My favorite Hunting rifle 338wm - what is yours?

Mark458 said:

I can do you one better. My favorite is a 338 in a Tikka M695. Got it 25 years ago for $20. I won it in a raffle from the RMEF. I've taken countless plains game species with it and it has definitely been my favorite. Never found a bullet it didn't like. Best $20 I ever spent.

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Houston Bill said:

Wow that is a great return on a $20 investment! A fellow AH'er @Katy Darren has a Tikka M695 in 7MM Rem Mag. The Tikka M695 is a great rifle, heavier than the T3 but has all the positive traits of a Tikka. I think he has had that rifle for nearly 25 years as well. Yesterday evening I did some hand loads for him.....67.1gn of Vihtavuori N165 with 160 gn Swift AFrames for a South African hunt he is doing later this year. That load shoots 1/2 MOA in his rifle.

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Choupique said:

Oh no. Even if I did look that cool, the modern photography just doesnt convey it that well.

I always enjoy reading your posts and seeing the awesome pictures. If you havent yet, you should write a book. Id buy it.

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Badboymelvin said:

The .338WM is just an awesome cartridge, and choosing it is never a mistake for hunting big game.

Russ

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JG26Irish_2 said:

I own and shoot and hunt with a lot of rifles and do not really have a true one gun solution. More like this is my favorite of the moment. It is my Sako 85 in 338 Win Mag. This is the same rifle that I used to drop a Nilgai in its tracks in East Texas last winter. It is topped with a 1-8x illuminated optic that works great out to 300ish yards and for me that is enough. It is not a tack driver but with 225g Barnes TTSX ammo it is able to hold 1moa pretty consistently and with the Federal 200g Trophy Bonded Tip ammo, it is even a pretty good long range varmint rifle. To be sure, this rifle is overkill for 90% of all hunting scenarios that we might encounter but if you can handle the recoil which is less than a 12ga shotgun, then it does save you a Hell of a lot of tracking when hunting big game like the 600lb Nilgai or Elk & Moose.

What makes the Sako 85 special? - The rifle has a fixed extractor which is in my mind the biggest weakness of most push feed rifles. Work the bolt like you mean it and it works fine. The Sako action is not a traditional Mauser type CRF action but has many of the same features of that action all combined with a super strong three lug bolt which also shortens the bolt throw to about 60 deg (I do not know the exact spec). It also has a very secure all metal detachable magazine that feed flawlessly. Hammer forged bbl is tough and accurate. The 338 is a hot rd but does not seem to eat barrels like some of the hotter cartridges. Super high quality in a factory rifle. Not cheap but well worth the tariff.

I plan to take this little puppy with me for my up coming Canadian Moose & Elk hunt this fall. Show us your current favorite hunting rifle?

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Sako 85 in 338wm​

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Ammo testing at 200y NEKFGA​

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Yturria Ranch Texas Nilgai - Best Venison Ever!​

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Wyit76 said:

For about 10 years my go to rifle was a Sako A7 Roughtech in 7 mm rem mag topped with a Vortex Viper 4-16×44. It was my high school graduation present from my dad. I packed that rifle all over Idaho and Montana and put north of 1000 rounds through it before the barrel gave up. I've hunted with a different rifle, sometimes multiple, every year since that rifle gave up searching for one I like as much. Finally decided I'm going to have it rebarreled as a 7mm PRC and go back to my favorite rifle.

We definitely like our Sakos in my family. My dad has packed one, an old L61 Finnbear, as long as I can remember. I have my A7 and am currently looking for an 85 to take to Africa. I even bought my wife an 85 finnlight in 270win as a wedding present. The 85 may be my favorite action I've played with thus far. I love the detachable metal mag that can still be loaded like a hinged floor!

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Striger said:

I have a Winchester M70 Stainless classic in .338 Win. Mag. It too has a 26" barrel and brake. Still beats me to death. I shoot a .416 Rigby and it doesn't hurt me like that .338 Mag does. Frankly, I'd like to get rid of that plastic stock and put something with a bit more weight to it in it's place. Either that or get rid of it.

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Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:

@Striger
Get rid of it and try a 35 Whelen you won't regret it.
Yes the bullets don't have the same BC as the sleek 338s but it hits hard out to past 400, is easy to shoot and just plain kills stuff. All that power and range out of an old cartridge based on the humble 06 case.
What more do you want.
Bob

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Badboymelvin said:

C’mon Bob, l know the Whelen is your baby, but you seriously wouldn’t recommend the 35 Whelen over a .338WM to a new or inexperienced shooter wanting to hunt big game, would you?

Components, rifles and factory ammo are all more plentiful for the .338 as compared to the Whelen.

Remember, not everyone reloads mate, so the factory ammo availability is a big factor.
Down my way at least you’d be lucky if you found a single 35 Whelen factory ammo load on the shelf - and that’s with the bigger shops too.

And if you do reload, the CFE223 powder that everyone seems to like, isn’t available in Australia anymore… I know, l asked as I was wanting to try some in my 425Express.

I fully understand wanting to be different, that’s why l had my 425 Express built rather than just buying a .416RM - but l wouldn’t recommend the 425 over the .416RM for the same reasons l wouldn’t recommend the Whelen over the .338

Not paying out on the Whelen mate, you like it as a lot of people here seem to - and it obviously perform well for all of you.
You like it, you use it, it works well for you and you just enjoy it… and that’s awesome.
That’s what it’s all about.

But l would never recommend it over the .338 as it doesn’t do one thing that the .338WM doesn’t do better…

Just my opinion…

Russ

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Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:

@Badboymelvin
You make some very valid and legitimate points Russ. The 338 is indeed a great calibre with ammunition and components easily sourced.
The problem is in this case is that @Striger is being beat up by the recoil being a sharp slap even with a long barrel and brake.
It may be a case of bad fit of the rifle or the recoil velocity or both.
I find the recoil of the 338 to be sharp it comes back quick. Your 425 and the 458 Lott I shot had far more recoil but to me were far more comfortable than the 338s slap
Maybe the 338-06 would fullfill his needs.
There's a lot of cartridges out there that work it's a matter of finding what works for you.
We are both a bit mad as we like to use stuff that's a bit differ from others and as always I respect your opinion.
Bob

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