......and that's not really a fair comparison. The 358 Norma beats the 338 in every comparison.
Ted
.338 or 35 Whelan
- Thread starter randrash
- Start date
......and that's not really a fair comparison. The 358 Norma beats the 338 in every comparison.
Ted
......and that's not really a fair comparison. The 358 Norma beats the 338 in every comparison.
Now THAT is true
Re: the ballistics, I went to a straight factory vs. factory comparison (http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/), rather than comparing handload data that's not matched to SAAMI pressure levels.
The Remington numbers for a 250 grain bullet shows 260 fps more for the .338, which comes out to -15.5 vs. -20.4 drop @ 300 yards (5 inches for the .338).
Same numbers show 3927 ME vs. 3197 ME, which comes out to 730 pounds in favor for the .338. Not quite 800 pounds; I blame the US public schools for my poor math skills, but a whole lot more than 500 pounds.
Again, the .35 Whelen is a great cartridge and very efficient. That doesn't make it the equal of the .338. That also doesn't mean that it's a bad cartridge or not a great choice for any North American hunting situation.
- Location
- Daysland AB
Do what I did, get them both. No Bs needed, more guns more happy
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I've shot .338's some, and I use the Whelen a lot - I own three. I do not own a .338 because I can't shoot one consitently & accurately. They make me flinch. My Whelens will pentrate full length of a moose or elk with Speer GS 250 Gr. bullets @2500 FPS. Exit holes are the norm on broadside shots. Any more "power" such as the .338, 375, etc. would just be wasted on the air on the other side - and I just don't need flatter trajectory than the Whelen offers.
If discussing choice in rifles - no question that the .338 gives more. But I've shot 14 big critters (elk-moose-mountain caribou) with my Whelens, and found them to be completely satisfactory for the task. I also practise with them a lot. "Shootability" mattters most to me, your needs may vary.
I like Hank's quote- more guns more happy ;-)
If discussing choice in rifles - no question that the .338 gives more. But I've shot 14 big critters (elk-moose-mountain caribou) with my Whelens, and found them to be completely satisfactory for the task. I also practise with them a lot. "Shootability" mattters most to me, your needs may vary.
I like Hank's quote- more guns more happy ;-)
- Location
- Saskatchewan
a couple more thoughts...
quote " Would like the extra power to get up to 400 if needed"
that MAY be needed what, once in 20 trips? stalk closer! I personally have taken shots over 300 yds maybe three times in my life, and I choose not to shoot that far any more. It's called Hunting not Shooting!
and about Grizzly protection - wouldn't you rather carry a fairly light, handy, 22" barrel rifle around all day, every day, than lug a .338 that weighs a pound or two more and has a barrel a couple inches longer? More likely to have it in hand when actually needed!
quote " Would like the extra power to get up to 400 if needed"
that MAY be needed what, once in 20 trips? stalk closer! I personally have taken shots over 300 yds maybe three times in my life, and I choose not to shoot that far any more. It's called Hunting not Shooting!
and about Grizzly protection - wouldn't you rather carry a fairly light, handy, 22" barrel rifle around all day, every day, than lug a .338 that weighs a pound or two more and has a barrel a couple inches longer? More likely to have it in hand when actually needed!
.338 win mag. Or just get stupid big rifle like a .416 rigby, or .438 Laupa?, or .50 BMg, or 500 Nitro Express. I own a .338 and I like it, I've never shot a .35 so I can't compare, but not many people complain about the .338 ever letting them down.
I don't think the question is so much whether a rifle will let someone down-but rather IF they can hit what they are shooting at.I just wonder how many guys who own magnums regularly target shoot with them until they are proficient?I come back to what old Joe Gibault said-''hunt with the rifle you shoot with''[and not a lot of guys can top him for experiance, former CO,wrote many of the hunting regs, proficient target shooter,hunter,rifle builder,gunsmith, etc]
Many years ago when Remington first chambered for the Whelen I fired a couple at the range. At the time I had been useing the 338 for quite a while. I couldn't beleive how light the recoil was for launching big bullets at decent speeds. This was from fairly light short barreled BDLs. They were very accurate. The factory Whelen guns should be smaller than factory 338s and take more rounds in the mag. Should be a very capable round. What do I use in that range, 338. As far as recoil, shoot your guns lots and become totally familiar with them. If you can't handle big ones use something smaller. If you shoot lots of .40+ rounds the 338 feels like a 308.
smokingunn
Member
Not sure what your budget is but a 338-378 weatherby has similar if not slightly better characteristics than 338 lapua mag. either of these is more than capable of dropping a moose or grizzly bear at some pretty spectacular ranges. The weatherby is definetly a cheaper way to go than 338lm, never thought i would hear the words cheap and weatherby in the same sentence, but there it is.
The .338WM is the best All-Around cartridge there is for N.A. big game. It has light recoil and plenty of punch for big moose and bears with either 225gr or 250gr bullets, plus you can use the excellent Nosler 210gr for smaller critters, sheep, deer etc...
I think the .35 Whelen is a great cartridge also. I am baffled as to how people have referred to it as "anemic". It is adequate for anything that walks in N.A. If I didn't have a .338WM I would consider the Whelen; I actually bought my .338WM just before Remington legitimized the Whelen by offering it in their M-700, so I never had to make a choice between the two.
Either, or I say...
I think the .35 Whelen is a great cartridge also. I am baffled as to how people have referred to it as "anemic". It is adequate for anything that walks in N.A. If I didn't have a .338WM I would consider the Whelen; I actually bought my .338WM just before Remington legitimized the Whelen by offering it in their M-700, so I never had to make a choice between the two.
Either, or I say...
Just started reading this thread and got as far as Northman999's bit about proponents of the 35 comparing their hot hand loads to vanilla factory loads in 338. Well.......I have 2 very nice old brownings in 35 whelen and 338 win mag. I can get 1/2" groups out of either with hand loads but my favorite combination is the 35 with federal's 225 grain TBBC factory loads. I have to settle for 3/4" groups but I don't think the 338 can beat it for tipping over a moose at 400 measured yards.
They are both great cartridges and it is hard to argue with the 338 being more practical when it comes to numbers on paper and availability of ammo. As far as recoil goes, neither is hard to take. The 35 holds 2 more rounds. I take both rifles when I go on a moose hunt but the 338 always seems to stay in its case. But that's just me.
They are both great cartridges and it is hard to argue with the 338 being more practical when it comes to numbers on paper and availability of ammo. As far as recoil goes, neither is hard to take. The 35 holds 2 more rounds. I take both rifles when I go on a moose hunt but the 338 always seems to stay in its case. But that's just me.
5 inches less drop @ 300 yards and 800 lbs more energy at the muzzle is 'nothing more than opinion'? That's one big, juicy, energetic opinion
OK,
Again, If you take an anemic 35 whelen loading, and a hot 338 loading, your numbers support your arguement...
Take a look all the way down the ballistic sheet your comparing from, and avarage the difference in your head.
More like a couple hundred foot pounds average????
We're not comparing 2 anemic loads here, we're comparing 2 rounds that are both capable of over 3000 ft lbs of energy al day long, and for all intents and purposes if you think the couple hundred pounds of energy, and a couple of inches of drop are going to make your bullet bounds off.. Than stick with the 338 win mag.
these are two very comparable BIG game rounds that only small marginal numbers difference tht some guy with a calculator thinks is important.
C'mon bish,
this is as sad as a 270 vs 280 arguement.
The actual difference wont be visible to 99% of shooters and hunters on game...
Toss a coin to compare a 35 Whelen to a 338/06 on the lower end or a 9.3x62 on the upper end, but it's ridiculous to compare a 338 Win Mag to a 35 Whelen and say anything but the 338 will beat it in every way with every bullet weight, simply by virtue of its much greater case capacity.
I own a 35 Whelen and love it, but getting back to the original question, I'd choose a 338 WM over a 35 Whelen any day for dual purpose Moose hunting and Bear protection.
I own a 35 Whelen and love it, but getting back to the original question, I'd choose a 338 WM over a 35 Whelen any day for dual purpose Moose hunting and Bear protection.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
If I already had a 264 Win Mag or 7mm Rem Mag, I'd go with the 338 Win Mag
to avoid changing shell holders & trim lengths ... but seeing how I have a
25-06, I chose the "35-06" for the same reasons. Less screwing around.
The 35 Whelen has been excellent on moose over the last 20 years, ( 250 gr. Hornady's & 225 Accu-bonds) has taken a bunch of deer with 220 gr. Speer
Flat Noses loaded down to almost 35 Remington velocity.
Any black bears I have killed were with a 44-40, 44 Mag, 30-30 or a 20g. with slugs. Don't really need "too much" in the way of "bear protection" here in the east.
Prior to the 60's, the 35 Whelen was one of the best options without having to pony up the extra cash for a 375 H&H. It worked pretty good then, and still works pretty good now. But, I gues if you have to kill your moose at 500 yards and big ugly charging bad-tempered grizz at 25 yards or more ... well,
I guess only the 338 will do. Now I feel really inadequate and under-gunned without one !
to avoid changing shell holders & trim lengths ... but seeing how I have a
25-06, I chose the "35-06" for the same reasons. Less screwing around.
The 35 Whelen has been excellent on moose over the last 20 years, ( 250 gr. Hornady's & 225 Accu-bonds) has taken a bunch of deer with 220 gr. Speer
Flat Noses loaded down to almost 35 Remington velocity.
Any black bears I have killed were with a 44-40, 44 Mag, 30-30 or a 20g. with slugs. Don't really need "too much" in the way of "bear protection" here in the east.
Prior to the 60's, the 35 Whelen was one of the best options without having to pony up the extra cash for a 375 H&H. It worked pretty good then, and still works pretty good now. But, I gues if you have to kill your moose at 500 yards and big ugly charging bad-tempered grizz at 25 yards or more ... well,
I guess only the 338 will do. Now I feel really inadequate and under-gunned without one !
