.338 win mag thoughts?

Just wondering your thoughts are about the .338 win mag, good or bad.

It on my list of future potential chamberings to own, just wondering what your general thoughts are about the round.

Thanks!

Mike

Alot depends on the rifle you’re carrying that chamber in. I’ve shot only 2 of them before, and have heard great things about their versatility in terms of larger North American game. However, at what cost in terms of recoil/accuracy? I shot a Browning semi-auto version that knocked the snot out of me. Mind you, I’m used to sighting in 12ga. slug guns that really punch. That .338 in the BAR was the sharpest, most violent recoil I can remember.

Shot the same caliber in a Weatherby Vanguard and the recoil was strong, but not nearly as bad as the Browning version. To each their own, but I’m of the opinion that excepting all but the very largest of north american game anyway, a 7mm or 300 Win mag should do all you’ll need it to do. Also, they’ll give you a better chance of being accurate than that hell-demon beast of a rifle that I shot.

There’s some guys on here too with WAY more experience with big-bore rifles than myself that will also be able to give you advice in terms of reloading the round.

Joel

X2 Joel!

Ive had two a mod 70 and a BAR with the boss
the mod 70 was a tack driver with Fed 210 noslers Browning was so-so
GREAT black bear/elk gun works well on deer with 180g handloads very flat shooting good round
one of my favorites to shoot

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Just wondering your thoughts are about the .338 win mag, good or bad.

It on my list of future potential chamberings to own, just wondering what your general thoughts are about the round.

Thanks!

Mike

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My initial thought to this question. It is simply one of the best calibers to own. The 325 WSM was supposed to be a competitor to the 338 Win Mag and fell flat on it’s face. I’ve seen the 338 Win Mag used in many applications on large game and I must say it was impressive.

I love the caliber. You can load it up pretty heavy if need be as well. We home load and you can load the 338 Win Mag all the way up to a 300 grain solid. Which by the way is a nasty round when you pull the trigger. However it will break both shoulders on that Brown Bear at a safe distance.

Long story short, the 338 is an awesome caliber. To bad I have a beautiful Remington 700 Classic in 8MM Mag. I do love that rifle and simply don’t need another Mag rifle so close in ballistic capability. Now a 416 Rigby or something like that would be nice to have.

Yes, it can be a bear to pull the trigger on. However we’ve managed to shoot under a 3″ group at 300 yards with dad’s 338 loaded with 225 Swift A Frames. I’d say that’s pretty darn accurate for a big bore.

This is a fantastic elk cartridge. I wouldnt worry about the weight of the rifle when out west I take my 300win mag and my 338 and personally I believe the 300s recoil is worse. And besides when shooting at game you dont notice the recoil thatoyu do when shooting off a bench.