Why a .338 WM in Africa?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Whoa Bob!
I think you're being a bit unfair to the unfortunately named 338. It is a "magnum" in name only, with case capacity more or less the same as my beloved queen 9.3x74R - with a bit more pressure, and a 33 instead of 36 caliber bullet. The ratio of powder to bore diameter doesn't put it in the "overbore" category of other magnums crammed full of Ramshot Magnum or Retumbo that torch barrel throats in a few hundred shots. The 338 does it's best work with medium-slow H4350 family, or RL 16-17-19 series. My favorite powder in the 6.5 Swede (H1000) is even too slow for the 338 "magnum"! Perhaps it should be renamed the "8.5 Creedmoor".

The 338 is an efficient, versatile cartridge. Even today it fills a wide gap between the 30s and 37s. There is a much broader selection of bullets available for the 33, including highly aerodynamic hunting bullets that don't exist in the 35 or 37. Maybe you're on a trip to the western US for pronghorn or mule deer (the need for a 400+ yard shot not uncommon), then hunting Elk in a grizzly bear area - the 338 has you covered for all! Of course a 30 would work, but the 33 is a step up in "thump", similar to a 30 compared to 270. A 37 has even more thump, but suffers from comparitively blunt bullets that come with more wind deflection. No fault of the other cartidges, it just seems bullet makers are not interested or seeing demand for more advanced 35, 36 or 37 caliber hunting bullets.

@Rimshot
So far you haven't told me the use of the 338.
With a nice 225gn accubond @2,900fps the Whelen will happily reach out past 400yds
Your 9.3x74 is a grand old cartridge
You can call the 338 the 8.3 creedmore but that doesn't make it any better
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Oh Bob! You and your 35 Squealen! Just an over-weighted 30-06! It’s no wonder your wife makes you sleep on the couch!

@Scott CWO
Never have to sleep in the couch mate
My wife enjoys snuggling up to me every night .
The Whelen and I have a lot in common
Both have class
Get things done quietly and efficiently
Don't have to blow our own trumpet to know we are good.
Just get on with what ever job we are given
And
Are able to handle the shit other throw at us because we know what we can do.
We are both just quiet achievers.
Bob

 

[chonk34]

I had good success with a .338 on my South Africa plains game safari. My dad had similar success on the same hunt with a 7mm Rem Mag. Shot placement is the more important factor.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I don't own one, but I really do think a .35 Whelen would be a tremendous round for the Limpopo country I hunted in 2 years ago (and again next month!)

I'm not complaining about my .300 WM shooting 200 grain bullets, good stuff. I shot 8 animals, the only shot over 100 yards was a Gemsbok at 225-250. A double lung hit, he ran about 200 yards and tipped over dead.

Most animals fell down where they were hit, but some were at tough angles in brush and I think a bigger bore and heavier bullet would be best at putting them down on the spot. I don't like to track, if I have to I want a large exit wound leaving a nice blood trail.

I am almost 60 and I don't like anymore recoil. I'd gladly shoot a .338 WM for plains game, but I think a .35 Whelen would do the same job with less recoil. I don't own either one, so take this for what it is worth. I'm not near the rifle buff that most on this forum are, but I think a lot of larger caliber non-magnums (such as .358 Winchester or .338 Federal) that would be great in the Limpopo shooting big stuff. Hell, a .45-70 would be poison for a lot of the hunting I encountered.

I'm done. Buy yourself a .338 and tell us how it worked !

 

[Scott CWO]

I don't own one, but I really do think a .35 Whelen would be a tremendous round for the Limpopo country I hunted in 2 years ago (and again next month!)

I'm not complaining about my .300 WM shooting 200 grain bullets, good stuff. I shot 8 animals, the only shot over 100 yards was a Gemsbok at 225-250. A double lung hit, he ran about 200 yards and tipped over dead.

Most animals fell down where they were hit, but some were at tough angles in brush and I think a bigger bore and heavier bullet would be best at putting them down on the spot. I don't like to track, if I have to I want a large exit wound leaving a nice blood trail.

I am almost 60 and I don't like anymore recoil. I'd gladly shoot a .338 WM for plains game, but I think a .35 Whelen would do the same job with less recoil. I don't own either one, so take this for what it is worth. I'm not near the rifle buff that most on this forum are, but I think a lot of larger caliber non-magnums (such as .358 Winchester or .338 Federal) that would be great in the Limpopo shooting big stuff. Hell, a .45-70 would be poison for a lot of the hunting I encountered.

I'm done. Buy yourself a .338 and tell us how it worked !

There you go encouraging @Bob Nelson 35Whelen when clearly he doesn’t need any help!

 

[Scott CWO]

@Scott CWO
Never have to sleep in the couch mate
My wife enjoys snuggling up to me every night .
The Whelen and I have a lot in common
Both have class
Get things done quietly and efficiently
Don't have to blow our own trumpet to know we are good.
Just get on with what ever job we are given
And
Are able to handle the shit other throw at us because we know what we can do.
We are both just quiet achievers.
Bob

Now I don’t think the word “quiet” describes much about you, mate! But I will concede to the efficiency of you and the Whelen, as much as I hate to admit it!

 

[1dirthawker]

I used a .338 win in Namibia in 2024. the rifle was a mauser (a rental rifle) I was shooting 225 gr woodleigh bullets out of it.

i only shot 3 big game animals with it, an eland, gemsbok and warthog but it performed admirably. the gemsbok took a second shot, but that is because the scope got knocked off of zero (an intern ph was packing it and slid down a large boulder and bashed it and told me later)

a 338 win shoots flat, hits hard and with good bullets just does the job. i am a fan.

 

[Jefferry404]

Well, given the anecdotal performance of the
318 Wesley Richards ( and its contemporary 333 Jeffery), what is not to like
“
The .318 Westley Richards was one of the most popular medium-bore cartridges used in Africa, even after the introduction of the .375 Holland & Holland

Use​

While the cartridge is not intended for dangerous game, it has been used successfully on all African game species up to and including elephant.
“
And from one of my hero’s
“
James H. Sutherland, who over the course of his life shot between 1,300 and 1,600 elephants, used a .318 Westley Richards along with a .577 Nitro Express double rifle for all his African hunting, in a letter to Westley Richards he wrote "In open country, against Elephants and Rhinoceroses where the quarry is difficult to approach and long shots are often required I find that I can do all that is requisite with the .318 Westley Richards
“
Per the Wiki
Steve

 

[RLL]

I had one for a while…liked it, and If you want one, grab a nice one! But…id say go straight for the 375 or bigger if you’re chasing the nasty stuff.

 

[Paul K]

If it's plains game, I take one rifle and that is my Sako 75 in 338WM with 250gr, Nos. Prt's with a charge of H4350. My wife, her 30-06 Sako 75 180gr. Nos. Prt's with Vit. N160. We have taken everything from Eland on down, 23 trophies. My Cape Buffalo, 416 Rigby.

 

[benchracer]

Thanks for all of the answers and ideas.
Here is the situation.

I have a stunning, 2nd hand Mountain Riflery Custom in .338 WM that is "write hot checks and tell your wife lies" good looking. It is as accurate as it looks. I like it. However, I have a twin in .375 H&H that is as hot as this babe. Matter of fact, I have two very stunningly good looking and accurate .375's.

Hence my question. I am thinking rebarrel to 7mm or .300 WM or ???

Keeps the looks and pairs up well with my sweetheart .375's.

Nice problem to have, yes, I know, but still a 1st world problem....

There is so much overlap between the 338 Win Mag and the 375 H&H, I would see those two rifles as a 338 Win Mag OR 375 H&H proposition, rather than a pair. It would not make sense to me to carry both rifles to Africa. Either one would be a suitable choice for a one rifle, plains game only, hunt.

If you are looking to take two rifles to Africa, I would recommend one of two approaches:

1. Step the 338 Win Mag down to a 300 Win Mag and pair it with a 375 H&H.​

​

OR​

2. Go with the 338 Win Mag as your primary rifle and step one of your 375's up to a 416 or 458.​

​

If you were starting from a clean sheet of paper, the conversation would be different. Given that you already have two nice 375's, option 2 would seem to me to be a more logical choice.

 

[Paul K]

Too bad it now looks like 250gr is the top end of factory ammo for the 338WM.

A 300gr would have great S.D.

I just looked at my bullet inventory and found 10 boxes of .338 Speer 275gr. Tungsten Core Solids. Forgot that I had them. Imagine that.

 

[CBH Australia]

I guess you could say why not? In answer to the post.

I have not owned a .338wm but the first “African Hunter” I met had been something like 26 times and had 52 trophies.

He told me he always used a .270 and a .338wm.

He must have seen me thinking on this and said he was never interested in the Big Cats. That made sense as I had a feeling that large calibres were often used.

I’m sure it’s a powerhouse but haven’t owned one but somehow I considered it a bear cartridge, or at least something that would be well suited to hunting bear.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

Jim Charmaechel is a man I respect much. He liked the .338. He shot a lions and great big bears in the stories I read 50 years ago, Ii wanted a 338 since.

I've been to Africa once. So take that for what it is worth.

On my one and only safari to date....

I was in camp enjoying a sundowner with our PH, staff and his wife. She told me about the ostrich she got a while ago. The curious client I asked "What rifle did you use? She replied calmly " I use my .375 for everything"

Makes me want a .375

 

[Stormy Kromer]

There you go encouraging @Bob Nelson 35Whelen when clearly he doesn’t need any help!

Sorry, I see that now. I'll encourage a .358 Win from now on.

 

[Certus]

@RayAtkinson I believe has taken multiple Cape Buffalo with the 338WinMag… Woodleigh used to load a 300gr for it with 375 H&H velocities! I’m sure that it would have made a serious impression on Buff

Like a .333 Jeffery, but better in all ways.
.333 was well regarded for penetration.

 

[The Shootist]

I think the 375H&H makes more sense, but there is zero issue with 338wm. I have a costly habit of buying Dakota 76s in 338, so I have a few at this point. A couple of them have been to Africa and preformed well, as you would expect.

The 225gr accobond is super accurate in all my rifles, and you can push plenty fast. H4350 or R19 will get you over 2900fps, which is more than enough for anyting I would use it for.


Not to get @Bob Nelson 35Whelen too exercised on a Saturday morning, but the 35 Whelen will also get a 225gr accubond to 2900fps with CFE223 and Reloader 15.

All true except Reloader 15 might as well be fairy dust!

 

[CoElkHunter]

I remember many years ago calling Swift and talking to the owner. He told he made a run of .338 217 grn A-frames and he'd sell me some tho he wasn't advertising them. The A-Bolt loved them and I took a bunch of game with them. I had no plans to take another Impala but this one was just to good to pass up. And it was a poke, I held for about 375 yrds, which I really dont like to do since I dont much like shooting long.

Well the impressive Impala had turned on me and I had to take him in the rump. The 217 A-frame from the .338Win A-bolt flew true and exited his chest. He was dead before he hit the ground. I probably took more game with this rifle then even my 30/06 and I loved re-loading for it. BTW great site and hello to everyone and good hunting.

The A-Bolt likes the 225's as well.

Fantastic Impala! Congrats!

 

[YancyW]

All true except Reloader 15 might as well be fairy dust!

I have years worth, so I haven't tried the 15.5 yet, but Im sure it would be work well also.

 

[The Shootist]

If you want the better ballistics, the 340 Weatherby is superior to the 375 H&H with 300 grain bullets.