.338 WM. . . Why . . ?

13 April 2008, 09:05

I already have more rifles than I need. I have a custom .338-06 AI, and here I'm thinking of runnin down to one of the local gun shops and grabbing a used Ruger Hawkeye stainless in .338 WM, just because it's cheap! What the hell. Can anyone tell me WHY I need it? No, I don't currently own a .338 WM, but does anyone think it will do anything my .338-06 won't? It just means more damn dies, more cases, another scope. . . on & on. Should be saving it for Jeep tires!

13 April 2008, 09:11

MikeyB

Better question:

Why not?

13 April 2008, 09:18

vapodog

quote:
but does anyone think it will do anything my .338-06 won't?

nope.....not at all!

13 April 2008, 09:22

Moose-Hunter

That is a good question. Why?

13 April 2008, 10:32

Walter Prociuk

If you intend to hunt internationally, the headstamp, the barrelstamp, and the label on the ammo box, have to be one and the same.

This would be much easier with a .338 Win than the .338-06.

I hope you enjoy your new .338 Winchester. Do yourself a favor and put a good recoil pad on it and give it a trigger job.

13 April 2008, 10:50

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by Walter Prociuk:
If you intend to hunt internationally, the headstamp, the barrelstamp, and the label on the ammo box, have to be one and the same.

This is totally untrue! In some countries it could complicate things but there has been noone ever post his troubles over this issue here.

It's convenient if they match but not at all necessary!

13 April 2008, 15:16

Save your pennys and get a 338/378 and then its more of a difference.............I have sought of done that, I had a 9.3x62 and a 338 Ruger. I have ditched the 338 Ruger for a 338/378 and now there is more of a difference in regards to my 2 guns in this caliber range............. I dont think I have made a lot of sense

13 April 2008, 19:59

SDhunter

It's not about need. It's all about want.

Take the money you would spend on the 338 WM and put that money toward a hunt.

So what do you want more? The 338 WM or maybe putting that money towards something else. Possibly a hunt?

13 April 2008, 20:39

D B Cooper

This guy's already got more guns than he can swim with. He doesn't need another rifle.

He needs to buy tires for his Jeep so he can get out and shoot the ones he's got.

13 April 2008, 21:27

jstevens

I have a .338-06 and a .338 WM. About 100-150 fps difference in velocity. Not much difference, but the Mag is a better shooter and the stock fits me better, so I hunt with it a lot. I really like the .338 bore for the larger stuff and African plains game hunting. It is a perfect general use African rifle in my opinion and is the first step up where I can notice any difference between a 7x57 or .30-06 in actual use.

13 April 2008, 23:59

sep

I'm a huge fan of the 338 WM. It's the only caliber I use for big game hunting. That being said, the only noticable thing the 338 WM will do vs the 338-06 (within reasonable shooting distances) is fly a little farther after it exits the animal you're shooting. If you're trying to recover bullets, you'll have to walk farther away from the kill site to find the one fired out of the 338 WM!

14 April 2008, 01:38

Thomas Jones

Don't ask why !
A all weather .338 win ?
You are ready to hunt anything on this continent, under any conditions.
and just beacuse you can !
...tj3006

14 April 2008, 01:39

Dr.K

Why ask ?.Your question is rather absurd !.

Perhaps getting a life or on with it may be the best answer ! ?.

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

14 April 2008, 01:47

landkiller

I too am a big fan of the 338WM. It is my "go to" elk rifle.

14 April 2008, 01:56

ztreh

I have a ruger 338, a weatherby 340, and a weatherby 338/378 KT, and just shoot the hell out of all three. I know when I squeeze the trigger something is dead, aaa yes.

14 April 2008, 02:01

Whitworth

I think everyone needs a .338 win mag. This is the do-everything caliber.

14 April 2008, 02:44

Steffen

i wouldn't bother buying the .338wm

i just wish they could have put a rim on the .338-06 or 8mm-06

14 April 2008, 02:45

Doc

quote:
Originally posted by DWright:
Should be saving it for Jeep tires!

B/C you wrote this, my advice is save your money for something else that is NEEDED. Good tires are not cheap. While I would agree with most here and the sentiment that you can never have enough firearms, AND I also like the 338WM, don't put yourself into a financial bind. You already have a great cal in the 338.06.

14 April 2008, 03:29

DWright

DB Cooper is right. Think I'll just keep what I have and go hunting. To the rest of you, thanks for the input; As far as Dr. K is concerned, you seem to be a arragont ass, and you would be best to not run into me in a dark alley as you will likely not make it out! Always one in the crowd.

14 April 2008, 04:35

D B Cooper

quote:
As far as Dr. K is concerned, you seem to be a arragont ass, and you would be best to not run into me in a dark alley as you will likely not make it out!

Dr K ,
Hope you're an MD. 'Cause you would need one.

14 April 2008, 05:39

Paolo9,5x73

quote:
Originally posted by DWright:
I already have more rifles than I need. I have a custom .338-06 AI, and here I'm thinking of runnin down to one of the local gun shops and grabbing a used Ruger Hawkeye stainless in .338 WM, just because it's cheap! What the hell. Can anyone tell me WHY I need it? No, I don't currently own a .338 WM, but does anyone think it will do anything my .338-06 won't? It just means more damn dies, more cases, another scope. . . on & on. Should be saving it for Jeep tires!

Unlike your sensible .338-06 the WinMag will kick shit out of you.

14 April 2008, 05:50

Whitworth

Maybe I'm numb from shooting real kickers like the .458 Lott and my 8-lb .416 Rem, but I don't find the .338 win mag's recoil to be unpleasant in the least. It gives a little shove, but it's not objectionable in my M77.......JMHO

14 April 2008, 05:59

DWright

Thanks Poalo, ya they do kick a little more as there's a bit more powder going down the bore. I've had I think, 4 .338s in the past; but I'm not that recoil sensitive. Just not sure I need to buy another one. Sometimes you just get the 'wantin', without the needin, and need to have someone talk some sense into ya. Used to have a Ruger #1 I had rechambered to .460 Weatherby and used it for ground squirrels for awhile with 500 grain Hornadys. Hmmm, maybe thats why sometimes I studder. . . . . . .

14 April 2008, 06:06

enfieldspares

quote:
If you intend to hunt internationally, the headstamp, the barrel stamp, and the label on the ammo box, have to be one and the same.

Well, not that I know of in the UK! After all 275 Rigby aka 7mm Mauser aka 7 x 57; 8mm Mauser aka 8 x 57 aka 7.92mm Mauser; 7 x 64 aka 7mm Brenneke; 280 Remington aka 7mm Remington Express; 270 aka 270 Winchester aka 270 WCF.

Indeed many older rifles here in UK have no calibre marking on them at all!

So, please, from experience, which countries?

14 April 2008, 06:07

Paolo9,5x73

quote:
Originally posted by Whitworth:
Maybe I'm numb from shooting real kickers like the .458 Lott and my 8-lb .416 Rem, but I don't find the .338 win mag's recoil to be unpleasant in the least. It gives a little shove, but it's not objectionable in my M77.......JMHO

Howdy neighbor,
I live one mile from University of Richmond in Hamlet of Westham and my fav caliber for local stuff is Modelo 99EG .300 Savage. Unless you hunt big n nasty stuff on the Dark Continent I would so some thinking if I were you.

14 April 2008, 06:08

Whitworth

It has never been a matter of need, gentlemen.......

Paolo, I have never hunted in Virginia (I have only been back in the country for a year this time around), but I don't think that a .338 is too much gun by any stretch. Now, I know my .416, Lott, and .450 Ackley don't have a real function in North America, but that doesn't mean they should be left to collect dust in the safe while there are wild pigs to be erradicated!

14 April 2008, 06:09

Flippy

quote:
Originally posted by DWright:
I already have more rifles than I need.

But do you have more rifles than you want?

If it was about need, ONE 30-'06 would just about do everything you could ask on this continent.

14 April 2008, 06:13

enfieldspares

quote:
Can anyone tell me WHY I need it?

Because you will be disappointed that it won't do any better than your 338-06 except empty your wallet quicker. More powder, extra dies, magnum primers and it probably weighs more and has less magazine capacity. Shot to shot recovery is probably worse.

If your going to Iraq/Afghanistan and want some long range wall-busting anti-sniper ordnance then maybe. But for hunting in US...from what I read...I can't see the point over the 338-06 you already have.

14 April 2008, 06:57

D B Cooper

quote:
Somewhere between OakeyRidge and SpringTucky, Oregon

West Fir, Dexter, Lowell, Fall Creek, Jasper or P.Hill??

14 April 2008, 07:05

JPK

quote:
Originally posted by enfieldspares:
quote:
If you intend to hunt internationally, the headstamp, the barrel stamp, and the label on the ammo box, have to be one and the same.

Well, not that I know of in the UK! After all 275 Rigby aka 7mm Mauser aka 7 x 57; 8mm Mauser aka 8 x 57 aka 7.92mm Mauser; 7 x 64 aka 7mm Brenneke; 280 Remington aka 7mm Remington Express; 270 aka 270 Winchester aka 270 WCF.

Indeed many older rifles here in UK have no calibre marking on them at all!

So, please, from experience, which countries?

From time to time, there are first hand reports of hunters trying to enter some of the African countries with wildcat ammo or ammo made from cases in the same cartidge "family" having problems becuase of a mismatch between rifle engraving and headstamp.

Personally, I've never had a customs offical even look at my ammo, or count it, to see if it matched the firearms importation paperwork (which specifies rifle calibre and number of rounds of ammo for each rifle.)

JPK

14 April 2008, 07:08

DWright

quote:
Originally posted by Flippy:
quote:
Originally posted by DWright:
I already have more rifles than I need.
But do you have more rifles than you want?

If it was about need, ONE 30-'06 would just about do everything you could ask on this continent.

Heh Flippy, actually, yup I do have more than I really want. Never can decide which one to take. And you are absolutely correct about the .06. It was my favorite for years, had a couple dozen through the years, but gave the last one I had to ol' DB Cooper. Something about him gunna splt the money he got from the plane hiest he did years ago. (still waitin')

14 April 2008, 22:27

jwp475

The 338 Win Rocks...Ammo readily avaiable very reasonable recoil in relationship to the power and a heavy hitter on big game....

_____________________________________________________

A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
- Winston Churchill

14 April 2008, 23:07

jwp475

quote:
Originally posted by Paolo9,5x73:
Unlike your sensible .338-06 the WinMag will kick shit out of you.

Aren't we all men here?

15 April 2008, 03:18

Atkinson

After you use the .338 Win. for awhile, you'll sell your 338-06..The .338 Win. is just better anyway you cut it and I can't tell any difference in recoil..

I can load it down to 338-06 balistics but can not do the reverse and load a 338-06 up to the .338 Win. balistics..

Both use the same action, so why a wildcat that's not as good as a factory rifle..An extra round? so what or buy a drop box and get an extra round or two in the 338 Win.

I hunted with 338-06, both in IMP and std. persuasion for many years until the 338 Win. came on the scene, I got one of the first ones and never looked back..I still have that 338 Win..

I cannot think of one legitamate redeeming quality the 338-06 has over the .338 Win. Neither could Elmer Keith....Win took a look at a real nice round in the .338-06 and just made it better without going overboard, Keith did the same with his version..The .338 Win. started out slow with no bells and whistles, or glowing write ups... Today in sales of guns and ammo it is creeping its way to the very to top...It did this the old fashion way, it earned it...That's "why".

15 April 2008, 03:23

Whitworth

Very well said, Ray!

15 April 2008, 03:26

LRH270

You need it for EXACTLY THE SAME REASON I need 2 .470s and a .500 and a .458.

If it helps any, I have a set of new Goodyear 265/70/17s in the garage, cheap!

15 April 2008, 03:33

landkiller

A big +1 on what Ray Atkinson said.

15 April 2008, 03:34

jwp475

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
After you use the .338 Win. for awhile, you'll sell your 338-06..The .338 Win. is just better anyway you cut it and I can't tell any difference in recoil..

I can load it down to 338-06 balistics but can not do the reverse and load a 338-06 up to the .338 Win. balistics..

Both use the same action, so why a wildcat that's not as good as a factory rifle..An extra round? so what or buy a drop box and get an extra round or two in the 338 Win.

I hunted with 338-06, both in IMP and std. persuasion for many years until the 338 Win. came on the scene, I got one of the first ones and never looked back..I still have that 338 Win..

I cannot think of one legitamate redeeming quality the 338-06 has over the .338 Win. Neither could Elmer Keith....Win took a look at a real nice round in the .338-06 and just made it better without going overboard, Keith did the same with his version..The .338 Win. started out slow with no bells and whistles, or glowing write ups... Today in sales of guns and ammo it is creeping its way to the very to top...It did this the old fashion way, it earned it...That's "why".

Here, Here

15 April 2008, 08:10

DWright

Ray, you keep that kinda talk up and it's just gunna cost me money. But your right. I had the .338-06 AI built from scratch on a AV Sako action in the white, then had the late Larry Brace put a match grade kreiger barrel on it. When Larry got sick just before his passing, Bob West did the chambering. Had the thing finely bead blasted and a nice satin blue by the again late Ron Linaugh. Still trying to pick a sleek synthetic stock for it, but can't make my mind up as to which brand. Any recommendations? But as much as don't need one, and hate to admit it, I may end up with another .338 anyway.