The 338 Winchester Magnum Overlooked or Overhyped?
- Thread starter Coolhand_Luke
- Start date
- Location
- central alberta
I have shot the 338WM Tikka for 17 years and taken piles of Moose and Elk with it, the odd deer standing in the wrong spot as well. I love the round for close range (450 yards and less) with the heavy bullets. I use the 250 Barnes X, original bullet, loaded to the nuts mostly because I bought and loaded a pile of them 15 plus years ago and still have lots.... Love this gun for calling in Elk especially, they almost never stand the way you want them to - doesn't matter with this gun, get them from any angle.
Nobody in here is bringing the voice of reason and saying a 308 is perfectly fine for the job? Stop trying to play sniper with your animals and it'll do whatever you want.
That said, if I HAD to get something bigger than my 308, and it HAD to be practical I'd probably choose a 375 H&H because there's just something appealing about it.
That said, if I HAD to get something bigger than my 308, and it HAD to be practical I'd probably choose a 375 H&H because there's just something appealing about it.
I'm thinking the 308 wasn't mentioned because the OP didn't ask about it and it's an apples and oranges comparison to the 338WM. Not sure how you got that stretch esp the "sniper" part.
If "practical" was the main reason for choosing an chambering, a 30-06 loaded with heavy NPs would be a far better choice. It would be cheaper to buy, easier to find and in many more action types, cheaper to shoot, cheaper to reload for, lighter to carry, less recoil, with better ammo and bullet selection etc etc etc. I've BTDT many times with the 375.
I guess you don't realize the NATO 7.62x51/.308 is used a 1000 yard sniper round ? The .338 Win mag is a great round for those that can handle it. Been using one since the early 80's on deer ,elk ,moose ,caribou and a grizzly.The .338 begins where the .300 magnums end.
In my humble opinion a 308 can do all general hunting the 338 can unless someone is telling himself he will be in an unusual situation like having to stop a charging grizzly, or wants to hit animals from well beyond where my own ethical limit is for hunting shots. Others may have different views but that's what I'm thinking. Of course I hunt in BC, not the prairies.
I disagree. I think 308 is just as valid a choice for practical use as a 30-06. Less recoil, less powder in reloading, and hot loads have similar power with most bullet weights other than the really big'uns.
Yeah man we all know what 308 is used for. And I agree the 338 is a cool round I"m just saying I think they're bought more because they're fun to have rather than there being "that big" of a difference over a 308 or 30-06 *for most realistic hunting situations*. This clearly varies depending on the situation and the hunter.
EDITED cause I was grumpy the first time I wrote this
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This is probably true. I'm not in a great mood so probably was too strong in my response. I'll go edit it.
...still though. The magnum circlejerk has to end at some point. I'd just like someone to agree with me that they're cool but often unnecessary over a non-magnum cartridge.
My dad and I were on a Northern Ontario moose hunt some years ago. He was armed with a .340Wby (a Browning, if I recall), and I with my .338WM (a Rem 700). We were stationed a few hundred yards apart when I heard his two shots. The first hit the bull at somewhere around 200 yards with a healthy handload launching a 250gr partition. A perfect quartering shot through the boiler room. The big fella didn't go down, and ran some 50 yards if I recall, when he slowed and stumbled. My dad put a second into him from a much closer distance (I don't recall how far away). When I got there a few minutes later, the bull was still alive, with his head up but severely injured. I put the finisher in him with my .338 from about 20 yards.
There is absolutely nothing magical about the .340 over the .338. Your assertion that the .338 is "flawed" is ridiculous. I always saw it as a heavy duty 30-06, more or less duplicating the ballistics (both internal and external) of the ought six with a bullet that is somewhere around 50% more weight (and consequently FPE) as the ought six.
I'll say it again; your opinion about the .338 is ridiculous.......period. It is a great, classic, well-proven medium bore cartridge that has lasted 60 years for a reason.
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I agree 100% with you, for whatever that's worth (not much in the big scheme of things, I suppose).
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
The 338 win mag has the same velocity with a 180 and 200 gr bullet as the 300 weatherby with the same bullet weight. It also has the same velocity with a 250 gr bullet as the 375 HH with 260 grain bullets. Doesn't look like a bad place to be IMO. It also fits a standard length action. I don't own a 338 win, I'm just going by my reloading manuals. The biggest cartridge in my gun safe is a 300 win mag.
