Please, please, please,please,please, I want one. Please, please, please, please, oh by the way, it also has to be left handed. Please, please, please, please!!!!

Be prepared for a looong wait.

Either wait a while longer or make one yourself.

I'am a little surprised that Winchester hasn't already come out with a .338 WSM as RCBS has reloading dies for it.

Wonder if they will unvail it in mid year 2003 or wait till 04? Seems like alot people want one as well as a .257 and .264.

I hope Winchester adds the 338 to their WSM lineup, because I'll be one of the first in line to get myself one!

I don't shoot those big cartidges that much. I will buy a new 243 WSSM as I can use it for varmints and just enjoy shooting it.

I said somewhere that I would buy a .358 WSM but I am changing my mind. I already have a couple of .35's and .375's. The bigger bores are not that much fun to shoot.

hkr, go to your local gun store tell them to put a M70 Classic Featherweight LH in any of the WSM's on order for you. When It comes in take it/or send to your favorite gunsmith and have install your new barrel for you. Unfortunately that is the only way us Lefties are going to see a .338 WSM soon. BTW, I feel as a Lefty that if Winchester is going to bring out some left-handed WSM's we lefties better be ready to buy them all up. Show the manufacturers that we do buy rifles and that they should make available more options and more rifles for us. Just my opinion. BTW, I will be buying at least 1 in .300 WSM. I may need to get a second one for a .358 WSM though. Sean

Just get a regular old .338 Win. Mag. and be done with it. You'll be at least as well-heeled in every way.

AD

Same here. Just build one. I just bought a Savage 11 in 300 WSM. If I get $100 for the take-off, a new Pac nor will be $170. So, for $500, I have a 35WSM. JMO, Dutch.

Why would you want a .338 WSM rather than a standard .338 Winchester? Want less magazine capacity? Less power? Or just need to pay more?

Of course if you don't want to shoot the longer/heavier bullets, you can build the WSM on a short action and make the gun be 5/8 inch shorter and weigh 4 to 6 ounces less -- that is if you WANT your .338 to weigh 4 to 6 ounces less.

Stonecreek~
Those 6 oz or so is PRECISELY why I built mine though I also have a couple of pretty light Win Mag's.

Stonecreek, I now have a 7mag and a 300 WSM in the Savage series. Long story short, the short action rifle has a much better balance. The best part, though, is that the bolt doesn't bop my glasses when operated. It's not the weight so much, as the balance and the ease of operation.

That 300 barrel will come off, and a 35WSM will go on. With the higher expansion ratio of the 35, I will cut the barrel to 22 or 23 inches, which will improve the balance even further, and a short rifle is a blessing in the thick stuff. FWIW, Dutch.

Why not buy just a .338 Win. Mag.? Because I already own one. I know, I know. I don't need a .338 WSM because I already have the .338 WM, but that's besides the point. I simply WANT the .338 WSM.

LoneEagle, I agree, we lefties need to show them that if they build it we will buy it. alen day, if you think the solution would be to just buy a 338 win mag, who would I buy it from? Rem, no, Win, no Ruger, no Savage, NO!

Well then, since you live in West Virginia, why not call Melvin Forbes at New Ultra Light Arms and have him built you a wildcat (call it "pre-production" maybe!) .338 WSM? I know that Melvin is building .300 and .270 WSM rifles right now, and he's no stranger to designing and working with wildcat cartridges, either. Besides, he makes a great rifle!

AD

AD

Bob and Dutch:

If the issue is weight and balance, then why not peel an additional 4 inches and a pound or so off by using a Ruger Number 1 or TC carbine? Then you could use a cartridge of unlimited length.

Stonecreek~
I have one. A #1, but what do you do for possible second and third shots, particularly in grizzly country where I hunt? Thanks, but I'll continue to us the light repeaters with shorter (21" and 23") barrels.

After checking out a few gun wholesalers sites, I noticed a few of them are listing LH M70 FWs in 270WSM, 7MM WSM, and 300WSM. None had any in stock though. I haven't seen any mention on Winchesters web-site yet. Must be new for 2003. I'm going to put my name down for one. TTS

TTS, I want to "put my name down for one" too. How is the best way to ensure getting one as soon as possable? Can you contact a wholesaler and reserve one, or do I need to talk to my local dealer. How do I know he is activly looking or keeping his eye out for me. Where did you see these listings? Maybe I could look myself and when I find one in stock, tell my dealer? I think this is the way I'll go on the 338WSM. Winchester Featherweight/Pac-Nor. That is the plan!!!

hkr,
Check outsome of the wholesalers at gunnersden.com. You would have to have a dealer contact a wholesaler and backorder one until they come in from the manufacture. I just got a FFL myself so that is how I will hopefully be getting mine. I will be leaving mine as a 270WSM. Good luck. TTS

Single shot rifles are something that I really like to hunt with. I don't feel unsafe at all if I had to face the beasts in North America with one. You can shoot again!

People hike and camp in "grizzly country" with no firearms! Not even a bow and arrow!

Use what you want. Maybe an M14 is desired by some. They will hold 21 shots with one in the chamber!

Stonecreek, my wife and I do hunt with single shots, deer and antelope. For elk, though, I like to shoot "till I got my foot on them". My current elk rifle is a 7600 in 35whelen. Grizzlies have only crossed my mind, not may trail, so far. FWIW, Dutch.

Went to local gun shop today and had one reserved through the wholesaler he uses. They had already placed an order for five. Had no idea when to expect a ship date. Oh well, my name is on one, thats all that matters.

hkr, Olin/Winchester has no plan to release the 338 WSM any time soon. In fact, Olin changed the case dimension's of the 338 WSM. Rather than being a simple "necked up" version of the 300 WSM as originally conceived, Olin redesigned it to have a longer neck (and diminished case capacity). The few RCBS dies floating around marked "338 WSM" were made in a rushed-anticipation of the first version. Big slip-up on RCBS's part. THe new version will not have the velocity the original version did.

Heck, I'd stick with the 338 WM. It'll still get 2,850 fps with 225's in a 22" barrel, being oly 5/8" longer than a 338 WSM with a 22" bbl. I'm doubtful the new version of the 338 WSM will ever achieve that.

Brad