Okay guys. If you only had the 300 Win Mag and the 338 Win Mag to choose from for an elk rifle (elk only) which would you choose and why. I know there are a ton of other plenty worthy options but for this discussion only interested in your thoughts on these two.

I'll get my popcorn ready.

GD,

Kinda 6 of one or 1/2 dozen of the other!

But if I were forced to pick - Think I'd go with the 338 Winy.

quote:

Originally posted by GrayDuck:
Okay guys. If you only had the 300 Win Mag and the 338 Win Mag to choose from for an elk rifle (elk only) which would you choose and why. I know there are a ton of other plenty worthy options but for this discussion only interested in your thoughts on these two.

I'll get my popcorn ready.

I've had a .338 WM for about 25 years and when I lived in the far north, it was my go to gun for anything. I use the 250 grain Swift A-Frames for everything. Quite simply, it works. I could find no reason to play with a .300.

From a practical ELK ONLY standpoint, the 338 doesn't really do anything the 300 can't, and vice versa...therefore I pick the lighter reciol of the 300WM!

The one that shoots the best with an appopriate bullet. Either carries plenty of energy to promptly interrupt the life cycle of Cervus Elephus.

That said, I'm biased toward the .338 for elk and similar game.

I'm fond of both these cartridges and I have a lot of expiriance with them. I have 3 .338"s and two .300 win mags with the thired on it"s way.

The problem is I have never shot an elk so I guess I should just keep my mouth shut. I have shot a couple red stag one was surprisingly large I thought and he went down easly with one shot from my 30-06, the smaller one dropped from one shot with a 7x65.

I guess I'm saying if the stag expiriance transfers to an elk then the .300 will work fine, on the other hand I have shot game as small as springbok with a .338 without any excessive damage so I'm sure it would be fine on elk.

Might I suggest flipping a coin.

For me it's a .338 loaded with my load of Rldr-22 and a 225 gr. NorthFork. It's hell on moose so it's gotta be deadly on elk. Not to start a "spiff" but I've never owned a .30 cal. anything. My other "go to" rifle is my .270 Win. which to me, is perfect on sheep & caribou.
Just my opinion tho.
Bear in Fairbanks

Funny you should mention the 270 Win. That's my current rifle and I always said I wanted to add a big brother of the same make and model to complete a two rifle battery.

I hope to move west in the next few years so elk would most likely be the largest target. Clearly there is some overlap (applicable animals) between the 270 Win and the 300 or 338 but I want to compliment my 270 with something larger.

No doubt either would be an effective big brother but it's fun to hear others thoughts and opinions.

quote:

Originally posted by GDOG:
From a practical ELK ONLY standpoint, the 338 doesn't really do anything the 300 can't, and vice versa...therefore I pick the lighter reciol of the 300WM!

I like the 338winmag inside 350yds & the 300winmag abit further out. Recoil is about the same to me in like wt. rifles.

GrayDuck,

I have found the recoil of the 338 to be a bit more manageable than the 300 win...more of a stout push. The 300 feels more like a slap with very noticeable muzzle jump.

Both kill elk...hell...buy the rifle that fits best and you can shoot well.

Cheers

I have both and think they both are great elk rounds. I also agree w/ kreyten regarding the recoil.
Already having a 270, I would think the choice would be easy, the 338WM.

Since you already have a 270 (God Bless Jack O'Connor) the next real step up is a 338.

That said....I my 270's big brother is a 375

338 with 250 grain Nolsers. Not even a contest in my book, the 300 maxes out with a 200 grain bullet and the 338 is just starting there!

I was told once upon a time that you only need 3 centerfire rifles for North America.

1) 243
2) 270 or 7 mag
3) 338 mag

Of course I did not listen very well???

EZ

You guys sold me. Looks like it's the 338. Now I just need to round up the cash and run it by "upper mgmt".

That will make my three:
204 Ruger
270 Win
338 Win Mag

I think you will like your combo with the 338. My closley matched set consists of 2 mark x mausers in custom stocks by me. 24 inch barrels and both very accurate with whatever I seem to want to load. I do still need to add the irons to the larger bore. Oh! the cartridges? 7x57 and 338 win mag. I also have another mauser in a plastic stock in 9.3x62. If I ever feel the need for bigger. Probably go with a 416 Taylor. Les

No question about it -338 Winchester magnum-. When something big needs a hole punched in it, the 338 will do a better job, especially when that critter might be covered in mud, or hiding behind a small tree. I would also choose the 338, because elk country is often bear country.

with a 270, I'd go with the 338 win mag. without the 270, I'd go with the 338 win mag.

I had a 300 win, but I just kept having the urge to try 338, so I traded the 300 for the 338 and I like the 338 better.

In reality, either would probably work good, but If I had a 270, I would always be wondering about the 338 if I went with the 300

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:
No question about it -338 Winchester magnum-. When something big needs a hole punched in it, the 338 will do a better job, especially when that critter might be covered in mud, or hiding behind a small tree. I would also choose the 338, because elk country is often bear country.

Hiding behind a small tree? Do you mean shoot through the tree? I'm hoping not...

quote:

Originally posted by GrayDuck:
You guys sold me. Looks like it's the 338. Now I just need to round up the cash and run it by "upper mgmt".

That will make my three:
204 Ruger
270 Win
338 Win Mag

Good on you.

Bear in Fairbanks

Hands down .338 Win Mag with 250 gr pills. Good velocity and bigger caliber and more kinetic energy.

To me 30cal mags are nearl an answer to a question I don't remember asking... I don't think there's really anyting a 30cal mag can do better than a 30-06 (and in some circumstances a 30-30) in terms of killing something.

HOWEVER that extra power is good for something... increasing the maximum range (presuming you can hit it)
at which it'll do it's job.

As for the 300won MAg recoiling less? not likely.

If it isn't already painfully obvious I'd go with the 338mag.

But if there's anything you think you can't do with a 225gr in a 338mag you probably should be using a 375 instead of a 338, not a heavier bullet



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For elk, .300 Win. is all you need.

For bear/moose different story, but for elk, nah .300 Win is perfect.

quote:

Originally posted by FMC:
For elk, .300 Win. is all you need.

For bear/moose different story, but for elk, nah .300 Win is perfect.

While a moose is bigger, an elk often only gives you 1 standing shot.

Some folks like to say if the 30/06 won't do it the 375 H&H will.

I say if the 270 won't do it the .338 will.

If you are going to pay for the ammo, pay for the recoil, you might as well go 338 Win. The 300 is a good cartridge, the 338 is better.

John

.338 Win Mag hands down

I also vote for the .338.
If you have a .270. The .338 makes an Ideal rifle for anything you might not want to use your .270 on.
elk mosse big bears, you name it
...tj3006

When I only had a 25/06, and I wanted to hunt Sambar deer (min caliber 270) I went through the same process. Sambar are about the same size as elk (just a bit smaller) and have a reputation for being reasonably tough. My choice was the 338 Win Mag. I took my first Sambar with it, and have been very happy with the choice. A 300 Win Mag will do the job, but the 338 gives you the ability to use up to 300gn bullets (250gn would be fine for elk) and this will extend the capability of your 3 rifle battery significantly more than a 300 Win Mag will.

I have hunted with both the 338 win mag and the 300 win mag.I like the 338 win mag way better.I trust the 338 win mag to make up to 350 yard shots on Elk and moose.I had alot of problems with bullet blowup in the 300 win mag.I have alot of faith in the 338 win mag but lost it in the 300 win mag.The 250 gr .338 is awesome elk medicine.I have shot two of my 338s in one day 300 times.I even blew off the scope off of my model 70 338 with a boss on it.I like the heavier barreled ruger model 77s in the 338 wm.It has less barrel rise and kicks mostly staight back.I dont like a montycarlo stock either or a skinny buttpad.I have taken ove 100 head of big game with my 338 wm and love it.I have shot up to 3 feet away and out to 425 yards away.It has never let me down.The 330 made alot of bloodshot and I had alot more messed up meat.The 338 is alot better breaking bones especially shoulder bones.I had alot of blowups close up with the 300 wm and alot of failures with the 300 win mag.I have yet had a 338 bullet to fail me.The 300 win mag with a 200 gr bullet is good but the 338 win mag with a 250 gr bullet is only better.

quote:

Originally posted by dgr416:
I have hunted with both the 338 win mag and the 300 win mag.I like the 338 win mag way better.I trust the 338 win mag to make up to 350 yard shots on Elk and moose.

+1

350 yards is a good hike yet is at the point where most shooters can execute a lethal shot with good gear and moderate practice.

The world would be a better place if many wouldn't attempt shots past 350.

Driving 30caliber bullets faster doesn't make them kill any better, so if I want "more" than a 30-06 I go up bore to a 338.

And since the 338mag drives the heavier bullets that some
"heavy bullet mafia" members want to shoot at 30-06 speeds, the ballistic trajectory of a 338mag is essentially identical to that of a 30-06 so if you are goot at judging range and trajectory and getting on target with a 30-06 doing the same with a 338Mag is really no trouble at all.

as for recoil? what the hell is recoil?

Frankly I've never noticed in the field.

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