All purpose hunting rifle

Spydr

Spydr

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Ok for some reason I have 338 on the mind and i need some help.
I want something I can shoot moose deer coyotes and buffalo with all in one calibre. I also want to be able to do some long range work with it and I want a detach mag, medium weight under 10 pounds. So what are my choices?
 
.338 is a great do all caliber for Alberta. Not for coyotes though, it's not very flat shooting and ruins the pelt. Do what many do and buy the .338, then buy a .243 (or something similar) so you also have a coyote/backup deer gun.
 
Depending where you are this all in one might not be possible. I know here, you cannot shoot a coyote or fox with anything larger than .22 calibre. And as far as ym common sense tells me, you can't shooting anything bigger than a coyote with a .22 cal...well...maybe an antelope with a .22-250, but around here, the coyotes are bigger than antelope :)
 
Spydr said:
Ok for some reason I have 338 on the mind and i need some help.
I want something I can shoot moose deer coyotes and buffalo with all in one calibre. I also want to be able to do some long range work with it and I want a detach mag, medium weight under 10 pounds. So what are my choices?
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For me the 308 Win can not be beat for an around gun, from coyotes to moose taken them all with my ruger 77.

Bob
 
On the plus side the .338 is good for all big game in North America, without the semi-standard disclaimers of no big bears, or only with premium bullets or only on perfect broadside presentations with the front leg foreward.
On the minus side, how long will it be before some glass shouldered wanna-be comic starts a " is a .338 enough for deer?" thread?:rolleyes:
 
I like the idea of one gun for everything. How many folks who have a rifle for each day of the week bring the wrong gun for the right occasion? The .338 wouldn't be my first choice, but there's no reason it couldn't be made to work, as it is the handloader and the marksman who determines the versatility of any particular rifle. You might not even tear up a coyote too badly if you can find a pointed solid to shoot it with, and the .338 has oodles of power for everything else. The only caution I might suggest is not to over-scope the thing just because you want to use it for coyotes. A 2-7X or a 2.5-8X is plenty of scope for any kind of game shooting, and set on high power doesn't reduce the eye relief to the point of injury from the recoil of a powerful rifle.
 
The idea of shooting a .338 at everything I shoot at makes my head ache. There is no doubt whatsoever that it will kill everything, but I just don't shoot that many moose compared to deer, coyotes, and gophers. There is no need, and no fun, in using a .338 for that stuff. Not for me, anyway.

I think if you want only one rifle for everything ( .... ick ) it should be something that is more suitable for everything, but which can work on the special occasions. I would pick a .308, .270 (bottom end), .280, 7mm-08, or .30-06 for a one gun hunter. All of those will without doubt kill moose and elk with anything like proper bullet placement, and will be much more fun at the range and when hunting other game.
 
For Western Canada the 338 is ideal. The 243 with rip up coyotes worse than the 338s. Aint no WSM but it'll get the job done every time. Hahaha
 
what they're NOT telling you is that the 338 is an EXPENSIVE cartridge- and compared to the '06/308, it REALLY is- your bullets come in boxes of 50, and cost just as much as 100 30 calibers do or more, same deal with the brass, and it swallows enormous amounts of powder - but it's worse if you buy loaded - the store clerks start thinking "RETIREMENT" when they see a 338 shooter- there isn't much in north america a 30 cal/180 can't put down, ( namely those rather large bruins on a certain island in ak) and it's a WHOLE LOT CHEAPER
 
There is a reason for 30-06 being everybody's first large caliber gun. Yours truly included.

Yes, everybody poo poo's it because it is not ###y, but they all have one in their safe and for a good reason; it is actually the closest thing to an "all purpose" cartridge in North America.

Personally, I have since moved down to 6.5X55 for deer and plinking on the advise of Dr. Shoulder. You may want to spend a day at the range with a 338 before buying it as your "all purpose" rifle.:rolleyes:
 
t-star said:
what they're NOT telling you is that the 338 is an EXPENSIVE cartridge- and compared to the '06/308, it REALLY is- your bullets come in boxes of 50, and cost just as much as 100 30 calibers do or more, same deal with the brass, and it swallows enormous amounts of powder - but it's worse if you buy loaded - the store clerks start thinking "RETIREMENT" when they see a 338 shooter- there isn't much in north america a 30 cal/180 can't put down, ( namely those rather large bruins on a certain island in ak) and it's a WHOLE LOT CHEAPER
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Interlocks come in boxes of 100 and shoot very well in my .338...

As for powder, I'm using 69gr of H4350 compared to 58gr in the .30-06. That gives me 100 shots from a pound of powder, and 120 for an '06. About 5 cents more per shot. I better cut some more coupons I guess...:p
 
If I could only have one gun - .338 Winchester Magnum would be it.
It will take the head off a grouse slicker than snot, turn a coyotes head inside out as well as capable for Moose, Elk, Deer, bear (I never took a Grizz), gophers and groundhogs . . . I don't think I missed anything but you get the idea.
 
blargon said:
Interlocks come in boxes of 100 and shoot very well in my .338...

As for powder, I'm using 69gr of H4350 compared to 58gr in the .30-06. That gives me 100 shots from a pound of powder, and 120 for an '06. About 5 cents more per shot. I better cut some more coupons I guess...:p
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Ya, but every 636 rounds its like getting a free pound of powder. Think of the savings................;) Personally, I spill more powder than that.:D Damn Chargemaster drain valve.:(
 
blargon said:
Interlocks come in boxes of 100 and shoot very well in my .338...

As for powder, I'm using 69gr of H4350 compared to 58gr in the .30-06. That gives me 100 shots from a pound of powder, and 120 for an '06. About 5 cents more per shot. I better cut some more coupons I guess...:p
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i buy my bullets in 1k lots, bulk- my powder i buy in 8 pound canisters, primers in 1 k lots, and my casings in 500s- i get 155 rounds out of a pound of 748, using 180 grain- 45 grains/round, plus i get 2 extra rounds in the magazine- so i figure i get about 3/4s of the performance for about half the price- plus my rifle cost a LOT LESS to begin with- that's waht i mean by expensive-
 
cam1936 said:
.338 is a great do all caliber for Alberta. Not for coyotes though, it's not very flat shooting and ruins the pelt. Do what many do and buy the .338, then buy a .243 (or something similar) so you also have a coyote/backup deer gun.
Click to expand...

I would think the 243 would mess up a coyote hide worse than a 338.

Ted
 
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