Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors 338 Alaskan

Well, for about a year now I have been fighting my Alaskan to shoot the 225 PT. Really like the bullet a ton, and it does well, most of the time, but I kept getting a random flier out of a group. Thought it was the bedding, redid that.. Still shows up. SOOOO, I loaded up some of my old loads with the 200 AB, 76.5 grains of RL19, CCI250's and WW cases, I haven't shot any of them since I put the McMillan on the rifle.. I shot the first three, no bug hole sorta group, but seemed consistent, well I let the rifle cool down and shot three more.



All of them clustered around the same POI and I thought to myself, there ain't nothing wrong with the rifle. I know the PT's will shoot, but I think I need to rework them a little. Might try a 225 Swift and see what happens with it.

I had a couple of the 200's leftover, I was hot, tired and ready to get home, but I decided to sling up over my pack and see what they did at 200..



Hmmm, sometimes I wonder why I fight myself so much.. :lol:

It's not like the 200 grain load is anemic, it runs them out around 3050 and I am sure no elk could tell the difference. Either way, when your rifle tells you it wants something, my best advice is to listen.. :mrgreen:

Looking Good Scotty. That there is some potent elk medicine!

My long gone .338 Alaskan would put three Speer 275gr. RN into one ragged hole at 100 yds., it had a Canjar trigger that had been installed by a previous owner. It was hands down the most accurate pre'64 M/70 I've ever owned.

The 338 is hard to beat. I've taken a lot of big critters with one and never had any problems. Just bought a minty Pre64 338 this afternoon.

Very nice Scotty. I wonder what the issue is with the 225 partition???? Maybe seating depth?? Those 338's are pretty bad azzed...

Nice shooting, Scotty! You have to love the 338!! I can't get mine soon enough. This wait is killing me!

Eric

Eric, I'm thinking yours will be worth the wait.. . After Mr. Similion puts the finishing touches on it, you'll be damn happy I'm sure. I can't wait to see how it shoots for you.

I'm wondering if winpoor is going to give us a range report on his new 338?????

I believe it is BSA. Just something I need to work on a little more. I was fighting it a little, needed to drop back and make sure everything with the rifle/scope were okay. This rifle is very accurate, one of the best, excellent trigger as well.



Eric, I believe you are going to really enjoy yours when you get it back. Nothing much better to me than a good 338. Near or far, it gets it done and you very rarely have to wonder if you have enough to get it done!

Man, I am behind, I'd love to see some pictures of that new one. He doesn't buy ugly Pre64's!

No he doesn't and this one is supposed to be new in the box, but without the box...

THE finest serious big game and wilderness working rifle ever made in the USA and one of my all-time favourites.

With a few simple mods, only a custom Brno ZG or Dakota 76 is superior and only in a few details.

All four of my current P-64 Alaskan .338WM rifles shoot the 250 NP over 76-RE-22 or 70-H-4350 into sub-moa clusters at 2750+, what more can one want for all around use.

The only problem with them is that they were not produced in sufficient number.

Man, I can't really agree more...

Scotty, sometimes I wonder if you, me and Dewey are the only ones that like/love the 338 win mag. I think RGK and Razz and maybe GSPfan may have one as well, but they don't talk about theirs much. When I go elk hunting, that's the only rifle/cartridge on my mind (besides my old trusty 06). I also don't think winpoor has shot his 338 yet, unless I missed his range report on that particular rifle. I'm like EricM and waiting to see what his new 338 is going to look like. I already know first hand that it is a shooter. It didn't seem to be finicky either. That rifle was very nicely pillar bedded though so it was extremely consistent, but never shot as well as the '51 30-06 I sold to him. Funny thing was that it reminded me so much of the '51, that I kept expecting it to shoot bug hole groups. I don't think I ever got a nice cloverleaf group with that rifle, but it averaged about 1 1/4 moa. 3 shot groups. We'll see if Mr. Gene Simillion can work his magic on that rifle with that beautiful Echols legend. I can't wait to see it!!!

beretzs, I know your rifle is a terrific shooter. I've seen your targets on the internet and they led me to the Nosler forum a time or 2. If I remember correctly, it really liked the 210 partition and 200 accubond. I'm wondering what it would shoot like with a stiff load like Kutenay suggested (250gr. nosler partition)?? Mine have always loved 250gr. sierra gamekings and they do work well on elk. BC's and trajectory of that particular bullet in the 338 win mag isn't too shabby either. Keep us posted on how your rifle performs. Good luck with your elk hunting this year my friend..

It shoots the 250 PT with RL22 real well and just under 2800 if I remember correctly. Haven't reshot any of them since I've restocked it but I'd actually expect it to be a bit better now. It also did real well with the old Speer 275 Semi-Spitzers and RL22.

I've got a slew of 250 PTs just haven't ran them in a few years since the 210 PT was just about as flat as a 300 Magnum and penetrates very well. I'm sure most any decent will shoot but I need to spend a little more time with the 225's. Just haven't tweaked them the way I know I could.

I can't really find any reason not to like anything from a 200 on up to the 275's in the 338. Seems like if they are built decent at all they will all keep trucking through an elk.

bsa: My 2 cents worth on this issue. Up until a few years ago, I didn't hunt for larger critters, or in areas where they were. Then started hunting Alaska. I bought my .300 WM thinking it would be about perfect for that but when it didn't shoot well because the barrel was burned out, I decided to re-barrel. My logical choices in that it had the magnum bolt face was another .300 or a .338. I chose the .300 for 2 reasons: 1) I'm probably not as good a shot as some of you guys, so recoil certainly is a factor with me. 2) however, based on everything I've read, from the men who are genuninely experienced in this area, such as Phil Shoemaker in Alaska whom my son works for, is that it isn't until you get up into the .375 and above class of cartridge that you see any noticable difference in killing. I know many here will no doubt say that is not true, but I suspect it is. I'm more of the "correctly placed well constructed bullet" mindset than needing more horsepower.

I do have a pre-64 .338 I could use, but for me, my re-barrelled .300, also a pre-64, is something I'm good with. If I have the chance to go back to Alaska for a big bear, I would likely haul along the .300 again. I'm taking it for elk this year and in no way feel undergunned. If you look beyond what you read and find what many people who live in the areas they can hunt the big ones every year, that they have used successfully on really nasty animals, often you find rather small cartridges that most of us would not think enough.

But like I said, just my 2 cents worth. Always enjoy reading you guys stuff.

Funny, I have found the 300 magnums to be more unpleasant to shoot than the .338 and .375. In fact, my first center fire, a 700 ADL in 06 felt worse than my 338 and 375.

I've had rifles that were mirror images of each other and found the same thing as you. 300 definitely kicked more. Guys here don't get it though. The 300 win mag has a capacity of 93.8 grains H2O and the 338 win mag 86gr. H2O capacity. I've shot same same rifles side by side and thought the 300 had a sharper kick while the 338 and 375 had more of a push. Call me crazy too... I also see more benefit in having a good 338 over a 300 win mag: 338 with the right bullets will shoot almost as flat as a 300, but the 338 can fling heavier bullets for bigger animals. I just see it as a more versatile cartridge. In the hands of a capable hunter, either will work but I'd feel more confident with a big heavy bullet from the 338 than a lesser one from a 300 magnum. I know on elk, I've seen the 338 put them down quicker than any 300 magnum. However, every elk is different. Maybe the elk I shot with my 338 were just big puzzies, because they just didn't make it any more than 1 step. Nothing else I've used has effected them like that. Not even the 9.3x62mm with 286gr. partitions... ... Get ready for the chit storm to come down on us by the guys that have not had a chance to compare similar rifles side by side...

I too love my 338! The Alaskan I picked up this year really likes 225 Partitions pushed by 72.5 gr RL19. Groups under 1 inch all day long, best is just under 0.70 for 3 shots. There is a pic of the group in one of my posts here. My previous 338 was from another maker, stainless and plastic, heart less bitch with no warmth to cuddle up to, but boy could she shoot! 210 Partions fueled by 76.5 gr RL19 and chrono'd at 2955 fps. Accounted for a couple elk and one mule deer. Sold the gun to my son's room mate up in Wyo and he's hoping to fil his tags with it this year.
We didn't pull Elk archery tags this year so we picked up antlerless tags here in NM. Have some friends joining us from back east so I may not take my 338 this trip, still undecided. i have an 1890 vintage 1886 in 40/82 that I would love to dump an elk with.

Not to worry though, the 338 Alaskan will be my go to for my NM Safari. I pulled a once in a lifetime Oryx tag on White Sands this coming January. The 338 is just the medicine the doctor ordered.

I have a 338 wsm built on a Winchesters stainless classic and that thing is very comfortable to shoot. I use a 67.0 gr RL17 fed 210 with a 225gr nosler accubond and I'm getting 2860 fps with it. Now 300 win mags those things make me hurt, I recently picked up a nib ruger 77 mkii in a 300 win mag don't ask why I got it. I tell myself because I have a problem and can't pass up good deals. If anything good trading material or maybe I will build on the courage to shoot it Like others have said I will take a 338 over a 300 mag anything well the exception being the 300 H&H.

A 300WM is the LAST rifle cartridge I would EVER own. They kick and are IMHO just plain uncomfortable. Give me my Ruger stainless 338 or my custom built 416 Taylor over any 300 WM any day. The stainless M77 is my second one and I have a Pre 64 338 as well. I have taken a 338 to Africa twice and Alaska twice. The Grizzly took a second shot only for insurance and the Moose well he was just to slow to know he was dead but he took 3 before he dropped all killing well placed shots. A Greater Kudu, Warthog, Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, and a Bushbuck all fell to a single shot as well as a 6X6 Elk in Colorado. The Elk was in 2001 and I haven't shot a 338 since then. IF I ever get the chance to hunt an Elk again the only rifle I'd consider is the 338. I'd take a FWT 06 as well but only as a back up rifle.
A 338 will do everything a 300WM can and then some the reverse just doesn't apply. Unfortunately I only have deer here to hunt and if one got real lucky you might draw a Elk tag. I got one in 2001 for a cow but took the 416 Taylor. Another problem if you can call it a problem is that there are 35+ rifles capable of taking deer or larger game and I only have two deer tags a year.

I agree about the 338 over 300 WM. I had one and sold it right quick when I got my first 338. That thing kicked so bad I almost felt guilty selling it to someone. Almost that is, then I figured he should learn like I did,

RAZZ, I'd love to hear stories and see pictures of your upcoming hunt/safari in NM. Good luck with your hunting!! I think your 338 will work very well.

BSA, will do. Im hoping to have 1886 Winnie Elk pictures too!

Well, I would never argue with the effectiveness of a 300 Win and 180 or 200 grain bullets that are tough. I don't particularly notice much difference in recoil either between two like rifles. I just like my 338 a little more. Seems to work well for me for my hunting and areas I like to hunt. It's kept what should've been a rodeo minimal.

The 338 seems to be pretty accurate for me as well. Can't find too much to not like about mine but is be darned if I wouldn't do the same things with a 300 Win or my 7mm Mashburn either. I do seem to note a little more affect from the bigger 338's and 358's but get back to me in 40 years. Should have a better idea then...

Ive got to make a run to Bass Pro for a set of Leupold DD's, and 30 mm rings, Ive found a Leupold 4.5X 14 x 40 MM LR scope with the side focus AO and varmint hunter reticule. Im thinking with these 230 gr fail safe ammo it will be the cats meow. Im still on the hunt for and Echolds legend stock and someone to inlet it for me. I have every pre 64 I will ever need now, so Im working on moving about 40 post and pre 64's that I have 2 of. Unless its a deal thats just to good to pass on Im done buying. I cannot wait to get my pre war 22 hornet target, and 257 BOB Varminter ( it started life as a target) home from my FFL ,gunsmith. I have my first grandson, and a favorite nephew to teach what I know of hunting,shooting and Winchesters to now. My nephew just won his shooting merit badge and amazed the folks working with him on his gun hold ,breathing and trigger control, he told them 'Uncle Steve' taught him that years ago, the fellow is 12 now! One more merit badge and he is an Eagle !! Im very happy. very best WinPoor

Your really going to shoot that gun and deflower her? The shame of it, the shame:)

Mr GSP, I passed on popping the cherry on that BULL gun, I did deflower the 264 win mag. I pick this 338 up and look at it twice a week. Ive not done the deed yet but Im happy to have it, I really wanted that new 300 win mag that popped up a few weeks ago but he passed it on to a dealer before I got photos. I like the 300's sure they kick but my low comb 30-06 does to and on game I never seem to notice. The seller that has not sent the box that I have already paid shipping on seems to have fallen off the radar as far as answering phone calls and emails! Im not one to slander folks on the computer but I do have folks in his neck of the woods that can track him down. Everything went fine save the dog dam box! v best WinPoor

Good luck WP. Sounds like a beautiful rifle. Just be warned, those 230 Fail Safes are TOUGH pills... I still have a box of them left and they will penetrate far and open up well, up close, but man, I'd be scared of them not opening up very well unless you smack a lot of bone on a whitetail..

If I get a chance, I will run one of them into the water jugs from my Alaskan for you.

Winchester 200 grain AB is good stuff though. For factory ammo it is very accurate and fairly quick as well.

Can't wait to see a picture of your Alaskan. The Legend sounds perfect for it.