Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting The Mighty .338

My 338 takes you for a ride when you shoot it, but doesn't kick near as bad as the "300's".

Dogcatcher, I'd concur with that. 300 recoil (win mag variety) is some pretty snappy chit!

Not a fan of 300's for that reason. Figure if I need more than a 30'06, the 338 is the next logical step.

Nice rifle. Better than the "best in the world..."

.338: I like-um. I have two, a 338 RUM and a wonderful 338-06.
I think I got the 338 covered.

There are some funny things in that article.
Ilike the second article about sneaking around trees and hiding behind small trees until you see their rump... Ha Ha!! Too funny!

By the way, I agree that some of the .300 Mag calibers seem to kick worse than some of the larger yet slower calibers. I have a Weatherby Mark V in .300 Wby in factory sinthetic stock. Before I changed the recoil pad, it packed quite a punch. Quick, snappy and strong recoil.

+1

I bought a 7mm Rem Mag bolt rifle for myself about the same time I bought a gas operated .270 for my dad. The 7mm RM bolt rifle was FAR MORE comfortable (for me) to shoot than the .270 gas operated. When sighting in the .270, I would have a head ache after 8 or 9 rounds. But, I could shoot 20 to 30 rounds thru the 7MM RM in an afternoon with no discomfort...

Another consideration is that I try to use scopes with smaller objectives (~40mm) with the lowest possible scope rings to keep my head down on the stock. I know the bigger scopes gather more light. But I try hard to set up a rifle so my cheek bone is sitting right on top of the comb of the rifle stock.

Just to be contrarian, I've been playing more lately with 338 Fed, 338 RCM and 338 Lapua.

They're all terrible. Just be rid of anything marked 338 and send it to me. I'll even pay the shipping...

Read this thread and popped in my ear plugs went out to the shop and chronoed the old tang safety Ruger 338 WM, a 250 gn. SAF @2714 fps. has gotta be about the perfect failsafe load for elk hunting this side of 400 yds.
I like .338's also, have three 338 WM's and an old 338-378 they have been equal opportunity destroyers on game for me goin' on 25 yrs. now.

Gunner

400 yards is a very long shot for most. Its to far for me, I like under 200 and if its closer yet, the happier I get. The 338 Winchester is a fine hunters cartridge. These days, there is no real reason to shoot 250 to 300 gr bullets unless you want to. a 210 gr Barnes X is going plenty of bullet for just about anything and dittos for the Nosler Partition. These days with the truly excellent bullets to be had, the real need for the 338 is really not there like it was when introduced. Yea its a good elk cartridge, but so is a 30-06 so what would be his point? For the big game hunter, it dose enough things well enough to be they only rifle in the rack, but this is not unique a whole bunch of cartridges would fit that mold. I just comes down to how much recoil you can handle and how heavy a rifle you want to carry. I myself is getting up there in age, yea I shoot one well enough, I rather shoot a 7 mm RM if I had to choose, more so because of the rifle than anything else. Heck I could end my hunting life with a 250-3000 and not feel that I was under gunned.

gmsemel, I agree, but I have about 700 of the 250 gn. SAF's, and this newest 338 shoots them into less than 3/4's @100 for three shots.
With this particular rifle, how can I not use them, and yes 400 is far, I will do everything I can to get closer, but a steady rest, minding the wind and knowing Your rifle, its a very ethical shot on elk sized critters for me.

Gunner

The 338 Win Mag is my favorite elk rifle.

Hey Jeff O, I thought you were going to start that revolution! Did you get side tracked?

Ive never had any problems using a 338 win, its an excellent elk cartridge if you use a decent bullet, but after using it and also using a 375H&H, 35 whelen,358 win, several times and my 340 wby,on many hunts, I don,t see the 338 win as being any better and in some cases I prefer the other four calibers.
where the 338 win has come in very handy is more because of the rifles available more than the caliber,or any advantage it has, example, my BAR is only available in the 338 win,if I want to select a caliber mentioned here, and if your still hunting the thick timber having the potential for an instantly available second shot seems to be an advantage even thou Ive never yet needed that,(mostly because I won,t shoot till Im 100% certain of the shot placement, and I rarely get shots in the timber over 150 yards, and on average probably closer to 80 yards, where almost any decent center-fire caliber would work) and my slide action remington 35 whelens, and browning BLR are much lighter and easier to carry than my 338 bolt action,

Killed my First bull with a 338 win mag opening day,he didn't take a step, straight to the ground done.Still like the 338 win mag but like the 338 ultra,338 edge,338-378 for long range.Had several 340 weatherby's too, hard not to like that one!

I've used the 340 a ton, and the 338 and 338/06 a fair bit. For me the 338/06 is my round of the 33's these days.

My biggest witch with the 340, RUM etc is that I have a tough time with them when they get down around 8 lbs all ready to go (scope,sling,rounds). And, I have zero interest in going with a mzl break..

Dober

I'd love to try a .338-'06. I suspect that'll be my '06's next incarnation.

My elk rifle of choice for the last 25 years or so has been the 338 Win.

A few years ago, I did pick up a 338 RUM that's shootable too but recoil is noticeable.

But with all the recent posts about accuracy being more important than caliber when hunting elk and given that 22-250's and 243's being more more accurate because they have less recoil, I've been thinking about buying a 17 HMR varmint rifle and just shoot them in the eye.

Try push ups...Damn..I packed a 20+ chainsaw around my entire life and I hear these threads on how "your in shape"....

WTF is 16 or maybe 32 ounces hunting, if your in shape?I don't understand it.

Jayco