Hallo guys.

Regarding the .338 Win. Mag.
The cartridge facinates me, because it seems to have soo many positive points represented in one cartridge.

-With positive points I mean:
Versatility in use, moderate recoil, a very respectfull amount of power, and a wonderfull selection of bullet choices.

But I'd like to ask you guys which bullet YOU FEEL is the best to bring out the most POTENTIAL of the .338 Win. Mag.

Since the 338 W.M. is also called "The Alaskan caliber", we are talking big game at moderate distance.

For me the 225 gr. Barnes XTS seems as the best bullet to wring out the most the .338 W.M. has to offer..
(The only negative with this bullet is that it is soo long, that the bullet eats up case capacity.)

-But what do YOU think?

Take care you all.
-Christian.

Christian, Yes, the 338 is a great caliber, provided it is in a rifle with adequate weight to mitigate the recoil. I use a Swift A-Frame 250gr bullet most of the time. From experience in Africa, the A-Frame seems to reliably produce perfect expansion and terminal performance in large animals. I'm sure the Barnes does as well, and probably has a leg up on the Swift for shooting at longer ranges.

Second that from a 338 Fanatic.

Christian,
There are so many good bullets today that break all the rules on what one "must" use in any given gun and the 338 is no exception. I used the 275 Speer Semi Spitzer at about 2500 fps and it worked flawlessly every time. As you mentioned, big game at moderate range, and I will add to that, an above 30 caliber rifle, my world started at 250 Grains. Not that the 210 Nosler has not killed a train load of elk in this cartridge because it has but for me the 250 plus is where the 338 shines. I also shot a few 300 grain Barnes solids of the copper over lead variety and they worked fine too. I never tried the 250 Barnes Super Solids but I would expect they worked well too. I can’t imagine any difference between it and the 350 Rigby or 333 Jeffery in their ability to kill large game using good solids.
Best regards,
dmw

Another one for the 250 gr. A-Frame.

It is hard to argue against the 338 Win as it is a classic and one of the greatest, all-around hunting rounds for big game.

For my Africa trip I am using 225gr Swift A-Frames. Since they seem to be the only bullet that will work once you are in Africa except for the North Fork bullets. Here in the USA I use 210gr Nosler PAR. I am considering the 200gr Swift Scirocco II also for the future.

I've gotten 250 grain Accubonds to shoot in mine very well with RL17.

225 ttsx.

The only reason (mho) to use a bigger cased 338 is if you must shoot 250 or 300 grainers. I love the 338 wm.

I love my .338WM and have tried quite a few different bullets out of it and it works with every one. The softest I tried was a 200gr ballistic tip. I worked but was a huge hole.

Many opinions on this were just covered in this thread

What would you guy's consider a ideal weight for a rifle chambered in 338 Win.?

I ask because I'm seriously considering building one for elk and African plains game hunting.

Why use a .338 if you're not going to shoot a 250gr or heavier bullet? Might as well use a .30-06 or .300 mag. The .338 was designed to move .250+ gr. bullets at a fast rate, and do it accurately. Great caliber for anything in the US and all plains game in Africa.

The 275 Speer Spitzer is a good one as well as the 250 gr Barnes TSX. Those two would by my choices.

In the USA I like the Nosler 210gr Partition bullet. Works great on everything. For my trip to Africa I read that I need Swift A-Frame bullets and they start at 225gr so that is what I am taking.

quote:

Originally posted by Divernhunter:
In the USA I like the Nosler 210gr Partition bullet. Works great on everything. For my trip to Africa I read that I need Swift A-Frame bullets....

did they give a reason why?

The 338 WinMag is quite a calibre and pretty close to an optimum, all-around, low-recoiling cartridge.

On weight, I go as light as you can. I've had a couple of Tikka's that were UNDER 7.5 lbs with a 2-8 Nikon Monarch scope, one wood stocked, one synthetic. A Limbsaver buttpad ameliorates the recoil delightfully. Had a Ruger once, it was a little heavy, but a great gun. Also had a Win M70, a great rifle.

On bullets, I am trying out the new Cutting Edge bullets Raptor in .338". The 175 grain plus 6 grain Talon tip looks about right for this new technology of a bullet. It's fast, accurate, and with explosive terminal effects and with guaranteed penetration beyond the heavier expanding bullets. Incredible but true.
The BC is about .470 which is adequate for everything out to 400 yards. The Barnes 225gn TTSX can beat that with .514 BC, so it is also a great hunting bullet.

Back in the 80's I used alot of 250gn NosPart on plains game, along with some 275gn Speer and 300 Barnes, but now I've gone over to the monometals.

It's a great cartridge however you configure it.

I've been using nothing but 225 Gr. Nosler Partitions in mine for African plains game. I've shot everything from a Jackel to Eland with this combination and it has always worked for me. Impala, Warthog, Kudu, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebest, Blesbok, Eland have all fallen to this combination. Never lost a critter shot with this bullet launched by H-4831sc.

Seems the .338 also took quite a few Cape buffalo early in its career ...

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Seems the .338 also took quite a few Cape buffalo early in its career ...

300 grains out of a 338 pretty much matched anything its 375 sister would do on buffalo. Buffalo don't notice an 80 fps nominal difference. However, as I've grown older I appreciate the wisdom of going over 40 calibre.

The old 250 gr Hornady steel jacketed solids were outstanding penetrators in the 338 and would punch lengthwise through cape buffalo and the factory loaded 300 gr bullets were highly regarded for use up here in Alaska on large Brown bears.

I still have some loaded ammunition with 300-grainers. Cool-looking round.

250gr Partition worked well for me. I was not handloading at the time, but suspect the A-Frame would have worked even better. I no longer own a rifle in this caliber but would give serious thought to the bulets from Cutting Edge. Specifically, the NonCon and the ESP Raptor.

Andy