338s Are A Great Caliber

338 guy

New member
Joined
Apr 4, 2020
Messages
1
Reaction score
14
I have a Ruger 77 and Winchester in .338. Both very accurate and versatile.

Not a choice for African Dangerous Game, but, great knock down power with
a 210 grain Noslter Parition or 225 Barnes. I reload and can do one MOA
out to 300 yards (of course on a bench).
 
I picked up a .338-06 last year, a rebarreled Remington 798 with 22 inch long barrel and laminated wood stock. I've purchased loaded ammo from Reed's Ammunition and Research in OK, 250 grain Nosler Partitions loaded at 2550 fps muzzle velocity which is probably 2500 feet per second neighborhood in my rifle but haven't taken it to the range yet. I plan on mounting a Sig Sauer 2-7X32 Whiskey3 Hellfire Quadplex scope as it's a intermediate 300 yard max option between. 30-06 & 9.3X62mm for me in my battery. Not a magnum, 200 fps less than Win Mag with 250 grain bullet but certainly still seems useful for me with 5 ft-lbs (18%) less recoil for me to deal with.
 
338 guy, welcome to the AH forum! I agree that the 338 WM is an excellent caliber, but it hurt me every time I pulled the trigger! Even more than 375 H&H! You’ve got a shoulder of iron!:eek::LOL::ROFLMAO:
 
I have a Ruger 77 and Winchester in .338. Both very accurate and versatile.

Not a choice for African Dangerous Game, but, great knock down power with
a 210 grain Noslter Parition or 225 Barnes. I reload and can do one MOA
out to 300 yards (of course on a bench).

I found it interesting when you commented "Not a choice for dangerous game" as I've heard many hunters comment on forums that they would use it in a heartbeat on dangerous game - if legal.

Woodleigh make a 300gn solid in .338 with a SD of .375 and it can be driven at around 2400ft/lbs... surely this would be satisfactory against dangerous game - IF LEGAL?
That is a genuine question guys as I honestly don't know - I'm just going by what people have told me...

But I agree, the .338WM is a fantastic caliber and I'm a big, fan of it.

Cheers,

Russ
 
I love my Browning A Bolt .338WM. Have shot all my elk with it using 225gr Super Premium Core Lokt bullets! But since I’ve entered the CRF action world, I wish CZ made a 550 model in that caliber?
 
338 Win Mag is my favorite caliber! I have a Ruger Hawkeye and a Browning BAR that was my dad's. Swift A-Frames in 225 gr work well.
 
I’m a huge fan of the .338’s. I’ve used the .338 Win mag since the early 1980’s. My favorite bullet for years was the 250 gr Speer Grand Slam (second version). I now load the 225 gr Barnes TTSX @ 2780 fps.
I also had a Ruger #1 rebarreled to .340 Wby. I wish I still had it.
In 2014 I purchased a MRC in .338 RUM. This has become one of my favorites. I used it with great success in Namibia using the 225 gr Swift. I’ve since developed a load for the 250 gr Barnes LRX (BC .602). I can’t wait to try it on game.
I also see a .338 Federal in my future.
 
Welcome to the forum 338 Guy!
I would not hesitate to shoot a buff with a 338 if legal. I have never met a 338 that I didn’t like, if I had to have only one(God forbid) it would be a 338!
Cheers,
Cody
 
I’m a huge fan of the .338’s. I’ve used the .338 Win mag since the early 1980’s. My favorite bullet for years was the 250 gr Speer Grand Slam (second version). I now load the 225 gr Barnes TTSX @ 2780 fps.
I also had a Ruger #1 rebarreled to .340 Wby. I wish I still had it.
In 2014 I purchased a MRC in .338 RUM. This has become one of my favorites. I used it with great success in Namibia using the 225 gr Swift. I’ve since developed a load for the 250 gr Barnes LRX (BC .602). I can’t wait to try it on game.
I also see a .338 Federal in my future.
The RUM has become my favorite also. My Mom just bought me a Remington AWR in it as a gift, trying to decide what scope to put on it now. Hopefully be able to get it all set up when @tarbe and I get up to Montana in November to hunt elk!
 
The .338 Winchester magnum calibre is an extremely underrated American classic . I would personally consider it to be the bare minimum for tackling male royal Bengal tigers . It was also an extremely popular calibre among my American clients , who used to book shikars with Allwyn Cooper Limited for Asian Sloth Bears , Neelgai or sambhur deer .
Winchester initially manufactured their .338 Winchester magnum calibre ammunition , by utilizing 275 grain bullets . Sadly , no brand ( to my knowledge ) manufactures these anymore. Nowadays , the .338 Winchester magnum calibre factory loaded ammunition available from most brands utilizes a 250 grain bullet .
That said .... The Australian company , Woodleigh does produce some excellent 300 grain bullets for the .338 Winchester magnum in modern times , which do seem promising .
 
I have a Ruger 77 and Winchester in .338. Both very accurate and versatile.

Not a choice for African Dangerous Game, but, great knock down power with
a 210 grain Noslter Parition or 225 Barnes. I reload and can do one MOA
out to 300 yards (of course on a bench).

Hello 338 guy,

Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.

The .338 Winchester, as yourself and others have said is quite excellent for what it was designed (except the belt does nothing more than reduce magazine capacity by one round, since this cartridge has plenty of shoulder to headspace on).
That said, as long as one can shoot it well, he need not worry about the one less round in the magazine hypothetical scenario lol.

When I moved to Alaska, (almost 38 years ago now), I brought along with me a 2nd hand Ruger M-77 in this caliber.
It shot very well and I kept it for several years.
However recoil was harsh in that light rifle.
It could’ve used another pound or two of weight IMO.
Despite it commonly bruising my shoulder and the stock splitting from repeated recoil, I liked and still like this cartridge anyway.
(Might own one again some day, you never know).

Over the years, 4 Hunting friends here also have owned and hunted with the .338-06, another fantastic cartridge.
With 250 gr round nose soft or solid, at 2400 fps, it duplicates the classic .318 Westley Richards.
Some folks insist on loading it faster with today’s wonderful powders but it’s not necessary for bushveld / forest hunting conditions.

Perhaps half of the fellows I know here that also are hunters, own .338 Winchester caliber rifles.
Collectively they’ve taken many animals, in N. America as well as Africa, with same.
Most if not all of my hunting friends, wether they own a .338 or not, hold this cartridge in high regard, I do as well.
It is a real peach when used with heavy for caliber, bonded core bullets in hunting large N. American game, such as moose, grizzly and bison.
In Africa, it is one of the very best choices possible for eland, waterbuck, zebra and other large animals, within the law of whatever country you are visiting.

I’ve never shot a lion but, I suspect the .338 loaded with an appropriate bullet (250 gr. A-Frame comes to mind) would work a real treat on the largest, grumpiest lion.
Here where I live, both the 250 gr Nosler Partition and the almost out of style Remington
250 gr Core-Lokt, in the green and yellow box factory load have ruined many a grizzly bear’s plan.
With lighter weight spitzers (200 gr to 225 gr) it shoots very flat, for longer shots on smaller game at longer ranges.
Countless mountain goat, Dall sheep and barren ground caribou have been taken with this combination.

Also, it is popular for cross canyon shots on blacktail deer, here in the land of the grizzly.
While rigging your deer to carry back to camp, you re-charge your .338 with 250 bullets, and keep that .33 within reach, in case a large, aggressive bear shows up.
For this Alaska/Canada deer hunting in grizzly habitat, Major Khan is correct in saying that factory ammunition for this cartridge should be available with 275 gr and 300 hr bullets.

Looks like I’m rambling, as old folks are known to do so, I’ll stop here.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.
 
Last edited:
Hello 338 guy,

Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.

The .338 Winchester, as yourself and others have said is quite excellent for what it was designed (except the belt does nothing more than reduce magazine capacity by one round, since this cartridge has plenty of shoulder to headspace on).
That said, as long as one can shoot it well, he need not worry about the one less round in the magazine hypothetical scenario lol.

When I moved to Alaska, (almost 38 years ago now), I brought along with me a 2nd hand Ruger M-77 in this caliber.
It shot very well and I kept it for several years.
However recoil was harsh in that light rifle.
It could’ve used another pound or two of weight IMO.
Despite it commonly bruising my shoulder and the stock splitting from repeated recoil, I liked and still like this cartridge anyway.
(Might own one again some day, you never know).

Over the years, 4 Hunting friends here also have owned and hunted with the .338-06, another fantastic cartridge.
With 250 gr round nose soft or solid, at 2400 fps, it duplicates the classic .318 Westley Richards.
Some folks insist on loading it faster with today’s wonderful powders but it’s not necessary for bushveld / forest hunting conditions.

Perhaps half of the fellows I know here that also are hunters, own .338 Winchester caliber rifles.
Collectively they’ve taken many animals, in N. America as well as Africa, with same.
Most if not all of my hunting friends, wether they own a .338 or not, hold this cartridge in high regard, I do as well.
It is a real peach when used with heavy for caliber, bonded core bullets in hunting large N. American game, such as moose, grizzly and bison.
In Africa, it is one of the very best choices possible for eland, waterbuck, zebra and other large animals, within the law of whatever country you are visiting.

I’ve never shot a lion but, I suspect the .338 loaded with an appropriate bullet (250 gr. A-Frame comes to mind) would work a real treat on the largest, grumpiest lion.
Here where I live, both the 250 gr Nosler Partition and the almost out of style Remington
250 gr Core-Lokt, in the green and yellow box factory load have ruined many a grizzly bear’s plan.
With lighter weight spitzers (200 gr to 225 gr) it shoots very flat, for longer shots on smaller game at longer ranges.
Countless mountain goat, Dall sheep and barren ground caribou have been taken with this combination.

Also, it is popular for cross canyon shots on blacktail deer, here in the land of the grizzly.
While rigging your deer to carry back to camp, you re-charge your .338 with 250 bullets, and keep that .33 within reach, in case a large, aggressive bear shows up.
For this Alaska/Canada deer hunting in grizzly habitat, Major Khan is correct in saying that factory ammunition for this cartridge should be available with 275 gr and 300 hr bullets.

Looks like I’m rambling, as old folks are known to do so, I’ll stop here.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

PS:
“within the law of whatever country you are visiting” should’ve been woven into the lion remarks but, my brain on this rare occasion was going faster than my fingers on the keyboard.
Before I noticed this error, my dog began barking outside so, I went to see what he was on about.
It was only a squirrel raiding my bird feeder.
But we’re now going to have squirrel and dumplings for supper tonight.
Meanwhile, the time limit to complete editing had passed...oye vey.
The sun was in my eyes, the bridge was out, I had a burr in my sock, the well went dry, I had a flat tire, an old friend came in from out of town, there was an earthquake, a terrible flood, locusts, it’s not my fault, yeah ...... yeah that’s it.
 
The .338 Winchester magnum calibre is an extremely underrated American classic . I would personally consider it to be the bare minimum for tackling male royal Bengal tigers . It was also an extremely popular calibre among my American clients , who used to book shikars with Allwyn Cooper Limited for Asian Sloth Bears , Neelgai or sambhur deer .
Winchester initially manufactured their .338 Winchester magnum calibre ammunition , by utilizing 275 grain bullets . Sadly , no brand ( to my knowledge ) manufactures these anymore. Nowadays , the .338 Winchester magnum calibre factory loaded ammunition available from most brands utilizes a 250 grain bullet .
That said .... The Australian company , Woodleigh does produce some excellent 300 grain bullets for the .338 Winchester magnum in modern times , which do seem promising .

You can get 275 gr Swift A-Frames loaded from Hendershots. I tried them in my 338 when I was planning my Alaskan Coastal Brown Bear hunt. But I ended up buying a 375 Ruger and used it instead.

https://hendershots.net/product/338-winchester-magnum/

upload_2020-4-5_15-19-58.png
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2020-04-06 at 10.23.51 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2020-04-06 at 10.23.51 AM.png
    4.1 MB · Views: 367
  • Screen Shot 2020-04-06 at 10.23.52 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2020-04-06 at 10.23.52 AM.png
    4.8 MB · Views: 378
  • Screen Shot 2020-04-06 at 10.23.54 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2020-04-06 at 10.23.54 AM.png
    4.8 MB · Views: 356
338 guy, welcome to the AH forum! I agree that the 338 WM is an excellent caliber, but it hurt me every time I pulled the trigger! Even more than 375 H&H! You’ve got a shoulder of iron!:eek::LOL::ROFLMAO:

Recoil of the 338 and 375 are almost identical except I find the 338 is more of a sharp recoil rather than push.
That could be just my interpretation though and not necessarily true.
 
You can get 275 gr Swift A-Frames loaded from Hendershots. I tried them in my 338 when I was planning my Alaskan Coastal Brown Bear hunt. But I ended up buying a 375 Ruger and used it instead.

https://hendershots.net/product/338-winchester-magnum/

View attachment 340533
Thank you so much for bringing Hendershots to my knowledge , .375 Ruger Fan . And you made a wise decision too . A .375 calibre rifle can exactly what a .338 Winchester magnum calibre rifle can do. But only slightly better.
 
I had a nice m98 with a bad barrel and replace it with a 338Win, I started buy Brass,bullets and re-loading dies months before the Rifle was done just so I would be ready. As soon as Spring really come to Minnesota, (August or September) I'll be ready to go
 

Forum statistics

Threads
57,089
Messages
1,222,247
Members
100,106
Latest member
mksportcasa
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

EC HUNTING SAFARIS wrote on MarcoPani's profile.
Happy Birthday, from Grahamstown, South Africa.
I hope your day is great!
Cheers
Marius
EC HUNTING SAFARIS wrote on Ilkay Taskin's profile.
Happy Birthday from Grahamstown, South Africa! I hope you have a great day!
Cheers, Marius
idjeffp wrote on Jon R15's profile.
Hi Jon,
I saw your post for the .500 NE cases. Are these all brass or are they nickel plated? Hard for me to tell... sorry.
Thanks,
Jeff [redacted]
Boise, ID
[redacted]
 
Top