338s Are A Great Caliber

[CoElkHunter]

all the more reason to try a 9.3 on a necked up 338 case.
bruce.

I could, but then my .375 bullets wouldn’t fit unless I filed or powered sanded the bullets down to .366? Ha! Ha!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well aware of all that Bob, and I don't doubt you.

The fact remains that your velocities are pretty much exactly in line with Noslers velocities for the same bullet in the much bigger cased 358 Norma Mag.

Whilst there can be big variations from barrel to barrel, reamer t0 reamer etc, there are no free lunches and if some one was to build a Whelen expecting to achieve those velocities, disappointment is more likely than not.

Newby

Hopefully this will help.
I cant explain it. They are close but the Whelen is a very capable cartridge and can be SAFELY loaded to get good velocity. My rifle ain't anything special son all Whelen loaders should be able to experience similar
Bob

 

[Bonk]

@Bonk
Mate stop looking at the Whelen. Get one load it with 225 grain accubonds and use the Nosler reloading site. Gets 2,800+ fps and will do everything your 338 will. Then you can sell the 338 and just use the Whelen for everything without worrying about those expensive superformance loads to get the same velocity as the Whelen.
Bob

Bob, I don't own a 338 because I already have a 9.3x62. I'm not sure where a 338 or 35W fits. The obvious answer is "What's need got to do with it?". Don't tell the OP but if I did buy one of those calibers it would probably be a 3% Whelen. YMMV.

 

[bruce moulds]

or sell the 9.3x62 as well and buy a 9.3x64.
it can double as a 338,358, 375, no worries.
you can even load it back to x62 if you miss that one.
bruce.

 

[ChrisG]

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).

I am not even so sure it wouldn't work on African dangerous game... In the hands of an experienced African game shot who knew the animals anatomy, a case could be made for a .338 that could push a 250-275 grain premium bullet to 2,200-2,400 fps. The .333 Jeffrey was intended for use as an all-around African game caliber as was the .318 Westley richards. Both proved time and again, with 250 grain (.318) or 300 grain solids (.333) that they were capable of killing Elephant with a frontal or side brain shot or a heart/lung shot. I wouldn't be chasing up wounded buffalo with one but a .338 can certainly penetrate as well as any .375 given bullets of adequate sectional density and design. If a 6.5mm with CEB solids will kill a buffalo on through and through chest shots, a .338 would do similarly with no issue. Again, not a shoo-in for charge stopping (from what I have heard here and elsewhere, charges are still pretty rare), but for general game killin' work and an all around rifle, it is my uneducated opinion that a .338 would do just fine.

For the big cats, I have heard that it is just about perfect. Having never shot a large cat, I defer to the experts on this one.

 

[John Telford]

338 win mag vs Oryx this weekend.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

338 win mag vs Oryx this weekend.

View attachment 356692

John Telford

308 Winchester with 150 grain accubonds versus Oryx

 

[John Telford]

That’s a very nice trophy cow!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That’s a very nice trophy cow!

@John Telford
Thanks mate the son was with our owner/PH when they spotted it and the PH said to shoot it. My son was reluctant as it was not in his budget.
He was told to shoot it for free as he wanted an meat animal and it was a cull.
My son didn't need to be told twice up came the 308 and down came the Oryx. The PH told me he is a pleasure to shoot with as his shooting skills and instincts were better than some of the adults he had hunt with him. He also listened to instructions. To have your 15 year old son son complemented like that and in front of him was a big boost for the young fella not to mention a proud dad.
Bob

 

[John Telford]

That’s really cool Bob. My son outshot me 3 weeks back with his 6.5 Grendel ! He got 3 Impala walk and stalk with his friend and Guide Makara.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That’s really cool Bob. My son outshot me 3 weeks back with his 6.5 Grendel ! He got 3 Impala walk and stalk with his friend and Guide Makara.

View attachment 356774

@John Telford
The young fella did well congratulations to him. They are times that will live with him fore ever. To have a friend and mentor like Makara is good for him to have.
Well done young man.
Bob

 

[RayAtkinson]

Not suitable for dangerous game? Have you used it on DG? I have killed 3 buffalo and a Hippo or two with it, usually when the shot is too difficult for my 450-400 such as threading a hole to the game in the thick stuff, I switched my double for the scoped .338 Win..BTW with a 250 or 300 gr. solid it will out penetrate the .375 or 416 and probably a few others..In one instance the 300 solid penatrated a elephants head completely leaving and exit wound....Im comfortable with a .338 for DG, but I agee its not my choice as a one gun safari..Its a great choice for PG in DG country, never know whats going to pop up while collecting camp meat..Too much emphasis on caliber these days by the younger generation and not enough on bullet construction and placement IMO..

 

[Tanks]

Not suitable for dangerous game? Have you used it on DG? I have killed 3 buffalo and a Hippo or two with it...

Well, it is not suitable because it is not legal for DG (except for leopard) in most countries.

 

[Surgeon1]

I prefer the 338 RUM and the 338 Lapua to the WM! The RUM is perfect compromise using 250 A-frame at 2800fps.
For long range elk the 338 Lapua with 300gr Bergers have been deadly here in Wyoming and several other states in the last 6 years!
I built a 338 Lapua Ack IMP for a Utah Elk hunt last yr. It was a "close" 524 yd shot with 300 gr Berger @ 3025fps. Followed it with a 330bull
here in Wy at 895yd! The 338RUM with A-frames is ideal for PG and dark timber elk or moose IMHO.

 

[Quaticman]

My gunsmith is building my .338 Ultra Mag as we speak. He is using a trued Remington model 700 magnum action along with a 28" Krieger MTU contour barrel and a Bell and Carlson M40 tactical stock. It should throw a Berger 250 hybrid @ +/- 3,000 fps.

 

[Tanks]

Wow, that is like a shotgun barrel length

What are you going to use that gun for?

 

[bruce moulds]

an offhand scrub gun?

 

[Quaticman]

Wow, that is like a shotgun barrel length

What are you going to use that gun for?

It's intended purpose is to successfully complete the 1 mile milk jug challenge.

 

[Tanks]

It's intended purpose is to successfully complete the 1 mile milk jug challenge.

Ah, how come not a .338 Lapua then?

 

[Quaticman]

Ah, how come not a .338 Lapua then?

Most reputable gunsmiths won't build a .338 Lapua on a Remington 700 action. The case head diameter is too wide for the action resulting in too little metal surrounding the case which is a potentially dangerous situation. The .338 Ultra Mag has a 0.532" case head diameter
which works with the magnum action perfectly. A properly loaded .338 Ultra Mag will easily duplicate .338 Lapua ballistics.