Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Should I give up the .338 win mag?

I haven’t fiddled with the new SPS yet, so can’t say. Though, I’ve heard the same thing.

Find a person who will reload for you. That’s all I’ve ever shot out of my 338. Components are not difficult to find.

Me too. I've owned 300 WM, 300 WSM, 338-06 and 35Whelen in the past. I concluded the 338/06 and 35 Whelen were actually a step backwards and the 30 caliber magnums only added about 50 yards of effective range over a 30-06. And 30-06 is already capable farther than I can shoot.

It may be hard to sell at a decent price because potential buyers will see the same issues as you. If I could get a fair price for it I'd let it go.

If not you may have to keep it. It's not cost effective to set up to handload for just one rifle that is shot as little as a 338 WM would be shot. If you already loaded for cartridges that you shot in high volume, then it doesn't cost much more to add another cartridge.

Another possibility is to rebarrel it to something else. That is fairly easy and inexpensive to do with a Savage and may be the most cost-effective option.

Bullets matter wayyyyyy more than headstamps. Hint.

Just saying……….

Yup
Hint

True......Unless a newbie has nothing on hand and components are impossible to get at the moment.....

I would be in this camp! 100% Then again I shoot better with less recoil! Most people do!

Thank you, sir.

Too bad Remarms didn't go faster twist with the 7mm-08, but it would still have the box limitation. A stainless 243 with 8-twist, or a stainless 223 with 8-twist might be in my future. Metalwork is supposedly improved on these Remarms.

Sorry for getting sidetracked, OP.

The new specs for a SPS ss 7 Rem mag is 1-8. Is that a typo?

The 7RM is GTG. The 7-08 is still listed as 1-9.5".

The problem with the .375 Ruger is the same with the .376 Steyr, 5mm, .303 Savage, 25-20, 32-20, 338-06, .338 Federal......etc. They were great and popular calibers, until they weren't and you couldn't/can't find brass or ammunition.

I'd stay with the .338 and reload.

100%

^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^!


While I love my .375’s…….the .338 WM is a slightly better all purpose cartridge. Unless hunting in Africa or similar where a .375 may be listed as a minimum cartridge……keep, love, enjoy your .338 WM! JMO. memtb

You certainly want 1-7” in 223 and it doesn’t hurt in 243 Win either. Too bad they don’t chamber a 7” RPM Seex Kreed. Hint……..

I have a 338 because I had an unemployed barrel blank, a reamer, a set of dies, and a bunch of bullets. I don't shoot it much and have a bunch of rifles which I am more likely to hunt with. Nonetheless, I don't have any urge to turn it into a 375 Ruger. As far as ammo availability is concerned, when you see some, buy some, and you're covered. GD

Locally, for a couple of years the absence of 338 Winchester on shelves has been a constant situation. And where there was 375 H&H, there was also 375 Ruger. Of course, at times both of the 375's were sold out. Last year, there were people from the lower 48 headed to Alaska, posting on forums looking for 338 Winchester ammunition.

It seems some 338 Winchester is beginning to show on shelves. An example, a couple of weeks ago about 12 boxes of Hornady 225 gr CX was on a local shelf. It was gone within 2 days. Although, I saw 2 other boxes at another store. Prior to this, I had seen 4 or 5 boxes of some sort of Winchester ammo. A long drought for non hand loaders. The new brass has also been lacking.

It appears the manufacturers are beginning to send some ammunition. Hopefully it will return to somewhat normal in a short time.

What’s the rest of your battery look like? Ether sit on the 338 or sell it, buy a new 700 stainless SPS in 7mag. Chop the barrel down to 22-23” and find a better stock.
S.

2 or 4 years ago I was in a small MI gun shop. Town's population is ~380

Great little mom/pop place. They were out of 243 and 270 ammo but had 458 Win Mag available. I've been all over MI - there's nothing there requiring 458 WM. yet there it was. Weird stuff happens.

I love mine.

I’ve had .338 WM, .340 Wby, .338-06 and 30-06, the ‘06 still here, others traded or sold. I also like my 7-08.

DF

The same thought as the OP crossed my mind. I've shot one bear with the 375 ruger (400 Ib weighed) and I can't think of a better set up especially with the Trijicon Accupoint which shows up excellent on that black hide. There are also reduced loads for the 375R which are nice to shoot even though I don't find recoil of the full loads a problem.
However I like 30 cal and bigger diameters and also can't/won't give up my 338s. I really have to shed this "need" and "practicality" thing, or maybe it's guilt of having "more than needed" when it comes to guns.
I would say however as far as brand, I would go for the Ruger over the Mossberg, and if you can keep the 338!
That bear by the way went 10 yds and rolled onto his back and...done. No tracking needed, guide was happy.