The Accurate Reloading Forums
Why, oh why, do I need a .338 WM????
03 September 2024, 15:41
450 FullerWhy, oh why, do I need a .338 WM????
The 338-06 works really well. It and a 1958 M-70
Alaskan do the business. With 210-225 gr Nosler Partitions.
The 338 Federal should have been the 338-06 A-Sq Federal.
Iron sights like the LY 48 work with good scopes.
Old Winchesters still have sights on the barrels.
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03 September 2024, 16:05
SaeedI have several 338 caliber rifles.
Including one I made myself, the 338/404.
But, for hunting, I think it is pointless.
If the 30 is too small, then a 375 best next up.
03 September 2024, 21:21
Michael MichalskiThe urge for another firearm is an innate message from God which we should not question but obey, eh?
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US Navy Veteran
04 September 2024, 02:48
GoWyoquote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
I have several 338 caliber rifles.
Including one I made myself, the 338/404.
But, for hunting, I think it is pointless.
If the 30 is too small, then a 375 best next up.
If I frequented your hunting venues, I would likely agree. I think I’m at the upper limits for recoil without needing a brake. The .338 WM still gives me the confidence I need in our overpopulated grizzly woods. Were I to make a trip to Africa, I’d go up into the .40’s, and bring the .338 for plains game.
Damn right its loaded, it makes a lousy club. -JW
10 September 2024, 08:03
lavacaA great cartridge. Shot a turkey with it once, but it's a betwitxt and between cartridge. I have light rifles ranging from .30-06 (one of my favorites) and a few .30 cal magnums, at least one 7mm magnum that's never made the trip, and a variety of heavier rifles. The .338 is a compromise cartridge in my opinion.
12 September 2024, 12:55
sambarman338I guess most cartridges are betwixt and between others. Even the 600NE is now between the the 577 and the 700.
I've just been reading one of Jack Atcheson's books and it would seem the 338WM suited him very well for most of the big stuff in North America.
13 September 2024, 22:53
surefire7quote:
Originally posted by surefire7:
I have used the 250 gr. bullet almost exclusively (NP) as it’s the reason to USE a 338WM IMHO. Otherwise, for lighter bullets, I’d simply use my 30-06.
I used a 275 gr. SAF in my 338WM twice in Africa. Penetration was great, but with an SD of .344, I guess one should not be surprised.
14 September 2024, 20:58
buffybrIn about 50 years of elk hunting, I've found that my .30 caliber rifles, .30-06, .30 Gibbs, and .300 Weatherby, and my 7mm Rem mag rifles do everything that I want them to do for just about everything that I've hunted in North America.
Twenty years ago I bought a .375 RUM for an African Cape Buffalo hunt and it's worked great on a variety of critters from 25 pound Steenboks to 1500 lb buffalo and eland, and for my Alaskan Brown Bear.
So I don't see any reason for me to get a .338 WM.
NRA Endowment Life Member
15 September 2024, 20:21
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)I used a 338 on one trip. It was not a DG hunt , but my PH was telling his buddy (another PH) what a marvelous cartridge it was...five shots for five animals)
Of course, that made me feel good and was most likely a PR statement, but ...the other PH claimed it was too small for a big gun and too big for a small gun.
Realistically, hard to argue that point
15 September 2024, 22:24
Saeedquote:
Originally posted by lavaca:
A great cartridge. Shot a turkey with it once, but it's a betwitxt and between cartridge. I have light rifles ranging from .30-06 (one of my favorites) and a few .30 cal magnums, at least one 7mm magnum that's never made the trip, and a variety of heavier rifles. The .338 is a compromise cartridge in my opinion.
I bet not many of you sit in their back yard and shoot feral pigeons with a Ruger # One re-chambered to 460 Weatherby Magnum!
I know, when one is weird , there is no limit!
16 September 2024, 01:20
OkieNewtonYes, and if they shoot the heads off it don't ruin any meat I bet.
Keep yer powder dry and yer knife sharp.
16 September 2024, 08:14
sambarman338quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
I used a 338 on one trip. It was not a DG hunt , but my PH was telling his buddy (another PH) what a marvelous cartridge it was...five shots for five animals)
Of course, that made me feel good and was most likely a PR statement, but ...the other PH claimed it was too small for a big gun and too big for a small gun.
Realistically, hard to argue that point
It is better to have too much power for small animals than too little for big ones. Therefore, in Africa I carried my 338WM for plains game, occasionally loaded with heavy bullets in case something big and dangerous threatened. Though I was not loaded for that particular contingency, some 338 bullets can completely penetrate an elephant's head.
26 September 2024, 08:01
WstrnhuntrI cant tell you why you need a 338 WM, I cant even tell myself why I think I need an 8mm/338, but sometimes I think I do.
AK-47
The only Communist Idea that Liberals don't like.
26 September 2024, 19:41
SkylineI've been shooting a .338 WM for close to 50 years. I've taken a few hundred head of game with it, from pronghorn to grizzly, elk, moose, wood bison and plains game in a few African countries. Played with lots of other cartridges along the way...it's still my favourite.
You know Winchester was not too far off the mark with their three rifle battery to do it all... .264 WM, .338 WM and .458 WM.
______________________________________________
The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who are bereft of that gift.
27 September 2024, 06:18
Michael RobinsonI'll climb out on a limb and say that, with the right bullets, I'd use the .338 Win. Mag. on anything afoot.
Just last month in Greenland I killed a bull musk ox and caribou with mine.
One shot each.
Both died, and fell down dead, right square where I shot them. No tracking involved.
Many other big game animals in many other places have met the same fate from the same rifle.
The .338 Win. Mag. is a magnificent cartridge.
It may be as close to perfect as they come.
I do love the .375 H&H Mag. pretty well just as much, however.
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
29 September 2024, 20:21
LHeym500If you want a reason not to get a 338 WM, I’ll give you one.
It is not a 358 STA.
This is a joke.
23 October 2024, 21:20
talentrecI love the .338 with lighter bullets. A 185 TTSX at 3170 seems to hit way harder than a 180 out of a .300 Win, with a lot less felt recoil.