338 Winchester Magnum

[coyote wacker]

Back in the late 70's I made a decision have a collection of guns and mostly hunt closer to home or have a very few guns and hunt where ever I want to and use that gun. Well I went the have a few guns and my one rifle was a custom built. This rifle was way ahead of its time chambered in 338 WM it had a stainless steel 24" barrel Mag-na-Ported in a pre-64 Winchester 70 action electroless nickel plated put in a carbon fiber stock. Weighed in at 7 pound -10 ounces with a 2-7 Leupold scope. That gun harvested every big game animal in North America except a polar bear and every animal with one shot.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I am a big fan of the 338. I have a Sako 85 in 338wm and my son has a left handed Mauser in 338wm with a Shaw bbl. The later is a bit more accurate. I also have a short, light, handy Ruger M77 HE in 338RCM. That last one is the only one I have hunted with so far and it is a hammer. We plan to take the other two on a Nilgai hunt in TX next year. Also working on a Canadian Moose hunt for next fall and the 338wm is the odds on favorite for that job as well.

I am working on a Namibia Safari in 2027 which will be for Eland, Zebra and Golden WB amongst others and am seriously thinking of taking one of the 338's on that trip as well since I will not be stalking any DG on that trip. I find the recoil of the 338wm in the lighter rifles to be similar to my heavier 375HH. The RCM is much lighter but still recoils slightly less than the full win mag versions. They are all manageable in the field. Just remember to hold them firmly. I am mostly using the 225g ammo. Barnes TTSX, Nosler AB's, and Hornady SST's. With the exception of my son's sweet little rifle, I have found their accuracy to be only OK. 1.5" groups at 100y being the norm. Worse with some. I would like to see better. Especially from the Sako.

 

[allranch2025]

 

[Arac]

I have very little first hand experience with the .338 on game - just one black bear - so give me your thoughts on it’s effectiveness compared to one of the .300 magnums.

For example, my .300 Win Mag heavy load is a 220gr partition at +2800fps. I also use 200gr Partitions at +2900fps. When I had a .300 Wby I used 200gr Partitions at +3000fps. I always thought “if I can’t get it done with a .300 Win Mag, I need more than a .338 Win Mag”. Which is why I no longer own one.

Wouldn’t the next real step up be a .375 H&H or a .416? I know about energy numbers, claimed ballistic coefficients and drop tables etc - I am interested in real life on game experience.

 

[Hedge774]

I've always like the look and numbers of the 8 mm but now that I can reload and afford a rifle so chambered I can't think of anything it does that something I already have doesn't do.

Exactly!

 

[Labman]

I've shot a large variety of plains game with my .338 shooting 225 Grain Nosler Partitions. I've shot everything from Impala to Eland. It has worked great. It's become my primary plains game rifle.

 

[BFaucett]

I've always like the look and numbers of the 8 mm but now that I can reload and afford a rifle so chambered I can't think of anything it does that something I already have doesn't do.

Frankly, IMO, that's true of a lot of cartridges.

Cheers, Bob F.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I have very little first hand experience with the .338 on game - just one black bear - so give me your thoughts on it’s effectiveness compared to one of the .300 magnums.

For example, my .300 Win Mag heavy load is a 220gr partition at +2800fps. I also use 200gr Partitions at +2900fps. When I had a .300 Wby I used 200gr Partitions at +3000fps. I always thought “if I can’t get it done with a .300 Win Mag, I need more than a .338 Win Mag”. Which is why I no longer own one.

Wouldn’t the next real step up be a .375 H&H or a .416? I know about energy numbers, claimed ballistic coefficients and drop tables etc - I am interested in real life on game experience.

Where the 338wm shines over the 375HH is if you need more velocity than 2000fps out past about 300y. Energy figures are not that different. Example is our Nilgai hunt in TX we are told to be prepared for shooting at ranges from 200-400y. Inside of 250y the 375 is the choice out past 300y the 338 is a better choice. By keeping impact velocity above 2000fps we insure proper bullet expansion for a wide range of impacts and sufficient penetration to get to the vitals. Drop on the 375 is 2.5mil at 400y with the 300g but only 1.6 on the 338wm with 225g both using Barnes TSX ammo.

I suspect both will work fine but less bullet drop guess work with the 338. We are planning to keep all our shots inside 300y BTW but will practice for up to 400y.

 

[coyote wacker]

Going back to when I first used 338 WM in the late 70's many years ago all I shot was Nosler Partitions 225 gr. in 338 WM. They would put everything down that I shot with it. Then I switched up to Cutting Edge Bullets 175 gr ESP Raptor around 2008 every animal has been ....DRT....its very rare for me to take a 300 yards shot its been many years. Usally inside of 200 yards.

338 WM is just a plain and simple very good cartridge.

If I think I need a larger caliber 458 WM is my next step up......

 

[Choupique]

I think I need a larger caliber 458 WM is my next step up......

Winchester did alright with the 264 / 338 / 458 lineup