing to these yokels make their hunt presentation about shooting "at" elk at 300 to 500 yards across some steep mountain valley, and giggling about it. I asked if they ever hit any...with the response, in effect, that if they didn't drop they didn't hit them.

Maybe you can shoot at 400 or 500 yards at the range, from a bench, no wind, no heavy breathing, but I consider it irresponsible to be shooting at game at that range, regardless. If anybody hits anything at that range it is dumb ass luck.

I got up and left the meeting, which is not uncommon practice on my part.

Will

Well I should have known better than talk about long shots on public forum like this one, there always seems to be somebody who sees this as somehow patently unethical and wants to preach religion about "hunting instead of shooting".
Next time, I'll just refer to long shots without naming the distances involved and you can make of it what you will.
However, keep in mind as Nickudu said, sometimes the 400 yard shots are easier than the 100 yard shots. For one, most of the time 100 yard shots are on game that is moving or jittery because of your presence, precipitating a quick shot without a rest. On a "long" shot, usually the game is undisturbed and you have plenty of time to get a very good rest and pick your shot. I would wager most hunters could make a good rested 400 yard shot easier than an offhand 100 yard shot at moving or partially hidden game most of the time. Knowing trajectory and range is all that is required as long as you have a sufficient rest.
Of course, if you lump all hunters on this forum with the "dumb ass" hunters you run into who take these shots and don't follow up, you are assuming much that shouldn't be taken for granted.
John S, I respect your opinion and your experience, but if you check your ballistic tables I think you will find that the difference between the 300 Mag with 180 Gr pills and the 338 with 225 Gr. is only 3-4 inches at 400 yards in most instances, especially given handloads with quality components. I just don't see that as being that big a difference in these two cartridges. I guess I just assume you still have to know your drop tables and range for long range shots with either one, IMHO.
The .338 UM is just that much flatter, but not enough that it would make a huge difference in hold over at "long" ranges.
As I'm sure everyone is aware, there are going to be supporters and detractors of just about any cartridge that you discuss on this or any other forum. I don't see this as a problem as long as we respect each other's opinion and don't let these discussions get entangled in ethics discussions. I think we all know there is no winning that argument! - Sheister

A skilled and practiced marksman can make a killing shot from 400+yds with boring regularity provided he has a solid rest and a still target to shoot at. I've done it too many times to think otherwise and if one doesn't think it is ethical or possible then that is his choice. I'll do what I know I am capable of and he can do what he likes.

Sheister-
My comments about the 338 were made because of my poor luck with the particular cartridge. I've owned three different 338s and none would achieve the velocitiesoften quoted in manuals or on forums by others. My last one would do only 2600fps with 250gr bullets.
Compare that to my 300Wby that shoots 200gr bullets at 3000fps and there is a bit more than 3" or so difference in drop at extended ranges.
The only 338 caliber rifle that I've owned that would match the 300Wby is my own 33 G&A, that starts 250gr bullets at 3050fps or 230gr Fail safes at 3100fps. This caliber is absolutely the most devastating round I've hunted with, flattening everything it has been pointed at like they were electrocuted. However, I find the lesser recoil of the 300 easier to live with for general safari use. And most assuredly for long range work.

John,

Hope I didn't step on any toes. Now that you've included the 300 Wby in the equation (as opposed to the plain jane 300 WM), I understand your difference of opinion.
My 22" 338 Pre 64 Model 70 chrono's at about 2650 with 225's, so my 26" Win Classic should be substantially above that (2800?).

All this is moot, of course, because I've found that ballistics is only a very small part of the equation in making long shots. In my experience, the rifle you have the most confidence in is the one that seems to magically make those long shots when the opportunity arises. No matter the caliber, trajectory, or bullets used- there is simply no substitute for confidence in your weapon of choice. A good example is Saeed's choice of .270 Wildcats for just about all his plains game, it just kills everything in sight in his hands undoubtedly due to his excellent skills and confidence in this rifle. Most of us would consider this caliber smallish for large plains game, but who can argue with success- as evidenced by his videos?
After reading your posts, I might have to get serious about using the Pre 64 Model 70 300 H&H AI I've been hiding in the safe. It shoots Nosler Partitions like they were made for each other! That is, if I can pry it away from my son this hunting season! - Sheister

[This message has been edited by Sheister (edited 07-17-2001).]

John S and Sheister,

Firstly I agree totally with this from Sheister's post:

All this is moot, of course, because I've found that ballistics is only a very small part of the equation in making long shots. In my experience, the rifle you have the most confidence in is the one that seems to magically make those long shots when the opportunity arises

However, I do wonder if the average American shoots enough for this to be true.

I can tell you I will shoot pigs and roos with a 375 and Hornady 300 round nose as far as anyone could with a 7mm STW. But I don't think that would be the case if only 20 or 30 animals were being shot a year.

I agree with John S on the ballistics of the 338 as compared to the 300 magnums.

A few years ago I tested several 338s, 2 of which were Ruger Stainless and the other 4 were match barrels fitted to switch barrel bench gun.

Personally, I can't see what the 338 has over the 375 in velocity for a given sectional density, maybe 100 f/s at most.

For example a 375 will go to 2800 plus with 270 grains and Re 15. The 338 is doing well to do 2900 with 225s.

2600 and about 2700 would be the numbers for the 300 grain/375 and the 250 grain/338.

I think if I lived in America where the number of animals shot is limited, then I would probably get the faster caliber than the 338 or 375.

So I agree with you Sheister on one hand but disagree on the other as to flat trajectory and longer range.

Mike

[This message has been edited by Mike375 (edited 07-17-2001).]

No toe smashing done my friend! A simple discussion with varying opinions is always good fun.
I always had poor luck with my 338s and therefor do not hold them in high regard, obviously! Same for the 340Wby, just never owned one that would deliver what I thought was a meaningful gain over the 338Win. This prompted me to build the G&A and now I finally have what I was looking for. It's trajectory matches the 300Wby, which in turn matches the 270Win, my pet of pets.
You are absolutely correct about having faith in the gun, it gives the shooter that little extra bit of confidence that makes all the difference. I have that in my 300s because they have never let me down, regardless of what I pointed them at. Those 200gr Noslers or 180gr Fail Safes put that 30 bore into a level of game killing performance that no other rifle will ever match in my hands or in my heart.
get that 300imp out and use it, you'll quickly see what I mean!!

Lot of truth spoken here. I DO agree about long range shooting, it's less about the cartridge and more about "the nut behind the butt."

I've owned three 338's with 22, 24 & 26" bbl's. Like John, I've never had any luck getting 250 grain bullets past the 2,650 fps mark (that was with a 24" bbl.). With RL22, I easily achieved 2,850+ with two different 22" bbl'd 338's. The main reason, to me, in choosing a 338 Win Mag over a 300 mag is to carry a shorter barreled rifle. If I were carrying a 24-26" bbl., I'd sooner it be a 300 Mag.

Regardless, I think a 22" bbl'd 338 loaded with 225's is quite a ticket for big game... trajectory of the 30-06/180 load with more authority. Still, I've given up the 338's and have gone to a 22" bbl'd 375 H&H (no African hunting yet though). Seems like more of a good thing than the 338's... still, I'm sorely tempted to get a 338 WSM when they come out... shorten the bbl. to 21 or 22"... wonderful elk medicine!

Brad

Brad-
I assume you are getting that 2850fps with lighter bullets?
My last 338 wore a 22" barrel, I think I would prefer using a 338/06 or Whelen if I were wanting a short barreled rifle. The new WSM does look interesting!!

Mike375... where have you been? I have been waiting for you to brow-beat some of these 338 guys

I had to go get on my rubber knee boots, 'cause there is more here than at the local feedlot.

If one gets orgasmic at 1" groups at a 100 yards then it is 4"+ at 400 yards, plus cross winds, plus a lot of bullet drop.

More power to you if you can pull it off for real and "never" wound, not to mention wound and lose.

Mike375, while I agree with your premise of the .375 probably being the better overall weapon if no other conditions are considered, I find that shooting one all day long is a little beyond my recoil tolerance while a 338 WM is pretty tolerable to me.

You'll get no argument from me about the merits and effectiveness of the .375 H&H, when I am finished with mine it might become my favorite rifle. I still kick myself for selling the last one I had. - Sheister

smallfry,

Most of these 338 guys don't like to admit that a 338 is generally cheaper

On a more serious note, it is interesting that in Australia where lots of animals are shot, almost no one buys a 338 in M70 Stainless or Sako, that is where the two calibers are similar in price.

In fact I don't think CZ (BRNO) even chamber in 338.

Most 338s down here are in the Ruger Stainless.

Mike

Oops, John, I meant to add that 2,850 was with 225's. I got 2,950 with 210's in a 22" bbl. 210's have worked great for me on elk (they're all my Win 70 would shoot well) but they seemed to defeat the purpose of a 338... heavier bullets! I'd sooner shoot 200's in a 300 Mag.

I had a 338-06, and was able to achieve just at 2,700 fps with 225 gr. bullets. That's only 150 fps behind the 338 Mag... not bad!

Interesting you mention the 33 G&A with 250's at just over 3,000 fps. A buddy of mine had HS Precision build him a 340 WBY with a 26" tube. With the 250 grain WBY Factory stuff, we clocked it a just over 3,000 fps... that's decisive! However, I can't shoot well at that recoil level, so I'll never own such a rifle. If you can handle it well, "more power to you"... literally and figuratively!

As to 338 vs. 375 H&H recoil, I prefer the recoil of the H&H and find it more shootable... more of a hard "shove" rather than a hard "snap" with the 338 (paricularly with 210's and 225's).

Regards All,

Brad

I took the .338 Win to South Africa for plains game a few weeks ago. I loaded some 210gr. Nosler Partitions, but reduced the powder load down to 69gr. IMR4350. I didn't chrono these loadings in the 24" Ruger M77, but I'm estimating muzzle at 2600fps based on the manual.

I couldn't have been more pleased with the performance of this load on Kudu, Gemsbok, and smaller antelope. I saw complete in & out penetration on all animals taken, even though the larger animals were at distances of 220-250 yards and the Kudu was a 45 degree quartering away shot. 4 of the 5 went down quickly after the first shot. I placed an insurance shot on the right shoulder of the Gemsbok since he was heading for the brush. I found out later that it wasn't needed since the first shot went through both lungs and out the other side.

Count me in as a fan of the .338 for African plains game.

I have very little personal experience with the .338 but I have several friends who do a lot of elk hunting and spend a lot of time in Alaska and they wouldn't shoot anything else especially on animals larger than deer. They are all experienced hunters and fine marksman and none of them can agree on which bullet or bullet weight they like the best.

Jack Atcheson, the well-known booking agent, swears by the .338 WinMag and describes the caliber by saying "it just numbs them". Jim Carmichael of Outdoor Life is also a big .338 fan.

My impression is that if you aren't hunting buff and lion (and bigger) it is one heck of a rifle to take to Africa.

I suspect that anyone who missed a long shot with the 338 should be looking within themselves, not condemming a great caliber..after all a 210 Nosler at 3000 FPS and I get a bit more than that out of mine, isn't exactly chopped liver....Missed shots seldom go back to todays mordern rifles....

I've made some awfully long shots with the 338 and the 300 H&H, and I'll take my 338 on any given day...That 210 Nosler is a wonder bullet and kills as well as the larger bullets...

Amazing how some folks base everything on trajectory and velocity, I have found trajectory very easy to handle as all that is involved is hold over and it as easy to hold over 8" as it is to holdover 12" or 24"...

The real problem, and most experienced long range shooters know this is WIND, now doping the wind is a whole nuther ball game and it is responsible for more wounded or missed animals at long range than all the calibers put together....

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

WOW!! Ray and I agree on another thing; Holdover when shooting at longer ranges, REALLY isn't a big deal, WIND is THE problem. Great minds apparently DO think alike.

I have to throw in my limited experience with the .338" bores on plains game. Have a few friends that have taken multiple safaris over to Namibia for eland,kudu,gemsbok, wildebeest,zebra, warthog,all the way down to springbok. They finally found out that the .338 Win and .340 Wby were THE tool for the job, at least for them. Though on the particular Ranches they hunted shots did tend to be long.

I used a .338-06 last year and with 250's at 2440 fps I whacked a bushbuck, a large eland, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and an impala all with one shot kills and minimal tracking. Between the reasonable rifle weight , very tolerable recoil and muzzle blast, and the great results on game, I was very taken with the .338-06.

Years ago the Brits figured out that the medium bores such as the .318 Westley Richards, .333 Jeffery, etc all killed darned well. IMHO the .338 Win is just a bit more and is a great plains game round.

Frank N.

Frank pretty much summed it up. The 33s are excellent. It's the caliber where you start to get into serious bullet weight and very good sectional density but without too much more recoil than the smaller bores. The .338 Win Mag is really just a modern version (with slightly better ballistics) of the old .318 Westley Richards (.330") and .333 Jeffery (.333") Rimless and Flanged. And the .338-06 is almost idential to the .318 W-R. What's old is new again!

No, the 33s are not calibers for dangerous game, but for all-around use on plains game, which was the original intent, they are excellent.

I also believe that most Americans are too preoccupied with velocity, trajectory and energy figures. I think a lot of that comes from marketing by the manufacturers. After all, what can they make that is really new? More velocity and flatter trajectory than the other guy's cartridge. I think the American psyche has a lot to do with it also. Look at sports cars for example. Joe wants to be able to say he has more horsepower than Tom.

As for long range shooting, how many Americans shooters are really good at it? How many have the time, in our fast-paced world, to devote to learning to shoot at long range? I know I don't. That's why I try to limit my shots to 200 yards or so. Much beyond that and I just don't have the skill to pull off the shot with confidence. I know my limitaions and I try to stay within my capabilties. And out to 200 yards or so, any cartridge generating 2400 to 2500 fps of muzzle velocity will shoot flat enough. And going to 3000 fps only flattens the trajectory slghtly out to 200 yards.

But we Americans tend to want to BUY expertise with the lastest gadget, technology, etc. instead of devoting the time it takes to develop the skill to become comfortable with long range shooting. But as has been stated, the major problem is WIND and not the flatness of the trajectory. And learning to deal with the wind is something that only comes through lots of practice.

Just my two cents worth....
-BOB

My own limited experience in Africa was mostly in such close country that the ballistic virtues of the belted/hot .338's weren't warrented. I think the oft-quoted "90% of all game is shot at under 150 yds" would be closer to 100% in my case. Still, I can see value in a stout bullet thrown fast enough to make an impression on oryx, sable, and mountain nyala under circumstances where idea ranges simply weren't possible. That being said, I don't own a .338 and have no intention of acquiring one. Either my .300 H&H or my beloved .375 will have to do.

Sarge

I wonder how many have or have not used a 33 cal. on dangerous game from such comments....

I have and I cannot see a bit of difference in the 338, 9.3's, or the 375...All toss a 300 gr. bullet at around 2400 to 2500 FPS..

I do see a little difference when you go to the 40 caliber I think, but not real sure on that..

The older I get and the more big stuff I shoot gives me the impression that there's not a hell of lot of difference in any of them or maybe my give a sh--ter just went into nuetral somewhere along the line....

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Man I rocked a nice Elk last year with my .338. He was crippled hard but would have been a real chore to get to if he had made it much further.

I dont know how far he was but it was the longest shot I ever tried, and I only did it cause it was on a animal that was hit and on his way out. He was so far that I was able to get my eye back on the scope to see the bullet hit him, I held about 1' over his shoulder with an uphill angle.

The 225 grn A-frame took him right between shoulder and neck and just pulverized him, he even slid 50 yrds downhill for us. After we cut him up , and saw the damage from the first two shots, I couldnt believe an animal could stay on his feet as he did.

Hell of a caliber, hell of an animal.........10