300wm or 338wm

canadaman30

canadaman30

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Looking for one more gun as most of mine are not set-up for long shots at game. Really at a cross roads here deciding as this gun will be used when hunting some open area's (fields, clear cuts). Deer, moose, would be it's application. Well what should I get???? Pro's+Con's
 
The .300 has the edge in trajectory and wind drift. The .338 has a bit of advantage if you want to throw a heavier chunk of lead. Since you are talking longer range I'd go with the .300 for the wind. Much depends on what you consider long range.
 
300 wm. It is my all around long range prairie driver. 180's at 3100 fps put the hurt on anything within your abilities. Longest deer shot was 574 yards on the laser. Longest coyote was 880 yards, standing by the property fence line. It was just to easy to get the range and dial for him :p.
 
would you considerd a 7mm rem mag or do you want to have 30 cal or bigger because the 7mm mag will reach out and touch game just as dead as the 300 win at reasonable ranges.
 
gunrunner8 said:
For your needs the 308 Norma Mag would ace them both....
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As much as I love the 308 Norma Mag [prefer it over the 300 Win Mag] it is ballistically a twin to the 300 Winny, so no "ace" there. What one will do, the other will do equally well. For long range, and with a choice between the 300 Winny and the 338 Winny, the 300 wins. Regards, Eagleye
 
I'm sort of at the same crossroad, except I've had a 300wm most of my adult life. Have a deal pending on mine and am debating the calibre.

I've looked through my reloading books and at the ballistic charts. For me, figuring I'm looking for a 3-400yd elk gun the only thing I see as a step up from the 300wm is a 338-378, which while an obvious step up in downrange dropping power is also a massive step up in $$$.

Sorry guys, for my money the 308 norma magnum is a definite step Down from a 300wm, sort of 1/2 way between a 300 and a 30-06. A 7mm is always a lazer flat option, especially if you've got a sheep tag coming up, but it's also slinging 40gr less lead downrange, too. They're a good option for the recoil sensitive, but again, I personally just don't see it as comparable to a 300winmag (for My purposes).
Try as I might to find a better option I keep concluding I need an abolt medallion in 300winmag.....unless of course someone has a lightly used sporter in 338-378 and rent's coming due? :D
 
canadaman30 said:
Looking for one more gun as most of mine are not set-up for long shots at game. Really at a cross roads here deciding as this gun will be used when hunting some open area's (fields, clear cuts). Deer, moose, would be it's application. Well what should I get???? Pro's+Con's
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First the disclaimer, "Either one will do a fine job."

I would recommend the 338wm as it hits harder up close and further out. It launches heavier bullets which from my experience seem to drift less in wind and the difference in drop is not significant.

I generally try not to quote balllistics tables, but oh brother, these "laser flat" references are not real. Google up the Federal website, use 250 partitions with the 338, 180 partitions with the 300, and 160 partitions with the 7mm 10inches difference in drop at 500 yards is not significant.

So if the ballistics are not materially different why not launch a bigger bullet at a moderate velocity that does not bugger up meat with blood shot. With my 338 I shoot everything from coyotes to moose and elk.
 
I'd choose the 300 over the 338 for what you describe. But I have been thinking more and more about a 338 lately for hitting things a bit harder.
 
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To Quote westcoaster: "With my 338 I shoot everything from coyotes to moose and elk." I used mine on the above plus gophers, groundhogs, and grouse . . .
 
westcoaster said:
I would recommend the 338wm as it hits harder up close and further out. It launches heavier bullets which from my experience seem to drift less in wind and the difference in drop is not significant.
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I ran 3 ballistics tables, one for a .300WM with a 180gr @ 3100fps (as per Johnny_Canuck's numbers), one for the .338 with a 225gr @ 2850fps and one for the .338 with a 250gr @ 2750fps. All bullets were Accubonds, all zeroed at 200yds, atmospheric conditions were standard sea level, with a 10mph crosswind. At 400yds, the numbers are as follows:

.300:
Velocity -2348 fps
Energy - 2203 ft-lb
Drop - 17.6 in
Windage - 10.2 in

225gr .338:
Velocity - 2155 fps
Energy - 2320 ft-lb
Drop - 21.1 in
Windage - 11.2 in

250gr .338:
Velocity - 2136 fps
Energy - 2532 ft-lb
Drop - 22.2 in
Windage - 10.4 in

Just as a point of interest, if the .300 is pushing that 180gr at 3000fps instead of 3100fps, its numbers become:

Velocity - 2261 fps
Energy - 2043 ft-lb
Drop - 19.0 in
Windage - 10.7 in

In the end, the .300 shoots a bit flatter and the wind drift is virtually identical. The .338 hits substantially harder at any range, especially with the 250gr bullets. The .338 also has significantly more recoil than the .300.

For medium game like deer, the extra power of the .338 is not an issue and either cartridge could be considered overkill. Even for elk the .300 is more than adequate.

I personally have a .338 Win Mag in my safe and not a .300, but either one will do the job OP asked about.

Mark
 
I have both of these calibers.

.300 win mag ammo costs less if you're buying factory, and it also shoots flatter. Factory ammo is very easy to find. But, I've never shot a .300 win mag that did not slam me in the shoulder more abruptly than any .338 I've ever shot.

.338 win mag throws bullets that are a whole lot heavier, carry energy farther, and penetrate better than a 375 H&H. Factory ammo costs more, and is not as common as the .300 factory.

I consider these cartridges quite different, actually. I personally consider the 300 win as simply a longer range 30-06, and not much more in terms of killing power. I consider the 338 win mag very, very similar to the 375 H&H in terms of killing power and performance on big game.

Really, all these magnums will kill whatever the heck you want, but I'd take the 338 win mag over the 300 for a pure big game rifle.
 
The .300 win mag is best suited to heavier bullets driven fast, otherwise, I agree that it is just a longer range .30-06. When loaded with 200 grain accubonds, it is truly a long range heavy hitter. The .338 win mag carries big bullets well and a 250 grain partition is a classic load for anything on this side of the pond.

I have both, and have used both extensively. It really is a toss-up.
 
tell the absolute truth- the 300 is just a 308 on SPEED, period- you NEED to move up to to the 338 to gain any appreciable difference- and i can stalk the extra 50 yards difference in pbrs to make the difference
 
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