So I am in the market for a new rifle to add to my collection, currently I have a 30-06 Remington 700 and a semi-auto 5.56MM. Initially I was very interested in the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge in the Remington 700 XCR Tactical Long Range Rifle but after doing a little more soul searching I think I may just want to move to a larger bullet to be used for longer range shots and when hunting larger more dangerous game. I think I have decided on the .338 Winchester Magnum as the caliber but have yet to make a decision on the rifle. So I thought I would ask here and see what pro’s and con’s you can give me for that caliber, perhaps point me in the direction of a different caliber that you prefer and also to suggest which rifles you like.

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I think I may just want to move to a larger bullet to be used for longer range shots and when hunting larger more dangerous game. I think I have decided on the .338 Winchester Magnum as the caliber but have yet to make a decision on the rifle. So I thought I would ask here and see what pro’s and con’s you can give me for that caliber, perhaps point me in the direction of a different caliber that you prefer and also to suggest which rifles you like.

Well if you don't get at least thirty different answers on this one, it will be because every one is on vacation!

In fact, the thread just below this "What would be the Ultimate 338" might be worth looking at.

GWB

Hard to go wrong with the .338 WM. Mine's a Savage synthetic stainless and I swear by the calibre and the rifle.

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Originally posted by cobra:
Hard to go wrong with the .338 WM. Mine's a Savage synthetic stainless and I swear by the calibre and the rifle.

I, like Cobra, would suggest a .338 WM to you.

Most things a .300 Mag will kill can be dealt with by your '06, so I think most of the various .300 Mag cartridges have too little difference over the '06 in their favor to merit your bucks at this point.

If you had more experience with harder kicking rifles, I'd suggest something like a .340 Wby or a .338 RUM to you for longer ranges. But one must walk before they run. So I think a good choice for you to move you from a walk to a trot would be a .338 WM. Start with 200 or 210 gr. bullets, and work your way up to the point of being fully comfortable with 250 grainers. You can always break into a run later.

Best wishes and good luck!

EMorr, Welcxome to AR. Are you in the USA? I ask because we have many folks on this site from all over the world. Your home location may influence the choices somewhat. The 338 WM is a great caliber, but if you're in Europe, an 8x68S may be more common in that power range. If I was adding only one more rifle to your present arsenal, I would consider the 375. You can shoot 235gr, 250gr or 260gr loads for smaller game, but still have the capability of using tougher 300gr solids and premiums if you ever hunt the real big animals. I don't find the recoil of a 338 versus a 250gr load in a 375 to be much different.

Thank you for the welcome and thank you for the quick replies and suggestions on rifle choice and caliber. Biebs I am in North America, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. I completely agree with Alberta Canucks assessment of the 06’. The thought of the 375 has come into the back of my mind on a few different occasions but until I take a trip over to Africa for their Big Game I just feel like it would be a bit of overkill for what I am looking at doing right now, but it’s nice to know that when I decide to go that route the recoil is not that much worse than the 338.

Well if you're in Colorado, you need a .338 WM. It's a great elk caliber, and will nicely complement your AR and -06. With that trio your in good shape for all of NA.

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Thank you for the welcome and thank you for the quick replies and suggestions on rifle choice and caliber. Biebs I am in North America, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. I completely agree with Alberta Canucks assessment of the 06’. The thought of the 375 has come into the back of my mind on a few different occasions but until I take a trip over to Africa for their Big Game I just feel like it would be a bit of overkill for what I am looking at doing right now, but it’s nice to know that when I decide to go that route the recoil is not that much worse than the 338.

The 375 H&Hb is not overkill on anything, there is only one degree of dead.

With that out of the way, and yes I use a 375 on Texas whitetails.

Your question concerned a .338 caliber rifle I am partial to the 340 Weatherby Mag.

Used to have one, but when I retired and my hunting changed, I kept my 300 Weatherby and my 375 H&H, but I kolled a bunch of stuff with the 340 with no trouble.

If you are looking for something in wood the Supergrade Winchester Model 70 would be a keeper for life. It's CRPF and the nicest wood short of a custom. If you want a tough as nails and most accurate out of the box rifle look at the Savage 116 and Bear Hunter. You won't beat Savage accuracy for under $1500. The 340 Weatherby is an awesome round that is on the same level as a 338 Lapua. The price will go up substantially but I have a Weatherby Accumark and get .5 MOA with barnes bullets in it. I have all 3 of these plus some 700's. I recomend the Savage hands down.

You should first decide if you want synthetic or wood...stainless or blued. Then go to a shop and handle what interets you and see which fits you best. The most accurate and hardest hitting round is not much good in a gun you don't feel comfortable with. Always consider the scope in the equation because it can cost more than the rifle.

If you reload the sky's the limit. I say that because if you look at the super mags you'll find they are not cheap in the way of factory ammo. They all seem to start in the neighborhood of 75 dollars a box and go as high as 130 a box. 338 Win Mag tops out around 65 dollars a box.

I have both a 338-378 Wby and a 340 Wby. Both have stout recoil. The 338-378 with the brake is not to bad but the concussion from the brake is very noticeable. Without the brake it's recoil is very stout being in excess of a 375 H&H and closing on the 416 Rem Mag. Just food for thought.

If it's long range you are looking for the super mags are the ones capable of doing it with authority. If your not thinking of those longer ranges (1000 +) as a staple then a 338 Win would be more then enough to take care of what it is you are looking to do.

Just my 2 cents.

Ken....

I've owned larger .338's, but there is no practical benefit to one any larger than the good old .338 Winchester. I've owned several, and any of them would launch a 225 grain Nosler at 2900 fps (Partition or Accubond) or a 250 grain Nosler at 2700+ (hint: the .338 Win can use somewhat slower powders than most people seem to think.)

The current craze with super large .338's is all about long range target shooting (with some shooters fantasizing about shooting elk at 800 yards). The .338 is a good, solid 400 yard rifle if a reasonable shot that long presents itself. And it delivers essentially the same punch as the larger cases with somewhat less powder, recoil, and muzzle blast.

I would also go 375 H&H. It'll do pretty much everything the 338 Win will do and more

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Originally posted by EMorr:
Thank you for the welcome and thank you for the quick replies and suggestions on rifle choice and caliber. Biebs I am in North America, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. I completely agree with Alberta Canucks assessment of the 06’. The thought of the 375 has come into the back of my mind on a few different occasions but until I take a trip over to Africa for their Big Game I just feel like it would be a bit of overkill for what I am looking at doing right now, but it’s nice to know that when I decide to go that route the recoil is not that much worse than the 338.

I hunt some drainage here in Co for elk that 400/500yd shot is possible so far haven't had any problem using 30 cal mag. I know guys who hunt the dark timber here for elk or just along the edges of that their calibers vary. If you hunt on a combination tag here (deer/elk) may look at a different caliber.

I'm not saying 338mag isn't a good caliber I have one sits in the safe never shot anything with it.

We have couple guys in our gun club that only hunt elk here and Wy they use the 375 H&H. With all the good 338 bullets know guys that are using the 338 Edge in custom for elk and afew are shooting the 300RUM.

Lots of good calibers.

Another vote for the 375, as in H&H or Ruger, or if custom made a Chatfield-Taylor like mine. It works just fine on elk (impressive bull hammer) and has the same trajectory as a 30-06!

Some collect rifles for the fun of having a safe full of rifles. Others would rather spend their money on hunts. If you are among the latter, once you have a 30/06 and a .375, your shopping is done. Get a .375 and go hunting.

I have both a .338 and a .375. I would recommend the .338. If you need more gun than a .338 the 375 isn't big enough.

I tried the RUM and it simply had way too much muzzle blast and unnecessary recoil IMO and the added velocity wasn't what I expected..

I have not found a better caliber than the .338 Win., its a superative round IMO..A 210 Nosler at 2900 or more, depending on barrel length and a 300 gr. woodleigh at around 2400 FPS is pretty hard to beat IMO..

I also like the .375 as well but at the expense of more recoil and don't belive that old bunk about the .338 kicking harder than a .375 H&H, if one is experiencing that then its a stock problem. The 375 holds more powder and shoots bigger bullets all things equal, thus the .375 kicks more. Both my all time favorite large medium bore cartridges.

.325 WSM ??? (8mm short mag !).

My 2 cents...BB

You mentioned the .338 Win and others mentioned the 375 H&H but nobody has mentioned the 35 Whelen.

Since you have a 223 and a 30-06 the 35 Whelen would be a fair step up and it has a very good reputation as a medium bore. Recoil is relatively mild, it is fired from a rifle with a standard size action, ammunition is easy to find, and it is adequate for anything in North America.

Someone said that if you need more than the 338 then a 375 isn't enough more. I say, if you need more than the 35 Whelen then go to the 375 because a 338 isn't enough more.

All three are great cartridges.

+1 on the 35 Whelen until you go to Africa, then get something
40 cal. plus like a 416 Rigby.

The 35 Whelen can be loaded with bullets from 180gr to 310gr. (Real stompers by Woodleigh at 2,300 fps)
Although not legal for DG in Africa, it hits like the "Hammer of Thor"
The 225 gr. load is great for elk and the 250 gr. for bear and moose over here. Great for plains game in Africa. (My wife has
10 one shot kills in Africa) She prefers her 35 Whelen to her 375
H&H and 450/400 NE.3in. due to recoil. Wants to be ready for a
fast follow up shot.

Recoil on the 35 Whelen IMHO is no worse than a 30-06 with hot
180 gr loads. Great caliber, easier to cary and shoot in a lighter
type "mountain" rifle. Don't need any more than 22 inch bbl. Ammo is reasonable and reloading is very easy. RL#15 is the "GO
TO" powder.



Choosing a new rifle is so much fun. Just don't get a closet queen.
Be reasonable on adding to your battery, you will get lots of good
advice here. No offense to anyone else's postings. All help is welcome.


Good Hunting and Shooting

Tetonka
DRSS

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+1 on the 35 Whelen

Or a .338-06

LWD

Maybe with a .223 and .30-06 in the safe, a .375H&H wound round off the battery nicely. Load it up or down according to preference...

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Originally posted by LWD:

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+1 on the 35 Whelen

Or a .338-06

LWD

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I would also go 375 H&H. It'll do pretty much everything the 338 Win will do and more

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Maybe with a .223 and .30-06 in the safe, a .375H&H wound round off the battery nicely. Load it up or down according to preference...

A .338 Win. Mag. isn't really a bad place to be either in The-Grand-Scheme-of-Things ..... but with the several response above I'm in agreement; a .375H&H rounds out a 3 rifle battery very nicely indeed IMO; and yes, you can load it up or down however you like but it'll do alot more that a .338" bullet isn't quite cut out to do.

Don't overlook the .338 Ruger Compact Magnum, especially if you live and hunt in Colorado. Light, handy, and portable and it will all that needs to be done with a .338. I have hunted in the mountains with a .338 Win. Mag. but I will never tote such a heavy .338 around again.

W/ no distanse implied. a .30-30. I lived in the foot hills of Colorado for years. I killed more game w/ a bolt action slug gun. I still can't figure the infatuation w/ long range. It is hunting, not bench shooting. If your in the Mountians, 200 yards or less, much less. You want an across valley shot, go to Idaho. If you can't get within 200 yards, you should not be out there.
If you want bigger, go w/ a 9.3. My old x57 potato chucker does great out to 150 yards. 8x57, 300 yards. Remember Bob Faucett? Used an 8mm mag in Idaho. I remember 400 yards was his comfort zone. Whatever floats your boat I guess, but having never shot the caliber and rifle combo could be a bad recipe IMHO.