338 WinMag out of a 20inch barrel?

[freefall]

Personally, I use 185 Grain Bullets for Deer & Caribou, 210 for Elk (both to get some distance with less elevation concern). If I were to hunt Moose I would go 250/275 grains simply to get better penetration with off angle shots. I've taken several animals with the 338 but more with the 340 Weatherby. Again, less elevation adjustment with 340 WM.

In my admittedly limited experimentation, 210 gr bullets and shorter did not stabilize well out of my 77 MkII. The 250s (Nosler and Sierra) were dead on. And If I wanted to shoot 180-220 gr bullets, I'd have bought a .300 instead of a .338.
Sectional density donchaknow.

 

[ftrovato]

In my admittedly limited experimentation, 210 gr bullets and shorter did not stabilize well out of my 77 MkII. The 250s (Nosler and Sierra) were dead on. And If I wanted to shoot 180-220 gr bullets, I'd have bought a .300 instead of a .338.
Sectional density donchaknow.

I guess the Deer, (white & mule) Antelope, Caribou & Elk didn't get the memo before I shot them about SD. I'll make sure to send a memo in the future. O and the pigs in Texas, they didn't get the memo on the 160 grain Barnes X bullets either. ;-)

We all have our own way I guess....

 

[freefall]

Hey, if it shoots well out of your rifle, more power to you.
I did not have that experience.
So you do you, I will carry on with my 35 years of proven results.
But just idle curiousity, if you want to shoot a 160 gr bullet, why not just use a .308?

 

[ftrovato]

Hey, if it shoots well out of your rifle, more power to you.
I did not have that experience.
So you do you, I will carry on with my 35 years of proven results.
But just idle curiousity, if you want to shoot a 160 gr bullet, why not just use a .308?

I really really like the .338 diameter bullets out of 338 & 340.

I've taken more deer than I can count on my fingers and toes with the 30-06 & the 270. But when I have a 338 in my hands, I feel I can take anything I hunt from point blank to 400 yards knowing that the extra bullet frontal area is going to have a significantly bigger impact on the animal..... But again, it might just be my love for the 338 and the versatile it offers. Never lost an animal with the 270 or 30-06.....

Interesting hunt. I took a big Russian Boar (250 lbs) out of 338 WM at 100 yards with 160 barnes X in the front of the chest. The bullet exited the hindquarter (honestly I have a picture) the size of a soccer ball. The leg was basically gone. Hard to argue with that....The best part, it was a minimum powder charge so recoil was really lite....

I have always been an Elmer Keith supporter and used to use heavy for caliber bullets. But now a days lighter premium bullets straighten out the drop curve and get it done with less recoil...but I digress.....

Shoot Straight!
Frank

 

[Northern Shooter]

"Effective range" would be a very long way, now the shooter being able to utilize that effective range is an entirely different matter. I have several 338wm rifles, I could take 100+fps off the loads I use and still have way more than enough for an elk further that I am going to shoot, and I tend to have a longer accepting range than most.

Fair enough. I bought this rifle and decided on this caliber for the 500-600m max range shots that I would be uncomfortable taking with my 308/30.06.

Just hoping that the ballistics are still up to this task with 4 inches less barrel on tap.

 

[YancyW]

Fair enough. I bought this rifle and decided on this caliber for the 500-600m max range shots that I would be uncomfortable taking with my 308/30.06.

Just hoping that the ballistics are still up to this task with 4 inches less barrel on tap.

Barrel length shouldn't be an issue. 250gr AccuBond or the 250gr ELD-X would be where I started looking for a load.

 

[Deepfork]

I like the 270gr ELD-X in my .338WM. BC is so high, loaded to just 2450fps energy does not drop below 2000 Ft Lbs until 650 yards. The ELD-X bullets are designed to perform best on game with impacts at moderate velocities, 1800-2600fps.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Behind the Bullet: .338 Winchester Magnum

In 1958, Winchester sought to provide hunters who pursued the great bears and larger cervids of North America with a perfect choice for their endeavors, as well as developing one the most logical choices for an African light rifle. The result? The .338 Win. Mag.

www.americanhunter.org

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Fair enough. I bought this rifle and decided on this caliber for the 500-600m max range shots that I would be uncomfortable taking with my 308/30.06.

Just hoping that the ballistics are still up to this task with 4 inches less barrel on tap.

With long range shots being your stated goal for your 338 WM, then why the short 20 inch barrel?

 

[freefall]

With long range shots being your stated goal for your 338 WM, then why the short 20 inch barrel?

Oi, good point! I chopped mine off for the jungles and alder hells that I lived in, But had I lived in wide-open country I'd not have spent the $.

 

[Northern Shooter]

With long range shots being your stated goal for your 338 WM, then why the short 20 inch barrel?

Sounds counterintuitive doesn't yet? I guess I was hoping to find the best of both worlds.

I tend to enjoy shorter barrels overall for carrying all day, especially in the mountains. I own both 24" and 25" rifles in my other two thumpers but find them a little cumbersome for long walks.

I chose the 338WM for it's long (ish) range ballistics, something with more punch than my .308s and 30.06s.

Would you say taking a 500m+ shot on game would be excessive with this cartridge out of that barrel length?

 

[eloudamy]

Regarding 500M shots with that rifle, I’ll share my opinion. I shoot a 338-06 AI and have done pretty extensive load development with it using many hunting bullets that I researched for best terminal performance. I found the best bullet for me was the 230 ELD-X. It’s the bullet that my guide uses in 30 caliber in his own rifles due to its effective on game, so that is encouraging too.
The last barrel was 22” and the one I am chambering now is a 24” barrel.
The ballistics of this cartridge, even in 22” is equal to what factory ammo will likely be in a 20” bbl 338WM, maybe a bit more. So, I feel there is a pretty close comparison between these two if the bullets are 230 grains or less. (With 250 and up the win mag will have higher MV.)

I ran the drop charts for my rifle and load at 2750. But even with this high BC bullet, velocity isn’t where I prefer when shooting beyond 400-450 yards.
Even if my shot placement is perfect (??) the impact velocity just isn’t high enough to put some PG down DECICIVELY, which is my goal. I want enough energy on the animal to do the job quickly and without doubt that the bullet performs its best, not just so-so.
According to my chart, my 2750 MV is 2200 at 400 yards. At 450 it is 2138 fps. That’s over 60 fps loss in 50 yards. Pretty eye-opening I hope. I don’t really want to drop lower than 2200 by choice. I’d rather stalk in a bit because low impact velocity seems to me to always result in too slow kill.

I feel too much emphasis can be placed on trajectory charts in relation to acquiring a target and not enough on impact velocity and bullet performance at the proposed velocity. People try to shoot elk at 7-800, even -000 yards and the impact velocity is shockingly low when you look at the charts. I would never hunt elk with a 30-30 Win at 100 yards but the impact velocity is lower than that, even from big 30 magnums at 1000. (Sorry, that wasn’t your point. I digress.)

Back on the point of 400, 500 yard shots:
Another consideration is, if you try to shoot one of the lighter bullets in 338 for increased velocity, such as a 200 or lighter it doesn’t help. The speed at these distances is down to very similar to my choice, the 230 Hornady.

So, I have much flatter shooting calibers with higher impact velocity if I want to shoot further. I like the 338 for a bigger, heavier bullet with a bigger expanded diameter and moderate velocity to put down game decisively at moderate distance. Also, I simply don’t like super magnums. I would rather accept the limits of my caliber choice and hunt a bit closer in favor of a 300 RUM Orr whatever similar option might perform better on paper. I’m not interested in that. I’m really looking forward to my first trip to Africa with this cartridge/rifle and have high confidence it will do everything I ask it to, as long as I do my part. We shall see.

 

[eloudamy]

 

[eloudamy]

The MV shown here is a bit too hot for my last rifle so would need to be reduced if I were going to use this bullet. But, look at how the MV drops compared to the ELD-X.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I was finally able to pick up a rifle I've been trying to find now for several years, A Ruger Guide Gun.

While I was initially on the hunt for one in 416 Ruger, I ended up going with a 338 WinMag model, a more "sensible" option

The Ruger Guide Gun comes standard with a 20 inch barrel. It looks like most 338WM rifles tend to be in the 24" to 26" range so what kind of performance will I be expecting out of the 20?

I'm assuming it will be approximately a 100 fps penalty in velocity. I bought this rifle to fit the role of a long range big game hunter for Western Canada (Elk, Moose. Bear, Caribou).

What would the effective range be?

@Northern Shooter
The range will be as far as you are comfortable and is ethical.
The only problems I see is its going to be a noisy son of a bitch and throw big flames out of the muzzle.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a Sako AV with a 20" barrel and getting 2750 fps with 225g Barnes

@Mekaniks
Dang even a 20 inch barrel 35 Whelen would be close to 2600 fps with 250gn and equal it with 225s with less powder and fury.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That's pretty good considering most 225s are rated at 2,800fps out of a 24" barrel.

@Northern Shooter
Get a 35 Whelen it will do 2,900fps with a 225gn. No need to waste time on a fire breathing bitch slapping magnum.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I really really like the .338 diameter bullets out of 338 & 340.

I've taken more deer than I can count on my fingers and toes with the 30-06 & the 270. But when I have a 338 in my hands, I feel I can take anything I hunt from point blank to 400 yards knowing that the extra bullet frontal area is going to have a significantly bigger impact on the animal..... But again, it might just be my love for the 338 and the versatile it offers. Never lost an animal with the 270 or 30-06.....

Interesting hunt. I took a big Russian Boar (250 lbs) out of 338 WM at 100 yards with 160 barnes X in the front of the chest. The bullet exited the hindquarter (honestly I have a picture) the size of a soccer ball. The leg was basically gone. Hard to argue with that....The best part, it was a minimum powder charge so recoil was really lite....

I have always been an Elmer Keith supporter and used to use heavy for caliber bullets. But now a days lighter premium bullets straighten out the drop curve and get it done with less recoil...but I digress.....

Shoot Straight!
Frank

@ftrovato
So what's the 338WM doing that the Whelen won't do. A 200gn Barnes at 2,900 to 3,000 fps will do the same.
Throw in a 225gn TTSXs at close to 2,900fps and you will still have over 2,000fpe at 400yrds.
So again what's the little 338WM doing that the 35 Whelen won't do.
Ah that's right NOTHING.
Bob

 

[shootist~]

The MV shown here is a bit too hot for my last rifle so would need to be reduced if I were going to use this bullet. But, look at how the MV drops compared to the ELD-X.
View attachment 567708

Did you notice the Zero distances are not the same on your two examples?

 

[WAB]

Sounds counterintuitive doesn't yet? I guess I was hoping to find the best of both worlds.

I tend to enjoy shorter barrels overall for carrying all day, especially in the mountains. I own both 24" and 25" rifles in my other two thumpers but find them a little cumbersome for long walks.

I chose the 338WM for it's long (ish) range ballistics, something with more punch than my .308s and 30.06s.

Would you say taking a 500m+ shot on game would be excessive with this cartridge out of that barrel length?

Just curiosity as I’m no expert, but wouldn’t you get better results from a cartridge designed for shorter barrels, say the .338-06 or even the .325 WSM?

It seems that you are going to burn a lot of powder off the end of the barrel with a short .338 WM.