Wondering how the heavier bullets Like the 275 gr SAF, the 300 gr Woodleigh work at 338 WM velocities. I was thinking of loading some up for future hypothetical moose/bear hunts. I was wondering if these bullets expand well and 100-200 yd range, or are they too tough for the relatively low velocities they get out of the winnie? Anyone have any experiance on the matter?

There is one well known brown bear guide that puts great faith in the original Winchester 300 gr 338 Win Mag factory loads...

My personal thoughts are, bullets with a SD over .300 work great for BIG big game.

At .338 Win. Mag. velocities, the 250NP's work VERY well on moose and the big bears. I've used them myself, and also seen them used on those very animals...

DM

The point of the heavier bullets back in the day was to maintane SD & assure penetration. With todays exc mono metal bullets, I don't really see the need. A 250gr X will probably out penetrate the 275gr-300gr softs & w/ an add'l. 200fps, carry more energy further.

I have sixe .338WM rifles, loaded for and shot this round for 42+ years and have owned 13 rifles so chambered in that time, I like it.

I use 250NPs, SGKs, Hornadys and am going to try some ABs, exclusively and am happy, I would not bother with a heavier bullet. A 275 SAF is the ONLY other bullet I would consider, for work in BC Grizzly country, but, I have 3 bolt 9.3x62s and 2 bolt .375H&Hs, so, just use one of them.

I prefer to use only one bullet weight per rifle.

I also have shot the .338 WM for a long time, 34 years. The 275 SAF is a good bullet and works well in it at moderate distances. Most of the time you are better served with the various 225-250's, even for the big bears. My all time favorites are the Nosler Partitions and SAF's. In more recent years I have also used the TSX in several weights, the Nosler Accubond and most recently North Fork.

I also tend to pick one weight/bullet that will hammer everything in a given cartridge and stick with it.

iv been playing with the 338winny for a few years now and last year mine took a nice black bear and a nice bull moose. im shooting a 250 gr horn spitzer bullet and pushing it with imr 4350 with 64 gr being lit by a fed 215 mag primer. this flys along at book published 2500 fps and further more it groups inside a quarter every time for my winchester xtr.

i aslo have wondered what it would act like with heavier bullets like a 300 or + grain. the only thing i like about the thought of leaving this rifle alone is the recoil leaves me intact[[ unlike my 375ruger with 300 gr re-loads]] and the fact that ive found THE load for my winny accuracy wise. makes me second guess trying to fiddle with an already known performer...know what i mean?

Old Elmer really liked the 275gr Speer round noses in the .338 Win Mag, but that was back in the day when all that was offered was a cup and core design. With modern bullet technology, even on something big like a bear, I don't see the need for such a large bullet. In NA I prefer bullets in the 200-225 gr range so you can keep the velocity up in the 2900-3000 range.

I have always liked high velocity loads in high power rifles so I leaned toward the lighter bullets for caliber. However, last year in africa, my bags were delayed so I had rifles and no ammo for a few days. During those 3-4 days I used my ph's spare rifle in 338WM with 250gr Oryx bullets. Wow, I shot 6 impala for bait that never left their tracks on impact and then a huge Zebra stallion that went less than 25yds after impact. (I have been shooting 225gr A-Frames in a 338RUM and 250gr A-Frames in my 338/378 Weatherby.)

quote:

Originally posted by Antelope Sniper:
Old Elmer really liked the 275gr Speer round noses in the .338 Win Mag, but that was back in the day when all that was offered was a cup and core design. With modern bullet technology, even on something big like a bear, I don't see the need for such a large bullet. In NA I prefer bullets in the 200-225 gr range so you can keep the velocity up in the 2900-3000 range.

Actually, the 275 Speer is a semi spitzer, not a RN.

DM

Ed, it sound like you had a fun hunt. The Oryx and A-frames certainly fall into the catagory of "modern bullet technology". I wouldn't be suprised if they would shoot through an impala the long way.

And leopards

http://i594.photobucket.com/al...oker1/IMG_0260-1.jpg

I shoot the 250gr bullet out of my 338 RUM. I get 3067 FPS with the 250gr bullet. I get 3178 FPS with the 225gr bullet. And I get 3120 FPS
with the 200gr bullet. So I'm Happy with those
FPS.

Great looking cat Ed!

My .338 Lapua and .340 Wby both like the 225 and 240 grain North Fork bullets best. The 240 grainer is a very tough bullet that would be capable of putting down the toughest animal here and Africa. Good shooting.

Years ago, I made a bad shot on a Alaskan cow moose. The moose was facing me at about 75 yards and the wind was howling and there was to much brush to kneel down and take the shot. In any event I was shooting towards the brisket (250 NP in a 340 Wea). My shot was off to the right. The bullet broke the animals shoulder, tore out 5-6 ribs (opened up the side of the animal), entered the hip and existed the rear of the hip.
I do not really believe you need heavier than a good 250 gr projectile in a 338 caliber gun for 99% of most hunting. I did shoot her again within seconds to put her down. I was really disgusted with myself and that shot. I did learn the penetrating ability of a good 250 gr 338 caliber slug.

Wayfaring Stranger,
I have zero experience with the premium bullets you mention in the 338 Win Mag. I have experience with the later mentioned 275 Speer Semi Spitzer that Elmer Keith liked. It is, was, nearly ideal in the Elk killing department. That said, it would handle Moose and Bear nicly too. That said, doubtless there are better bullets today. Your gun, if it likes the 250 Nosler Partition, would be well served by using it. The game you listed will be dead if you do your part from all sane angles and distances.
best regards,
dmw

Had a 338WM in a Weatherby Vanguard a couple of years ago. It would do 3/8" @50yrds with Rd22 or Re19 (?) @2575fps w Speer 275s. Kicked like hell on my LITTLE GIRLY shoulder. It took out two different scopes shooting that load out of a rest held down with lead bags. Got a 9.3x62 so I sold it and my Win70 280 rem. Feels like half the kick with the 9.3 and 270gr at same fps.

I have 2 boxes of 300 grain woodleighs and 2 boxes of 300 grain woodleigh Solids on the bullet shelf to load when the 338wm goes to africa. But here in north america, the 250 grain bullet from barnes or nosler has put a 'smack down' on anything shot with the .338wm.

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
I have 2 boxes of 300 grain woodleighs and 2 boxes of 300 grain woodleigh Solids on the bullet shelf to load when the 338wm goes to africa. But here in north america, the 250 grain bullet from barnes or nosler has put a 'smack down' on anything shot with the .338wm.

Excellent choices! If you have them, use them. Also, give the 225-grain TSX a try as a general-use bullet for large game from mule deer and up.

quote:

Originally posted by Fat_Albert:
Had a 338WM in a Weatherby Vanguard a couple of years ago. It would do 3/8" @50yrds with Rd22 or Re19 (?) @2575fps w Speer 275s. Kicked like hell on my LITTLE GIRLY shoulder. It took out two different scopes shooting that load out of a rest held down with lead bags. Got a 9.3x62 so I sold it and my Win70 280 rem. Feels like half the kick with the 9.3 and 270gr at same fps.

I have had a Leupold Vary-X III 2.5-8x mounted on my .338WM since 1992, and have never had a problem. Now, any rifle such as the 7mm Magnum, .300WM, .338WM, .340, .338RUM and up are hard on the shoulders just to shoot for a long time at the range, specially from a bench.

You probably broke the scopes simply because the rifle could not move in a rearward motion during recoil. During recoil the rifle moves toward your shoulder, and this in turn flexes and absorbs the rest of the recoil. Not so when a sandbag (or a concrete wall for that matter) is used.

You will notice that the factory rifle rests designed for holding the rifle and absorb the recoil have a soft pad, and some even a spring to allow for the rifle to move back during recoil.