The 338 Winchester Magnum Overlooked or Overhyped?

Dogleg said:
Are we going to recoil sort the mediums now? Come on they're mediums, not a near death experience. Most will land somewhere between 30 and 40 foot pounds according to weight. If you can shoot any of them, you can shoot all of them.
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Baiting me ! LOL a 338 with 250 gr at 3000 fps shot from a 8 lb rifle is about 45 lbs No problem off hand but starts to get BARKY from the Bench ! My 375 H&H in the same rifle weight with 300 gr-ers at 2675 fps is a MUCH softer push ! The 338 RUM has a Harsher JAB to the shoulder ! :d RJ
 
remington jim said:
Baiting me ! LOL a 338 with 250 gr at 3000 fps shot from a 8 lb rifle is about 45 lbs No problem off hand but starts to get BARKY from the Bench ! My 375 H&H in the same rifle weight with 300 gr-ers at 2675 fps is a MUCH softer push ! The 338 RUM has a Harsher JAB to the shoulder ! :d RJ
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Not really baiting, just having fun. My .338 weighs seven pounds and has no brake; a nice little Kimber. My kid started shooting it when he was 14. The .338 Edge is braked , more for watching the 300 grainers hit than anything. These days I only have 3 375s left,
The lightest at 8 1/4 pounds that's a bit livelier than another that's 10. The third is a .375 Weatherby that makes itself noticed. I still maintain that anyone who can shoot one of them could shoot any of them. Not a big deal, and frankly I'd say that that anyone who can shoot a light .300 can shoot any of them so is free to chose by whatever other criteria he wants while ignoring recoil.

My .416 Rigby is a step up as is the .458 Win, and my .458 Lott is in that 75 foot pound range. It sort of puts things into perspective; after that doesn't kill you it's hard to take the mediums recoil seriously. Turns out it's not that big of a deal.
 
7lbs? How do you lug that tire iron around all day?

My .338 wm being sub 6.5lbs is the reason I own it. I can't imagine a 6.5lb 375 h&h would be much fun, not to mention none are available.

Never understood the "338 wm as a long range cartridge" thing, no one is singing the praises of the 35 whelen or 9.3x62 as deer sniping rounds. People often question why my .338 wear a receiver sight, I always though of it as a good "brush hunting" round.
 
http://skyaboveus.com/hunting-shooting/Best-338-Magnum-Showdown-at-the-High-Power-Corral

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34% increase in recoil from a 338 win mag to a 340 wby. For how much more speed? 10%?
 
RJ nothing special. It's a tikka t3 synthetic with a battue front sight and a skinner rear peep.

Lack of scope is what makes it so light, cheating I know.

Shoots 250 grain round noses, I experimented with 300 grain woodleighs too. Might try them again, they shoot to a pretty similar poi. Would really like to see how they work on game.
 
conor_90 said:
RJ nothing special. It's a tikka t3 synthetic with a battue front sight and a skinner rear peep.

Lack of scope is what makes it so light, cheating I know.

Shoots 250 grain round noses, I experimented with 300 grain woodleighs too. Might try them again, they shoot to a pretty similar poi. Would really like to see how they work on game.
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Ok Kool ! I have a Tikka T3 Syn Lite SS in 338 Fed -Great shooter BUT i do have a 2.5-8 Leupold on it ! Yours is a GREAT close up - BACK up Bear Gun ! RJ
 
I've owed four Rugers in 338win and they have all been good shooters and not unpleasant for recoil even with 250gr bullets. I've shot smaller bore fast magnums that where less comfortable for recoil.
 
Always thought provoking, Terminal Ballistics Research has evaluated the 338 WM. Some of the many interesting points they make about it -

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.338+Winchester+Magnum.html

...338 bore loses the ability to create hydrostatic shock and can produce slow kills on both light and heavy game as velocity drops below 2600fps. As velocity drops to 2400fps, wound channel diameters between the .338, .30’s and 8mm bores can be much the same

...bore sizes larger than .338”, beginning with the .358” caliber produce faster kills on light through to heavy game with both front and rear lung shots at velocities below 2600fps via both increased energy transfer on impact and generally larger wound channels.

...To some, delayed killing is acceptable, to others who risk losing dead run game in heavy cover or over ravines, bullet selection is extremely critical. Dead run bear attacks also pose a need for careful bullet selection, regarding both bullet weight and construction- utilizing a bullet that is neither too soft or frangible, nor too stout. And again, bullet choice proves to be the most critical factor in the performance of the .338 bore leaving little room for gross generalizations.

...Many have been fooled by the ill-conceived concept that the .338 Winchester Magnum has enough power to make shot placement less of an issue. The .338 can certainly be forgiving, especially when snap shooting at woods ranges where velocity is high or when using heavy frangible bullets on medium game. But as ranges are extended or game weights increased or in lieu of dedicated frangible bullet designs, any weakness in the shooter or rifle platform becomes immediately apparent.

...As a heavy game cartridge, the .338 Winchester does not have the power of wider bores, but again, using select components, it can be put to practical use. The .338 Winchester Magnum can also make for an excellent long range cartridge, utilizing Rocky Mountain and A-Max bullet designs.
 
Strange but i found my buddies CZ .416 Rigby more pleasant to shoot than my Win 70 Classic in .338 Win mag
 
Slamfire said:
Always thought provoking, Terminal Ballistics Research has evaluated the 338 WM. Some of the many interesting points they make about it -

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.338+Winchester+Magnum.html

...338 bore loses the ability to create hydrostatic shock and can produce slow kills on both light and heavy game as velocity drops below 2600fps. As velocity drops to 2400fps, wound channel diameters between the .338, .30’s and 8mm bores can be much the same

...bore sizes larger than .338”, beginning with the .358” caliber produce faster kills on light through to heavy game with both front and rear lung shots at velocities below 2600fps via both increased energy transfer on impact and generally larger wound channels.

...To some, delayed killing is acceptable, to others who risk losing dead run game in heavy cover or over ravines, bullet selection is extremely critical. Dead run bear attacks also pose a need for careful bullet selection, regarding both bullet weight and construction- utilizing a bullet that is neither too soft or frangible, nor too stout. And again, bullet choice proves to be the most critical factor in the performance of the .338 bore leaving little room for gross generalizations.

...Many have been fooled by the ill-conceived concept that the .338 Winchester Magnum has enough power to make shot placement less of an issue. The .338 can certainly be forgiving, especially when snap shooting at woods ranges where velocity is high or when using heavy frangible bullets on medium game. But as ranges are extended or game weights increased or in lieu of dedicated frangible bullet designs, any weakness in the shooter or rifle platform becomes immediately apparent.

...As a heavy game cartridge, the .338 Winchester does not have the power of wider bores, but again, using select components, it can be put to practical use. The .338 Winchester Magnum can also make for an excellent long range cartridge, utilizing Rocky Mountain and A-Max bullet designs.
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Using the 2600 fps number, the .338 Win mag falls off the bubble at 100-150 yards. Using the same 2600 number most any of the smaller magnums whether they be belted or otherwise will take it to 350-400.
 
mbogo3 said:
Strange but i found my buddies CZ .416 Rigby more pleasant to shoot than my Win 70 Classic in .338 Win mag
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There's quite a range of recoil in the .416. Rigby. Mine with factory loads is rather tame; likes to move you around but playfully. Long as you don't try to stop it dead all is well. With handloads that really start to use that big case that prick would go from playful pushing to trying to stomp you. My hunting loads ended up in between.

I've always found the .375 to kick less than the .338.
 
Is 2600 fps some magic bubble number where all .338 bullets fail to kill quickly?
If so, how do these same bullets kill beyond 300 yrds in a 340?
With the large differences in bullet types/weights available, I don't think you can draw a line in the sand because of impact velocity. Maybe it still matters where you place them.
 
And to think, some clueless fools have shot animals with 30-30s and such. 2600fps is the lower cutoff then? Or only below .358 caliber? Or is it a sliding scale based on caliber and velocity with a "constant" applied? If the assembly could organize some "outreach" to inform all the heathens it would do the community a great service. Keeping in mind that "short range hunting" is under 300M in this thread, but much farther will get an OP publicly flogged in "long range hunting" thread.
 
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