I am looking at a Savage in 338 WM. I know the 340 Wby is faster and I know that brass can get a little spendy. I do handload so once I have the brass I will be in good shape there. I know the choice in 338 bullets is not nearly as good as 30 cal or 7mm. So I guess I'm pretty well up to speed about the (percieved) negatives of the cartridge. What I want to know is whether it is considered adequate for squirrels, OOPS, I mean brown (and white) bears. The good things about the rifle I'm looking at is that it is cheap and nearly new in terms of metal and wood. BTW, the stock on this one is very nice. So fire away with all the reasons something else would be better or why Savage is junk (I own three already, 223, 308, and 280) or if you have a mind to you could just answer my question and give reasons for your opinion. And I hope no one is offended by the way I have written this message.
338 Win mag
- Thread starter reomack
- Start date
I'm with Buckmastr. A versatile and easy to reload cartridge. I'd extend the range of bullet weights up to include 300 grains (Hawk Bullets). The .338 will certainly do a good job on "squirrels"....plus most other game that walks this and several other continents. Provided the fella behind the buttplate is up to the task. One of my favourites, too. Chambered in a tough and reliable Savage rifle, they make a good combo. If the price is right, go for it.
It seems like the .338s are quite popular in BC and Alaska, so it appears that quite a few people think they are adequate for brown bears, planned or otherwise. Myself, I never could see where the .338 Win killed anything any deader or any faster than a .300, in fact I've observed the opposite. My grizzly/brown bear experience is limited to one with each, and watching a third get shot with a .338.
Since the .338 caliber seems to wake up when married to the RUM case, I'll presume that the Weatherby at similar speeds would be the same. You don't need 1000 cases anyway.
Since the .338 caliber seems to wake up when married to the RUM case, I'll presume that the Weatherby at similar speeds would be the same. You don't need 1000 cases anyway.
- Location
- kingston Ontario
If you have a 338 Winchester Mag you are well gunned for sure .. I have shot moose with this caliber and the moose die for sure .. I shot a moose through a four inch poplar tree and killed the moose ..It will take a 1000 pound Grizz and when shot in the chest push him back on his hunch's .. I have shot a 340 Weatherby and they are too much recoil for me anyway . but no doubt a very powerful gun
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I've shot both a 300 Wm and 338 WM for years and killed quite a bit of game with them. I generally use 180's in the 300 and 225's in the 338. A lot of the negativity in regard to the 338 comes when guys use light bullets to maximize the trajectory. IMO, that's a bad idea and not what the caliber was designed for. Equally asinine is using 220g and up in the 300.
Bottom line; if you want to shoot 180/200g, get a 300. If you want 225's and up, get a 338. My thoughts on the matter anyhow.
Bottom line; if you want to shoot 180/200g, get a 300. If you want 225's and up, get a 338. My thoughts on the matter anyhow.
westcoaster
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central BC
I've hunted with the 338wm for a number of years now and have found it extremely accurate, easy on meat, and reasonable recoil. I think the bullet selection in 338's is pretty good. I personally just use 250 grn bullets for consistency in POI but there is quite a range.
I cannot swear it kills better than a 7mm or on of the fast 30's but it does work well; I've taken 2 grizzlies, lots of black bears, lots of deer, lots of moose, and lots of elk - it works.
If you buy it you will not regret it.
I cannot swear it kills better than a 7mm or on of the fast 30's but it does work well; I've taken 2 grizzlies, lots of black bears, lots of deer, lots of moose, and lots of elk - it works.
If you buy it you will not regret it.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I would say that your incorrect when it comes to bullet selection. My LGS is always sold out of bullets for common bores, like 308, 223. Usually good selection of all the makers and varieties that are made for the other calibers in 338. Now 338 and 375 are right were retailers decide to start scalping customers price wise, still cheap though.
My 338 wm's kill well. No hammer of Thor cartridge were one can get away with poor shot placement, no caliber does that. They are right at the beginning of the medium bores, and the upper limit of most peoples recoil tolerance, before either muzzle breaks or poor shooting. Larger 338's like the Rum, Edge, or Lapua are definitely in need of MB's, or most shooters start to flinch. They also burn 30+grains more powder for probably 300ft/sec.
One might guess correctly, that i am a big fan of the 2.5" magnum family.
My 338 wm's kill well. No hammer of Thor cartridge were one can get away with poor shot placement, no caliber does that. They are right at the beginning of the medium bores, and the upper limit of most peoples recoil tolerance, before either muzzle breaks or poor shooting. Larger 338's like the Rum, Edge, or Lapua are definitely in need of MB's, or most shooters start to flinch. They also burn 30+grains more powder for probably 300ft/sec.
One might guess correctly, that i am a big fan of the 2.5" magnum family.
- Location
- kingston Ontario
When I was getting into moose hunting a guy had both the 300 win mag and the 338 win mag .. He of course had done alot more moose hunting than me and he was the one that owned both guns ,, He always told me that the 300 was better at longer shots and the 338 was the better gun at close range due too the heavier bullets drop ..
I never shot enough moose with each gun ; to really see the difference .. I have both here myself now and it really does not matter too me what gun I am carrying .. But I do know the 338 speaks with authority .. and it is near the recoil that most people can tolerate ;as nowarningshot ; has already said . It is the choice of B.C. hunters for a reason
I never shot enough moose with each gun ; to really see the difference .. I have both here myself now and it really does not matter too me what gun I am carrying .. But I do know the 338 speaks with authority .. and it is near the recoil that most people can tolerate ;as nowarningshot ; has already said . It is the choice of B.C. hunters for a reason
Thanks all for the thoughtlful and helpful inpt. I will buy the rifle and put it to good use. The hardest recoiling gun I currently own is a 7 mag firing 175 gr reloads at about 3100 fps. Hope I don't flinch with the 338.
I like my 338 Win Mag loaded with 225 gr bullets at 2900 fps...It just sorta make things fall over when it hits them....Not sure how heavy that Savage is...but in my Sako 75 the recoil is very manageable even with the 250 gr bullets...and for me personally I find it much more tolerable than my 7mm mag with 160/175 gr bullets or any 300 mags I have shot...it is a longer kick..more like a hard shove then a mean stinging ##### slap.
Jim
Jim
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I've hunted with .338 win mag pushing 250 grain Sierra'a t 2725 fps for many years. There's no such thing as a "perfect" big game round in my opinion, but the 338 win mag is about as close as anything I've come across.
I have found it to be very reliable killer, and my experience is that it's performance on game is much more like the .375 H&H than the .300 win mag, two other chamberings I use and have seen used by my hunting partners for decades.
I know there are bigger .338's out there, but the fact is most hunters can't reliably handle anything much past a .30-06 anyway in terms of recoil and muzzle blast, and the difference in recoil and muzzle blast between a win mag and a RUM (for example) is significant. A handloaded win mag with a high-BC bullet will still carry 2000 ft/lbs of energy to over 500 yards, which is still a clean pass through on a big moose on a broadside shot.
I have found it to be very reliable killer, and my experience is that it's performance on game is much more like the .375 H&H than the .300 win mag, two other chamberings I use and have seen used by my hunting partners for decades.
I know there are bigger .338's out there, but the fact is most hunters can't reliably handle anything much past a .30-06 anyway in terms of recoil and muzzle blast, and the difference in recoil and muzzle blast between a win mag and a RUM (for example) is significant. A handloaded win mag with a high-BC bullet will still carry 2000 ft/lbs of energy to over 500 yards, which is still a clean pass through on a big moose on a broadside shot.
i reload for my 338winmag, and find the recoil to be more tolerable then that of my parkerhale 7mm mag, my current 338 is an xbolt, but i load it with 185gr barnes tsx, accurate out to 350(longest shot ive taken on range),it packs less recoil then all 3 of my hunting partners 300`s, (savage, winchester, and remington)
its now become my all around gun,
the more trips out to the bush i do, i run into more and more hunters using 338, components can be a bit tricky to find here and there, but i managed to score a big box of brass and order bullets from where ever i find them online, and now i`m set for life basically, dont be afraid of the stigma associated with it being a big mag, its a manageable caliber , get one, load it up and go fill the freezer!!
its now become my all around gun,
the more trips out to the bush i do, i run into more and more hunters using 338, components can be a bit tricky to find here and there, but i managed to score a big box of brass and order bullets from where ever i find them online, and now i`m set for life basically, dont be afraid of the stigma associated with it being a big mag, its a manageable caliber , get one, load it up and go fill the freezer!!
Those are some cooking hot loads - confirmed MV over a chrony??
Just like Halfton says, I don't find the recoil on my new Savage 116FCSS (Weather Warrior SS accustock) in .338WM (210gr TTSXs at 2760 so far)to be much harder hitting to the shoulder than my Savage 110 7mmRM pushing 160gr Accubonds at 2980, just a noticeably longer shove. The .338 has the factory 1" thick rubber recoil pad, the 7mm had a limbsaver, but about the same amount of squishy rubber. Both rifles are pretty much the same weight, same barrel lengths and stock dimensions. I'm going to switch powders in hopes of a bit more speed with the 210grs, it's not a plinking gun for me by any means, but if a scrawny bean-pole like me can shoot a couple groups at a time under MOA, I'd say most guys who can shoot a 7 Mag well will do fine. I haven't tipped over any creatures with it yet, but I'm confident it will be enough for squirrel defence with even the largest specimens. With any luck, it will kill a bison next month.
Oh, and no issues with the magazine latch either. Mine has the all-metal magazine and bottom metal though, not the plastic version like the trophy hunter package series.
Well I did get the gun, won at auction for 300 USD, but with S&H plus internet premium of 18% plus FFL transfer fee the total will probably come to about 425 USD. I didn't mention it but this rifle comes with a nice Burris scope too. Looking forward to shooting it and hunting with it as well. Thanks again for all the helpful input.
