The barrel on my 338 RUM is 26" with brake on it is 28". 26" doesn't bother me but 28" is a little long.

Allen, that's cause you've never had one with a 22" tube...

I have been shooting, loading for and hunting with this cartridge since January 1968. I honestly don't know why I bother with anything else for B.C. conditions, I prefer 250 gr. Nosler Pt. @ 2700+ for everything.

I have owned a total of 12 rifles in this round and currently have 5, I much prefer a 23" bbl. as I find my Dakota with that length to handle superbly well. I have used barrels from 26" down to 23" and this feels best to me.

24"

24" minimum..

I had my Ruger 77 in .338 mag cut down to 21" from 24" and lost only 75 fps in the process. The 21" is a lot handier in the thick stuff but I did better shooting offhand when it was 24".

I think you could do mutch worse with a 24", I am very happy with mine

Flip

My opinion, A RIFLE has a 24" barrel

A CARBINE has a an 18 to 22 inch barrel

I like to shoot RIFLES

Add another vote for a 24" barrel. That's what my Model 70 wears.

It's funny all the strong opinion's on a 22"-23" bbl'd 338 WM's by those that have, possibly, no experience with one less than 24"... I've used them with 22-26" bbl's so my opinion (and the other's with similar experience) is worth more... imho



I decided long ago that a 22" bbl on a 338 WM made perfect sense and had my second one so-cut. Afterward's I found out Finn Aagaard, John Barsness, Dave Petzal and Bob Bell also carried 22" bbl'd 338 WM's... guess I wasn't so far-off afterall!



Kevin, my perspective is a carbine has a barrel up to 21"... over that it becomes a rifle. My "opinion" of course, but one based on having owned rifles with 18.5 to 26" barrels!

My Model 70 Classic Super Grade came with a 26" barrel and it has posed no difficulty even in relatively thick cover. I actually planned to have the barrel chopped but after using the rifle some decided against it.

I'd go along with that interpretaion Brad.

I'am with Brad. I've had 3-338s, a24in., a23in., and a 22in. Each showed about 25fps.less per inch. For Idaho elk hunting the 22in. was much handyer to me. Pedro

I cut down my m70 from 26 to 23" and lost only 100fps. I still get 2850fps with a 225 nosler. And it is handier as well.
Lucio

Mine is 23" as well. It's the best handling rifle I've ever owned (especially when cradled in a McMillan Supergrade stock). The McMillan is also a BIG factor in recoil reduction....

Both of mine came as 24". I used to have a 26" that I had cut down. Like everybody above said, 22' - 24" will do you right!
The 338 Win Mag really shouldn't be called a magnum. It is basically a 30-06 sized up proportionately to take .338" bullets.
JCN

My preferred 23" barrels give me 2920 fps with 225's. I have some short action 338's in WSM with 21" and 22" barrels. They are also handy and a dream to handle in saddle scabbards. Brad and I have had this running "discussion" on optimum length. I believe, finally, he may be right!

My old faithfull 338 is a 24 inch, and I used to have a 26 inch gun in 338...I really liked the 26 inch barrel, but my 24 inch gun suits me fine and its a well balanced custom rifle...I like long barrels because I do a lot of off hand shooting and they just hang better IMO....I like that weight up front in a rifle and it sure helps with the sight picture if you use iron sights from time to time, and I do..I have shot several Cape buffalo with my old gun and the 300 gr. Woodleighs using the iron sights.

I personally don't want any magnum rifle with less than a 24 inch barrel.

Another vote for 23" bbl. I just like the way it balances.

I have had two .338s with 24 inch barrels. I would not opt for 26, but it makes a lot more sense than those 26 inch .458 barreled actions I see for sale.

I agree that the .338 is more like a super .30-06 than a roman candle; you don't need the barrel length if you don't want it.