.300 WM vs .338 WM...

I think the weight of the rifle and the stock design has more to do with kick than 300 or 338. From my experience the kick is about the same, this is why if you go for the 338 get one that "fits" you well.

If you can shoot it the 338 will serve you well. I am not personally familiar with the relative difference in speed of kill with a 300 but compared to a 3006 there is difference. Respective animals are all dead, they just did not go as far before dropping with the 338.
 
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Just to clarify, I never saw my 338 WM kill a moose, deer or bear any faster than my 300WM (or 300WSM for that matter, although I have not shot a moose with it yet)

I did notice a difference with the 375 H&H and 375 Ruger (only one bear with 375 Ruger to date), though.

Lots of peopel like the 338WM, and it's probably a good cartridge, but my experiences tell me that you need to put up with more recoil for what appears to be minimal gains, and if you want bigger than .308 caliber, to look at .375's and .416;s.
 
I sort of have 3 catagories. My 7 STW is for close to home Deer, crows whatever. My 338 is for Deer hunting where Bears or larger game may be around. And my .375 or 416 are for serious Elk and Moose hunting.
 
I have a ruger stainless 77 in .338 win and my friend has the exact same rifle in .300 win mag. I have had the opportunity to fire both side by side and let me tell you.... there is a reason I use my Savage .300 win mag more. The recoil is significantly larger in the .338 (I rarely ever use the .338 anymore)
I shot a box of 20 out of the .338 last fall at the range and I said to myself " thats enough for today". I normally shoot about 140-200 rounds on a range day, plus hundreds of .22 and shotgun clay shooting.
The ballistics are about the same, the kill is about the same (.300 faster bullet/.338 slightly slower with bigger bullet), I second the motions of the previous posts to go even bigger to the .375 H & H or .375 Ruger.
The .300 and .338 are akin to .22 long and long rifle. Not too much difference, at least not enough to rebarrel that gun and waste an heirloom
 
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Calum said:
What in the carp are you shooting at that requires 300 grain bullets? :confused:
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Just nice to have thsoe up your pipe if your following a big bear deep into ths underbrush, not necessary, but nice nonetheless.

As far as recoil is concerned I am pretty tolerant. The .300 WM never beat me up, especially since I put a Bell & Carlson stock on it (bought on the exchange). This stock design really turned the .300 into a pussycat for me and I expect that .338 WM will be manageable.

Got the barrel coming, now I need to find someone to screw the pipe on, any suggestions? I called the local smith in Kelowna and he turned down the job...
Does Del Selins in Vernon do any gunsmithing?

Troutseeker
 
troutseeker said:
Got the barrel coming, now I need to find someone to screw the pipe on, any suggestions? I called the local smith in Kelowna and he turned down the job...
Does Del Selins in Vernon do any gunsmithing?

Troutseeker
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I have only "used" 2 gunsmiths in BC

Bill Leeper (Leeper on this forum) built me the best rifle I own

And Dennis Sorenson (Guntech on this forum) has done several smaller, but important- jobs for me. And he has done it very quickly.

If you can get either one to fit in your job with thier schedule, you are doing well.

I trust both these men. Nuff said
 
A buddy at work tell's me he will try to get a smith from Kamloops to do the work for me. I hope it works out, the guy is well know for making great barrels, not sure he'll stoop to screwing on a used pipe on an old gun...

Now I need brass and boolits!

Troutseeker
 
Put it on the the bus and send it to Dennis Sorinson.
Don't worry about the distance.


Dennis wont let you down....I have at least 20 guns that he has worked on....Some of them are very very expensive.

He is reasonably priced and will get the job done in a reasonable amount of time.
 
Another 338 fan here as well, shot a number of animals with it and would will shoot more.
The 300 is a great cartridge for North American hunters as well. They both have thier place and time.
As mentioned many times before and I have no doubts is a moose bear or deer was standing at 100 yards with either cartridge would do the trick, you can not argue accuracy or performance as they will both shoot at distance.

I like 250s in my 338 big heavy slugs that I can push at pretty respectable velocities the Foot pounds of energy are greater with the 338 but not by a whole lot.

I just cant argue the fact or anyone would (IT JUST MAKES A BIGGER HOLE)

Give me the 338!
 
I always worry when I have two rifles the use the same case like the 7mm rem mag and 338 win mag.. it would be a ##### to rattle a 7mm down the 338 bore.. I don't think you could chamber a 338 in a 7 mag due to the neck and bullet diameter..

If you want heavier bullets in a 30 cal check out www.wildcatbullets.homestead.com

Richard has heavy for calibre bullets available..
 
Blygy said:
I always worry when I have two rifles the use the same case like the 7mm rem mag and 338 win mag.. it would be a ##### to rattle a 7mm down the 338 bore.. I don't think you could chamber a 338 in a 7 mag due to the neck and bullet diameter..

If you want heavier bullets in a 30 cal check out www.wildcatbullets.homestead.com

Richard has heavy for calibre bullets available..
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A 7RM will chamber in a 338WM but if you shoot it, all that will happen is a) Poor accuracy b) A fireformed case (which might split)

Not a good idea, but probably not catastrophic. You'd have to really muscle your bolt to chamber a 338WM in a 7RM!:)
 
Blygy said:
I always worry when I have two rifles the use the same case like the 7mm rem mag and 338 win mag.. it would be a ##### to rattle a 7mm down the 338 bore.. I don't think you could chamber a 338 in a 7 mag due to the neck and bullet diameter..
Click to expand...

No worries here as the 7mm is a SAUM! Like me, short, fat and no belt...

Troutseeker
 
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