.338WinMag How much is too much?

BIGREDD

BIGREDD

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I hear the term "too much rifle" used frequently when describing the .338WM. Mostly in the Moose and Deer Hunting Context.:confused:
Not having much experience with this caliber I really never had a qualified opinion. Is it a big bore?... I don't think so... is it a dangerous game caliber?... according to most hunters it is a capable Big Bear rifle and is used with success in the Dark Continent as well!
I have seen the results of the .338WM on Moose first hand and also the .338 Lapua... no question of the ability of these to drop Moose DRT! I have also watched a lot of video of Elk getting Hammered by the .338... I can see why this cartridge is considered the "Ultimate Elk Cartridge":cool:
My Six Million Dollar Shoulders have always made me leery of the .338WM and I usually "arranged" it so that Toomer shot these when we had them for testing or sighting.:redface:
But I recently acquired a beautiful Custom in .338 and after fondling it for six months I decided to work up some hand-loads and shoot them.:rolleyes:
I loaded some 180 BT's and settled on a load that gives 3050fps and shoots one inch groups. The 210 NP's were grouping the same at 2860 fps and at the same point of aim at 100 yards. The 225 NP's were comfortable to shoot at 2700 fps and gave 1 1/2 groups about 2" low and left on the 100yard board.
I tried three rounds from each of the final loads off-hand and was pleasantly surprised... the .338 had no more recoil than my .300:eek:
I was able to shoot the .338 comfortably and accurately... I actually put 5 of the nine in the black @ 100 yards and all nine shots were in the rings, shooting standing off-hand.
I could feel my shoulder afterwards but definitely no worse than shooting my 270WSM or the 300WM.:)
I have gained a new respect for this calibre and have a new Moose/Bear rifle... one less closet queen.;)
I know that many of you fellas out west are using .338's and quite a few Moose hunters here as well.
What is your experience on big game like Bears and Elk and what bullets do you suggest? I am especially curious about the new Barnes X-bullets.:confused:
 
I have a .338 that I use sometimes when hunting in grizzly country (feels a bit safer than my .30-06 ;) ) and I've used Nosler Partitions almost exclusively in it. I found the same thing you did.... the recoil really isn't that bad. The Partitions seem to work perfectly at the sort of medium velocity the .338 shoots them at. I've tried Barnes bullets in other rifles I have and I think they would work great in a .338, but I haven't bothered with them yet because the partitions just seem to work. I haven't tried the 225s, but both 210s and 250s have worked for me on elk.
 
I have a friend that uses a .338 Win Mag, and I have fired it. I like the gun and caliber and believe that it's the largest caliber required for big game hunting on this continent.

It can be down loaded for deer and used full strength for the rest.

RePete.
 
Well the myth of two much rifle/gun to me has been missleading and missunderstood to me for these reasons:
Today's bullet technology has never been better giving the hunter a wide choise of ranges from thin skinned, to Dense thick big boned animals.
The 338 is one of those calibers that is on the fence of big bore but medium bore rifles that can be charged with 210- 250 grain bullets effectively.
Even though they are quite efficient and a proven big game rifle Brown bear or different than whitetail deer. I have not shot a brown bear but I have taken a large 400+ black bear and a whitetail with the 338 the same load and the same year in the same week.
I can honestly tell you the 338 was very effective on the bear as I caught the shoulder it flattened out ans penetrated throught the bear did not evn know that 250 grai pro-hunter hit hit lights out.
However saying this you can argue this Big Red your staightment too much gun, to this, the same year I shot a whitetail buck perfect shot 100 yards away with a excellent rest i took the shot mid way up right behind the shoulder trying to catch some shoulder meet but no bone and whammo!
Nothing the deer took off like a shot? What the hell I said to my self after seeing the effectiveness on the bear? may be i knocked the old Leupold off , HUMM?
Well I did not after about 1/2 hr getting worried getting dusk. I went over mid field where i seen the deer, humm no blood no hair? well I was lucky I seen wher the buck left the field by the old birtch trees off i went, and to my luck 110-120 yards I seen my first blood sign, as I thought to my self DONT TELL ME GUT SHOT! just a dripple, After getting some help and about 100y into the bush it was like a sacrafice blood trail painted on both sides of the trees, there was the deer and there was the penny sized hole right in the point of aim and infact caught the meat in the shoulder and hit lungs no bone right trow oneside and out no expansion, just like I was trying do do the perfect shot and this, tracking a deer 250y ??? HUM

Well I will leave you with this thought MAYBE TOO MUCH GUN? NO
i dont think so OR MAYBE THE WRONG LOAD!!!!!!!!
What was good for peter was not for Paul!
 
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My .338 Ruger has put down several bull moose and one bull elk at looong range featuring 225gr bullets @ 2800fps (chronied) of either Accubond or TBBC flavor. I had a Pachmeyer decellerator installed and it helped big time. The felt recoil of my old Midland .30-06 is heavier IMHO...KF
 
BC Bigbore said:
My .338 Ruger has put down several bull moose and one bull elk at looong range featuring 225gr bullets @ 2800fps (chronied) of either Accubond or TBBC flavor. I had a Pachmeyer decellerator installed and it helped big time. The felt recoil of my old Midland .30-06 is heavier IMHO...KF
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Nice... I would like to get some Data for the 225 grain Accubond, it has a S/D of .281 and a B/C of .550.:eek:
Should have energy in abundance for anything... even toothsome bears.;)
 
I could feel my shoulder afterwards but definitely no worse than shooting my 270WSM or the 300WM.:)
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Now if this isn't the freudian slip of all time, I don't know what is!

Better to have too much gun than not enough.
 
I don't think there is too much gun. The way I see it the bigger the bullet the bigger and shorter the blood trail. In thick mountains this is definitly an asset.

Plus bigger bullets do less damage, figure that one out:rolleyes:

I just got my 338 last year and so far have only killed one deer with it. I had the bullet deflect off an alder twig on a bull elk this year too but we won't get into that one.:mad:

I'd have to see what the loads were, I think they ended up being about 2600 - 2700 fps with 250 gr nosler partitions

I think as long as a guy can handle the recoil then fly at it.

My brothers walnut BDL hits A LOT harder then my BDL SS with R3 pad

Brambles
 
My 338 is not too much gun for shooting game but it is a Browning
T-Bolt and it is getting too heavy for this old fart to carry for a days tramping through the bush.Road or stand hunting would be fine but I still like to climb those Mtns.I will leave the heavy rifles for you young folk.
 
I have never felt over or undergunned with a 338 shooting 225gr nosler partitions. performance ios always exceptional, holes are big, with very little meat damage. My brother now uses his 338 on all his trphy deer hunts with the 200gr Btip. I still cling to the partition, but may swing over to the TSX.
 
I don't think there is too much gun. The way I see it the bigger the bullet the bigger and shorter the blood trail. In thick mountains this is definitly an asset.


Brambles you have never came and played with me and Amphib :D

when you make a bull moose do cartwheels down a road there may have been some exesive force there haha

Red, 338 is what it is , no I wouldnt be afraid to hunt any game animal on earth with one and the barnes X company makes some serious medication for problem animals, as well they are a accurate caliber if tuned in , try it out on your long range course you and Daryll play at , it may suprise you :D
 
Well coming from you Bones that is high praise... I definitely want to try it at long range.... I just kooked some 165 grain screamers for the 300WM.
What would be a good long range bullet for the .338?
 
Try the 180 or 200 gr Ballistic tip, a very good deer killer and reduced recoil to boot. I find a huge difference between the 200 gr loading and fullhouse 250 gr loads for felt recoil. makes them into a different caliber.
 
Geezuz a Kilometer... this rifle does not have a 30 inch barrel... I suppose barrel length is not as much of a factor with larger diameter bores though. How long a barrel did you use on the .338 for 1000 yard?
 
yes we did Red , was a ruger stainless with a bushnell banner 3-9x50 scope on it that has been there for 8 years now , with hunting ammo 225Gr we were pulling in anywere from 11" to 18" with it at 1000 , it was not intended to use the first year but due to rifle issues we had to try it , the groups were 3 different people shooting it as well, there a mean long range caliber and deadly one at that !
 
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