.338WinMag How much is too much?

I have shot 338 for a while now and it's cost me a lot of meat over the years, but damn it kills good. I have found either the bullets are too hard for deer or too soft and I would not want to try them on bigger. Although the 210PT should get a retry, and I have not tried the 225 accubond or any TSX.

I used the 200 bt's a lot they kill deer like the hammer of Thor but stay away from bone or you'll wreck at least one quarter. This year I said screw it and bought a 270, leave the 338 loaded with 225 partitions and hunt elk with it and hunt deer with the 270.
 
the 338 win mag has a little more thump then the 300 weatherby i think (i had the opertunity to shoot one after the other :D) but it is not unberible and it will kill very well
talk to ya all later
Riley
 
The 338 bore is one of my favorite large calibers for big game, I have only used it on moose. The 338 Lapua, 340 WBY, 338 RUM and 338 Win. Mag are all great hunting calibers for any game in North America, if you can handle the recoil.
bigbull
 
I've used my .338WinMag for for years and shot all kinds of deer, moose, bear, goat, and everytime I drop an animal I just get more impressed with it. My favourite bullets to use are the 225gr. Hornady SP and the 225gr. Accubond. Hornady's for great for deer and goat, also work well on moose in a pinch. :D
The Accubond is my "go to" bullet now, although I don't like how far down it seats in the case. I'd like to try that 180gr. Accubond in .338 :eek:
 
338 Wm

BIGREDD i have a load that is fast and accurate, 78.5gr. H4831 with either 225 accubond or partition for 2950-2975fps in a 24'' tube. If anyone tries this load let me know how it works for you. ( This is a MAX!!!!) load guys. I started with 73gr.
 
I used to have a .338 in a Sako Fiberclass. Wish I never sold it. My dad had one in a custom FN Mauser and my friend had one in a Model 700 BDL. I found the BDL to be brutal on recoil, it felt worse than my .416 RM, and everyone who tried the two side by side agreed. The Sako was a pussycat to shoot. I only loaded 250gr Partitions and 275gr Speer Semi-Spitzers, so I have no info to share about the 225gr. These rifles put game down very well, with less meat damage than people might expect.

BR - you have moved into the medium bore catagory with comfort. There is only one thing left to do...accept and embrace the King of the medium bores: the .375 H&H Magnum!
 
I used to have a .338, and it beat the #### out of me.

It wasn't until years later, when I knew more about guns that I found that it was an ill fitted stock that was the culprit!:D

Bigredds 338 doesn't kick too much at all wihtthe factory loads I shot through it. It's a great rifle.

Hopefully it will smoke a bear or two theis spring!:D
 
BigRedd, I have a Ruger 77Mk2 in 338 Win, and a Rem 700 BDL SS in 338 Ultra. Either one does a great job on game. I like to shoot my Ultra Mag more so than my Winny, the stock fits me better I guess. This year I took a cow moose at 50yrds with my Ultra mag and a 225gr Interbond. Man that bullet did a great job. Broke both shoulders, lungs and was under the hide on the far side. After clean up, the bullet weighed 185.5gr. She dropped on the spot and slid 10yrds down a hill. The Ultra has alot more thump on the shoulder though, when you load it with the 250gr bullets.

Duane
 
In my limited experience, the .338 has the advantage of doing relatively little damage to meat, because it usually exits the animal. Yet the big hole means a sure quick kill.
 
First off a 338 is not a big bore. I have one and it works good so far. I have taken an elk, moose and two bears with it. I used 225 nosler partitions in it. Loaded up some 250 Grandslams for a gizz hunt. Never got a chance to see those 250's in action.
 
I am sure felt recoil is a product of stock design,my 338 Finnbear and my 30.06 BDL weigh the same,about 8 1/2#.The BDL with it's plastic butt plate simply hurts,with the 338 my whole body tingles,but my shoulder doesn't hurt.
 
338 Recoil

The only 338 I've shot is the one I own, a Sako Finnbear. Obviously this rifle punches harder than the only other magnum I own, a 7RM. I find that the recoil is not bad at all considering the power it packs. Although I have to admit, I usually use my 7 mag.
 
A lot of guys think of the 35 Whelen as a good deer rifle, which it is......the 338 Win Mag is just a couple hundred (if that) fps faster with the same bullet wieght. So..if you hit a deer with a 225 out of a 35 Whelen at 200 yards it's about the same as hitting it with a 225 out of the 338 Win Mag at about 250 yards.....I don't think the 338 Win Mag would be "overkill" for deer...afterall..ther is only one degree of dead.
Another example....a guy shows up for a deer hunt with a 300 Weatherby and 180 Hornadys at 3200 fps....another guy carries a 308 Winchester with 180 Hornadys at 2600...the 300 Wtby guy shoots a nice buck at 350 yards...the 308 Win guy shoots one at 200 yards....both good hits, one shot kills....which deer is deader?...I'm guessing on the yardages, but I think you get the point....
 
I think the recoil stories came about as a result of a few rifles that had terrible stock designs. In a rifle that fits, the recoil, while it's no joke, is quite manageable. I found it to be a very accurate round as well, and reloading was a breeze, despite all the crap about it having a short neck.
My rifle preffered 250 grain bullets for absolute accuracy, and managed 4" 400 yard groups, at the local gravel pit, off a home made rest.
 
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