Still worth buying a 338 WinMag if I own a 375?

[Northern Shooter]

Now that I have decided YES I need to own a 338, which factory ammo should I be looking out for?

I'm seeing surprisingly few options in stock in my area right now but I am seeing Hornadys precision hunter line (230gr).

 

[colorado]

On average the 338 has much higher bc and sd, and pulls away from the 375 at distance. To keep up you need a bigger case.

To be honest both are great calibers, but I've taken most of my elk with my BDL in 270 Win shooting 150g Partitions at 3000 fps. I just use my bigger calibers because I gave that rifle to my son to encourage him to go elk hunting. It worked!

 

[Deepfork]

Now that I have decided YES I need to own a 338, which factory ammo should I be looking out for?

I'm seeing surprisingly few options in stock in my area right now but I am seeing Hornadys precision hunter line (230gr).

The only factory load I have seen available in months is the Winchester Expedition with a 225gr AccuBond.

Of the Factory loads still theoretically available I like The Hornady Outfitter with a 225gr CX or Barnes 225gr TTSX BT.

 

[Northern Shooter]

The only factory load I have seen available in months is the Winchester Expedition with a 225gr AccuBond.

Of the Factory loads still theoretically available I like The Hornady Outfitter with a 225gr CX or Barnes 225gr TTSX BT.

I'll keep an eye out for those. Is ~225gr the sweet spot for 338WM?

 

[MarkB]

I and mine like the nosler accubond in 225, that's all I shoot. I do not use factory ammo but if your area is like mine (BC) the only ammo available is the Hornady. Every shelf in every store here is filled with red boxes. Most say due to only company without big Gov contracts, not sure how true that is. I like what I read on the CX line, but would be nice to see and be able to get some Terminal ascents from Federal. They sound awesome and will be tried after my accubonds are gone. (Years yet as I horded from US when job took me there monthly).

I suggest buying a couple box and seeing what ones your gun likes, then shoot those, save every piece of brass, one day you will have or reload them.

Good luck.

MB

 

[Flewis]

I'll keep an eye out for those. Is ~225gr the sweet spot for 338WM?

The 225 accubond has a BC of 550, so pretty flat to 400 yards. On elk 2. 5 inches high at 100 yards back line hold to a bit over 400.

 

[Deepfork]

I and mine like the nosler accubond in 225, that's all I shoot. I do not use factory ammo but if your area is like mine (BC) the only ammo available is the Hornady. Every shelf in every store here is filled with red boxes. Most say due to only company without big Gov contracts, not sure how true that is. I like what I read on the CX line, but would be nice to see and be able to get some Terminal ascents from Federal. They sound awesome and will be tried after my accubonds are gone. (Years yet as I horded from US when job took me there monthly).

I suggest buying a couple box and seeing what ones your gun likes, then shoot those, save every piece of brass, one day you will have or reload them.

Good luck.

MB

Federal Trophy Bonded Tip and Terminal Ascent bullets are great performers. I have shot tons of them in .308, 30-06 and 300WM factory loads. Trying to get hold of the bullets for reloading has been practically impossible. For what its worth I have talked to Federal, they told me a run of the .338 bullets was scheduled for September.

 

[MarkB]

Federal Trophy Bonded Tip and Terminal Ascent bullets are great performers. I have shot tons of them in .308, 30-06 and 300WM factory loads. Trying to get hold of the bullets for reloading has been practically impossible. For what its worth I have talked to Federal, they told me a run of the .338 bullets was scheduled for September.

Lucky you guys? Us guys up here in Dictatorville will not see any for many more years I think. From all I read and see the new terminal ascent (TA) bullets are the ones to beat? I love my accubonds and have for years but they lack two things in my eyes for 2023, crimp grove and weight retention. The TA has both so what I want to shoot, at least in my mind until some year when they arrive or I do a drive down.

Can get in both 338 and 375 I think so OP can still get that 338 he should have, wants and will get.

MB

 

[CoElkHunter]

Now that I have decided YES I need to own a 338, which factory ammo should I be looking out for?

I'm seeing surprisingly few options in stock in my area right now but I am seeing Hornadys precision hunter line (230gr).

Well, they’res still not many options ANYWHERE to choose from for factory .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM ammo. Buy what you can find REASONABLY priced and be happy. The Hornady 230 ELD-X is one of the very few available choices out there. The ammo manufacturers in cahoots with the rifle manufacturers are pushing and loading factory ammo in their NEW cartridge offerings and giving the older cartridges the finger to increase their profits by forcing us to buy a new rifle in one of their newest cartridges IMO. When one can’t find factory ammo or brass (for over 3 and a half years and counting) in one of the top five elk cartridges in NA in a .338WM, that’s by orchestrated design.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I'll keep an eye out for those. Is ~225gr the sweet spot for 338WM?

Yes.

 

[JimP]

If you see any Barnes Vortex with the 225 gr TTSX don't walk away from them.

You can also check the Barnes website store for them

 

[K95]

Lucky you guys? Us guys up here in Dictatorville will not see any for many more years I think. From all I read and see the new terminal ascent (TA) bullets are the ones to beat? I love my accubonds and have for years but they lack two things in my eyes for 2023, crimp grove and weight retention. The TA has both so what I want to shoot, at least in my mind until some year when they arrive or I do a drive down.

Can get in both 338 and 375 I think so OP can still get that 338 he should have, wants and will get.

MB

I don’t know if the new 338 TA will have a crimp line but they beat the Accubond hands down in the weight retention.

 

[Ray B]

determining if a cartridge has a slight advantage over another has no bearing on whether you should get it or not. But to answer the question for what I consider practical shooting distance for elk, which is 400 yards there is but miniscule difference in the trajectories of a 210 grain .338 and a 250 grain .375 and with proper bullet and shot selection, the results will be the same. So either would work equally well- Having said that, I have never let the possibility of duplication deter me from seeking a firearm.

 

[Deepfork]

determining if a cartridge has a slight advantage over another has no bearing on whether you should get it or not. But to answer the question for what I consider practical shooting distance for elk, which is 400 yards there is but miniscule difference in the trajectories of a 210 grain .338 and a 250 grain .375 and with proper bullet and shot selection, the results will be the same. So either would work equally well- Having said that, I have never let the possibility of duplication deter me from seeking a firearm.

Yep, I load the 210gr TTSX for the .338WM and 250gr TTSX for the .375 Ruger. The .375 drops 1.9 in further at 400 yards. By 500 its 4.25 inches difference.

 

[JimP]

But how boring would it be to look into your gun safe and only see just one or two rifles sitting in it?

My way of thinking is that like golf clubs, a person needs a rifle for every situation and or game animal. With golf clubs you can play golf with a single club, likewise a single rifle will do pretty much the same thing, kill animals. But I like a variety of rifles to use. I wouldn't trade my .340 Weatherby for a 375 HH, likewise I wouldn't trade my 22-250, 25-06, 30-06, 348 Winchester, or any of my other rifles. Heck, I even own several muzzle loaders, why you ask? Because I can and enjoy shooting each and every one.

 

[MarkB]

But how boring would it be to look into your gun safe and only see just one or two rifles sitting in it?

My way of thinking is that like golf clubs, a person needs a rifle for every situation and or game animal. With golf clubs you can play golf with a single club, likewise a single rifle will do pretty much the same thing, kill animals. But I like a variety of rifles to use. I wouldn't trade my .340 Weatherby for a 375 HH, likewise I wouldn't trade my 22-250, 25-06, 30-06, 348 Winchester, or any of my other rifles. Heck, I even own several muzzle loaders, why you ask? Because I can and enjoy shooting each and every one.

I agree but I want, need and have 2 for every species, terrain or type of hunt. Always take a back up crossover gun/caliber on my annual 3 month BC safari. For the what ifs? 338 and 300WSM for my next 4 week moose, elk, B-Bear hunt, 6.5 and 308 for month deer hunt. Your correct opening the safe to one long gun?? That would be heart breaking.

MB

 

[Northern Shooter]

But how boring would it be to look into your gun safe and only see just one or two rifles sitting in it?

My way of thinking is that like golf clubs, a person needs a rifle for every situation and or game animal. With golf clubs you can play golf with a single club, likewise a single rifle will do pretty much the same thing, kill animals. But I like a variety of rifles to use. I wouldn't trade my .340 Weatherby for a 375 HH, likewise I wouldn't trade my 22-250, 25-06, 30-06, 348 Winchester, or any of my other rifles. Heck, I even own several muzzle loaders, why you ask? Because I can and enjoy shooting each and every one.

Variety is the spice of life but I still try and reduce overap between my firearms, as best as I can.

I'm perfectly fine owning a 338 and 375 but I likely wouldn't buy multiples of each unless the rifles were drastically different to distinguish them.

 

[CoElkHunter]

But how boring would it be to look into your gun safe and only see just one or two rifles sitting in it?

My way of thinking is that like golf clubs, a person needs a rifle for every situation and or game animal. With golf clubs you can play golf with a single club, likewise a single rifle will do pretty much the same thing, kill animals. But I like a variety of rifles to use. I wouldn't trade my .340 Weatherby for a 375 HH, likewise I wouldn't trade my 22-250, 25-06, 30-06, 348 Winchester, or any of my other rifles. Heck, I even own several muzzle loaders, why you ask? Because I can and enjoy shooting each and every one.

You’re only missing a .35 WHELEN! Don’t let Townsend @Bob Nelson 35Whelen see your missing link in cartridges. Ha! Ha!

 

[JimP]

You’re only missing a .35 WHELEN! Don’t let Townsend @Bob Nelson 35Whelen see your missing link in cartridges. Ha! Ha!

I figure at my age I am close to being done buying rifles.

I'm trying to work a deal on a 50-110 right now but the seller doesn't want to budge.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I figure at my age I am close to being done buying rifles.

I'm trying to work a deal on a 50-110 right now but the seller doesn't want to budge.

A 50-110 would be nice.