338WM vs. 300 WSM

Eagleye said:
I am inclined to favor the 338 IF there is a chance you may hunt something that bites back. Otherwise, you will be well served with one of the various 30 caliber magnums.
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No plans for anything more ferocious than black bear at this point, but BC has lots of Grizzlies and the urge may strike to get myself an authentic bearskin rug one day.

Rod said:
I've been using this theory for years resulting in a fine collection of rifles.
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Nothing wrong with that plan. I certainly don't need any encouragement to buy more guns and this may be the end result. I will try a 338 for myself, see what I think of the hit and then go from there. I expect it's no fun off a bench and fine from field positions, but there is nothing like personal experience to know.

Thanks,
Mark
 
I mostly with 6.5x55 and 338win, over the years I've tended to use the 338win more and it is just the ticket for bad angle shots on moose that you wouldn't dare take with the 6.5 ;)
 
.338wm is the way to go for me...I've been very happy with it's performance...dropped my last moose dead in his tracks at 200+ yrds w/ 250gr. ammo. I have not tried the .300wsm.
 
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mmattockx said:
From a 24" barrel? Chronographed or from book data? That is a butt kicking load for anything that walks in North America.

I'm pretty much convinced. Does anybody in the Calgary area want to meet me at a range for a test drive? You can shoot anything in my safe and I will pay all ammo costs.

Mark
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You can shoot my 338wm anytime I'm out at the range.
Once hunting season is over, I'll probably be out again every Saturday morning. PM me if you're interested in meeting up.

If you want to feel the difference between the snap and the push, I'll bring my 338wm and my 7mm ultra mag.


I'm still in load development phase with my 338wm but its looking very promising and I actually dont mind the recoil from it.

I've been working up some loads with the Hornady 225gr. Interbonds. I didnt have much luck with the 250gr. Gamekings.

I shoot Accubonds from most of my other guns but figured I'd try something different.
 
mmattockx said:
From a 24" barrel? Chronographed or from book data? That is a butt kicking load for anything that walks in North America.

I'm pretty much convinced. Does anybody in the Calgary area want to meet me at a range for a test drive? You can shoot anything in my safe and I will pay all ammo costs.

Mark
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Crono'd but from my Dakota not a WinMag, yes 24" pipe. I think you can come real close with the WM.
 
2850 FPS In a 24" barrel may be possible in a 338 WM, but a bit hot I would think? My Fater-In-Laws 340 WBY pushes a 250 Grand Slam just over 2950 FPS out of a 26" barrel.
My 338 Gaillard has went as high as 3090 FPS with a 250gr & may go higher, but I never pushed it further.

Love the 338 bullet myself.
 
Rod said:
Since the 338 WM and the 300 WM share the same parent case, the solution is obivious. Buy them both. The 300 WM for 150 to 180 gr. bullets and the 338 for 250gr bullets. I've been using this theory for years resulting in a fine collection of rifles. Then you'll need the 375 H&H magnum and after the grinnin' is over, you'll be able to keep a look out for 458 WM because it also shares the same case as the 338 and the 300. . Gotta love it, huh? Going smaller is just as much fun. . . :)
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I am aware that the .264, .338, .458 all share the case. but isn't the .300WM alot longer.
IMHO they should have really used the same case for the .300 cal

For bullet ranges of 130gr to 180gr the .300WM fills the gap. And from 180gr to 250gr it would be the .338WM. And from 250gr plus it would be the .375HH.
 
mmattockx said:
...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?
Mark
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I'm not enamoured with the 300WSM, the original 300WM does everything the WSM will do and more. Yes, with the right powders and this and that you can match the 300wm with lighter bullets but why? As in why not get the 300wm.

Well, to each his own although the whole WSM family seems to be a solution to a problem that never existed.

I am a fan of the 338wm although I would be misrepresenting things if I said the various 300's can't do everything the 338 can do. Having said that here are a few points in the 338's favor. In the 250 - 300 grain range the bullets have a very good bc. Heavier, high bc bullets tend to drift in the wind less than lighter ones. 250 grain 338's really seem to penetrate and hold together, more so than lighter bullets.

My assertion on penetration is based on my own experience in this area and accordingly others experiences will vary. An example of what I would consider an energy/penetration advantage with the 338 is when we are out shooting steel at 400 - 500 yards. The 338 is still putting significant divots in the mild 3/4" plate where as the 300wsm and 7mm rm my associates shoot are just blowing the paint off the steel at that range.

As far as shooting at range on a ballistics chart the 338 does drop more but the holdover on your rifle to hit the same spot is miniscule.

Recoil varies a lot from rifle to rifle and person to person but my experience with the 338wm is that it not significantly different than the various 300's. From my experience two guys I know with 300wsm's, an A bolt and a Sako 75, have a sharper kick than my 338.

Anyway I think that stepping up to a 338wm would be a fine compliment to your 6.5x55. Just make sure the rifle you get it in fits you well.
 
savage express said:
I am aware that the .264, .338, .458 all share the case. but isn't the .300WM alot longer.
IMHO they should have really used the same case for the .300 cal

For bullet ranges of 130gr to 180gr the .300WM fills the gap. And from 180gr to 250gr it would be the .338WM. And from 250gr plus it would be the .375HH.
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The 300 WM case uses the same parent case as the other three. 130 gr, with 300 wm is not the best choice as the 300 WM neck is quite short and a tad unstable with the lighter bullets. Using 150 gr and up are just fine.

I have the correct information, in my "Roger Rules" book on the M 70, but don't feel up to looking it up. I'll just wing it by memory. The first, if I remember correctly, was the 458 Winchester Magnum. This created the parent case and was Winchester beginning with the short magnum (30-06 length). The others cartridges followed as they got to it, The next was the 338 and then the 300 and last the 264.

Winchester's magnum before this, was the long action. 375 H&H magnum and the necked down 300 H&H magnum. Winchester new they were behind the 8 ball with Remington's 700 and needed a shorter action and a new design to compete. The 458 was to replace the 375 and the 300 WM was to replace and replicate the 300 H&H. Winchester bragged up the new cartridges to gain acceptance.

The reality of it all is the 300 H&H is a more versitle round in that it'll shoot the light bullets and the heavier to excellent accuracy. In 1935, the 300 H&H won the 1000 yd Wimbleton. The long tapered cases are more efficient with powder charges as well. Less powder for the same performance, when compared to the shorter cases with steep shoulders. Not a real big deal as I do like 300 WM. Just seat the bullets a little deeper and a few more grains of powder and it's just fine. The 300 H&H is the parent case for the 300 Weatherby.

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Rod said:
I have the correct information, in my "Roger Rules" book on the M 70, but don't feel up to looking it up. I'll just wing it by memory. The first, if I remember correctly, was the 458 Winchester Magnum. This created the parent case and was Winchester beginning with the short magnum (30-06 length). The others cartridges followed as they got to it, The next was the 338 and then the 300 and last the 264.

Winchester's magnum before this, was the long action. 375 H&H magnum and the necked down 300 H&H magnum. Winchester new they were behind the 8 ball with Remington's 700 and needed a shorter action and a new design to compete. The 458 was to replace the 375 and the 300 WM was to replace and replicate the 300 H&H. Winchester bragged up the new cartridges to gain acceptance.
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The 300 mag was actually the last in the series, .264 mag was third I'm pretty sure.

And Savage Express is right, the 300 wm is the longest of the family. Not by a whole lot, but it is longer.

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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