....... I can't imagine the .338 WM with a tried and true 250g Nosler partition not being enough for a quick and clean kill with a well placed shot in vitals or CNS� the .338 WM is a killer, and you can find ammo for it anywhere in Alaska.
True enough. However, more important than case headstamp or even caliber is the hands in which said rifle is borne. The 338 is one way to maximize power in a rather handy package. However, many, whether they�re willing to admit it or not, do not handle it near as well as something like a 30-06 in a similar size/weight package, or perhaps even a 375 in a heavier package. I suspect that�s a reason why the 338 sometimes gets a bum rap. Bears are often the proving victims of the fact that good shot placement trumps size, power, and bullet brand; not to say that they are not also important.
Based on how some people have performed when killing bears, one might draw the conclusion that 223 with 55 FMJs, 338 with 250 Partitions, and 30-378 with Barnes Xs are equally poor bear killers. Of course, that is comparing apples to pears to bananas.
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
