.300 WM vs .338 WM...

T

troutseeker

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Well, I'm trying to set myself up with keeper rifles for the rest of my days. No more getting guns for me if I can settle on what I NEED, and not want... I have a beautiful old Mauser in 6.5X55 my dad gave me, I'm keeping it. I just bought a Remington 7mm SAUM that I am lightening to use as my walk around and goat/sheep rifle, I'm keeping it too. Dad gave me a Ruger M77 in 1982 when I moved to BC, I'm keeping it but I am considering re-barrelling it from .300 WM to .338 WM for some additional humph and to distance it from the 7mm.

I figure these three rifles would serve me well for everything I'm going to hunt until I pass on.

Let's hear some opinions on benefits/disadvantages of going to .338 WM.

Thanks, Troutseeker
 
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Since your reply I expanded on my original post... Why? Because I already have a 7mm which can do pretty much all I want and is light. Plus I'd like to shoot heavier bullets for big game and bears (they are dangerous, you know..).

Troutseeker
 
troutseeker said:
Dad gave me a Ruger M77 in 1982 when I moved to BC, I'm keeping it but I am considering re-barrelling it from .300 WM to .338 WM for some additional humph and to distance it from the 7mm.
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I'd leave the 300 as is for sentimental sake.

Need more umph? .... Shoot 200gr Partitions in it or buy a 375Magnum.


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I never saw my 338 WM do anythign that my 300WM couldn't do...One of the reasons I don't use it anymore. Using mostly Nosler PArtitions, the results were always the same.

I suppose in the case of a grizzly charge, I'd err on the side of bigger, of course;)
 
troutseeker said:
Since your reply I expanded on my original post... Why? Because I already have a 7mm which can do pretty much all I want and is light. Plus I'd like to shoot heavier bullets for big game and bears (they are dangerous, you know..).

Troutseeker
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In this case, rebarrel the 300 to 375 Ruger if you want more ker whack power...
 
Gatehouse said:
I never saw my 338 WM do anythign that my 300WM couldn't do...One of the reasons I don't use it anymore. Using mostly Nosler PArtitions, the results were always the same.

I suppose in the case of a grizzly charge, I'd err on the side of bigger, of course;)
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I have shot a fair number of moose over the years with both .30s and .338s. My experience is that the larger bores always kill "quicker" than the smaller diameters when used on large critters. Moose don't "shock" like a deer does and the bigger bullets do create a larger wound channel that seems to bleed them out quicker. "Bullet Energy" means little and bullet momentum and the size of the permanent wound channel are all important. If given a choice between bullwinkle going 50 yards after the shot or 100 I will take the former. (Haul a moose or two out of the slough after the shot and you too will want them to drop asap! ;) )
 
I like the 338 win mag a lot myself, but in your situation I'd do as others have suggested and do up some 220gr Partitions just as fast as you can get them to go and you're done. You hit anything on the continent (properly now!!!)with a 220gr partition from a 300 win mag loaded right to the max and it's dead, period.
 
Had both in each cal.
This is my opinion & I don't need to be flamed, thanks.

In response to other posts,
I believe that deer are harder to kill than moose.
I have hit moose from 50 feet to 600 yards.
Every moose I have shot, once hit , they just stand there in shock for a follow up shot.
Deer I have hit at up to 300 yards with my .300WM & have run full bore for 300 yards plus untill they ran out of blood.

I have had a few rifles of different makes in each caliber.
I have downed moose at 500 yards with one shot with a .338, but also have shot a moose at 600 yards 1 shot with a .300WM.
I can shoot a .300 WM all day long no prob. , but the .338's beat the hell out of me.
My dad (65) still shoots his .300 WM , but loads a slow vel. with a 220 gr bullet & has out done me the last 3 years on moose. 1 shot, 1 kill.

My son now shoots a .300 WSM in a Tikka & nails everything he sees out to 300M with 1 shot. (Young eyes!)
Just depends on what you want.
 
I've got both and have lots of stuff with both. They're both good but the 338 is a good step up on big stuff. Just my experience. I have 2 300s but don't use either.
 
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Will it recoil less than a 45-70? I can't honestly comment on that, I've not shot a 45-70. I must agree with Gibbs, I have a .375 H&H, believe it or not, but the .338WM has a nastier recoil than the .375. The .338 delivers a sharp jolt whereas the .375 is more of a big push is the best way that I can describe it.
 
Another .338 fan here. Heap big thump when the bullet hits :D My Ruger .338 has a decelerator pad on the laminated stock. A friend's 15 yr old son shot it all day at the range (off the bench)and loves it. "Doesn't kick as hard as Dad's .30-06" he says. Obviously the Ruger fits him well.
Will it recoil less than the 45-70 I had?
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What rifle did you have in .45-70? My Guide Gun with factory 405gr loads recoiled less than my Win. 94 .30-30. But load it with 54gr of Re7 under a hard cast 405gr and it turned vicious! In comparison, my Ruger .338 is a pussycat.
 
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i got my 338 "just in case" that big grizzly happens to cross my trail- i normally carry 308-180's but if there's any bear sign in the vicinity, the 338-275's comes out- those are "special " loads you can't get anymore- 275 grain semi-spitzers from speer- same powder charge as the 250's - just a little more oomph
 
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