338s Are A Great Caliber

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I do agree, Whelen is much milder on the shoulder. Weatherby is more practical for me personally because of where I hunt most often requiring longer shots

@broncolcj.
With a 225grain woodleigh PPSP sighted 2 inches high at 100yards it zeros at 215 yards, 7 inches low at 300 and only 21 inches low at 400. If you sighted it for 3 inches high a 100 it would be even flatter. This gives it an even flatter trajectory than a 308 with a 150gn SST at 2,900 fps.
Flat enough for me.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I am surprised that they could not get more than 2850 out of the 250 gr loads.

@Saul
At that speed it is only 150 fps quicker than the Whelen. Is the extra powder, recoil and blast really worth it out to 400 yards?. It maybe useful past 400 but in reality how much game is shot past 300. Most game is shot at 200 yards and less in reality.
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

I think you may be onto something with the stock design. Since the 338 is an American designed and made by all American gun companies using stocks declared perfect by none other than Jack O’Conner , he of the straight stock that delivers all the recoil energy straight back into the shooters shoulder. With the muzzle jump of the magnum 338 it also delivers a goodly smack right in the cheek to go along with it. Possibly if guns were stocked in the European fashion it would not have that reputation. Just one mans musings. I must admit I favor the 9.3.

quite the opposite.
bent eurostocks will belt you in the cheekbone just like an old hawken rifle stock.
they can make a cheek glow in the dark.
and they rise in recoil making recovery slower.
and they don't line you up with a scope properly slowing down snap shooting.
bruce.

 

[Wesleyblake86]

I’m a huge fan of the .338’s. I’ve used the .338 Win mag since the early 1980’s. My favorite bullet for years was the 250 gr Speer Grand Slam (second version). I now load the 225 gr Barnes TTSX @ 2780 fps.
I also had a Ruger #1 rebarreled to .340 Wby. I wish I still had it.
In 2014 I purchased a MRC in .338 RUM. This has become one of my favorites. I used it with great success in Namibia using the 225 gr Swift. I’ve since developed a load for the 250 gr Barnes LRX (BC .602). I can’t wait to try it on game.
I also see a .338 Federal in my future.

Would you mind sharing your load data for the LRX? I am working up the same loads with RL-19

 

[PaulT]

The .338 Win mag is an outstanding, hard hitting, flat shooting medium that excels on medium to large soft skinned game.

I'm on my third now, over thirty years and can't see myself without one.
Shot my first buffalo, here in Aus, with a .338, over 25 years ago, with excellent results. Since then i have taken numerous feral horses, cattle, pigs and deer with the .338 with total satisfaction.
Takes a lot of guesswork out on the floodplains when needing to shoot at some distance on medium sized game like feral horses.

I now have a "back-packing" version, deliberately built for fly-camping, at just over 8lbs shooting 225gn slugs at a flat 2900 fps.
Devastating in effect on medium sized game, IF you can handle it !

The .338 Win mag, an American classic cartridge design success story.

 

[ldmay375]

Does anyone on the forum use a 338 Winchester with a 22” barrel ?
I am pondering having one of mine cut to 22” for moose and bear should I bump into one. I have almost decided that I am. The area that it would be hunted with is limited to a 225 yard shot, and usually much closer.
For the past several years, I have been using 20” barrels on 375 and 416 Rugers. So, I don’t foresee trajectory/ballistic issues. I do see a bit easier handling in the tangles and confined spaces.

 

[ldmay375]

The .338 Win mag is an outstanding, hard hitting, flat shooting medium that excels on medium to large soft skinned game.

I'm on my third now, over thirty years and can't see myself without one.
Shot my first buffalo, here in Aus, with a .338, over 25 years ago, with excellent results. Since then i have taken numerous feral horses, cattle, pigs and deer with the .338 with total satisfaction.
Takes a lot of guesswork out on the floodplains when needing to shoot at some distance on medium sized game like feral horses.

I now have a "back-packing" version, deliberately built for fly-camping, at just over 8lbs shooting 225gn slugs at a flat 2900 fps.
Devastating in effect on medium sized game, IF you can handle it !

The .338 Win mag, an American classic cartridge design success story.

PaulT,
That sounds like a fine rig. Care to share the details ? Cartridge wise the 338 Winchester is an impressive performer.

My favorite 338 Winchester weighs 8lbs 11.6 oz. It is a Ruger Mark II, stainless that I had bead blasted to get rid of the polished shine, Timney trigger that I put in it, Pacific Research stock, Alaska Arms rings, and presently a 1.5-6x42 Kahles Helia C scope.

I was never overwhelmed by its groups, until I tried some Federal factory loaded 225 grain TSX. Then, I was impressed and it became one of my favorite rifles. The 225 grain monolithic bullets are my favorites. I would have no hesitation with the 210 grain if the shot better in a rifle.

 

[PaulT]

That sounds like a fine rig. Care to share the details ?

I had a Win M70 chambered in .300 Win mag for decades.
It was wood stocked, pretty but also heavy and i just never warmed to the .300 and i needed an all weather, flat shooting, hard hitting fly-camping rifle.
At the same time i also had a spare synthetic stock and an original Brown Precision Ultralight weight barrel in .338 so i sent the lot over to my smith and had the .300 re-barreled and chambered in .338 in the synthetic stock.
It came back complete at just on 7lbs.
I added a Ziess 1.5-6x42mm scope and happy days.

Shoots 225gn Accubonds (and a couple of others as well) at 2900fps in to 3/4" at a 100yds for three shots and weighs just over 8lbs.
Kicks like a 30/06.
Perfection, at least imo.

 

[ldmay375]

That should be a handy and effective rifle.

 

[John J]

Does anyone on the forum use a 338 Winchester with a 22” barrel ?
I am pondering having one of mine cut to 22” for moose and bear should I bump into one. I have almost decided that I am. The area that it would be hunted with is limited to a 225 yard shot, and usually much closer.
For the past several years, I have been using 20” barrels on 375 and 416 Rugers. So, I don’t foresee trajectory/ballistic issues. I do see a bit easier handling in the tangles and confined spaces.

My 338 RUM is 21.25" after the gs squared and recrowned the barrel. Velocity is 2700 fps with 250 gr TTSX. Its my "beater" rifle, I packed it elk hunting this year. Light and handy, very happy with it. John

 

[ldmay375]

My 338 RUM is 21.25" after the gs squared and recrowned the barrel. Velocity is 2700 fps with 250 gr TTSX. Its my "beater" rifle, I packed it elk hunting this year. Light and handy, very happy with it. John

John J,
Thanks for the reply. That should be a beater of any elk receiving that bullet.

I have not decided yet, but definitely leaning to cutting one 338 Winchester back to 22”. Also mulling over the same for a Kimber Montana 325.
No doubt I am a big fan of 375’s and 416’s also. But, I really like anything 8mm through 458 Lott.
Sometimes I would like to use something different. I used a 23.5 “ barrel and few years ago, and within a day, re-affirmed my preference for shorter barrels in the area I hunt. I really like that rifle, just not in that application. I am pretty convinced 22” is my maximum barrel length for this area.

 

[John J]

Picked it up used and cut the barrel in 1" increments noting velocity loss. Nothing fancy, box stock, MOA all day long.

 

[ldmay375]

How much velocity decrease did you see ?

 

[Whacker]

I have been looking at a guide gun version with a 20” barrel for a while due to the tight woods I find myself sometimes hunting. It is next on my purchase list but will be a bit yet cause my wife did let me buy the model 70 375 H&H I’ve been wanting for years. I’m in love with it but I still want the .338 and a .458 Lott to finish off my gear with. The wife has a .264 win mag on the list as well so my .338 may be a bit.

 

[John J]

How much velocity decrease did you see ?

338 RUM project

I came across a used Remington 700 in 338 Ultra mag with a VX II 3×9 scope. I couldnt resist, so I bought it. The barrel was 26", I like short barrels for hunting. First step was to chrono and trim the barrel an inch at a time. The rifle was magna ported, at 10' from the muzzle velocity was 2794...

www.africahunting.com

If this don't work search 338 RUM project.

 

[ldmay375]

It worked, thanks.
Interesting for sure.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

I feel like for about a ten year period I couldn't pick up a Sports Afield or a hunting magazine without being inudated with articles about .338 WM, and how it was the choice of Alaskan guides, etc, etc, etc...

Seems to have waned in the last few years (or perhaps I'm just immune to it now).
Still the case, or is there another calibre de jour that is now all the rage?

.... Like how I woke up one morning and suddenly there was an entire generation eat, sleep, and breathing 6.5 Creedmoor. Took over the world in a 48 hour period, ha.

 

[ChrisG]

I feel like for about a ten year period I couldn't pick up a Sports Afield or a hunting magazine without being inudated with articles about .338 WM, and how it was the choice of Alaskan guides, etc, etc, etc...

Seems to have waned in the last few years (or perhaps I'm just immune to it now).
Still the case, or is there another calibre de jour that is now all the rage?

.... Like how I woke up one morning and suddenly there was an entire generation eat, sleep, and breathing 6.5 Creedmoor. Took over the world in a 48 hour period, ha.

I am not sure why the creedmoor has the distinctive following it does... I think it has to do with the tacticool crowd thinking it is the new zombie killing 2 mile cartridge or something. Mind you I have nothing against it, It kills game the same way every other 6.5 medium velocity cartridge has for the past 130 odd years. My 6.5x55 will do everything it will do, only it is superior in every way but its COAL, which is minutae to me... it's just not as hip. If the .260 Rem. was introduced as a super-tactical-sniper-marksman-EOTWAWKI-zombie killin'-bloused boots wearin' black rifle... I think people today would have the same reaction to it. Perception is everything these days. It seems lately that substance takes a back seat to it every time. I don't hate the cartridge, its the sale of its virtues as holistically superior in every way that drives me nuts.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

 

[Whacker]

I bought my daughter a 6.5 creedmoor this year for her first rifle. I am with everyone else on the tired of hearing about it as the best thing ever lol. I’ll admit it does it’s job but no better than any of the other 6.5’s in my opinion. Honestly I had absolutely no intentions of that being the caliber we went home with it just so happened she wanted to start hunting this year and guess what...the 2020 crap show had sat in. No ammo to be found anywhere for any caliber smaller than 7mm Weatherby several times we had gone shopping. One day we made our way into the local Dicks sporting goods and walking by the ammo shelf they had just got a shipment in...2 boxes of 450 Bushmaster and 3 boxes of Remington Core Lokt 6.5 Creedmoor were all that remained. I scooped up the 3 boxes of creedmoor and to the counter we went to find they also had a Winchester rifle with Vortex scope in 6.5. That’s how we came to her first rifle being the 6.5 Creedmoor lol or she would’ve had a 270 instead most likely. Oh well...she took a deer with it this year dropped in its tracks...she likes it so that’s good enough for me. I still want a .338 Win Mag tho.

I am not sure why the creedmoor has the distinctive following it does... I think it has to do with the tacticool crowd thinking it is the new zombie killing 2 mile cartridge or something. Mind you I have nothing against it, It kills game the same way every other 6.5 medium velocity cartridge has for the past 130 odd years. My 6.5x55 will do everything it will do, only it is superior in every way but its COAL, which is minutae to me... it's just not as hip. If the .260 Rem. was introduced as a super-tactical-sniper-marksman-EOTWAWKI-zombie killin'-bloused boots wearin' black rifle... I think people today would have the same reaction to it. Perception is everything these days. It seems lately that substance takes a back seat to it every time. I don't hate the cartridge, its the sale of its virtues as holistically superior in every way that drives me nuts.

Back to your regularly scheduled program

 

[Dr Ray]

Does anyone on the forum use a 338 Winchester with a 22” barrel ?
I am pondering having one of mine cut to 22” for moose and bear should I bump into one. I have almost decided that I am. The area that it would be hunted with is limited to a 225 yard shot, and usually much closer.
For the past several years, I have been using 20” barrels on 375 and 416 Rugers. So, I don’t foresee trajectory/ballistic issues. I do see a bit easier handling in the tangles and confined spaces.

Personally I won’t! But; I am very sensitive to the muzzle blast.
Handling characteristics - I can understand but in reality I don’t see that much of an advantage,
This is just my opinion.