.338 Remington Ultra Mag

[Quaticman]

I've got a Remington model 700 chambered in .338 RUM with a 28" barrel. It wears a Nikon Black 6-24x illuminated scope in Warne Maxima rings.
What African game species would this rifle be suitable for if using handloads with the 250 grain Swift A-Frame bullet?

 

[JimmyJack54]

I would say all plaines game.

I don’t believe it meets the minimum criteria that many (maybe all) African countries have for dangerous game.

The 338 RUM is a real thumper on both ends!

 

[Kevin375]

Speaking about performances, your caliber is pretty close of my .338 Lapua magnum and I have killed most of plains game, from duiker up to giraffes, with it. For sure, it is a bit overkill for smaller animals but it will do the trick.
I met a Namibian PH in the past who loved RUM calibers and he had both .300 and .338, but I didn't see them in action. He gave me one cartridge of each for my collection.
For dangerous game, I would say lion and leopard won't be a problem, same thing for crocodile.
In Namibia technically, there is just a minimum energy required to hunt dangerous game and this minimum is 5400 Joules. I don't how fast your A-Fram's go out of the barrel, but I'm sure you are well above this minimum. However, I don't know if there is a PH who will allow you to shoot a buffalo with this set up ? They will probably prefer a caliber with a larger diameter and a heavier bullet !

 

[Str8meat]

I love both my 338 rums. For North American deer species yes the are overkill. Black bear and elk do not prefer the cartridge. A frames are tougher than nails as well. I would venture to say that eland would be a worthy adversary.

 

[meigsbucks]

Any PG. My MRC wouldn’t shoot that bullet accurately (or as accurately as I’d like) and opted for a 225gr Swift AF. Took blesbok, gemsbok x2, zebra, eland and black wildebeest. No issues.

 

[BigGame]

Everything except dangerous game...that's why I also have a 416 RUM... Just because...

 

[Choupique]

What African game species would this rifle be suitable for if using handloads

After reboring it to 404 Jeff, everything