.338 WinMag ?

I've had a .338 win mag since I was a teenager and I still believe it to be perhaps the best all around caliber for north american big game. Particularly if you reload, and nowadays with all these new bullet and powders, the caliber can basically do it all. Fancy new recoil pads and (if really needed) muzzle brakes, have tamed the old .338's recoil significantly, and I really don't consider it a factor.
 
My .338 is a much modified L61R SAKO, which I've had for more than 20 years. It weighs 7.3 pounds but it's in an MPI synthetic stock that fits me perfectly. I can shoot it all day comfortably, and my standard load is 250 gr. Nosler Partitions with a heapin' helpin' of H4831.

I probably sound like a broken record, but 99% of recoil management is a proper fitting stock. Everybody understands that poor fitting boots will hurt your feet, but amazingly few understand that a poor fitting stock will hurt you in its own way!
 
I dont own a 338, and never have. I would like to some day though. However, those older tang safety Rugers are great rifles, the stocks seem to fit better than most out there and this helps to reduce the felt recoil.

Buy it, if you dont, PM me his phone number!!:p
 
The Rugers have a well designed stock ... but the older factory recoil pads aren't much better than a shaped piece of hockey puck.

If you are used to a 6.5x55, you will find that generally, the increrased recoil from a
338 WM will 'wake you up" a bit. I don't regard it as uncomfortable, but certainly a little more intense than the very comfortable 6.5's.

Do yourself a favour and install either a Pachmayr Decelerator Old English or a Simms Limbsaver. Well worth it.
 
DOUGLAS D said:
I'd rather shoot a straight stocked M-77 in .338 than a Remington,Winchester or Browning.
A lot of the fellows I hunt with have discovered the same thing. Two of them still regret getting rid of their old beat up 77's and picking up "shiney" new 338's that kicked the snot out of them because of different stock design.

Ruger got it right.
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I agree fully. I had an M77 in 338 WinMag but sold it to buy a BT99 for trap. I still miss the M77. The felt recoil was actually less than my Rem Model 6 in .270. The M77 is a heavy gun and together with the recoil pad the recoil is quite acceptable. About the same as 30-06 or even less.
 
Ruger 77

Congratulations on your new purchase friend! I've always wanted to try a 338. When can we expect some pictures of that beast and a range report? Enjoy!:wave:
 
I load 185 TSX @ 2800 fps in a 338 Win Mag for a friend. Kicks like a 30-06 sorta, kills good he says. Imagine that. Basically turn it into a 338 Federal :D
 
todbartell said:
I load 185 TSX @ 2800 fps in a 338 Win Mag for a friend. Kicks like a 30-06 sorta, kills good he says. Imagine that. Basically turn it into a 338 Federal :D
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That's a bit of a stretch - a 185 TSX @ 2800 for a .338 Federal's a bit warm, and BTW, didn't you sell that purty laminate/SS .338 Federal you had for about a minute or two? Gotta admit, though, it was a helluva nice pic against the mountains and all....;)
 
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sbtennex said:
That's a bit of a stretch - a 185 TSX @ 2800 for a .338 Federal's a bit warm, and BTW, didn't you sell that purty laminate/SS .338 Federal you had for about a minute or two? Gotta admit, though, it was a helluva nice pic against the mountains and all....;)
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Oh, ye of little faith...;)
 
sbtennex said:
That's a bit of a stretch - a 185 TSX @ 2800 for a .338 Federal's a bit warm, and BTW, didn't you sell that purty laminate/SS .338 Federal you had for about a minute or two? Gotta admit, though, it was a helluva nice pic against the mountains and all....;)
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2750 is doable, so 2800 is not far off

nope I didn't sell that rifle, still got it. :wave:

Grizz_Hunt_08_41_.jpg
 
I have a ruger hawkeye in 338 win mag and I will never regret it. I have shot Whitetails Mulies & a few Elk. The only concern I have is $$$$ for ammo.
The recoil is not bad, remember with tough penetrating bullets made today you don't need to shoot 250 gr for Elk or Griz.
Cheers, and I would buy it for $575.00
 
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