The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles The 338 Win MagGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| The 338 Win Mag | Login/Join |
| one of us |
Once again to keep things lively, I thought we should celebrate this fine cartridge in discussion. The good, the bad, and the experances should all be shared  . I've always been quite fond of the 338 Win Mag and have found it to be an effective cartridge for reasonable ranges. Over the years I have seen a pattern on Internet forums when a person suggests they want a 338 Win Mag... respondents drop a proverbial DUECE over the suggestion. The scenario goes something like this: Guy says he has a 30-06, 270 or some equivalent and says he wants a medium bore magnum. He suggests an intrest in a 300 WM, 338 WM, or 375 H&H. People start climbing out of the woodwork saying... "A 338 won't do anything a 300 won't do" nevermind the guy has a 30-06 already. Or, "If you get a 338 over a 375 you'll never be able to go to Africa" which is one of the funniest. And finally the sympathetic guilt ridden response of... "If you get a 338 win mag you can always load it down to a 338-06"It's amazing to me how many people choke up over the thought of owning one. Many people go down the 338 Win Mag route and often give them up albeit with respect. What are some of your experances, good or bad? I would like to hear. I am back from a long Hiatus... or whatever. Take care. smallfry | ||
|
| One of Us |
I am curious to follow the discussion on this. I have a couple in my safe that I am just getting around to playing with. I already shoot a .300 win, a .30-06, and a .35 Whelen for .308 caliber + chamberings. I have been Luke warm on the .338 because I am a bit of a .358 fan and would like to go with a .358 Norma. Also, the .338 didn't seem to be different enough to warrant giving it significant attention vs my other rifles. However, the larger variety and greater availability of .338 components VS the Norma have me scratching my head. If neither of the two I have shoot the way I want the decision is easy. I they do perform it will get a bit tougher. | |||
|
One of Us |
Some people get really obsessed with their choice of cartridge so if yours isn't theirs, they find it necessary to inform you why theirs is betters than yours. It has to be because they are smarter than you and make much better decisions. My medium bores are 338 Federal, 350 Rem Mag and 9.3x62. The 338 Win Mag can easily cover all those with more versatility. It's not even close. Additionally, I hear all the time that my 338 Federal won't do anything that the 308 won't do. I guess by that logic, the 308 won't do anything the 7-08 won't do, which won't do anything the 260 Rem won't do, which won't do anything the 243 Win won't do. Basically, there is no real difference between the 243 and 338 Federal. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Well, as a rifle 'nut' pick a caliber and I've got it covered from 22 to 41 and a 50 ML. I also load for a few that I do not own. I've had a 3 Winnie for a long time that's accurate and I like. But when it came time for an all-weather ELK rifle, the choice was easy. I was also Nilgai hunting multiple times a year. 3 ELK and 8+ Nilgai later + hogs and deer, I am happy w/ my decision. There is just 'something' when you touch the trigger and hear the 'thump' at range. Easy to load and not brutal at the bench. Jim Carmichael (RIP) was fond of shooting Cape buffalo w/ 250g NPs. Pretty good indorsement. | |||
|
| One of Us |
All the calibers that you mention work in the hands of a capable hunter and shooter. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I've used a 338 Win mag in different incarnations since the early '70's and have always had one or more in the rack. Year before last found me readying my 338 for a moose hunt but as luck would have it, I shot my moose early with my bow. I felt so bad for the rifle that I used it on mule deer that season and handily dropped a buck at considerable (but not excessive for the load or rifle) distance. I've used it on countless elk and a half dozen bears+ and just two deer so far. It's a "go to" elk round for many western hunters. The 300 mags enjoy more popularity because many guys use them as cross-over rifles rather than dedicated to one game animal but the 338 is hard to beat in any company. No hate here for the 338 Win Mag! Zeke | |||
|
| one of us |
I took my Sako .338 Winchester on an African plains game hunt. I had intended to take a .300 Winchester (which would have been adequate for everything I shot -- as would a .30-06), but I couldn't get the .300 to settle down and group dependably. On the other hand, my .338 was placing 225 Nosler Partitions into nice, well-centered groups all the way out to the 250 yards that I tested them, so I decided to take the more accurate rifle (nearly always the right decision). Not only was the .338 decisive on larger game like zebra and kudu, but I made a one-shot kill on a springbok at 400 yards, mostly because my host was curious if I could do it. Bottom line, the .338 is an extraordinarily well-balanced round which provides just a little more margin than the .30 calibers on large game like elk and big bears and doesn't short you on effective range. Some people want to make a laser beam with the .338 bore by using a larger case like the .340 Wby or .338 Ultramag; but I wouldn't give you a nickel for the performance of the larger ones over the .338 Winchester. As my 400 yard springbok shot illustrates, the .338 Win is capable of shots as far as you should be shooting at game, and the larger .338 cartridges just kick a lot more, burn more powder, and tend to be more difficult to get to shoot accurately. Will the .338 Win "do" a lot more than a .30 caliber? Of course not -- shiploads of elephants and buffalo have been killed with .308's. Is it a logical step up for a person who has only a non-magnum .30? Yes, because it provides some margin that the smaller round does not. | |||
|
| One of Us |
"""... like the .340 Wby or .338 Ultramag ...the .338 Win is capable of shots as far as you should be shooting at game ...burn more powder, and tend to be more difficult to get to shoot accurately.""" Huh? Really? Please don't tell that to my 340 or my 338 Rum or they might stop performing like they do. We're a crazy bunch when we suppose how far someone else can shoot or whether or not they can afford the powder/recoil. Zeke | |||
|
| One of Us |
Has Jim Carmichael passed on? | |||
|
| one of us |
In my opinion the 338 WM is all the hammer you'll need for anything short of Cape buffalo and elephant. It makes a bigger hole than any 30 caliber and it just hits harder in my experience. I currently have a 338 Ultra but I think I'd be just a happy with a 338 WM. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
|
| One of Us |
years ago, for some strange reason, I kept thinking to myself that I needed a larger cartridge for deer hunting. I don't know why I thought that. Just did. First I purchased a .300 Winnie, and then purchased two .338 Win Mags, both current Model 70 Classics. One in stainless and one in blued metal. I used each for a year with success, and then came to my senses and sold them both for about what I had paid for them. Kept the .300 Winnie, and purchased a .325 WSM, but now do all of my hunting with a .308 | |||
|
| one of us |
I've been up and down the 338 ladder and velocity above the 340 Wby is a waste of my time. Velocity is hard won at this level of recoil and really the 338 Win Mag wins as the most pragmatic of the 338s. monttrap04: The 358 Norma is an awesome cartridge! I am back from a long Hiatus... or whatever. Take care. smallfry | |||
|
One of Us |
I've use a 338WM as my main sambar rifle for 36 years and it seems to suit that purpose well. There are other good rifles, too, for hunting in thick bush, such as the 9.3x62. I won't say the .338 is better, though it does shoot slightly flatter in case of the odd longer shot. Factors that should be considered are choice of action lengths, recoil, ammo availability and future, reloading ease, bullet-weight range and powder-burning efficiency. The 338WM fits standard-length actions yet is not too far behind the 375H&H in power. Recoil is more than the .30'06 (said by some to be the most many shooters' nerves can stand, long term) and feels sharper than my .450/400, which has about the same energy. However, in my 9.5lb Sako Finnbear it is bearable at the range with a pussy-pad behind the butt and I have never felt any kick when shooting at big game. Having just been persuaded by the local shop to take their last three packets of 270WSM because they want to close out the calibre, I'm happy to say the 338WM seems to have good availability and a secure future. To my mind it has a good-looking case, with a fair length of neck for flexibility in bullet seating. From a family of cartridges including the 264WM, 7mm Rem mag, 308 and 358 Norma mags and 458WM, finding cases to adapt should never be a problem. Magnums are sometimes criticised because some makers don't headspace them properly, resulting in shorter case life. Mine moves the shoulder forward but this might be an advantage with dodgy ammo and dusty conditions in Africa. I can think of about eight different bullet weights between 180 and 300 grains, taking it from whitetail stuff to solids reputed to penetrate and exit an elephant's head. Though other .338s give more or less power, the WM probably gives better bang-for-buck than any other, being neither under or over-bore. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I never found my .338 Win to kill one bit better than my .300s. I never got it hoping it would turn out that way, but what are you going to do? If anything its been the other way around. When I shoot long range and rotate through rifles the .338 usually gets stacked with the .308s and other things that can shoot around corners. At close range where everything works, it works too. Big deal. Stick a .338 bullet in a RUM or Lapua case and it gets interesting again. | |||
|
One of Us |
I had so many people tell me a few years back how the .338 win mag that they shoot would do anything my 378-338 weatherby could do that i just gave up on em and found new company that had more geneology out of the trees and standing upright in the savanna not that i am trying to back your point Dogleg Anyway it matters not, because my experience always has been that of---- a loss of snot and enamel on both sides of the 458 Win---- | |||
|
| One of Us |
338 Win is the "30-06" of the "magnum" world. I always have one. | |||
|
One of Us |
Great caliber. Have hunted with a .338 WM for a few years now. Got a little carried away with the aftermarket barrel and stock - it weights almost 11 lbs - but it's very comfortable to shoot. Drops whitetail and hogs with authority, it's good medicine for anything in NA as well as most things in Africa. After I gave up on my first double, I decided my combo would be .416 Rem and .338 WM. I've since found more reliable doubles so it's now .470 NE and .338 WM. JEB Katy, TX Already I was beginning to fall into the African way of thinking: That if you properly respect what you are after, and shoot it cleanly and on the animal's terrain, if you imprison in your mind all the wonder of the day from sky to smell to breeze to flowers—then you have not merely killed an animal. You have lent immortality to a beast you have killed because you loved him and wanted him forever so that you could always recapture the day - Robert Ruark DSC Life Member NRA Life Member | |||
|
| one of us |
I have used a .338 wm since 1986. Love the rifle, bullets and weight. Rifles over 10 pound are fun to shoot off the truck but I carry my rifles. 8 pounds plus scope is max. Interesting that I purchased and used a .300 wm for my trip to Kyrgy last fall. I like the caliber and appreciate it's long range abilities. The .388 wm will always be my rifle for African plainsgame, bear and forest hunting. Ski+3 | |||
|
| one of us |
Those people were clearly mistaken and deserve to be written off as friends. They didn't realize that your .338-.378 WBY has as much power at 600 yards as their .338 Win at only 500 yards. And it also has an inch and a half less drop at 700 yards! Can't they recognize a huge difference when they see it? Besides, who wouldn't feel better when his ammunition costs $6 per round instead of only $1.75? | |||
|
| new member |
I've had 3 , liked them all. 4 of my friends that shot mine bought one for themselves. Of the 4 , 3 use it as there primary hunting rifle. I felt they were lighter than the 375's and didn't have the snappy recoil of the 300's. IMO its a very nice balance of power and trajectory without obnoxious Recoil. Currently I don't own one. I have a 338 RUM that's is fantastically accurate. I felt when , I sold the 338 Win. , if I wanted another I could pick one up no problem , but a 338 RUM would be much harder to find especially that accurate. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Logic is hard  | |||
|
One of Us |
I never had much use for the 338WM until I actually ended up with one and now I truly appreciate how versatile this chambering is. I've taken one on two plains game safaris and countless North American hunts and shot animals from 20 yards to 490 yards and everywhere in between. I've owned two that were sub 7-pound rifles and recoil was more than manageable on both. I'm currently shooting 185-grain GMX out of this one and even shooting prone isn't an unpleasant experience. Topped with a ballistic reticle scope, I'm more than confident to 600 yards. I'm definitely a convert! | |||
|
| One of Us |
I started hunting late in life when retiring from the military in the early '90s. Bought a Ruger .338WM, topped it with a Leupold Vary-X III 2.5-8x, and that's what I have been using ever since. Can't beat the .338WM for hunting in Alaska where I live, but have settled with one bullet type and weight, the Barnes 225-grain 3-Shock tipped as an all around bullet. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I own (7) 338WMs; three SS/syn Rugers, two Ruger Express', and two Dakotas, a Classic and a Safari. I have only been on 7 African safaris, but most of my animals have been taken with either my 338WM or 375H&H. I love the 338WM and as others have stated, it's range, power and bullet weights. I have only used the 250 gr. and 275gr. on my hunts. I like the smaller size and weight of my 338s vs. my 375s, and the reduced recoil. Having said that though, as I get older, I seem to be gravitating to my 35 Whelens, as they are smaller and lighter yet, with even less recoil, than my 338s. I will however, continue to hunt both in NA and Africa with my 338WM. It's just too good not to. 'Ole reliable. | |||
|
| One of Us |
The .338 is a great cartridge. My Dad absolutely loves it. Our needs differ. Mark says it's great for everything but buffalo and elephant. I agree and I don't. I need a go to that's great for buffalo and elephant. And for me that is a .416. The .338 WM is a great cartridge. I considered taking it on a few trips, but it's kind of betwixt and between for Africa. Frankly, I'd feel perfectly comfortable hunting buffalo with it if it wasn't for the legal minimums. | |||
|
| One of Us |
when I am in the evergreen stands on the north face of the steep slope i carry my 338 win mag, its a bar with a 1-5 post trigicon when I am in camp i keep the 378-338 handy to pot at the elk 600 yards up slope in the open patch could use the 303 brit with a 215 bullet in the brush but like the heavy bar could use the 340 wby in camp for the snipe at em shots but i like the edge i get from a 3200 fps bullet of 220 grains and the 340 is not a wby it's a montana crf [that baby would be right hot in africa] my 338 rum needs more work before i get it ''shot in'' so have not done much with it to date the 338 control round feed win mag i thought i would use every where, all the time, once i finally got one, don't get out all that much, but i could if i wanted to, it is a killer, it does have that history why chase around with one girl when you can play about with three its not logic- its choice- if you have the energy, curiosity, and capacity to take the walk you might have a more interesting life sometimes it's just about the fun Anyway it matters not, because my experience always has been that of---- a loss of snot and enamel on both sides of the 458 Win---- | |||
|
| One of Us |
For many years, the 338 win was my "one-gun" shooter. I shot everything from antelope to moose, and it accounted for countless deer and at least 4 bull elk. I found that the 210 nosler held together and did less damage on game than most guys with their .270! Availability of ammo has never been an issue (even though I prefer to reload), so it's nice to know you can drop into most ammo outlets and they will have it on the shelf. That's more than I can say about the gun's replacement, which was a custom norma .358. I like the added hitting power, but at the end of the day, it's fairly minimal advantage. I have no problem recommending the .338 to anyone! | |||
|
| one of us |
Ive shot the .338 since its birth, along with the 300s and of course the 30-06.. If one uses the 200 and 210 bullets then, generally speaking, a 300 Win. or in my case a hot loaded 300 H&H. is close enough to the .338s equal that I can't tell much difference.. If you shoot the 250, 275 or 300 gr. bullets in your .338 there is a definite difference IMO and the .338 is in its relm, and its my all time favorite larger animal (elk and up) caliber for all but buffalo, Hippo and elephant, and the one buffalo I shot with my .338 Win. expired very quickly, so go figure..For what its worth my favorite load in the .338 is the 225 gr. Nosler, and the 225 gr. Accubond is on the horizon. Bottom line the .338 Win. is my choice for all North American large animals, and the best of the PG choices in Africa. but there are many calibers suitable for such game, including the 30-06 with the right bullets for the game hunted. I put way more importance on bullet construction and weight than I do on "caliber" as a rule and within reason. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
|
| One of Us |
Well, I stand corrected. I have posted recently on a different post that I have taken most of my animals in Africa with my 375 H&H. I reported on this thread that I have taken the animals mostly with a combination of my 338 & 375. So, I got to thinking, and decided to look it up. The 338 Win Mag wins hands down! My wife and I have taken 56 animals on 7 safaris: 338WM--22 375H&H--13 35Whelen--6 9.3x62--4 7mmRM--3 458Lott--2 404Jeffery--2 30.06--2 25.06--2 The 338WM wins by a huge margin. The 375 is definitely second, with everything else in distant placings. I guess the 338WM rules in our family! | |||
|
One of Us |
That's quite a bit of opportunity to compare. Inquiring minds want to know, what are you observations about differences in the mid-bore calibers? | |||
|
| One of Us |
JeffreyPhD, I simply don't think I have enough experience to make fair comparisons among the midbores. There are many on this forum with MUCH more experience than I, and they should be the ones to answer your questions. They are pros, and I am an amateur. But you asked just for my opinion, so for what it's worth (not much), here it is: I don't see a lot of difference among them! They all kill just fine. I have had elk and PG animals drop to the shot without a step with all of the ones I've used. The 375 should be the best, but I shot a Kudu in Zim dead on the shoulder with a heart shot, and it ran for quite a ways before piling up. I was using a 300 gr. TBB. Still, I like surface area and heavy for caliber bullets, so if I had to choose one for more than PG, like Buffalo for instance, I'd still choose the 375 if I had a choice (besides the law). Other than DG, I guess I like the 35 Whelen, 338WM and the 9.3x62 about the same. My choice these days, is the lightest, shortest, and handiest of the three. I am partial to the 35 Whelen, but the other two are just as good. My Ruger 35 Whelen weighs 7.75 lbs with rings and scope (Leo 2.5-8) and a 22" barrel. If the results are pretty much the same, as I have observed in my hunting (which is only a sample of one), then I vote for comfort; comfort in carry weight if not recoil. Recoil is OK. Who notices recoil while hunting? But I definitely notice weight in a heavy rifle that is carried all day long. My 404 Jeffery and 458 Lott both weigh 8.5 lbs and that is the weight I carry (they are not scoped). I've never noticed the recoil once while hunting. So, my favorite three-rifle African battery is now a 404 Jeffery, 35 Whelen, and a 280 Remington. But I like using different rifles on safari, so that is not necessarily what I'll take on my next one. Good hunting to you! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Thanks for the detailed reply. From what I gather, the guys with the most experience on here would probably say pretty much the same thing. I'm heading to Namibia in late June for a PG hunt, and will be taking a 300 H&H Ruger No. 1 and a 338 WM bolt gun. My hunting buddy may be bringing a 35 Whelen - also a No. 1. Bet there won't be a dime's worth of difference between them. I do like that the Whelen kicks less. You're 3 gun battery sounds about ideal to me. | |||
|
| one of us |
you really don't have to compare calibers, just use good old fashion common since. On Plains game any caliber from about a .270 to a 375 works just fine, and in the real world you would have a real problem telling one from the other based on what you saw and the results. We have all these calibers because its fun and games.. Dangerous game? same deal anything from a .375 to a 500 N.E., the difference is much less than the printed word would make one think. but then what would we have to write about.   Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
|
| One of Us |
I like my 338win mag. I use to shoot 210gr Nosler PAR bullets. When we went to Africa I used 225gr Swift A-Frame bullets on all my plains game from ranges of 135-480 yards. All were one shot kills and all were spot and stalk. I will be going back in 2017 and the 338 will be with me again. This time I am taking my custom 264win mag using 140gr Swift A-Frame bullets and plan to shoot it as well as the 338. Brought home 10 animals last time and shot more I did not have to pay for. I have a long list for this trip to try and take. | |||
|
| One of Us |
That would be so boring. We'd all just shoot 30-06s and 375s. Might as well play shuffleboard. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Wonderful rebuttal! I truly wish I could buy you a drink. | |||
|
One of Us |
I had a 338WM years ago and liked it. Then I got a 338/06 and love it. The 338WM is at a big advantage if you need to buy ammo in a hurry. I'm personally not interested in shooting over 300 yards and have never actually taken a shot at big game over the mid 200 yard mark. Makes me wonder why the 338/06 isn't more popular. With 210gr Partitions I'm comfortable pointing it at anything in NA and almost anything anywhere else. Light recoil promotes good shooting, which promotes confidence in making the shot. All We Know Is All We Are | |||
|
| one of us |
Not really. No one is saying that because you own a 338 WM you don't own other cartridges. I am back from a long Hiatus... or whatever. Take care. smallfry | |||
|
| One of Us |
Been shooting and hunting With the english equalent of the .338win, .333jeffery I can only concur what Ray stated above. A heavy 300 grain really makes a difference to a .300 mag just using 200grainers DRSS: HQ Scandinavia. Chapters in Sweden & Norway | |||
|
| one of us |
I really don't find the 300 gr woodleigh anything but a novelty. Like all other woodleighs I've used, it expands wide, jagged and penetrates less than say a NP or Barnes X. I say novelty only in respect that if a person thinks they are getting more penetration because it's 300 grains, then they are wrong. That being said, I don't mind the 225 & 250 wdly I just wouldn't pick a 300 gr wdly because I thought it was going to be the ultimate penetrator. Also, I find that lighter faster bullets generally have a little more smack down. In the 338 and 340 I typically shoot 200-225s. It's kind of like the dip$hitt that wants to shoot a 220 Hornady RN in his 30-06 for "Grizzel Bar" nevermind the bullet is out penetrated by a 165 NP or X.  Bullet weight and bullet retention are not the big factors in penetration.Ray knows this he is just a heavy for caliber guy. I am back from a long Hiatus... or whatever. Take care. smallfry | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata | Page 1 2 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia