I have a Ruger 77 and Winchester in .338. Both very accurate and versatile.
Not a choice for African Dangerous Game, but, great knock down power with
a 210 grain Noslter Parition or 225 Barnes. I reload and can do one MOA
out to 300 yards (of course on a bench).
Hello 338 guy,
Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.
The .338 Winchester, as yourself and others have said is quite excellent for what it was designed (except the belt does nothing more than reduce magazine capacity by one round, since this cartridge has plenty of shoulder to headspace on).
That said, as long as one can shoot it well, he need not worry about the one less round in the magazine hypothetical scenario lol.
When I moved to Alaska, (almost 38 years ago now), I brought along with me a 2nd hand Ruger M-77 in this caliber.
It shot very well and I kept it for several years.
However recoil was harsh in that light rifle.
It could’ve used another pound or two of weight IMO.
Despite it commonly bruising my shoulder and the stock splitting from repeated recoil, I liked and still like this cartridge anyway.
(Might own one again some day, you never know).
Over the years, 4 Hunting friends here also have owned and hunted with the .338-06, another fantastic cartridge.
With 250 gr round nose soft or solid, at 2400 fps, it duplicates the classic .318 Westley Richards.
Some folks insist on loading it faster with today’s wonderful powders but it’s not necessary for bushveld / forest hunting conditions.
Perhaps half of the fellows I know here that also are hunters, own .338 Winchester caliber rifles.
Collectively they’ve taken many animals, in N. America as well as Africa, with same.
Most if not all of my hunting friends, wether they own a .338 or not, hold this cartridge in high regard, I do as well.
It is a real peach when used with heavy for caliber, bonded core bullets in hunting large N. American game, such as moose, grizzly and bison.
In Africa, it is one of the very best choices possible for eland, waterbuck, zebra and other large animals, within the law of whatever country you are visiting.
I’ve never shot a lion but, I suspect the .338 loaded with an appropriate bullet (250 gr. A-Frame comes to mind) would work a real treat on the largest, grumpiest lion.
Here where I live, both the 250 gr Nosler Partition and the almost out of style Remington
250 gr Core-Lokt, in the green and yellow box factory load have ruined many a grizzly bear’s plan.
With lighter weight spitzers (200 gr to 225 gr) it shoots very flat, for longer shots on smaller game at longer ranges.
Countless mountain goat, Dall sheep and barren ground caribou have been taken with this combination.
Also, it is popular for cross canyon shots on blacktail deer, here in the land of the grizzly.
While rigging your deer to carry back to camp, you re-charge your .338 with 250 bullets, and keep that .33 within reach, in case a large, aggressive bear shows up.
For this Alaska/Canada deer hunting in grizzly habitat, Major Khan is correct in saying that factory ammunition for this cartridge should be available with 275 gr and 300 hr bullets.
Looks like I’m rambling, as old folks are known to do so, I’ll stop here.
Cheers,
Velo Dog.
