Any experience with .338-08 Wildcat?

Slooshark1

Slooshark1

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I'm toying with the idea of rebarreling my Model 7 in either a .338-08 or .358 Winchester. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with the .338-08 and what your opinion is of either cartridge. I do reload so ammuntion availability is not a factor and you're not likely to find .358 Winchester ammo on the shelf in your local hardware store anyhow.
 
SuperCub said:
Check out the price of custom RCBS dies for the 338/08 before you make up your mind :eek:




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Yes the .358 would be the way to go........ the difference in performance would be hard to establish but the difference in costs are great.
 
I'd go the .358 Win. route too. Lots of load data, wider selection of available bullets, brass, reamers, dies etc. Any difference in the actual performance of the two cartridges is largely academic. Similar to the controversy amongst the 338/06 & 35 Whelen fans. Ask a moose, elk or deer hit with either - it won't and don't matter !!! Perhaps a small consideration is the availability of factory ammo.
 
You will find rcbs wildcat dies are very expensive and not that good of dies compared to Redding. Check out redding to see if they make them, Sinclairs has a good selection of wildcat redding dies, and they are much cheaper than ordering direct from redding.
 
Check the price and availability of Dies from CH Tool and Die.
http://www.ch4d.com/
I have heard that they are actually quite good and I have a couple of die sets on order from them.
I have a BLR chambered in 338-08 and haven't had any time to play with it yet.
I'm not expecting much difference in performance from my BLR in 358 Win, however it is different.
Good Luck
John
 
Slooshark1,

My wife's 358 is built on a Model 7, and it is sweet. Twenty-inch Shilen barrel, Model 70 Fwt contour, installed and chambered by Bill Leeper.

It shoots 200 and 250 gr bullets into less than an inch off the bench, and weighs just a tad under seven pounds with a 1.5- 6 Bausch & Lomb Elite scope.

Just do it! You won't be disappointed.:cool:

Ted
 
358

Ted, that 358 sounds very nice. It would be a great rifle for whitetail as well as your moose, bear, caribou, etc.
How "significant" is recoil?
Pat
 
Several writers " those who get paid by the word" tout anything and everything they can to make an argument (read get paid) out of. For years there's been a ".338/06 is better than the .35 Whelen " debate going ( any difference is truly negligible) notwithstanding the need for custom dies, reamers and fire forming. Same applies to the .338/08 and .358 Win.
Just ask the moose or elk that's been solidly hit with either ! But by all means, satisfy yourself ....
 
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The only differance is the bullet diameter and the slightly better bullet choices in 338. Same diameter/BC/SD/penetration arguments can be made using 8mm vs 338 bullets, it's a never ending tale. Unless you're a reloader and like playing with wildcats, go the 358 route. I don't find 358 recoil bad at all. Also, CH makes fine dies, I have a few sets in various calibers, all well made. - dan
 
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