I shoot 210 gr NP bullets loaded with tubal 5000 (similar to RL-15), the bullet I think it's very efective for your purpose and the recoil with this fast powder is mild. I get 2800 ft/s without any problem in my rifle (23" barrel lenght)

I'll throw in my 2 cents now! Your forgetting a great cartridge if your looking for a long range elk gun! The .338 Rem Ultra Mag. I reload for this rifle and it does not kick all that bad. I use reloader 25 with a 225 grain triple shock bullet. Last year I took a very nice woodland caribou with it a 375 Yards. One shot maybe three steps. I also took a moose with it last year at 250 yards the bullet made a straight path through both lungs and did massive amounts of shock trauma. I've taken whitetail deer, bear, and a nice free ranging Sika deer in Maryland with it. I think it would be a great addition to your collection. And it does not kick at both ends, it is a little stronger than a 30-06 but no more than a 300 Weatherby Mag.

Ummmmmmm Well the .338 Win mag sure ain't no bench rest gun people. I never even though about shooting mine for groups on paper. I do sight it in every year.

The rifle sure don't kick no worse than 3.5 inch loads out of my Browning Gold 12 ga. Nor my 3 inch turkey loads out of my Remington Express either.

I have never had to fire mine more than twice on any hunt, it hits em hard enough with those 225 grain Swift A Frames. I can hit a 2 pound coffee can at 200 yards, that's good enough for this hunter on big game.

.338-Ultra Mag....I sure like your caliber but BUD how about giving some of us a brake OK. Now I know for a fact that your shoulder cannon will produce some 50 pounds or better recoil once that trigger is pulled.

I figure at the bench you best be wearing 2 Past Recoil pads or better yet put that sucker in a Caldwell shooting device. Remember a 30-06 with full blown loads will deliver 25 pounds of recoil. Something to think about for those that want to play golf the coming weekend.

After two pages I'll chime in. Of the medium bore calibres, the 338 Winchester is my favorite. Possessing more than enough power for anything on this continent and then some, it will dispatch large animals with authority, shoot as flat as an -06, hit as hard as the vaunted .375 H&H with bullets possessing greater sectional density, and best of all it will do this without the H&H's recoil, or cost. Now that's a tall order in anyone's book.

Cobrad....You don't need a 250 grain bullet in your .338 mag when your shooting those Barnes TSX bullets of 200 grains because they will in fact out penetrate that 250 grain Swift or TBBC bullet, all the way to China.

quote:

I have used a 444 marlin for a while and have used heavy 30/06 loads. I'm looking for a long range elk and bear.

You will not have any problems with a 338 WM.
I personally don't think you need to use a 250gr bullet. A good quality 225gr will do anything you ask it to do.

quote:

My 338-06 chrono'd 200 grain ballistic tips at 2909 fps in a 23" and it was a standard chamber. It is a great round that has never been properly marketed, I could handle it, but hated the 338WM recoil myself.

quote:

Hmmm, I always wonder about the suggestion to use "light" - 210 or 20 grain bullets in the .338. Whats the point of using a 33 cal in bullet weights that are bested (IMO) by the 30 cal 200 grain weight and it's higher

I don't think the 338 200-210gr bullets are bested by any 30 caliber. 200gr bullets out of a 30 caliber just aren't needed IMO.

I have used nothing but 200-210gr bullets out of my 338-06's. I haven't recovered any from the few elk and deer I have shot. I shot a couple of elk and deer with a 338 WM and 225gr TB bullets, never recovered any of those either.

I have a mild load for the Hornady 200gr SP and Nosler 210 Par that runs 2725-2730fps.

I have a right at max load of Varget and Barnes 210 TSX that runs 2850fps.

Bigger diameter kills better and higher velocity makes it easier to kill farther.

Thank a vet for Fredoo quoted " Posted 06 January 2007 02:15 Hide Post
.338-Ultra Mag....I sure like your caliber but BUD how about giving some of us a brake OK. Now I know for a fact that your shoulder cannon will produce some 50 pounds or better recoil once that trigger is pulled.

I figure at the bench you best be wearing 2 Past Recoil pads or better yet put that sucker in a Caldwell shooting device "

I like your user name As a retired military officer it is appreciated!
Well not really that bad I'm 6'3 and weght about 230lbs.

Yes I would not like to spend the day shooting it from the bench but I shoot it 10-15 time each time I shoot it. I shoot it off hand, on the bench using sand bags on a front rest and that is it.

I would rather shoot it instead of 12 guage slugs from the bench i feel they kick alot more than the .338 ultra. One should really try it if they get the opportunity. The best gun of course is one your not afraod of pulling the trigger on. You do not want to aquire a flinch.

The .338 Win. Mag. is a terrific and versitle catridge. Recoil is such a subjective thing it is hard to answer your question. Best advice is to shoot one and decide for yourself if you can arrange it. Remember you have bullet weights from 180 to 300gr. The standard is 250 and I have not found recoil to be much of an issue with 250s.

Recoil:
As others have said:
Good recoil pad like Limbsaver or Kickeez
Lead Sled for the bench
Past strap-on for practice off the bench

I bought a M70 .338WM from another member here, and it fits me like a glove. He had a 1" Decelerator put on it, and the recoil is very manageable. I have only shot 225's through it so far, but I've shot 20 at a time off the bench without hurting afterward (which I can't say for my 7mmRM and 300WSM that are lighter with synthetic stocks). I just bought another M70 .338WM, but a SS/Syn - I'm sure it's not gonna be too fun to shoot until I put a recoil pad on that's softer than the piece of tire tread that's on there now.