I was thinking of rechambering a XP100. The .338wsm might be nice . tell me about it. Thanks CFP

cfp,

I had played around with some high performance rounds using the Encore frame and while they were plenty potent for normal big game hunting, I was still looking for what I though would be the ultimate handgun hunting round.

By Ultimate handgun hunting round, I ment that I wanted to meet the following performance goals without sacrificing anything if possible.

1) I wanted a round with enough velocity and high enough B.C. numbers to allow 400 yard shots on deer size game, or more specific, less then 12" of drop at 400 yards with a 3" zero at 100 yards.

2) I wanted enough bullet weight and energy to take a shot at a mature bull elk out to 300 yards.

3) I wanted a round with a caliber that had a good selection of medium/large/and even some dangerous bullets to choose from.

4) I wanted the round to fit in the action of the XP-100 as the Encore had left me wanting for more strength.

What I came up with from a couple months of researching was the 338-300 WSM. This is how it meets or exceeds all of my goals set for this new round.

1) With its favorite load, the 180 gr Ballistic Tip at 2950 fps using 69.0gr Rl-15, and a +3" zero at 100 yards, it is a simple matter to hit even coyote size targets at the 1/4 mile mark.

2) With either the 200 gr Ballistic Tip(yes it is a very good elk bullet) or the 210 gr Partition driven to +2750 fps, it is plenty of gun for any elk out to 300 yards. Plus trajectory is not a problem either out to that range.

3) The .338" caliber is very versatile. There is the 180gr Ballistic Tips for anything up to even small elk(cows, calves), 200 to 225 gr bullets for elk/moose/bear class game. And the 230gr fail safe if I ever get a chance to take anything that may bite back. At velocities from 2600-2950 fps over this range of bullets, there is nothing the 338 WSM handgun can not do.

4) The WSM case offered a very good case capacity for the 338 and larger rounds from a short 15" handgun. The .375" version of the WSM may even be a bit more efficient but would lack the trajectory I wanted. For strictly a heavy game handgun, I would go with the .375 WSM over the .338 WSM, but for everything else, the 338 is far better ballanced.

Problem with this round is recoil and this can be a problem with the design of XP-100 stocks. I decided to use a laminated wood mid grip stock and glass beed the entire action and first three inches of the Lilja barrel to the stock using Brownells Steel Bed.

Also I had a Holland quick discharge break installed that cuts recoil to the level of a 223 in a light weight Contender, very little.

It is loud but when hunting with no ear protection, my 480 Ruger shooting her 425gr WFNGC at 1200 fps rings my ears much worse. The reduction in recoil is well worth it in my mind.

As far as on game performance goes, I can relate from two mule deer that I harvested last fall with this handgun.

This first was a large Mule deer doe which I shot broad side at 180 yards. The bullet centered the heart and made a mess in the chest cavity. Other then the onside rib, no other bones were hit. In spite of this the doe simply fell to her knees at the shot. This is something I have seen only one other time without a major bone being hit.

The second deer was a +350 pound 5x4 Mule deer buck shot quartering away at a measured 317 yards. The 180 gr Ballistic Tip entered about 4 inches behind the last onside rib, clipped the liver, rear of onside lung, penetrated the offside lung and broke the off side shoulder before exiting.

The wound chanel was very uniform its entire length showing that at the 338 WSM velocities, this bullet acts more like a partition bullet then a polymer tipped bullet.

Accuracy wise, the 338 WSM in my XP-100 was proven to be a 3/4" or better gun at 100 yards. There have been several 3/8" three shot groups fired at this range during load testing.

No doubt much of this has to do with the Match quality Lilja barrel and gunsmith work, but the 338 WSM, I feel is a very accurate case design.

I can and do fullt endorse the 338 WSM in the XP-100. If you think the JDJ rounds are impressive, even the new ones for the Encore, the 338 WSM in the XP will blow the doors off of them all and in any catagory.

If you have any more questions or thoughts on the 338 or other rounds for the XP, let me know. I always like to talk about high performance handguns.

Good Shooting!!

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