.338 win mag for deer

[coyne_5]

I'll echo what previous posters have stated; it comes down to bullet selection if you are worried about destroying meat. I've shot deer with my 338WM, as well as barrenland caribou, they all collapse onto their shadow and by the time their nervous system recovers from the shock they've bled out - my theory anyway. I haven't had one deer size animal take one step after a 338 has gone through it. All shots have had minimal meat damage, unless you are a fan of ribs.

If you're really concerned about meat damage, don't shoot them in the meat.

 

[freezer filler]

exactly right.. my .243 with a nosler ballistic tip at 100 yards would blow the shoulders right off a deer. those bullets practically grenade at that range with that bullet..

change that bullet to a solid copper or something that doesn't expand so fast and its a whole different story.

the 7mm this guy probably saw blow a deers shoulders off most likely was shooting a ballistic tip .. and id almost bet nosler

last year i hit a deer in the ribs with a nosler BT .. it punched out 1 rib going in.. it blew a fist sided hole out the other side of the rib's.. took like 4-5 rib's out with it.. and gave the deer such a hydrostatic shock i had to toss the exit side rib cage in the garbage.. Instant kill but you better hit the ribs every time with that bullet.. this was at about 90-100 yards so.. speed is a killer.

i didn't say 100yds... i said 300 yds, 4 inches over i agree that not much would have been wasted but buck fever dictates that every shot will not land where u choose to place it. i just think that it is unnecessary to use calibers which are suitable for moose on a deer.
not only was there a 4"exit but 4" all around the bullet hole was hamburger too...

 

[freezer filler]

I'll echo what previous posters have stated; it comes down to bullet selection if you are worried about destroying meat. I've shot deer with my 338WM, as well as barrenland caribou, they all collapse onto their shadow and by the time their nervous system recovers from the shock they've bled out - my theory anyway. I haven't had one deer size animal take one step after a 338 has gone through it. All shots have had minimal meat damage, unless you are a fan of ribs.

If you're really concerned about meat damage, don't shoot them in the meat.

the ribs are my favorite part

 

[mylesrom]

I also think that excessive velocity will cause unnecessary meat damage. I have a 7mm rsaum, that I load with starting loads for deer. 2700-2800 fps will kill a deer without too much damage.

 

[MTM]

.338 win mag or federal? i like the idea of federal seems like a good short range moose cartridge
when i say short i mean less than 300 yards

That would be 338 Win.Mag. Mostly plain old 250 Noslers at 2700ish.

 

[MTM]

I don't buy that. Given the same bullet, same POI, and everything else in the scenario the same a .270 and .284 will do less damage then a 338 mag.
Now if you're using a Barnes Triple shock in the 338 and a Hornady V-Max in a hot .270 the .270 will do more damage.

I hear what you're saying, otherwise what would be the point of larger rounds. Generaly speaking the slightly lower verlocity 338 sluggs will make less of a mess. Not exactly scientific lingo but I think most get the idea. I find my STW launching 160 TSXs to be extremely destructive. Shot placement is critical.

 

[hansol]

I'm going to test out my 12 bore shotgun loads during deer season and see how they work out. Maybe those will end the discussion of "how big is too big"

 

[JasonYuke]

I have shot a deer with a 338 and a 250 gr Interlack, did the least amount of damage you could expect, double lung in and out nickel sized hole.

I have done a whole lot more damage with lighter bullets and velocity, than big and slow stuff.

A 45-70 with lead you can butcher to the hole!

 

[X-fan]

I don't buy that. Given the same bullet, same POI, and everything else in the scenario the same a .270 and .284 will do less damage then a 338 mag.
Now if you're using a Barnes Triple shock in the 338 and a Hornady V-Max in a hot .270 the .270 will do more damage.

You don't buy it because you have never done it.

Myself and others have hands on experience shooting deer with the 270, 7 mag, and 338 win. The 338win definitely damages less meat and yes deer do seem to go farther than when shot the small fast bores. It seems counter intuitive however it is reality.

The heavy duty bullet construction and reduced velocity produce very modest and slow expansion on a broadside shot. The result is a dead deer that usually bounces a few feet before tipping over.
Shoot the same deer end to end and the results are clearly devastating as the bullet opens up. Same thing when you shoot something like a moose.

For the record the messiest kill I have ever experienced was with a .338 225gr TSX traveling at 3200fps....A hot load in a 338Ultra.
It vaporized the far shoulder.....As in gone.
I was upset beyond words and will never again use this combination on deer.

 

[blargon]

I like the .338WM, as it throws a good sized bullet at moderate speeds. I have some 225gr interlocks loaded at 2700fps, and although I haven't shot a deer yet with them, I don't think it would do any more "damage" to the edibles than a 180gr from a 30-06 at 2700.

When you get higher velocity with these bullets, you may have more trouble, but that also goes for a .30 cal interlock as well. I also have some 200gr interlocks that I may load to 2800 or so for a deer load. The trajectory mimics my .308 with 165gr bullets... I don't need high-velocity for my hunting...

 

[manitou210]

Saw a fellow at range shooting a 338 today he had Busnell low end scope fired 5 shot group at 300 yards in wind 3 where in a 1 1/4 total size of 5 where 2 3/4" I asked what powder he was using.he said 53 grs of H 4350 my friend beside me said thats a light load I shoot 58grs in my 30.06. fellow replyed yeh I know its not a hot load 2040 fps with 225gr hawk bullets.
Would this not be good on deer

 

[Jimbobob08]

Saw an old guy hit a fawn with a 220grain in 3006, hunting party didnt like him too much after that

 

[canadaman30]

Would rather have overkill in a calibre then to be undergunned.

 

[wonksy]

Here's my new deer slayer: 300 RUM w/2.5-16x50mm Elite 6500


http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv314/wonksy/300ultra.jpg

 

[SMITH45]

I shot a deer with a 45-70 top load from Hogdon book. A Hornady 350gr flat point at 2100 FPS. When the deer was hit(broadside), this one make a flip and run for 15 yards, no more, with a good blood trail. When opened, I saw that the lung had vaporized...other than a 2 inches hole at the exit, no meat loss.

Bullet selection is the most important thing to look at. I know some people that have only one rifle, being a .338WM, and most selected the 210Gr Nosler Partition, and they are pretty satisfied whith the result.

I know one fellow who shot a deer with a .444Marlin remington load in the shoulder, and he lost most of the deer ,cos' the damage were awesome. Now, He changes is load to a 265Gr Hornady, and the deer fall with minimal meat damage.

Yves

 

[MTM]

You don't buy it because you have never done it.

Myself and others have hands on experience shooting deer with the 270, 7 mag, and 338 win. The 338win definitely damages less meat and yes deer do seem to go farther than when shot the small fast bores. It seems counter intuitive however it is reality.

The heavy duty bullet construction and reduced velocity produce very modest and slow expansion on a broadside shot. The result is a dead deer that usually bounces a few feet before tipping over.
Shoot the same deer end to end and the results are clearly devastating as the bullet opens up. Same thing when you shoot something like a moose.

For the record the messiest kill I have ever experienced was with a .338 225gr TSX traveling at 3200fps....A hot load in a 338Ultra.
It vaporized the far shoulder.....As in gone.
I was upset beyond words and will never again use this combination on deer.

Been there ,done that. My worst/messiest kills were a couple of years ago, I hunted with a 338-378 WBY. Shot two 4 pt. Mulies with the 210 TSX at 3450. Lazer beem, easy to hit with but MASS destuction. That gun would be best used with 250s on big stuff. Load the same bullet at 2900 in the 338 Win. and its a whole different ballgame.

 

[mcrae555]

I forgot one in my list that I posted earlier. Came to me last night as I was eating my deer stew! Last fall I shot a whitetail doe at about 40 yards with a 300 RUM using a 200 grain Accubond. It caused a pretty big mess but I really shouldn't have shot the doe square in the shoulder LOL...Had I put a good shot into her behind the front leg I doubt I would have seen the level of damage I did...

 

[freezer filler]

Been there ,done that. My worst/messiest kills were a couple of years ago, I hunted with a 338-378 WBY. Shot two 4 pt. Mulies with the 210 TSX at 3450. Lazer beem, easy to hit with but MASS destuction. That gun would be best used with 250s on big stuff. Load the same bullet at 2900 in the 338 Win. and its a whole different ballgame.

i am beginning to understand the benefits of handloading, i'd like to know if it saves money too...obviously there are startup costs but i wonder how easily they may be recouped (i also shoot a 9mm HiPower that loves to eat bullets)...either way i do understand what u guys r saying about lower velocity loads not being as damaging. next thing i have to figure out is what would be a good caliber to handload for moose and deer? i am thinking 300wm

 

[scott_r]

You don't buy it because you have never done it.

Myself and others have hands on experience shooting deer with the 270, 7 mag, and 338 win. The 338win definitely damages less meat and yes deer do seem to go farther than when shot the small fast bores. It seems counter intuitive however it is reality.

The heavy duty bullet construction and reduced velocity produce very modest and slow expansion on a broadside shot. The result is a dead deer that usually bounces a few feet before tipping over.
Shoot the same deer end to end and the results are clearly devastating as the bullet opens up. Same thing when you shoot something like a moose.

For the record the messiest kill I have ever experienced was with a .338 225gr TSX traveling at 3200fps....A hot load in a 338Ultra.
It vaporized the far shoulder.....As in gone.
I was upset beyond words and will never again use this combination on deer.

You're right!! never have shot a 338 but what you're saying makes sense with the slower velocity. I was always under the impression the 338 mag was quite a fast round.

Cheers!!

 

[blargon]

i am beginning to understand the benefits of handloading, i'd like to know if it saves money too...obviously there are startup costs but i wonder how easily they may be recouped (i also shoot a 9mm HiPower that loves to eat bullets)...either way i do understand what u guys r saying about lower velocity loads not being as damaging. next thing i have to figure out is what would be a good caliber to handload for moose and deer? i am thinking 300wm

Yeah, the WSM would be a good choice for both, and by loading, will save you lots of $$. The .30 cal probably has the largest selection of bullets of all calibers...