quote:

It kicked me so hard I had bloodshot down to my elbow after one 30 round range session (pre-64 Winchester Model 70!)!

The old pre-64 Winchester stock design is famous for accentuating recoil, so that is hardly surprising. And benchrest shooting is MUCH tougher on the shoulder than offhand shooting.

The total ejecta is virtually always larger with a .338 as compared to a .300 WM. As an example, the loads I use in my respective rifles are a 225 bullet with 76 grains of powder (301 grains total) and a 180 bullet with 74 grains of powder (254 total). Although the slightly higher velocity of the .300 ejecta does increase recoil as compared to the heavier .338 load, it is not enough to reach the same recoil levels as the larger gun.

It should be taken into account that most .338's are built heavier than most .300's. As a result, "many" lighter .300's may very well "kick" more than many heavier .338's. However, this is a function of gun weight. Isaac Newton would have no qualms about pronouncing the .338 the harder kicker.

But all of this is purely academic: You won't feel either one kick when the target is a 6-point bull elk.

FWIW I got the same impression.

My brother at one point hat two identical Pushfeed M70XTR's

Identical in every way except cartridge.

The 338Mag with 225's always felt "softer"
than the 300Mag did with 180's

Even shooting the rifle "blind" (not knowing which one you were about to shoot) you could tell.

both from recoil or report, I can't explain it, nor do I care to try, I just accept it as an unexplained bit of reality...

quote:

Originally posted by Thebear_78:
From what I have seen on moose there isn't that much difference between the 180-200gr bullets in a 300 win and 210-225gr bullets in the 338 when it comes to killing power. To get a noticeable step up in whack with a 338 cal bullet you have to step up to the 338 RUM/340 Weatherby or 338-378. WHen you start pushing those 225gr bullets at over 3100fps and 250s at 3000 that they hit much harder. Even then they both kill a moose very dead. I like the 300 win for the uses you stated.

But I have seen the differences on MOOSE when using 180-grain Partition out of both the .300WM and .300 Weatherby, and the .338WM and 230-grain FS as well as 250-grain Partition bullets. The .338WM with the heavier bullets for it (from 230 grains to 300) makes a big difference on large game such as moose and bears. I have also seen the difference of a 300-grain .375 H&H slug on moose. The heavier slugs make a big difference, and seem to drop the moose quicker.

If you cant choose between the 300 win mag or the 338 win mag, have a look at the 325 WSM, some where in the middle ?

http://www.shortmags.org/shortmags/ref_data/325wsm-factoryloads.htm

http://www.browning.com/products/features/detail.asp?id=77

I own a 300 Win mag in a Ruger, and a 338 Win mag in a Ruger. I think the 300 kicks way more. I underestimated the kick of the 300 when i bought it, and was not happy.

I am in the camp of if you need bigger than a 30'06, go straight to the 338. Mine is very accurate and the recoil is not that bad. More a push than a crack.

My 338 is shooting 200's a hair faster than my 30'06 is shooting 165's. Just that much more thump when shootind downtown.

I even tried 150's in my 300 and it still kicked enough to make it no fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Fireform:

IMO, this is a better choice if buying a 338

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976761827.htm


Some SOB already grabbed that one.

This would be a good 300 win mag

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=55562793


Even got a muzzle brake for those that think the 300 win mag kicks more.

The Federal 225 grain TBBC high energy load in the .338 will kick you pretty hard.

I get just nearly 3,000 fps with that load in my rifle, and you will know you have touched one off when you bang one of those down range.