Merits of 7mm Rem Mag Vs 338 Win Mag for long range Elk/Moose/Bear cartridge?

[conor_90]

Here, in Alberta, on a good year, we have the opportunity to shoot up to 5 or 6 game animals. On a bad year that number can be at least 3 or 4. That's a lot of performance data in one season

And I've done just that in AB and NE bc with both chamberings. In fact I used to have two identical rifles in each chambering.

Joel if you're gonna call someone out maybe read what they wrote before writing your novel.

I said your experiences are not universal; I am referring to encountering game that will " know the difference". I bet you couldn't find Pink Mountain on a map, let alone go bison hunting there, I'm also guessing the last time you saw a Silvertip grizzly was on Disney Channel.

Ironically one of the couple of times I have hunted grizzly I was using a 7mm. Ended up with a cow Elk instead, c'est la vie. I know a few guys who have whacked mountain grizzly with a 7mm. Doesn't mean a 250 grain 338 doesn't hit stuff like a freight train, because it absolutely does. So does a 300 grain woodleigh for that matter

I'm no international hunter but I bet Africa and Northern Territory have a few bovids who would know the difference. Plenty on here who have hunted them, some don't even talk about it

Ultimately going to agree with one of our finest engineers:

Bigger holes better. - dan

Bigger bullets and meplats too

 

[dan belisle]

How much better, Dan? Can it be quantified in time taken before death, travel before death etc between 7mm and 338, or is the end result likely to be "my heart/lungs don't work anymore" with both?

People say that, but once it gets to a certain point, likely just dogma or diminishing returns?

Bigger holes generally mean more damage as the bullet makes its way through the organs, and the animal bleeds out faster. As for quantification, I suppose a formula giving you a percentage difference of the different diameter bullets would give you some numbers to play with, all else being equal. Which it rarely is. - dan

 

[MiG25]

I don't have a Horse in this Race, but if I going bigger than 300 Win Mag I'd get the 358 Norma.

 

[Jon87]

The answer is always more guns!

In that case, the correct answer is get both!

 

[Buckmastr]

I have 2 338’s and haven’t carried one in North America for a decade. There are always guys who like bigger and faster cartridges. The odd one can even shoot them decently too.
I have found that the 7mag is a great answer to most questions regardless of what they are.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I don't have a Horse in this Race, but if I going bigger than 300 Win Mag I'd get the 358 Norma.

Already own a 375 and a 458 so this is more of an inbetweener (30 to 375). From my understanding 338WM is a better long range cartridge than the 358s.

 

[dan belisle]

I don't have a Horse in this Race, but if I going bigger than 300 Win Mag I'd get the 358 Norma.

I do like bigger 35's. - dan

 

[dan belisle]

Already own a 375 and a 458 so this is more of an inbetweener (30 to 375). From my understanding 338WM is a better long range cartridge than the 358s.

True, same way a 7mm Mag is a better lr cartridge than the 338. This becomes one of those "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin" things. You can always move the goalposts. 358 Norma doesn't shoot flat enough? Build a 35-378 Wby. Etc. - dan

 

[Joel]

And I've done just that in AB and NE bc with both chamberings. In fact I used to have two identical rifles in each chambering.

Joel if you're gonna call someone out maybe read what they wrote before writing your novel.

I said your experiences are not universal; I am referring to encountering game that will " know the difference". I bet you couldn't find Pink Mountain on a map, let alone go bison hunting there, I'm also guessing the last time you saw a Silvertip grizzly was on Disney Channel.

Ironically one of the couple of times I have hunted grizzly I was using a 7mm. Ended up with a cow Elk instead, c'est la vie. I know a few guys who have whacked mountain grizzly with a 7mm. Doesn't mean a 250 grain 338 doesn't hit stuff like a freight train, because it absolutely does. So does a 300 grain woodleigh for that matter

I'm no international hunter but I bet Africa and Northern Territory have a few bovids who would know the difference. Plenty on here who have hunted them, some don't even talk about it

Ultimately going to agree with one of our finest engineers:



Bigger bullets and meplats too

Cool story bro. For a guy #####ing about novels you can play Tolstoy here too with the flexing. . So since you've hunted big game with both how many animals went how much farther with the 7mm than the 338? Straightforward question.

I still think it will never make a practical difference. Bet we can find hunters who agree to that too.

In that case, the correct answer is get both!

Definitely! He was gettin there with the 338 for big critters and the 7mm for long range deer shooting.

Then get the next one you want too. Theres always a reason.

 

[conor_90]

" tell me about the big game animals you've shot with these calibers"

" stop bragging"

Sure posting a lot during field season...

Definitely! He was gettin there with the 338 for big critters and the 7mm for long range deer shooting

Why? Nothing will ever know the difference, saw it in a YouTube video

 

[Joel]

Yeah that's what I thought lol.

No field work for me right now. Thanks for the interest in my work though chum

It's clear you're just looking to talk smack and I dont much care what you think, so have at her.

 

[conor_90]

Sorry did you want a spreadsheet?

Some day there will be a thread on what ruger american is best for whitetails where you can really shine.

 

[Joel]

Some day you'll answer simple questions on how it made a practical difference whether you shot an animal with a 7mm or a 338 WM. But not this day lol.

Instead you'll keep being smarmy and talking trash about someones guns and job and responding to posts that weren't even directed at you lol. Awww he cares

Like I said, have fun

 

[nowarningshot]

Here is 100gr’s of difference in bullet weight, you can see a fairly significant difference in bullet diameter but there is also a very noticeable difference in recoil. One has a noticeably flatter trajectory out to 350 yards, one makes a bigger hole. You can make both act completely differently with different bullet selection and the 7MM will always be able to have a ballistic advantage if you are choosing bullets. Does it matter at normal/common/advisable hunting distances? Probably not. Will people wax eloquently that it will? Probably. Does energy matter on big game? I’m of the opinion that it doesn’t.

I have absolutely flattened game with non CNS hits with both of them. Take your pick.

Range finders and modern scopes not only help target rounds like 6.5 manbun, but also larger calibers like the 338. Recoil bothers you, shoot light projectile, factory fodder. Recoil is felt at the range, can only ever remember one time recoil was a issue hunting.

 

[Pescado]

I like my 338 WM but don't look at it as a long range cartridge. For long range I would look at the 300 Norma/PRC or a more powerful 338.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I like my 338 WM but don't look at it as a long range cartridge. For long range I would look at the 300 Norma/PRC or a more powerful 338.

I always viewed the 338WM as a 500-600m capable big game cartridge. Would that not qualify as "long range" hunting? Where would you say are the comfortable limits of the 338WM?

 

[davide montini]

Ok folks my Question to you all is if one is shooting a 338 wm what bullet weight would be the choice and what brand ...I’m curious..185...to 250 and why ....and what was the 338 originally designed to shoot 250’s...?
And say one is using a semi
I’m trying to make a call here for a friend about bullet weights ...we go back and forth about this ....thanks to all

 

[Joel]

I dunno, they don't chamber Ruger Americans in it

In the Remington 700 I'd built, I was using Hornady 225gr SST for range loads as they were in boxes of 100 for a fairly good price. Hunting load was 250gr Accubond and I liked the fact it was a bullet of over .500 BC, with an SD of over .300 and held its energy well. Was liking that more than lighter and fast.

Lots of ways to skin that cat though.

How that applies to a semi...good question!

 

[Northern Shooter]

I'm actually debating bolt-action vs semi-auto for a 338 WinMag as well considering many bolt guns it seems are light for caliber. I'm considering 338 options from Tikka and Sako that seem to fall between 7-8lbs.

A semi auto like the Browning BAR would absorb some of that recoil through the action but those are also quite light it seems (around 7.5lbs?).

Thoughts?

 

[dan belisle]

Ok folks my Question to you all is if one is shooting a 338 wm what bullet weight would be the choice and what brand ...I’m curious..185...to 250 and why ....and what was the 338 originally designed to shoot 250’s...?
And say one is using a semi
I’m trying to make a call here for a friend about bullet weights ...we go back and forth about this ....thanks to all

My personal favorite was the 210 gr Nosler Partition, in front of a load of RL19, 2900 fps. Ticked all the boxes for me. - dan