Man-in-the-middle caliber

[Buffalo1]

A 30:06 offers a wide range of bullets weight and styles to hunt anything, but maybe African DG.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’m going to change my vote to 30-06. Since you think the 338 mag is too much.

 

[Scott CWO]

I think my list would read like this. There's nothing you couldn't do with this list.

22LR
223
30/06
375 H&H
458 Lott
12 Ga Shotgun

+1
Exactly my approach if I had to get rid of some rifles but I hate to get rid of my .22-250, .300 Win Mag and .338 Win Mag!

 

[Philip Glass]

Hey everyone,

So My approach to firearms is to have one for every size animal, and one that could fill almost any scenario, while at the same time, keeping the arsenal to a minimum.

So I have weaned it down to these hunting rifles:

Small game (up to 20lbs)- .25 PCP air rifle pushing 45ft-lbs
Varmints/furbear - (up to 100 lbs) - .223 - CZ527 American
Medium Game - (up to 350lbs) - 6.5x55 - Ruger M77 MkII
Large Game - Anything else - .375 Ruger - Ruger M77 Guide Gun

Soo all that said, I am considering a .338 federal in a stainless gun that is lighter weight to fill the gap between the 6.5x55 and the .375ruger. While the .375 is perfect in my opinion for larger bears (My goal would be to hunt Kodiak before I die), elk and moose, It is massively overkill for smaller bears and the 6.5x55 doesn't leave a great blood trail in the fall when I hunt them and they have thick fur and lots of fat to plug up that little hole. Hence the search for a .338 federal.

I also am a big proponent of open sights. As a barrel without them just looks weird to me.

Can anyone comment on using the cartridge on medium to large animals? and if so, is there a manufacturer still making them besides savage? I like Savage but they are almost the price of a Kimber Hunter now. I would have loved a kimber 84M in .338 Fed but they stopped producing them it looks like.

Anyone think of a reason that this is unnecessary? Or does it make sense to round out the gun cabinet?

We all love buying another gun! I do not see the value in a .338 when you have a .375. The .375 Ruger will do anything you want it to do. I think it’s a brilliant round and I have 2 of them. I will never own a .338.
Philip

 

[Tra3]

After much contemplation, my travel gun case now has an R8 with barrels in:
.22 LR
.270 Win
.300 Win mag
.375 H&H mag

My vote on the in between would the .300 win mag. That suggestion is due to the ability to take a longer range shot if needed. Ammo is easily available. Rifle choice is broad (I’m with @BeeMaa about Kimber rifles being a good choice).

 

[Forrest Halley]

This is turning into the gun version of what's in the bag... everyone is going to have a driver and a wedge, but the irons and hybrids in the middle of the bag sure are interesting.

@Tra3 isn't the .300 and .375 a bit of overlap?

 

[ChrisG]

This really does get interesting. So I have had a .300 Win Mag. I took it to Wyoming last year after elk, but I sold it upon my return because it was really heavy, blued steel and walnut and 3 days on the horse looked like 10 years of hand carry around my woods. I am liking the idea of the Kimber Montana, but I don't know as I want a magnum, lightweight rifle. As much as I enjoy shooting my .375, its recoil is like being hit by a slow moving sledge hammer. It definitely pushes you and its got quite a shove (not as bad as my old .416 but not a tickle either). I feel like a 6.5 lb .300 Win Mag will be like catching a hard-swung canoe paddle to the shoulder ever time it goes off. Like a large slap. That seems like a lot less fun. That was why I was leaning more toward the short action, moderate velocity middle of the road calibers. They are easy to shoot and they will get the job done to 350 yards (which is the farthest I ever hope to shoot).

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Honestly as someone that happens to have experience with all of these calibers and loves them all, I approve!
Also with the right .22 you can bridge the gap of the .223 with the .30-06 bringing up the longer range needs with a 125-130 grain bullet. I am torn over the noise a .223 makes versus the noise a .30-06 makes. I have been playing with .22's lately around 100 yards offhand. It's fun and the slow bullets make you focus on your form.

@ Forrest Halley
22K Hornet
My 25 cal
35 Whelen
Covers all my bases from bunny to buffalo.
I don't need a 22lr because I can easily load the hornet down and a 250grain 35 cal with 4,000 for of muzzle energy is more than enough for anything I hunt.
Bob

 

[Bert the Turtle]

This is turning into the gun version of what's in the bag... everyone is going to have a driver and a wedge, but the irons and hybrids in the middle of the bag sure are interesting.

@Tra3 isn't the .300 and .375 a bit of overlap?

I thought the 270 and the 300 were a bit of overlap...

 

[Fastrig]

I've got an AR-10 in 338 Federal....she's a beast and is going to Alaska on my next hunt in that beautiful state. No doubt she'll drop the big browns and the recoil is about the same as a 308 win, tad more.

 

[Forrest Halley]

I thought the 270 and the 300 were a bit of overlap...

Clearly the .300 is superfluous.

@ Forrest Halley
22K Hornet
My 25 cal
35 Whelen
Covers all my bases from bunny to buffalo.
I don't need a 22lr because I can easily load the hornet down and a 250grain 35 cal with 4,000 for of muzzle energy is more than enough for anything I hunt.
Bob

Really you could load the Whelen down to 105 grain bullets and do it all to max power.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Depends upon what you're hunting. Big difference between the density/tenacity of that 350 lbs in America vs. Africa. Although I love the larger case .264s, bigger bullets should prob. be used on African Med Game (and Large Plains Game which far exceed that 350 lb limit.) I favor a large cased .338 for that work (Elk, Big Bears-even <900 lb black bear in my backyard! but also Nyala-Kudu-Oryx the latter of which will try to kill you if not put down! 'Could also be used for much larger Eland, Giraffe-there are some wildebeest that weigh in at 750!) That's quite a gap between .264 and .375 (and I'd use an even bigger caliber for Buffalo & Elephant! just to make the PH's life easier.) That said, the large cased 7mm/.30s with the heaviest bullets would fill that gap nicely as well. I just like the "do it all" capability of the larger 6.5 & .338 bullets (some of the highest BC/SDs there are.) I used a .338-06 in Africa many moons ago and have since upgraded to a .338 A-Sq (essentially an earlier variant of the .338-378 Wby.) The walk up after 1 shot is the exact distance you shot from.... In some countries, that .338 using the heaviest 300 gr bullets would be fine for DG, as its SD and Energy are considerably higher than that of a .375. .338 is also a winner for elk/moose/big bear in N. America. My .264 would not be the first choice for that! .338-.358-.375-.416

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Clearly the .300 is superfluous.
Really you could load the Whelen down to 105 grain bullets and do it all to max power.

@Forrest Halley
If'n I did that to my Whelen I'd either spend to much time dialing in each load or changing scopes 200s,225s,and 250s all shoot to a similar point at 100 so why play silly buggas with the scope. Load round sight game, pull trigger pick up game. Simples Mr Halley simples.

The 3 at the 4cm Mark are 3 different 250 grainers and the 3 at the 1 cm Mark are 2 different 225s and the pen Mark is a 200FTX copied of another exact target.
See young Mr Halley 6 different load 3 shooters one rifle simplicity at its finest.
Hope Mrs Halley is doing well with your new shooter to be.
Bob

 

[C.W. Richter]

There are many factory guns that are designed by corporate committee, mass produced, and frankly not of proper proportion for the cartridge. This is from a .338 A-Sq, which is a pleasure to shoot, as it's weight, butt surface area and other (factory) accurization (trigger, full length bedding, etc.) were all properly taken into consideration and no corners were cut. The end result is lights-out at any distance you like. The .338 Win Mag is not really a magnum at all IMHO, as most factory loads are well below 3,000 fps. It has its limitations, mainly pertaining to practical distance. That relatively short case is better suited for the 7mm-.30.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Depends upon what you're hunting. Big difference between the density/tenacity of that 350 lbs in America vs. Africa. Although I love the larger case .264s, bigger bullets should prob. be used on African Med Game (and Large Plains Game which far exceed that 350 lb limit.) I favor a large cased .338 for that work (Elk, Big Bears-even <900 lb black bear in my backyard! but also Nyala-Kudu-Oryx the latter of which will try to kill you if not put down! 'Could also be used for much larger Eland, Giraffe-there are some wildebeest that weigh in at 750!) That's quite a gap between .264 and .375 (and I'd use an even bigger caliber for Buffalo & Elephant! just to make the PH's life easier.) That said, the large cased 7mm/.30s with the heaviest bullets would fill that gap nicely as well. I just like the "do it all" capability of the larger 6.5 & .338 bullets (some of the highest BC/SDs there are.) I used a .338-06 in Africa many moons ago and have since upgraded to a .338 A-Sq (essentially an earlier variant of the .338-378 Wby.) The walk up after 1 shot is the exact distance you shot from.... In some countries, that .338 using the heaviest 300 gr bullets would be fine for DG, as its SD and Energy are considerably higher than that of a .375. .338 is also a winner for elk/moose/big bear in N. America. My .264 would not be the first choice for that! .338-.358-.375-.416

@C.W. Richter
CW If'n my Alzheimer's isn't playing up the 338 A square is the 338 ought six legitimize by Art Alpin. On the other hand the 33OKH is the for runner to the 338/378 invented by O'Niel,Kieth and Hopkins.
The 35 Whelen loaded properly will do all the 338 win mag will go and then some at any sane range out to 400yards.
Just my thoughts tho
Bob

 

[C.W. Richter]

@C.W. Richter
CW If'n my Alzheimer's isn't playing up the 338 A square is the 338 ought six legitimize by Art Alpin. On the other hand the 33OKH is the for runner to the 338/378 invented by O'Niel,Kieth and Hopkins.
The 35 Whelen loaded properly will do all the 338 win mag will go and then some at any sane range out to 400yards.
Just my thoughts tho
Bob

No. The .338-06 A-Sq is what you're talking about. I have one. Super accurate, just not the best choice for Africa (use it at home for Black Bear/Elk and deer in combined seasons. In the thick stuff where shots are rarely more than 150 yards.) Alphin made a few more .338s...the .338 A-Sq (.338-.378 prototype) and the Excalibur (same performance, but no belted case.) I like the first 2 very much and would probably have a 6.5-06 A-Sq if it weren't for developing a 6.5 WSM. Art made some subtle changes to others' creations and SAAMI'ized most of 'em so we could buy ammo! Wby offered guns chambered in several of his cartridges for years and A-Sq and Norma sold ammo.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Agree on the Whelen. It and the .338-06 or .338-06 AI (and .35 Whelen AI) are nearly on par with the .338 Win Mag. Case capacity is not much different. Why they called 'em "the poor man's magnums!" lol Friend has a beautiful Paul Jaeger .35 W AI that he only takes out on nice days in open areas.

 

[C.W. Richter]

.358 Norma. I like that. 'Had a .350 Rem Mag but the gun was punishing to shoot (way too light!) Its terminal performance on game and the shoulder were legendary!!!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

.358 Norma. I like that. 'Had a .350 Rem Mag but the gun was punishing to shoot (way too light!) Its terminal performance on game and the shoulder were legendary!!!

@C.W. Richter
I load my Whelen with 225grain Woodleigh PPSP at 2,950fps and the 250grain Speer hotcore at 2,750 fps, well into the 338mag range and better.
Bib

 

[C.W. Richter]

I'd get just under 3,000 w/ same in the .350 Rem Mag, about 2850 in the .338-06, but 3,250 in the 338 A-Sq. Only with the 350 Rem did most of the energy go into my body upon pulling the trigger! LOL Even w/ Magnaporting, It is now beating up an Indian Chief in ID.