338 winmag

mike deere · 11-30-2007, 06:15 PM

Hello this is my first post, so I have a Question? Is there anyone out there that shoots a 338 winmag? I know there is so here is my Question.Have you ever tryed the lighter bullets,like 185-200 grains? How do they shoot,How do they kill,etc.?? What grain shoots best. I use it for deer,I know it is really to much gun But I own it and I like it. Browning A bolt med. Thanks

Lng Rng · 11-30-2007, 07:25 PM

I shoot a 340, which is pretty similar to the 338. Mine seems to like 225's and 250's, so thats what I run through it. I know you can get bullets under 200 grains out the barrel at over 3000 FPS, but I just stick with what the gun likes.

samuel · 11-30-2007, 07:33 PM

As long as you have them some place close to the same distance from the riflings they should work okay.Light bullets will stabilise in faster twist barrels but heavy long bullets wont stabilise in slower twist.The big problem will be,you cant push a big bullet like a .338 too fast because the faster you push them the faster they spin.When that happens they can fly apart right in front of the muzzle.The other thing,a lighter bullet will expand faster in game causing either bullet failure(fragmentation)or extreme destruction of meat.I personally always lean tward too heavy rather than too light. sam.

mike deere · 11-30-2007, 07:39 PM

Thanks for the quick responce. I`ve been using the 225`s cause I had 2 boxes that I got when I bought the gun used. I was just wandering about something a little lighter for deer, I think I will load some in 200,225,250 and see what is best. I did read somewhere that 250 was best. What bullet would be best for deer?? Thanks

polarnewfie · 12-02-2007, 04:10 AM

I have a ruger 77 stainless that I have had for several years now. I have only put 1 box of 180's through her since I have had it. I found they wasted a lot of meat when I hit a caribou ( I took 5 with that size bullet) that is the only similarly sized animal I can compare a deer with (no deer where I live in the far north of Canada)
When I used the 225's and 250's they left smaller holes because I guess they werent done expanding fully before exiting, yet they absolutely devastated the animal with shock value. So my vote is for the larger bullets. But all animals are different, and not having deer experience myself, all I can do is relate my own shootings as best I can.
I know that I have taken several moose, 3 black bears, 2 dall sheep and they all died in 10 steps or less. I think you have a great rifle there, and the only way to know for sure is to put 180 grains of pain relief into a deer yourself and see what it does. My guess is that the exit hole will be rather large and lots of tissue damage, but again I dont know. hope this helps but it probably wont.
Take care

nathangdad · 12-02-2007, 06:45 AM

It survives in the marketplace but it is way too much gun for most hunting. Lots of recoil and muzzle blast that make for not practicing thus missing game when hunting. Also, the recoil makes most people flinch. It can send the scope back into the forehead on a large number of shooters. Most people I know feel it is a bad attempt to fill an unnecessary gap between the .30-06 (best all around caliber for North American game) and the .375 Holland and Holland.

two-70 · 12-02-2007, 06:48 AM

welcome aboard, have a great time

Lng Rng · 12-02-2007, 07:18 PM

Nathan, the 338 serves a purpose, and yes, a lot of people own and shoot them, with succsess. It's recoil is managable, and I don't think the muzzle blast is any worse than my 7mm.

If your scope is hitting you in the forehead, you are doing something wrong.

mike deere · 12-04-2007, 12:31 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I bought the gun to go elk hunting but never got to go so I just use it for deer, I also have a 308 BLR, but I would like to give it to my grandson. So I was just wondering what would be a good load for deer.

wraco · 12-04-2007, 10:33 PM

Mike: - The 338 win mag is a great round. The two bullets weights I use are 225 gr and 250 gr. Have never tried 180 gr and 200 gr. For those bullets I use a 300 H&H or 30-06.

You mentioned you use your 338 for deer. If you handload, the 338 can have quite an advantage over the 30 calibers by loading the heavier 338 bullet a little slower. This will give similar energy as a high speed 30 cal. but won't blood-shot the meat as much. The slower heavier bullet works better in brush as well.

I've shot a Browning A-Bolt, with the composite stock. Compared to my pre-64 Model 70, I noticed considerable more recoil with the A-Bolt. May not have been used to the stock either, who knows.

Regards:
Rod

mike deere · 12-05-2007, 09:26 AM

WRACO Thanks, I do hand load so that`s what I will do. My A-Bolt has the wood stock, the recoil isn`t all that bad. I`ve shot 30-06s that kicked me harder. It is pretty heavy compaired to my 308 but I usually stand hunt anyway. I know it is way more gun than I need but I am a lefty. Trying to sell it and finding another used lefty in the cal. that I would want is not that easy.

11-30-2007, 06:15 PM	#1
mike deere Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4	338 winmag Hello this is my first post, so I have a Question? Is there anyone out there that shoots a 338 winmag? I know there is so here is my Question.Have you ever tryed the lighter bullets,like 185-200 grains? How do they shoot,How do they kill,etc.?? What grain shoots best. I use it for deer,I know it is really to much gun But I own it and I like it. Browning A bolt med. Thanks

12-02-2007, 06:45 AM	#6
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,469	.338 Winchester Magnum is too much gun It survives in the marketplace but it is way too much gun for most hunting. Lots of recoil and muzzle blast that make for not practicing thus missing game when hunting. Also, the recoil makes most people flinch. It can send the scope back into the forehead on a large number of shooters. Most people I know feel it is a bad attempt to fill an unnecessary gap between the .30-06 (best all around caliber for North American game) and the .375 Holland and Holland.

12-02-2007, 06:48 AM	#7
two-70 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ponca city, oklahoma Posts: 1,778	welcome aboard, have a great time __________________ What Would Jesus Do ????? Just Ask Him.

11-30-2007, 07:25 PM	#2
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 944	I shoot a 340, which is pretty similar to the 338. Mine seems to like 225's and 250's, so thats what I run through it. I know you can get bullets under 200 grains out the barrel at over 3000 FPS, but I just stick with what the gun likes.

11-30-2007, 07:33 PM	#3
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	As long as you have them some place close to the same distance from the riflings they should work okay.Light bullets will stabilise in faster twist barrels but heavy long bullets wont stabilise in slower twist.The big problem will be,you cant push a big bullet like a .338 too fast because the faster you push them the faster they spin.When that happens they can fly apart right in front of the muzzle.The other thing,a lighter bullet will expand faster in game causing either bullet failure(fragmentation)or extreme destruction of meat.I personally always lean tward too heavy rather than too light. sam.

11-30-2007, 07:39 PM	#4
mike deere Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4	Thanks for the quick responce. I`ve been using the 225`s cause I had 2 boxes that I got when I bought the gun used. I was just wandering about something a little lighter for deer, I think I will load some in 200,225,250 and see what is best. I did read somewhere that 250 was best. What bullet would be best for deer?? Thanks

12-02-2007, 04:10 AM	#5
polarnewfie Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	I have a ruger 77 stainless that I have had for several years now. I have only put 1 box of 180's through her since I have had it. I found they wasted a lot of meat when I hit a caribou ( I took 5 with that size bullet) that is the only similarly sized animal I can compare a deer with (no deer where I live in the far north of Canada) When I used the 225's and 250's they left smaller holes because I guess they werent done expanding fully before exiting, yet they absolutely devastated the animal with shock value. So my vote is for the larger bullets. But all animals are different, and not having deer experience myself, all I can do is relate my own shootings as best I can. I know that I have taken several moose, 3 black bears, 2 dall sheep and they all died in 10 steps or less. I think you have a great rifle there, and the only way to know for sure is to put 180 grains of pain relief into a deer yourself and see what it does. My guess is that the exit hole will be rather large and lots of tissue damage, but again I dont know. hope this helps but it probably wont. Take care

12-02-2007, 07:18 PM	#8
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 944	Nathan, the 338 serves a purpose, and yes, a lot of people own and shoot them, with succsess. It's recoil is managable, and I don't think the muzzle blast is any worse than my 7mm. If your scope is hitting you in the forehead, you are doing something wrong.

12-04-2007, 12:31 PM	#9
mike deere Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4	Thanks for all the replies. I bought the gun to go elk hunting but never got to go so I just use it for deer, I also have a 308 BLR, but I would like to give it to my grandson. So I was just wondering what would be a good load for deer.

12-04-2007, 10:33 PM	#10
wraco Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 21	Mike: - The 338 win mag is a great round. The two bullets weights I use are 225 gr and 250 gr. Have never tried 180 gr and 200 gr. For those bullets I use a 300 H&H or 30-06. You mentioned you use your 338 for deer. If you handload, the 338 can have quite an advantage over the 30 calibers by loading the heavier 338 bullet a little slower. This will give similar energy as a high speed 30 cal. but won't blood-shot the meat as much. The slower heavier bullet works better in brush as well. I've shot a Browning A-Bolt, with the composite stock. Compared to my pre-64 Model 70, I noticed considerable more recoil with the A-Bolt. May not have been used to the stock either, who knows. Regards: Rod

12-05-2007, 09:26 AM	#11
mike deere Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4	WRACO Thanks, I do hand load so that`s what I will do. My A-Bolt has the wood stock, the recoil isn`t all that bad. I`ve shot 30-06s that kicked me harder. It is pretty heavy compaired to my 308 but I usually stand hunt anyway. I know it is way more gun than I need but I am a lefty. Trying to sell it and finding another used lefty in the cal. that I would want is not that easy.