I'm looking for one rifle to use for all future AK hunts. Eventually I hope to be able to hunt both moose and brown bear, next year will be caribou.

I've narrowed it down to 338WM or a 300WM. I am leaning toward the 338, but wanted to get a few more opinions before I make the purchase.

.338

.338 every day of the week.

I hunted with a .338 WM most of the time I lived there. That said, with the bullets available today (Barnes TSX or similar), either cartridge will do just fine for the game you mention. Lot's of practice shooting is what's most important.

I take my 338 more than my 300 WSM, because the 338 hits with more authority, and is easier on the shoulder.

quote:

Originally posted by Rich-:
I'm looking for one rifle to use for all future AK hunts. Eventually I hope to be able to hunt both moose and brown bear, next year will be caribou.

I've narrowed it down to 338WM or a 300WM. I am leaning toward the 338, but wanted to get a few more opinions before I make the purchase.

No doubt i would go for the 8x68S. No belt, no short neck.

This is actually a 270 vs 30-06 kind of debate, taken up one notch.

FWIW, I went with 338 over 30 years ago. Four 338's later I would still go with the same choice. As the saying goes, "diameter counts," even if only a little bit. The same debate on the other side can now be raised with the 340Wea vs the 375Ruger.

Bullet weight, penetration, impact energy, and bullet construction also count.
Rifle accuracy counts the most, and is unpredictable before purchase.

For all around hunting, the 225 grain TTSX at 2800-2850fps (~4000ftlbs) and .514 BC sets the bar for me. Other combinations overlap in various degrees (I successfully used the 250 gn Partition at 2700fps during the 80's. It and the 210 Partition probably set the bar for lead core bullets).

If you contemplate shooting at 500 yards (I don't), then the 210 TTSX can also be considered as a primary bullet. It can do an extra 100-150 fps and still has a .482 BC with very good penetration. The 210gn TTSX picks up about 3.5 inches less drop at 500 yards over the 225gn TTSX, while both have about the same drift. If shooting will be under 400 yards, then the 225 provides better penetration.

Sounds like fun whatever the rifle, calibre, or bullet

I used my .338WM the last twenty years I lived in Alaska (when I used a rifle). The Nosler 210 Partition is all that's needed in Alaska, it penetrates as well as the 250 on arctic game. True, you can use a 220 grain bullet in the .300, but not at 2950 fps. The .338 clearly outperforms the .300 at the ranges the OP will shoot brownies or moose.

That said, I would not cancel an Alaskan hunt just because all I had was a .300 rifle.


.

Either will work fine. Which one do you shoot better and prefer?

While I have a number of rifles when push comes to shove there are really only a couple I will grab.

.338 WM

Rich

As you know I lived in Dillingham, Alaska for over 20 years. in my experience the 338 WM is more gun than the 300 WM. It hits harder and makes a noteable bigger hole than the 300. The 300 is flatter shooting but is only relevant when you get into ranges beyond 350-400 yards. It would be very seldom you have to take a shot in Alaska at those distances.

Mark

I shoot both more or less..

My 300 H&H will shoot a 200 gr. Nosler at 3005 FPS and its a awesome killer, and I have shot all but the big bears with it..

My .338 will shoot a 210 Nosler at 3000 FPS and hits a bit harder with a larger cross section, but less penetration than the 300 with 200 gr. bullets..

I'd call it a push, both will work, but I personally prefer the .338 with its 250 Noslers, 275 gr. Swifts,and 300 gr. Woodleigh options.

The .338 Win. with a 210 Nosler at 2900 to 3000 FPS and a 300 Gr. Woodligh PP at 2400 to 2500 FPS is damn near perfect for anything in NA, not to mention Africa, but thats another subject.

I've lived and hunted in Alaska since Feb 1985. Uncle Sam shipped me in and out of state twice during my military career and I started hunting exclusively with the 338 WM in favor of the 300 WM in 1993.

I chose the 338 WM over the 300 WM simply because I wanted to shoot one bullet and load for everything in Alaska. While the 300 WM can do it all, the 338 WM can do it all and make a bigger hole.

I settled on the 225 grain Barnes bullets in the late 1990s and they have worked really well for me.

From my seat on the bus, the 300 WM is best shooting 180s but I felt 180 grain bullets were too light for Brownies. They'll definitely kill big bears as I helped dispatch one shot by my buddy's 300 WM on my first Brown bear hunt but I wanted more bullet weight and diameter. Primarily, because on a hunt for a different species I might stumble on a really nice bear and want to make sure I have enough gun to shoot it should the opportunity present itself. So, the 225 grain .338 diameter bullet has been my constant and reliable companion.

9 Sitka Blacktails, 5 caribou, 4 moose, 1 mountain goat, 1 black bear, 1 grizzly bear and 5 Brown bears later I am still happy with the performance of the 225 grain Barnes bullets. They will definitely do the job if you do yours.

My son thought he was going to move to AK after graduation. A very close family friend brought him at the time we still think could the almost perfect AK rifle.

Ruger MKII stainless syt stock open sights Warne QD rings Leupold 2x8 with LR reticle
In 338 WM.

Should handle anything in good order

quote:

Should handle anything in good order

This is why I like having a 338. In order to hunt something that requires more, you have to leave the continent.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:

quote:

Should handle anything in good order

This is why I like having a 338. In order to hunt something that requires more, you have to leave the continent.

Yes. The only real competitor is the 375 Ruger, relatively new on the scene among calibre and platforms that are priced for the common hunter. The 250 grain TTSX or 235 grain CEB "extended range" at 2800-2900fps can handle anything from caribou to brown bear, in either a 20" package or 23" package.

The real difference between the 338 WinMag and the 375 Ruger for Alaskan hunting is that the 338 was first to the party, and that counts for something.

I'm a 338WM guy

It can do most anything

Snake

quote:

Originally posted by Rich-:
I'm looking for one rifle to use for all future AK hunts. Eventually I hope to be able to hunt both moose and brown bear, next year will be caribou.

I've narrowed it down to 338WM or a 300WM. I am leaning toward the 338, but wanted to get a few more opinions before I make the purchase.

what rifle do you have in mind?

why only those calibers? why not the 375 ruger as already mentionned?

i ll go with for sure open sights and quick detach rings ...

I think Ray and Tanzan have given my view as well. As Ray has pointed out, with the 338, you can use 250, 275, and 300 gr. bullets. Can't go that heavy with the 300WM. I am partial to the 275 SAF myself. And Tanzan has a great point with the 375 Ruger: same size case, on small rifle, with even more power than even the 338.

If I had to choose between two cartridges for those two animals in AK, I'd be contemplating these great rounds.

Rereading this thread, I have realized that many of the posters are from AK. I'm from CO. I think I'd take the advice from a man who lives and hunts in AK rather than myself. As I recall on other threads from AK hunters, I remember them saying that the 375 Ruger is almost nonexistent in AK. That makes it a 338 world in your fair state.

quote:

Originally posted by Safarischorsch:

quote:

Originally posted by Rich-:
I'm looking for one rifle to use for all future AK hunts. Eventually I hope to be able to hunt both moose and brown bear, next year will be caribou.

I've narrowed it down to 338WM or a 300WM. I am leaning toward the 338, but wanted to get a few more opinions before I make the purchase.

No doubt i would go for the 8x68S. No belt, no short neck.

The problem is that you would have to reload for it since you won't find any ammo around Alaska.

My hunting rifle up here is the .338WM, and have settled down to the 225-grain TSX (or better yet, the plastic-tipped one). This is my all around bullet.

There is nothing wrong with the .300WM; it too is quite popular in Alaska. But the .338 can be hand-loaded with heavier than 250-grain bullets if you are into slower and heavy for maximum penetration. Swift makes a 250 and 275-grain A-frame for it if you prefer tougher than Partitions.

If you still want to use the .338 to hunt pronghorn down there, you can use a Federal 180-grain NOS partition. At 500 yards it drops just 2" below the .300WM with the same bullet design and weight.

Again, both are good for Alaska hunting, but the .338 gives you an advantage on bullet weights past 225-grains.

I am from the bottom of the world, but we have some big critters down here just the same. I have both the 300 and 338, I grab my 338 more often than the 300 for our large Sambar deer, and have only ever used the 338 on buff here, but I have found the optimum bullet weight in each to be; 200gr for the 300 and 225gr for the 338. The 225gr kills buff just as dead as the 250gr, but shoots considerably flatter than all other bullet weights out as far as you can hit things.
I would definitely go with the 338 for the game you want to hunt.

Cheers.

Didn't read all the posts, but I doubt anyone said anything other than .338.

I shoot a 300WM. Another caliber a fair number of guys shoot is the 325 WSM. I don't need one of those since if I don't take the 300WM, I take a light 375HH.

The only ammo that is tough to get in Anchorage is 22LR. Cabelas is now in town and that has helped restock the handgun ammo.

I prefer a 338, but I doubt the results would be noticably different with a 300 and good bullets. I have friends that have shot just about everything with a 300 magnum and they have no complaints.

No doubt... go with a 338WMG.... when you hit a game (a heavy one) with a 250 grains .338 you see a big difference than with a .300.

I never could tell the difference between the .300 and the .338 as far as killing goes. However, I must have wanted to believe it once and if you do too go ahead.

Your choices.... 338. But, I would think hard about a 375 H+H instead.

I really like the 375 Ruger, but one wonders just how successful its going to be, at first I thought it would set the world on fire, but apparently dislodging the old Holland and Holland ain't so easy after all..

For this side of the pond, I'll take a .338 every time, I see no need for more power, even on the biggest of bears..I love the 210 Nosler on elk, and most plainsgame, it shoots flat and hammers game..For big bear and Africa the 300 gr. Woodleigh PP is pretty awesome. the biggest thing I have shot with it was a couple of buffalo, and it did them about like I would expect from a 9.3x62 or 375 H&H..

I see little use for a .375 H&H in the North American continent short of the big Alaskan and Polar bears. its better suited for Africa IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I really like the 375 Ruger, but one wonders just how successful its going to be, at first I thought it would set the world on fire, but apparently dislodging the old Holland and Holland ain't so easy after all..

For this side of the pond, I'll take a .338 every time, I see no need for more power, even on the biggest of bears..I love the 210 Nosler on elk, and most plainsgame, it shoots flat and hammers game..For big bear and Africa the 300 gr. Woodleigh PP is pretty awesome. the biggest thing I have shot with it was a couple of buffalo, and it did them about like I would expect from a 9.3x62 or 375 H&H..

I see little use for a .375 H&H in the North American continent short of the big Alaskan and Polar bears. its better suited for Africa IMO.

My wife likes her 375 Ruger alot, even over her 270. But as you said in another post, that may be more related to stock fit. The Ruger comes in a little 20" barrel with a laminate stock 13.5" LOP.
We haven't settled on a final load yet, but she is shooting the 200-235-250 grain bullets in 2600-2700fps configurations.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I really like the 375 Ruger, but one wonders just how successful its going to be, at first I thought it would set the world on fire, but apparently dislodging the old Holland and Holland ain't so easy after all..

For this side of the pond, I'll take a .338 every time, I see no need for more power, even on the biggest of bears..I love the 210 Nosler on elk, and most plainsgame, it shoots flat and hammers game..For big bear and Africa the 300 gr. Woodleigh PP is pretty awesome. the biggest thing I have shot with it was a couple of buffalo, and it did them about like I would expect from a 9.3x62 or 375 H&H..

I see little use for a .375 H&H in the North American continent short of the big Alaskan and Polar bears. its better suited for Africa IMO.

I was thinking too... but if you look the main problem is not the 375 Ruger... If you try it you like it.... IMHO is a better design.... you can just agree...

NO the problem is how many ruger' competitor are ready to load commercial ammo or chambering their rifles with the Ruger!! it seems quite few...

is it a trademark problem ? or just guys are to lazy to change their manufacturing process ? I forgot to ask at the Shot. Only one european rifle manufacturer (Steyr) has currently a rifle in 375 ruger.

whatever... I don't care (but it's not fair for the ruger) cause I have Sako or Ruger available in 338WMG

Right now, in the US there is
Ruger,
Howa,
Montana,
and ? ?
that make 375 Ruger

For brass we have Hornady and Nosler.

It's growing, even if slowly.