So I recently came to own 5 new to me guns. I've decided to distribute 4 to friends and find myself left with a single shot, lever action Ruger in .338 Win Mag. It's big, old and heavy. It looks pretty awesome and I wouldn't ever consider selling it. Do I just put it away for the day I will never hunt a Rhino? A box of 24 rounds is about $70 so it's not really a plinker...
Ruger .338 Win Mag, What To Do?
- Thread starter oldbill
- Start date
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
A 338 wm is not a rhino gun, just a good all around rifle, and a solution if bears try to take your animal. Same case as a 7mag and 264 mag. If recoil is a worry, get ammo with small projectiles. The heavy weight of the rifle will also help with recoil. Ruger #1's also sell for decent money and quickly, so if you dont think you would use it>>>>flip it and buy the one you want.
Yes, it is a #1. The scope was obscuring the model #.
It's cleaned and in the safe already. It certainly won't get sold. Perhaps I'll try it out for the spring bear hunt. The cartridges are quite a bit larger than my .308. And the box of ammo I found is a hunting load which may explain the $68 price tag.
Thanks for the input.
It's cleaned and in the safe already. It certainly won't get sold. Perhaps I'll try it out for the spring bear hunt. The cartridges are quite a bit larger than my .308. And the box of ammo I found is a hunting load which may explain the $68 price tag.
Thanks for the input.
The Ruger #1 is a very good single shot rifle and the 338 WM is a superb cartridge.
I often said if I could only have one rifle it would be a 338 . . . that was until someone offered to buy it at my price.
That being said, what did you pass on to friends, and what are your interests in shooting and hunting?
Give us all the details if you really want opinions.
I often said if I could only have one rifle it would be a 338 . . . that was until someone offered to buy it at my price.
That being said, what did you pass on to friends, and what are your interests in shooting and hunting?
Give us all the details if you really want opinions.
Agreed! My dad and I shoot almost every weekend and put about 25-50 rounds down his Ruger #1 .375 H&H. It is a darn fine rifle and very accurate. Never sell it!!!! It is gonna be worth some coin some day.
They are worth good coin now!
Retail is $1500-$1600 on them now. I bought my .300 H&H when they retailed for $1100 just 4 years ago.
Keep an eye out around gun shops. You should be able to find federal blue box hunting ammo for $35 or so a box. Of course if you reload you could do it for a buck a round or so depending on bullet. Also, the correct term is falling block when referring to the action type. Lever generally refers to a repeater.
Retail is $1500-$1600 on them now. I bought my .300 H&H when they retailed for $1100 just 4 years ago.
Keep an eye out around gun shops. You should be able to find federal blue box hunting ammo for $35 or so a box. Of course if you reload you could do it for a buck a round or so depending on bullet. Also, the correct term is falling block when referring to the action type. Lever generally refers to a repeater.
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From what I've learned the .338 seems to be a fairly all purpose NA large game round. I took it out and tried it at 100 yards today. It seems fairly accurate and the kick isn't too bad so I will add it into the rotation. Like I said, I'll try it out on bear in the spring. I hunt with a .22, a 20ga 870 and a savage 10 in .308. With this gun it looks like I've got most of my bases covered.
The guns I received were from an unwilled inheritance and I decided early on they should all be used, rather than hoarded and kept locked in my safe, so I've distributed a .22, a 12ga, a 30-30 and a 7mm to good hunting friends of the person who was killed.
Thanks for the input and info. Much appreciated.
The guns I received were from an unwilled inheritance and I decided early on they should all be used, rather than hoarded and kept locked in my safe, so I've distributed a .22, a 12ga, a 30-30 and a 7mm to good hunting friends of the person who was killed.
Thanks for the input and info. Much appreciated.
freezer filler
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Windsor, Ontario
Very nice hunting round and rifle! A sad story with a happy ending!
That was awesome of you to do Bill for his buddies. That is a gesture you never see these days. You made my day hearing that. AND .338wm is an awesome caliber. You may find that you use it for everything bigger than chickens and rabbits. My .375 Ruger was bought as a gag to myself, but I came to love it so much, that I almost have a dust coating on all my other 30cal and smaller guns. You can't overkill your game, and big bullets on non-tough game often don't bloodshot much meat. I reload GMX and X bullets mostly in my .375 and they don't make huge holes. (big holes, but not huge holes. I found my .270win made MUCH bigger entry/exit wounds and wasted a heck of a lot more meat than a stout bullet in a big caliber. Your mileage may vary but I just can't help but feel great when you have a gun that is like the hammer of thor on animals you formerly had to track.
