I have a .338WM in a Ruger M77( tang safety) that has been accurized, cut to 22", and have developed a load using the 250gr Woodleigh Protected Point and RL22, WLRM's and can put the first two touching and the third within 1/2" or less @ 100 yards from sitting or from a bipod. These retain most of their weight, and seem very consistant. I'd not be afraid to hunt anything in N.A. with it including the big bears! This load is several grains over max but the way it shoots, and the lack of pressure signs only serves to encourage me!

I also tried the 200gr Nosler BT and won't be using them on any game animals. Even with the thicker jacket it leaves room to improve. Although it would produce a rather violent impact it retains little. I did find a load using the 200gr X but I don't remember now which powder. I had no reason not to keep using them and still have almost two boxes but got a 50% off deal on the Woodies and have always wanted to try them. Nate

Am about to buy a Sako .338, but have the following dilemma:

I need this rifle for my canadian bear hunt, for which I will reload a 300 grain bullet, which needs to be accurate only to 200 yards. When not hunting this rifle needs to be fairly accurate up to 400 yards with a 200 grain bullet.

Now, I am short, and since I have to haul it into the field, I do not want anything longer than a 22 inch barrel.

By cutting the barrel down to 22 inches (I have not bought the rifle yet) will I be handicapping myself to such an extent that it will not do the above???? Should I buy a .338 Lapau or a .338 win mag?? or due to the "restriction" on the barrel length, does it at all make a difference??? (There is a substantial difference in price between the two, so that is an object)

Can anyone suggest any loads for either the 200 or the 300 grain bullets???

I currently own a 22-250, a .270 and a 30-06 all for which I reload, and I tend to use IMR4064 for all. My rifles are dead accurate up to 200yards but spread out after that to 7-8 inches at 400yards. (PS, I am a beginner)

Can anyone help me along on this??? Thanks a million

22" is fine for a 338 Win Mag. Your Sako is chambered to 338 Win Mag. A premium bullet in the 250 grain size range will flatten any bear on the face of the earth. You will have all the velocity that you need with the 200-210 grain bullets in your 22" 338 Win Mag.
I cut my girlfriend's barrels down to 22", they work just fine.
JCN

I use a long-seated 225gr Accubond with 71.0grs of IMR-4350, fed 215gm primers, ww brass, in my 338 Win Mag Sako M-75 Stainless. It shoots 1/2 minute or better to 300yds. My velocity is about 2850fps. I would Imagine the same load in a 22 inch barrel would run around 2750 or so. The magazine and throating on this rifle allows a longer than normal overall length and permits a heavy load. (This is a max load work up carefully).
I like the 225 Accubond because it's one of the most aerodynamically efficient mid-weight 338 bullets you can get and has so far shown excellent terminal performance (like a partition).
I shot a witnessed, laser ranged and verified Elk at 515yds with this load. It knocked out about a 6-8" long section of spine and dropped him.
I love my Sako 338 I bet you'll enjoy yours either at 22 or 26".........DJ

I suspect your guide will shoot YOU, if you start plinking at a bear at 400 yards...especially if you are talking Grizzly, Brownie, or even Polar varieties.

Big bears tend to become pissed when wounded and give your guide the unpleasant job of assuring that said bruin doesn't kill/eat/maim you before the guide can make sure it is dead.

Shoot your bear at half or less (preferably a lot less) of that range, and don't worry about the .338. You do your job; it will do its job.

Alberta Canuck

Ah, a beginner who can only shoot sub-m.o.a. at 400 yds! As it happens, I am not exactly a beginner since I started shooting in 1958 and I am a .338 Win. enthusiast having owned and loaded for 12 different rifles in that chambering since 1968, I currently own 5. I prefer 250 gr. Nosler Pt. bullets for everything and prefer the Partition gold, "moly-free".

I have spent a great deal of time in Grizzly country and have shot enough game to know that this works like a lazer deathray if pointed properly. I am also short, 5'7" and tend more and more to carry my Dakota 76 with it's 23" bbl. I also own and shoot 4 Pre-64 Mod. 70s in this chambering and the longer bbls. on them make no major difference in the muzzle velocity.

BTW, shooting 7" groups at 400 yds. with an '06 and hhunting scope is nothing to be ashamed of for ANYONE and is tremendous shooting for a beginner, regardless of any b.s. you read in the gun rags. Best of luck on your bear hunt, the 225 Accubond is a super bullet for Blacks, but, I would choose a 250 Partition for Grizzlies, I have seen enough of them both shot to be very conservative with my recommendations on this.

Loss for two inches of .338WM barrel should be in the order of less than 45f/s.The .338WM is likely a better rifle with a 22" barrel,it bore expansion ratio is the same as the 30.06,it just shots heavier bullets.The 225 Accubond is very accurate in three rifles I know.

I use the same load as djpaintles, IMR-4350 71grs. and also get about 2850fps. Although I load the 225gr. Barnes Triple Shock X-Bullet. Excellent accuracy in my guns and a very good all purpose load. However, if you are after coastal browns or polars the 250 grainers would be a better bet.

Geronimo