Since a lot of rounds are based off the .308, I was wondering if anybody has knowledge of a 338-08 round. It seems this would be a great short to medium range hunting round. Any thoughts?

I believe there are articles (or at least one, anyway) on this caliber in the Wolf Wildcat book. - Dan

There are a few articles about the .338-308. The August 2000 issue of Petersen's Rifle Shooter has an article titled "The Big .338's Mighty Magnums" where the .338-308 (.338-08) is mentioned. The article was written by Wayne van Zwoll. Several handloads for it are included in the article.

The .338-08 should be a deer to elk cartridge. With 185-grain Barnes bullets out of the muzzle at over 2,800 fps, it shoots flat. Some of the handloads with 200 to 210-grain bullets develop velocities around 2,670 fps with the rifle tested. It sounds like a great "short" cartridge, a .308 in steroids (much like the .338-06).

I started to build one one time and at the last minute I went to a 338/284 and got a better round in the same action..It equaled the 338-06 100%....but again if I did it over I would use a 06 lenth action so I could seat the big 338 bullets out further..

Instead I went to the 9.3x62 and have never looked back...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com