.338 Win Mag

[Waterguy631]

Is a .338 win mag over kill for plains game I would be using barnes 225 grain TSX I've been told by the booking consultant it is over kill and I don't need any thing that big. But I shoot it great and the whitetails I shoot with it are just as dead.
Tom

 

[bassasdaindia]

great caliber, with amazing SD

I use 250g , and if you shoot it well why change ?

 

[BRICKBURN]

You had me at "you shoot it great".

Take it, shoot it, have a great trip.

 

[CAustin]

Waterguy listen to Brickburn. What matters most is that you shoot the rifle well. So what if it shoots a 225 grain....it will put them down.

 

[JimP]

I am going on my first safari in 2 months and plan on taking my .340 Weatherby for all the plains game that I shoot. I'll be shooting reloads with 225 grain Barnes TTSX bullets and I don't feel like I'll be over gun except for the smaller animals that are in my package, but I may just pass them up anyway. I feel that the .338 caliber will do quite well on kudu, gemsbok, warthogs, and wildebeest that I plan on shooting with it. Perhaps a little bit on the big side for the impala but it'll work quite fine.

 

[sestoppelman]

Great choice. I took a .338 Win to RSA for pg as well once. I love the cal.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

If you "shoot it great", you'll be just fine. I think that most outfitters are worried about people buying new guns for their safari, and coming over gunned (because they think it's necessary) and shooting the rifle poorly, injuring game.
If you already have the rifle, and shoot it competently (sounds like you do), you should do just fine...............

 

[Bullthrower338]

I've never seen anything to dead or felt shorted of experience by a short trailing job. The 338 and 375 are my go to rifles. The most important part of the equation is that you shoot your rifle well! My best friend and hunting buddy owned several rifles of the Magnum variety, yet he always grabbed a Winchester chambered in .243 when we headed out to hunt elk. I always ribbed him over his choice in caliber. He shot 15 bulls in his short life, all but one with that Winchester, he shot it well indeed.

 

[bluey]

if that's what you shoot great .
it must be great to shoot
some people shoot everything with their 375
have a blast
and welcome to AH

 

[sestoppelman]

If you "shoot it great", you'll be just fine. I think that most outfitters are worried about people buying new guns for their safari, and coming over gunned (because they think it's necessary) and shooting the rifle poorly, injuring game.
If you already have the rifle, and shoot it competently (sounds like you do), you should do just fine...............

I think most outfitters expect us to "come over gunned". That way they don't have to loan us rifles!Now , (over-gunned), that's something else again.

 

[ActionBob]

I took a 30-06 and a 375. First morning we went to sight in and that fancy 06 was just not on target and the 375 was poking holes in the bulls eye. The PH said put that 06 away and shoot everything with the 375. I shot an Eland with it.... And a duiker. Worked great on both...... The PH did tell me to aim behind the shoulder on the duiker and all was well, he is full body mounted.

That 338 is as perfect as anything for African PG.

 

[James.Grage]

Is a .338 win mag over kill for plains game I would be using barnes 225 grain TSX I've been told by the booking consultant it is over kill and I don't need any thing that big. But I shoot it great and the whitetails I shoot with it are just as dead.
Tom

Hi Tom,

The 338 WM you are suggesting with Barnes 225 gr bullet is a deadly combo on plains game all the way up to giraffe.

I have taken close to 40 African animals with my 338 WM using 250 gr and 225 gr ammunition. From Porcupine to Giraffe.

Of these animals only few required a second shot. My trackers were liking the fact that there was very little followup on wounded game. The Trackers We used to follow up the few that needed following, (wildebeest and waterbuck) the rest were with in a step of where they were shot, that makes your trackers very happy.

My largest African animal taken With my 338 WM has been 2 Giraffes - they each fell with 1 shot - one at the base of the skull and the other a heart lung shot that loped of about 30 yards.

So anyone that tells you a 338 WM is over kill, is probably some one you do not need to hunt with.

Many outfitters and PH's will smile when you tell them you are bringing a 338 WM.

If you check with PH's, many have 338 WM and 375 H&H available for clients to rent or borrow.

 

[buckcurtin]

Last plains game hunt I went on I used my 375H&H with 260 grain Accubonds. Shot Springbok up toEland. Used 30-06 and 300WM on first hunt. I just shoot my 375 better than any rifle I use.

 

[Nyati]

Welcome to AH Tom, I have used a .338 WM for everything except buffalo, if you shoot it great, don´t change.

There will be less tracking to be done

 

[Velo Dog]

I have wondered if the .338 Winchester cartridge had been around for a hundred years, if it might not be the minimum cartridge for dangerous game hunting in many Africa countries.
Back when I had one, Winchester live ammunition with 300 grain round nose bullets was still on sporting good store shelves.
I never tried it but I expect it was very effective.
The 250 grain Hornady round nose and Speer 275 grain semi-spitzer were what I used.
An African PH (hannes Swanepoel) once told me that most of the clients carrying a .338 Winchester, who he has guided, have been good shots/good hunters, generally making one shot bags almost every time.

 

[jduckhunter]

My .338 WM was the only gun I took on my first safari, I was never sorry about my choice of caliber. It is my go to gun for everything except the biggest meanest critters. Take yours you won't be sorry either.
Have a great time and don't forget the report when you get back!

 

[bassasdaindia]

I'll tell you again , it's probably the best rifle you can take with you on PG safari.

it's options are endless.

whenever I go to a farm for the first time I always pack my 338 and another rifle , that way I know that if I have to make a longer shot I am prepared .

enjoy your hunt.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

You had me at "you shoot it great".

Take it, shoot it, have a great trip.

+1, take it!

 

[Divernhunter]

I used my 338Win mag with225gr Swift A-Frames and everything died with one shot. I took Springbuck, Impala, large and small Warthogs, Monkeys as well as Kudu, Gemsbuck, Blue Wildbeest, and Waterbuck.
No overkill or excess damage to any of them.

You should like the results.

 

[billc]

If you shoot it great take it and enjoy the hunt.

I would guess the agent may have told you it is overkill because you can use a smaller caliber if you want. I am sure a lot of agents have heard back from the ph's how guys come with guns they can not handle. They go get a new gun that kicks the hell out of them and then bad things happen on the trip.

A 338 is not a gun everyone can shoot well so I don't think any harm was done telling you what he said. It was just advice that you could use or not use.

I have had just the opposite told to me when talking with guys about a hunt. I have been told you need a 300 or better to hunt Africa. Last trip took a 300 win mag and a 257 wthby. That little 257 killed a lot of game one shot kills out to 300 yds.

The gun and bullet are number 2 and 3 on the list of what is important. The first thing is all about were you and the gun put that bullet in the animal. Good shoots equal good gun and bullet combo