338WM vs. 300 WSM

iroc22 said:
And while Winchester was trying to replace the 375 H&H with the 458 wm, it was never as successful in a dangerous game setting as the 375 H&H. Winchester seemed to insist that it fit in a standard length action, which hampered it's performance. Hence the .458 Lott which followed it several years later.
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There were some serious problems with the .458 and compressed loads in the early days. IIRC there was even a fatality in its early life due to malfunctioning .458 ammo.
 
High pressure can be harsh in the hot African setting. Also probably why the .416 Remington or .416 Ruger hasn't ursurped the .416 Rigby in Africa.
 
it's either or here...I have both but prefer my .338...

likely the iron,not the caliber...

I load for both so price per round isn't really an issue...

I shoot my 250-3000 for deer ;) and my .338 for the big stuff...

sorry to be off topic...thought we were talkin bout 338 vs 300wsm...
 
iroc22 said:
The 300 mag was actually the last in the series, .264 mag was third I'm pretty sure
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Yep, you made me go and look. According to Roger Rule, the 458 came out in 1956, in the M70 African Supergrade, the 338 came out in 1959, in the M70 Alaskan. The 264 came out in 1960, in the M70 Westerner. The 300 in 1963, in the M70 standard rifle.
 
mmattockx said:
After having a great time hunting this year and getting my first two deer, my hunting buddy and I are planning on either a moose trip or elk next year in addition to deer locally. I shot my deer with a 6.5x55 and it is a perfect caliber for medium game.

For elk and moose, the 6.5x55 is a bit light (I know lots of moose have been taken with it, but realistically it is at the bottom of the range) and I don't want to limit myself to perfect shots only, as well as increased chances of a wounded animal. So that means a new rifle with more horsepower for tougher game. My buddy shoots a 300WSM and it is not that bad to shoot. Not a good time at the range for lots of rounds, but no problem in the field, especially with game in the scope.

Ballistically, the 300WSM with a 180gr. @ 3000fps is extremely close to the 338WM with a 225gr. @ 2800fps, with the 338 having an energy edge out to 400yds, but the 300 having a better BC bullet with less drop.

So, is there really any good reason to pick a 338WM over the 300WSM, considering it costs more to shoot and hits harder on the shoulder? The heavier bullets will do better at busting through bone and penetrating, but does anyone consider a premium 180gr. .308 bullet inadequate in that respect?

Mark
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If given the choice between the two it would be 338mag all the way!I love mine and have used it for 8years now on moose,black bear and grizzly.As for recoil on my 338?Gunclub from the bench after 30 rounds,yah I can feel it!One or two shots on a big bull moose?Zero!
 
I shoot a .300wsm for moose - have killed 4 of them with it. Shots ranging from 10 yards to 150 yards, all with a 165 partition at about 3050 fps. I have been wanting to try the 180gr partition but just can't find a reason to with how much luck I've had with the 165's. Great on deer too.
 
i own both and like them both.
more open country i would use my 300wsm.
thicker stuff i would use my 338wm.
if i HAD to chose just one.....i would go with my 338wm.
although i have put a limbsaver pad on mine and i think it
cut recoil down at least a third.my wife shoots it.she says
wouldnt want to do it steady.
 
I've shot Deer with a 270 and 300 mag. Didn't really notice any diff. Talking broadside heart/lung shots. Both excited both killed good. Is the 270 on par with the 300?
 
MTM said:
With bullets of the same constuction and similar sectional density the bigger one is better, any arguements?
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Better? Hard to say most of the time.

I shot a blacktail buck the other day with my .375 Ruger and 270gr TSX bullets. It went about the same distance as the deer I shot with the 150gr TTSX from my 300WSM and the deer Todbartell shot with his .221 Fireball and 45gr TSX bullets. (About 40 yards)

The deer I shot last year with 130gr TTSX dropped on the spot, as did the one I shot in 2007 with 180gr TSX (Both from 300WSM). My buddy shot 3 deer with his .243 and 85gr TSX bullets last year and this year. All dropped within a step or 2.

I've seen moose shot with 180gr Nosler Partitions from 300WM, 250gr Nosler Partitions from .338 WM, 200gr Nosler Partitions from a .300Weatherby and 160gr Nosler Partions from a 7mm RM and all did about the same thing. Got shot and keeled over after a moment.

Bigger? Yes.

Better? hard to say the .338 WM does things much BETTER than a .300 magnum.

Maybe when you start getting into cartridges that are dramatically bigger than each other the difference is more noticeable.


MTM said:
I've shot Deer with a 270 and 300 mag. Didn't really notice any diff. Both excited both killed good. Is the 270 on par with the 300?
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I've never seen a .300 kill a deer any deader, faster than a .270.
 
There is no comparision between a .338 and a .300........................The .300 with it's heavist loading is where the .338 begins.........................Harold
 
Gatehouse said:
Have you had trouble killing a moose with a .300 magnum?
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Morning Gatehouse, no 300s kill most stuff very well. I don't argue that at all. I'm just saying 338s are a little better. You may have to shoot several animals with each to see a diff. but I believe it is there.
 
MTM said:
Morning Gatehouse, no 300s kill most stuff very well. I don't argue that at all. I'm just saying 338s are a little better. You may have to shoot several animals with each to see a diff. but I believe it is there.
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That's why I sold my .338 WM. Never saw it do anything that my .300WM didn't do. Also, I didn't like the stock.:p

If I was go to chase big dangerous animals, I admit I would probably err on the side of caution and take the .338, given the choic eof only these 2. However, if I could choose anything, I'd bypass the .338 and go right to the .375 or .416 calibers.
 
My 2 cents, 338WM in the right gun
Percieved recoil has many inputs that all add up to the sum, cartridge design is just one.
Bullet weights, speed, rifle weight, stock design, recoil pad, size of the shooter and even the clothes he's wearing all have a part in what we percieve in recoil.
I had a 300WSM that was a pussycat, my buddy's 300 WSM with the same load would tear your shoulder off.
The only thing I noticed with the 300WSM is most rifles carry one less round in the magazine.
Any caliber mentioned above will do what you ask of it depending where and how you hunt.
If your a walker / stalker in the bush you can only carry one gun, you will not have the luxury of deciding which firearm to respond with. Should a big furry b@stard pop out and decide your lunch (he won't care that your not hunting him, he's decided to hunt you.) what would you rather respond with. A 338 with 4 shots or a 300WSM with 3 (or 2 in some)?
For me, I sold the 300WSM and went with the 338WM, but I still have a few 300WM's and a 6.5x55 for the less dense, vehicle friendly adventures.
 
RUPZUK said:
My 2 cents, 338WM in the right gun
Percieved recoil has many inputs that all add up to the sum, cartridge design is just one.
Bullet weights, speed, rifle weight, stock design, recoil pad, size of the shooter and even the clothes he's wearing all have a part in what we percieve in recoil.
I had a 300WSM that was a pussycat, my buddy's 300 WSM with the same load would tear your shoulder off.
The only thing I noticed with the 300WSM is most rifles carry one less round in the magazine.
Any caliber mentioned above will do what you ask of it depending where and how you hunt.
If your a walker / stalker in the bush you can only carry one gun, you will not have the luxury of deciding which firearm to respond with. Should a big furry b@stard pop out and decide your lunch (he won't care that your not hunting him, he's decided to hunt you.) what would you rather respond with. A 338 with 4 shots or a 300WSM with 3 (or 2 in some)?
For me, I sold the 300WSM and went with the 338WM, but I still have a few 300WM's and a 6.5x55 for the less dense, vehicle friendly adventures.
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I agree with the defense idea 100%.If you hunt in grizzly country.I dealt with a charging grizzly in 2004 here in the Yukon.And from what I saw my 338 do at 12 feet has I guess made me bias but it also proved to me how much energy it can dish out.Anyways he's on my wall and I'm on cgn!
 
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