I load my 338 RUM with 102gr. of H1000 for my 250gr bullets

and I'm good out 800 yds. I also have a brake on it. It like shooting a 300 win mag.

If you can't get the job done with a .338 Win. Mag. or .340 Wby., you're not going to get the job done with anything else of that caliber.

The pilgrims often get bamboozled by the concept that somehow bigger is always better, but experience indicates that the reverse is usually true..........

AD

Yup, even the more experienced shooters I know find the Lapua ( which is a .338-416 Rigby, btw) a bit much and the big RUM and Weatherby rounds likewise. IF, I felt that more than a .338-250-2700+fps. was REALLY needed, and I don't, I would want at least a .416-400-2400fps. I have shot and seen shot a lot of large B.C. game including several Grizzlies with the .338 Win. and it is about perfect, IMHO.

HAVE 2 .340s, One Weatherby and one Sako 995 when they made a limited run.
I have shot all the .338caliber magnums the 338-378, .338 Lapua etc.
Unless you plan on shooting waaaayyyy out past "Fort Mudge" the .340 does it's work more efficiently then the bigger ones and I do not believe any game animal could tell the difference at any "reasonable" ranges. I do a lot of long range plinking with my Weatherby and it will group about 9" at 1000yds if I do my thing correctly.
I take the .340 for caribou even though I know it is lots more gun then needed. BUT for long shots in windy conditions, it works great and it is no where as punishing as the bigger brothers., but then I also have a great brake on it.

My last couple of caribou hunts I have taken 'boo out to just under 500yds and it smites them mightily and well.
WHen I was playing with my buddy's .338 Lapua and we were developing loads for it, we found we were adding almost 20 more grains of powder to get not quite 200fps more out of it over my .340 loads.

What do you plan on using the rifle for? Hunting or target work? The .340 ranks as one of my favorite cartriges. I think that in standard hunting rifles that once you move beyond the .340 you are moving into the realm of diminishing returns. LAWCOP's statement regarding the .338 Lapua are evident of this. An aquaintence of mine built a .338-416 (a beltless .338-.378) and went with a 34" barrel to utilize the cavernous capacity and get any appreciable velocity gains. The gun also weighs around 14 pounds. I get a bit over 2900 fps out of my .340 with a 250 gr. Partition. Not many game animals can withstand a square hit from this no matter the headstamp. Comparing a 250 gr. partition at 2700 fps and 2900 fps trajectory gain is at best a conversation piece until the range is 400 yards and beyond. The way I see it the only real gain over the .338 Win is a shorter time of flight and less wind drift, which is a good thing to have on my side.

Why confuse yourself, if you want a good 338 Caliber and like Weatherbys, then a 338/06 in the lightweight model they put out.

I love a 338/06 in any rifle.

cheers and good shooting
seafire

thanks for the advice guys as it turns out i ordered two rifles a 30/378 and a 338/378 both are accumarks and have the accubrake fitted so they should be allright. i will be shooting pig horse donkey and buffalo with them here in aus.

Gentlemen

I would go for the 338 win, 340 Wby or 330 Dakota as they are the most practical choices. A well placed shot from 338 win will get the job done I don't like shooting at ridiculous ranges, 300 meters is long enough

Cheers
/ JOHAN