Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Want a .338 win mag

I love my P64 Alaskan 338. Since I got it ive hard a hard time leaving it at home. It seems to shoot 200-275's real well and just does an excellent job for me. It wouldn't be my first choice as a deer rifle but it does a first class job for me hunting elk. Don't really use it for much else.

I did restock mine with a McMillan stock cause the original stock came with a split tang. Didn't really bother me as I'd always intended on putting it in a good stock.

Your at a cross-road just thinking you would like a Pre-64.

1) If you don't have a Pre-64, Go for it!

2) If you'll take care of it like you said, Go for it!!

3) If you don't, You'll always being looking back AND wishing you had >>> Gone for it now!!!


I own 2 and still use'em for hunting.
A friend of mine has only one rifle - a Pre-64 in 338.
He uses it for everything. His rifle has served him well for many years.

A sree serty ate velly big burret. Make a such big a ho.

My farite sree serty ate is a supa glade.

Sups glade velly a nice.

Don't let these guys talk you out of a .338 if that is what you want.

That said, there is a lot of truth in what they say. I scratched the itch for a .338 and have taken a couple of elk with it. Nice rifle and I would have taken a third elk with it last year if I hadn't loaded it with ammo for my backup rifle, a .280 Rem. (Doh!) Ended up taking it with my buddy's 7mm RM, 4 steps and down at 411 yards. While I did take my longest big game shot ever at 487 yards on a cow elk with the .338, I could have used a .30-06 and it would have probably have fallen just as quickly.

Much as I like my .338WM, the .280 Rem, 7mm RM, .30-06s and .300WM get the job done for me and get the call more often. Glad I bought the .338m though, and it isn't going anywhere.

The truth!

I always suggest that big game rifle shoppers buy a rifle whose stock places that shooter's eye in alignment with the sight/scope. MOA grouping at the range is pleasing, but animals move. Get a rifle that fits like a favorite shotgun.
For me, that's a Ruger stock. And my 338WinMag shoots little groups. But its prairie dog accuracy off sandbags isn't the reason for owning one.

The way I read it, nobody's trying to talk anyone out of anything... at least not in the English language.

I guess I've had 5 338 WM's; 3 SS M70's, a SS MKII M77 RS and a SS M700 ADL. All but the M77 had their barrels cut to 22". The 338 is a handy rifle built that way. With a bore volume/case-capacity ratio essentially identical to the 30-06, it works to perfection in a 22" barrel, and I see no need for more than 23".

Great round, but haven't used one for 15 years because I found other cartridges that kicked less, could be built around a lighter rifle, while still working well on elk. And elk and moose are the main reason for the 338 WM IMO.

And BTW, while none of the M70 Classic SS rifles were very accurate, the M700 remains one of the most accurate factory rifles I've ever owned. It was a first Gen SS rifle from the early 90's. It shot varmint sized groups.

I understand the cartridge itch as much as the next guy. I just found that it was a chambering I enjoyed more in my 30's than in my 50's.

There is a gun shop near work that has a used ruger .338. Might have to take a better look at it. Guess it would be smart to start there and if it makes me happy look further into the pre/64.

I do have have a pre-64 but its chambered in 270 and after checking the forums here I didn't want to be caught at the range with "my wifes" rifle. I have a few other older winchesters so I thought the alaskan would be a nice addition.

I also have a 375 RUM in the old XCR and have shot that quite a bit so I'm not too scared of spending some time with the 338. That xcr is pretty light for a 375.

Really do appreciate the responses. Pretty good supply of knowledge here.

I'm with your wife... these days the 270 is my "big rifle."

Kills mature bull elk just like the 338 WM.

But the 338 is an itch that has to be scratched if you're a rifle nut.

Looking at 200gr and 225gr ammo offerings it seems enough people are buying them. If one only uses those loads I see no reason to pick that over .300Magnum.

Not all pre-64's are created equal. Most of them are just 60 year old rifles that have no more value than any other 60 year old rifle. The ones made prior to WW-2 and some of the less common rifles made after the war tend to be quite valuable. But not all.

If I wanted a model 70 to shoot and hunt with I think you're better off with a newer version. One of the Classics made in the 1990's would be an excellent choice.

And I just don't see them offering anything a 300 won't do unless you are shooting 250 gr or heavier bullets. Even then there isn't anything I'd hunt with any .33 that I'd not hunt with a comparable .30 with a lot less recoil.

I agree if we're talking about toting a 24"+ bbl'd rifle. For me, the reason to pack a 338 WM is a handier 22" barrel... the 300 WM really needs a 24" bbl. IMO.

I can identify with that!

My personal pick in an old M70 would be the 300 H&H!

338 threads are great. As soon as you mention you want one, people start giving you every reason not to own one. I am surprised someone hasn't come out yet and said if you buy one you will never be able to hunt in Africa with it because it's not a 375. Or that if you do own one, you can look on the bright side and shoot it with reduced loads and not live in fear. Always remember when reading 338 threads that a 200 gr .308 bullet at 2950, kicks substantially less than a 200 gr .338 bullet at 2950, and if you are only shooting 200 gr. bullets you might as well just own a 300. You can rationalize owning one of any two cartridges but the most important reason is whether you want one or not. I am like many, as I get older I like lighter kicking rifles more but the 338 is a fantastic cartridge.

My 338 itch was a bad one. I now own three 338s. A Savage 116, a Ruger #1 and a Ruger 77. The 77 is my current favorite. I replaced the boat paddle stock with a Hogue full bedded stock and it handles the recoil very well. My #1 is the best looking by far. The Savage shoots the best but all three shoot minute-of-Nilgai anytime.

Get you one. Buy the one that looks and feels the best to you!

Well my current 338 Winchester Mag is a Sako 75 SS that I bought going on 20 years ago, when I paired down my collection some years back, it was one of the 4 out of 65 rifles I kept! Look if you can find a Pre 64 M-70 so chambered and you can afford it then go with it! I am not going to tell you not to! If you just want a good durable hunting rifle, its hard to not go with a Ruger M-77! They just do the job, and at most you might have to do a bedding job and that it! Sako's are good ones, so are the Tikka's, heck even a Remington 700 would be fine way to go!

I actually don't think anyone on this thread was trying to discourage the OP... I know I wasn't.

It's not terribly important whether people are or are not. I was more pointed out that 338 threads often read strongly that there are better choices out there. Really Bob and yourself are spot on, the 338 is a cartridge many grow out of.

My 24" 300 shoots flatter with 180g bullets and should do so even at 22" according to my ballistic calculator. But I sure like the .338/225g hole size and the AB's .550 B.C.

Never owned a 22" 338 but I've never been one to be bothered by 24" barrels.