I've got a pre 64 mod 70 long action and am thinking of building a 338 caliber rifle. Between a 338 Win and a short throat 340 Wby (maybe even 338 RUM, but that is the lowest on my list) what are the pros and cons- it'll be braked, I'm a pussy.

I have an old 334OKH [Magnum], the father to my 333OKH. It is a 300 H&H necked up. I love the gun, and have learned that the recoil inst bad after you get off the bench. I hate muzzle brakes due to thier looks and the noise. I had one on a 300 Weatherby and sold the rifle because of it.

FMC

Might not be the most exotic cartridge but 338 win would be my choice

Cheers
/JOHAN

The 338, in most configurations, is a fantastic cartridge. My vote is for the 338 win or the 340 Weatherby. My first choice would be the 338 win due to its commonness. You won't lose very much performance to the 340. I think the 338 RUM is superfluous because its gain over 340 is nominal. I agree with 333_OKH in that breaks suck really bad. Most folks don't even notice recoil when pulling the trigger on big game. Practice is really key with all hunting, but especially with the heavy recoilers. Use a sissy pad for practice if you have to.

I forgot to mention the 338-06. It is not far behind the 338 Win. Here is brief velocity comaparison of the 338-06, 338 Win, and the 340 from Hodgdon

338-06- 210gr part 2750fps, 225gr spbt 2650fps, 250gr SP 2540fps

338 win- 210gr part 2888fps, 225 SP 2792fps, 250gr SP 2657fps

340 Weatherby- 225gr sp 2889fps, 250gr spbt 2784fps

In general, I don't like "magnums" as I rareley shoot at big game animals farther out than 250 yards. I don't currently own a 338, but if I did it would be a 338-06. Within MY hunting parameters, it would be fantastic. However, I'll stick with my the 45-70 and 280 for anything in the USA for the time being.

I have two 338 Win. Mag. rifles with fairly light 24", 1-10" Krieger bbls., no muzzle break, and both of them shoot like a house 'o fire with a variety of loads. Out of the #1 rifle, I get 2910 fps. with 210 Noslers, 2850 with 225 TSXs, and 2735 with 250 gr. Noslers, and pressures are reasonable with all of the above. The 338 Win. Mag. is one of the most balance, practical, and widely-available cartridges on the market, and quite honestly, if you can't cleanly kill whatever you're hunting with a 338 Win. Mag., you're not going to get the job done with anything else......

AD

.338 Win Mag is my choice. I have a pre64 M70 built with a .338 Krieger bbl in .338 Win Mag. Has a lovely McMillan stock and is fitted with a 3-9x40 MC Zeiss Conquest on Leupold QR rings and NECG open sights. Weighs about 8 1/2 pounds ready to go up the hill.

The rifle is accurate, consistent, and hardy. Is a great mountain gun for larger game. Really swats'm. Sighted at 300 yards it is within "minute of elk" out to almost 400 and shoots a 2" group at 300 with 225 Barnes X's.

The only thing I would change is that I asked that it be MagnaPorted when it was built. Didn't realize how much that would add to the noise level for bystanders. Is fine in the woods when hunting alone ... but a bit tough on bystanders.

It's my best rifle for hikin' up a hill. For shorter ranges in flatter land I'd use one of the 9,3s. Like the 9,3x62 I don't notice recoil when there is game under the reticle.

My .338 is on a new Classic action 23"stainless Smith barrel featherweight McMillan stock Warne rings and 2.5 x 8 Leupold. Drills 250 Noslers and at 8 1/4 lbs is a joy to carry. In my mind if you can't reach it with a 250 Nosler at 2750 fps. you shouldn't be shooting at it.

I saw a quote the other day, it might have even been here, but it simply stated "never use a cartridge that is younger than you." I liked it. It has a lot of meaning, and I personally do not like the short magnums. Just me, but I am a traditionalist. I know, I konw, it is all about efficency, but I still love the long action and slow taper of a 300 H&H, and wow can they be accurate. Talk about cool, look at a 156 grain 6.5X54MS bullet for my 1903 Mannlicher Sch. See I cannot go for the puffed up blow out wonder of the week. Like I said, just me, and it always will be.

FMC, on another thread I remember you saying your action was a Pre-64 300H&H. If that's the case, I'd stay with a long-magnum cartridge and build a 340 Wby. It's a great cartridge, maybe even too much of a good thing for some, but if you're handloading you can load it up or down as you see fit.

If it is on a long action pre-64, then I'd do the 340 too. If not, then the 338 Win Mag for sure. You won't notice any difference on game between the 3.

Disregard the action, I have a few pre war and pre 64s both long and short- not a factor.

I've had a few 300 Wby in the past, but they're gone, I still have my 300 Win.......I'm very much leaning towards the 338 Win, but I'm having to fight the "340 Wby is such an improvement...." That is the thrust.....

.....and YES I only shoot handloads.

Hey why not a 338 Lapua Ackley Improved? I love mine that Speedy just built!

FMC, I was under the impression that all pre 64 M70 actions were the same length. Am I mistaken?

I would go with the .338 too !
But I don't need a break on my model 70 classic. I can shoot 20 rounds of .225 grain bullets with out any problem from a bench.
If I really wanted some pop, I would recomend the .358 STA or the .375 H&H. Don't need that much power , but both are cool cartridges...tj3006

quote:

Originally posted by FMC:
I've got a pre 64 mod 70 long action and am thinking of building a 338 caliber rifle. Between a 338 Win and a short throat 340 Wby (maybe even 338 RUM, but that is the lowest on my list) what are the pros and cons- it'll be braked, I'm a pussy.

Why is it that every rifle I saw in Texas above .308 Magnum had a break on it.

The 338 isn't much of a kicker. The 378 Weatherby, yes but not a 338.

I guess it's typical Texas keeping up with the Joneses mentality.

I have a Blaser R93 Professional in 338 it wears a Kahles 3-9x42 on it. No break doesn't need it.

I had a Remington M700 custom KS mountain rifle with a KDF break. It was uncomfortable to shoot because of that break. So it got traded for the Blaser.