Price difference between 300wm and 338wm?

HeadDamage

HeadDamage

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How is it that a typical box of 300wm is around the $40 to $50 range for 20 but 338wm is in the $90 to $100 range? The primer, powder, and brass are close if not the same in mass/volume. Is the extra 20gr to 70gr of lead per round worth enough to double the price? I think they should cost the same within maybe $5 of each other.

I've only just noticed this price inequity since buying my first 300wm to join my 338wm. Till now I've been a big proponent of the 338wm but if you can shoot the 300wm for half the cost there becomes a good argument for the 300wm as a better choice unless you real have to have the heavy bullets 250gr+
 
How many hunt with 300 win mag vs 338winmag? I'd venture to say 50-1. There is economy in bulk. Similar to 12ga vs .410 lots of extra material in a 12ga shell vs a 410 but the 410 costs way more per shot. Demand and scale of production dictate costs.
 
I've been reloading my own 338 for years which is why seeing the prices was such a surprise. Before I started reloading I'm fairly sure 300 and 338 where priced in the same range.
 
Same reason a 5lb propane tank costs more than a 20lb propane tank. Far less people use them, so they aren't able to lower production costs with high volume.
 
300 wing mag is the .308 or 30/06 of the magnum calibers. 7mm rem mag is also similar. extremely popular and mass produced ammo. in my town i can find it at walmart, home hardware and CT. i know about 5 guys who shoot 300wm, and only one, who at some point owned a 338win mag not even sure he still has it.
 
Define typical. Other than the bargain basement junk, 300wm seems as expensive. When i picked up a 20 round box of 300 at cabelas and it was priced at 120$ I nearly passed out. It seems any good load is 70$ these days, and premium like norma are 90$. That said i thought I was crazy when I paid 90$ for winchester 130gr 300wm a decade ago.
The only downside to 338wm is they dont do the junk loads, like you get for 300wm. I wish I could buy prvi 338 at 29/box, or the crap federal and winchester you get for 300, but even there the price has gone up noticeably.
 
Assumption is that sales price reflects cost to make. I don't think so. Price is set to maximize income - so what people will pay for it. Does not really matter what it cost to make - what will someone (or enough someones) pay? New houses selling for $500,000 or more?? Lot = $150,000 Building materials and labour = $150,000 - price is what someone will pay, not what it cost for making it.
 
Shooting a rifle chambered for an uncommon cartridge (almost anything other than 243, 270, 308, 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, 6.5 Creedmoor and 30-30) requires deep pockets or a reloading set-up.
I own rifles chambered in 257 Wby, 6.5x55, 9.3x57 and 300 H&H. I reload! I cannot afford to pay $6 per round!
 
As already mentioned fewer people shoot .338’s vs .300’s, so production is lower so the fixed cost of the setup is spread over a smaller production run. .338 bullets are generally also heavier, so a small amount more in material costs to produce them.

Another factor that even impacts handloads for cost is that .338 bullets often come in a box of 50, while many .308 bullets still come 100 to a box, so the price per bullet is often higher. This is less true on premium bullets than on cup and core bullets, where many calibers including .308 and .338 come 50 to a box on the premium bullets. Still significant savings to be had on hand loaded.338 ammo vs factory pricing.
 
Time to reload when you get into anything other than the CT lower half of the ammo rack. I shoot 45-70 like a rimfire, my .375 h&h is my favourite plinking gun because it breaks rocks so well. I just prepped about 150 7mm rem mag brass because I picked up some cheap varmint bullets and it seems like it should be entertaining.

Reloading is the key.
 
Some days I think the .300 Win Mag is the hottest seller, the sheer number I see moving along is stunning. After years of shooting heavier kicking guns, a plain old 10-twist .300 Win Mag in a 24" magnum contour barrel and a decent stock with a straight comb and Limbsaver would probably be my choice for an all-around rifle. I bought a Benelli Supernova on the weekend since it was on sale and a Delta Waterfowl edition with case, there were at least 3 people checking out new rifles and all were 300's. Not a .308 or .270 in sight. Not even a 6.5CM. One of them was mentioning it was his first gun - I'm sure after a few shots I'll be able to get it cheap on the EE or #######.

Anyways, I digress - .300 Win Mag is super popular, maybe more so than ever, which is why it's cheaper. If it moves through inventory quickly, the come down significantly. I was hopeful with the .338 Federal, it seemed like a cool round, but even then the .338-cal projectiles haven't budged in price, quite the opposite. So loaded .338 ammo continues to climb in price, whereas I bought a box of .300 Win Mag 180gr Power Points last week for $35 at CT.
 
I have no time nor desire to shoot factory ammo in any of my centerfire rifles. [I do not shoot 223, 7.62x39 nor 308 Win]

I cannot remember the last time I hunted with factory ammo, but a good guess would be 1970's.
With the price of some chamberings, it is ridiculous not to load for them

I have 225 Win, 6mm Remingtons, 6.5x55 Swedes, 7x57s, 7mm Rem Mag, 270 Win, 30-30s, 30-06's,308 Norma Mags,
300 RUM, 303 British, 8x57, 325 WSM, 8mm Rem Mag, 338 Win. Factory ammo for many of these is both expensive
and difficult to find.

By reloading, I can chose the exact bullet I want to hunt with [I am picky about this, lol] I can develop an accurate
load with acceptable velocity. So far it has worked for me. Dave.
 
The biggest problem right now is not prices, but finding stock, whether that be loaded factory ammo or loading components.

Everything is sold out. :(
 
sgt.rock said:
How many hunt with 300 win mag vs 338winmag? I'd venture to say 50-1. There is economy in bulk. Similar to 12ga vs .410 lots of extra material in a 12ga shell vs a 410 but the 410 costs way more per shot. Demand and scale of production dictate costs.
Click to expand...

Similar problem with 28 gauge. When the supply chain issues eventually improve, I would love to put one in my kennel, but I can't afford to keep it fed.
 
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