The 338 Winchester Magnum Overlooked or Overhyped?

polskiogorki said:
Completely disagree.
If you do some research the 338 very much outshines the 300 in a few areas.
I have first hand experience with the two , my dad started using a 300 after retireing his 30-06.

His 30-06 has killed 40+ moose so this whole conversation is kind of silly anyways.
But the 338 does have a higher tko and it is a harder hitter. I'm pretty sure you won't find any grizzly or brown bear hunters that would trade you their 338 for a 300
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I have done research by loading, shooting and owning 300WM, 300 WSM 300 RUM, 338WM 375 HH 375 Ruger and of course lots of others.

For grizzly hunting I might grab a 338 over a 300 because it might be more comforting, but I would take a 375 over both. And frankly I’ve hunted grizzlies with a 300 and 7RM.

Frankly, Much of the cartridge debate has gone out the window with the advent of better bullets.
 
Slamfire said:
+250 fps? According to Nosler for a 250gr bullet, 340 Wby 2829 fps 26" barrel vs. 338 WM 2780 fps 24" barrel = +49 fps using 20% more powder. Worth it? :eek:

300 WM vs. 338 WM: the 265gr AB LR should be a better heavy bone buster compared to the 190gr AB LR because it's 40% heavier and has 20% more cross-sectional area. The skinnier bullet tends to pierce rather than smash through heavy bone.

https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/340-weatherby-magnum/
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I know this isn't data from a computer program, but my chrony tells a little different story. My .338RUM has a 26" spout and I can easily touch 3000fps with a 250 grain bullet and almost 3200 with a 225 grain Accubond. That is flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttt shooting - no matter what gun/caliber combination. It is worth it - even though the recoil is borderline ridiculous.
 
Diminishing returns after a certain point as the muzzle speed / powder charge curve begins to flatten out. Efficiency sort of goes out the window. But that's what it takes to get those high muzzle speeds. The 338 Lapua fires a 300gr bullet at about 2700 fps burning about 90 grains of powder. My 350 RM will fire a 310gr bullet at 2500 fps using just under 70 grains.
 
c-fbmi said:
I have not found this to be the case at all..........the 340 YES.........the 338 a resounding NO !!!!!!
I have found the big 300s to be far superior killers than the 338 WM on all sized game where appropriate. The 30 cal bullets have greater sectional density and better BC per equal weight and they give higher velocity, thus greater energy on target and greater energy downrange. I have hunted 3 different times in my life with three different 338s and I can tell you I have never tracked more game at any other times than when hit with 338s. I have also heard many more stories from guys I know having the same experiences that I did.
Don't get me wrong, I love the caliber, I just hate the cartridge. Take the same 250 gn Partition and add 250 fps and it becomes one of the deadliest calibers ever used on thin skinned game..........you want to see DRT kills, use a 340 Wby and 210 or 250 gn Parts depending on the game.
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I don't buy it (based on my experience)
A 338 win mag is perfect medium range big game calibre, and when compared to a 340, less powder, recoil and still plenty enough SD/speed to burn through all NA animals with a well constructed bullet. I would say if your wounding/tracking animals with a 338 win mag, it is fair to say that you be in the same situation with any other calibre, bigger or smaller. Its not like its some sort of unique circumstance where a 200 plus grain bullet bounces off, turns around or doesn't perform on game just because it came out of a 338 win mag case.
 
In my opinion the 338 Win mag is overlooked on CGN for 300Mags, 9.3's, and 375's which tend to take its place. I think the 338 is a great cartridge and has a soft spot for me as a medium bore. Its proven itself since 1958. That speaks for itself.
 
Generally perceived to be not much different than a 300 WM. So for those looking for a medium bore it gets passed over in favor of 358's, 9.3's or 375's. The 338's main advantage is the availability of VLD bullets that make it into an impressive long range performer.
 
Slamfire said:
Generally perceived to be not much different than a 300 WM. So for those looking for a medium bore it gets passed over in favor of 358's, 9.3's or 375's. The 338's main advantage is the availability of VLD bullets that make it into an impressive long range performer.
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Given that of major production are often chambered in 338 but not a 35, 366 or 375 calibre, I just can't let that slide.
I'd be quite surprised if it didnt outsell those by a heavy margin.
 
hoytcanon said:
.338 WM is not the kicker that many report, it is a manageable jump from .30/06 for just about anybody comfortable with stout .30/06 loads... I think the perception that it is a prodigious kicker is what holds it back. It is a very good cartridge, however for me personally, I skip from .30 cals to .35 cals... in the east/middle (not to be confused with the middle east), the common .35's are just about perfect for medium bores, namely; .358 Win, .35 Whelen and .350 Rem Mag... when I step up from the 7mm's and .30 cals, I just naturally go to the .35's.
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Gatehouse said:
If there is a "problem" with the .338 WM it's that it doesn't really do anything that a .300 won't do, and a .375 will do more. It's not like a .338 WM won't work though.

After using one for a bit and not noticing any difference between my 300WM I decided to sell it and get a 375 H&H, and then upgraded to a 375 Ruger when it became available.
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MiG25 said:
I'd rather have a 300 Mag of some sort or a 375 H&H.
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Boomer said:
Cheek busting has more to do with the height of the comb relative to the height of the sights, than it has to do with the size of the cartridge in the chamber, but your point is taken.

There was a time I was all-a-flutter over big case .338 and .358 rifles, but now I'm pretty much married to the .375. Still, any medium bore cartridge having a similar powder volume and pressure to the .30 caliber cartridge in question, results in an impressive increase in power, relative to the .30, even when bullet weights overlap. Provided a comparison of similarly styled and constructed bullets, a bullet of a given weight must be shorter with the diameter is larger. Due to having less bearing surface with the bore, and due to the propellant gas pressure acting on a larger surface area, the larger bullet has higher velocity.

Still, I have to buy bullets that are constructed appropriately for my various .30 caliber cartridges' performance levels (1200-2200, 2300-2800 fps, and in excess of 3000 fps) and for the specific jobs I want them to do, just as when buying bullets for other calibers. Therefore, I doubt if my bullet inventory would be reduced very much by having just one caliber to load for, though my brass inventory might be.
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brybenn said:
I find it in an awkward place. It's to slow to push the heavies to their potential while being neutered when used with the light weights. If i want the throw a 250+ 338 bullet ill go to a faster cartridge. If i wanted to throw 180-210 gr 338 bullets I'd use a smaller case. That's just me. For me if I Owned a 338 wm I'd load it with 250 gr round nose and use it for close range thumping the same as my 45/70 or 458wm
I chose a 300 wm for the options of lighter bullets for flatter trajectories and 180-200 gr bullets for what the 300 was designed to be and that works for me
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longbranch* said:
Owned a few .338's over the years. Great cartridge, but a thumper at both ends so not for everyone. If you can shoot it well then you couldn't find a better medium bore though personally I like my old .35 Whelen and .375. My most recent .338 was a new production Winchester Alaskan which fit me very well and even reasonable off the bench.
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Gatehouse said:
Or just keep the 300 as it does everything just as well as the 338, and some things better.
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Gatehouse said:
I have done research by loading, shooting and owning 300WM, 300 WSM 300 RUM, 338WM 375 HH 375 Ruger and of course lots of others.

For grizzly hunting I might grab a 338 over a 300 because it might be more comforting, but I would take a 375 over both. And frankly I’ve hunted grizzlies with a 300 and 7RM.

Frankly, Much of the cartridge debate has gone out the window with the advent of better bullets.
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heronfish said:
Given that of major production are often chambered in 338 but not a 35, 366 or 375 calibre, I just can't let that slide.
I'd be quite surprised if it didnt outsell those by a heavy margin.
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Judging by what's been stated in this thread.
 
I have 3 of them, and my favourite "ulitimate" cartridge, but my need for it seems to be diminishing. I simply like the proportions, a certain aesthestic.

If you don't believe me, search David Petzal, the rifle editor for Field & Stream, and Jim Carmichael, from way back in Outdoor Life. Both have nothing but warm praise for it.

Patrick.
 
I passed over the 338 WM when I needed (wanted ;)) something bigger than my 300 WM. I got a 35 Whelen instead.

The 338 WM I have was a super deal meaning that I can sell it for more than I paid for it after I'm finished playing with it. :p
 
Fellas of course the 338 will kill anything on this planet, remember it's not the size of your ####.......it's how you play with it :).
just ask Walter Bell .
 
freire said:
Fellas of course the 338 will kill anything on this planet, remember it's not the size of your ####.......it's how you play with it :).
just ask Walter Bell .
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Yeah yeah, you gonna tell us the story of the old native lady that shot a grizzly with a 22 short next?
 
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