Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles The Magnificent .338 RUM

Good for you and congratulations on your success with it.



The last thing most newbies need is a �brute� and �ass-kicker� rifle that generates such high levels of recoil that most will not be willing to put in the practice needed to achieve proficiency with it at any range, let alone the longer ranges where it shines.

Nor are newbies well served by your hyperbole suggesting otherwise. The fact is that a properly launched and constructed bullet from a hunter�s favorite �deer� rifle will serve quite well in the vast majority of situations. This is proven many times every year by many hunters.

Placement is the most important factor in bringing an animal down. If newbies don�t want �that trophy to get away� then their first focus should be on achieving a level of competency with their rifle that promotes good placement in the field. Very few hunters � newbie or experienced � will get there using a high-recoil cartridge/rifle combo and factory ammo that costs over $5 a shot as you do.

Again, congratulations on your success � but you are in a tiny minority. The tool you choose to use won�t work for and isn�t necessary for most hunters.

Well, my 110-lb wife is a newbie. She just got a 375 Ruger on my recommendation and acquainted with a 270 and a 338.

We'll probably handload down to 338WM levels with 235-250grains, as long as they're accurate. Placement is primary.

It's just a little bigger hole. But the price was right for the 375 Ruger in left hand versions.

I'm not quite sure how I was picking apart your words...I quoted a complete sentence from your OP.

I've killed plenty of elk and have no need to post pics. Nothing too huge anyhow as I am not much of a trophy hunter but I have guided a few to really good bulls.

I realize you're confident with that rifle and that is all fine and dandy. I am more than a little confidant with my .340 WBY as well. It hits HARD. Coyote_Hunter has summed up my thoughts on the newbie/hard kicker thing so I won't rehash it.

C-H is right on the money. SBH you have an awesome weapon that you WANTED and YOU can handle, apparently very well I might add. However, you seem to be over the top in your preaching to the choir. You wanted a 338RUM. There are options. We all know it.
Newer hunters, male or female, in most cases, IMHO, should be encouraged to use modest calibers and cartridges that they can handle, mentally and physically. As we all know, recoil is 50% between the ears and 50% in the ears and on the shoulders. Practice makes adequate, not perfect, and new shooters will not enjoy being beat up in the name of FUN. They need manageable rifles not "ass-kickers". Some of us have already found that going 5 rounds with a Mike Tyson rifle is only tolerated when absolutely required.
Elk are harder to kill than many things on this planet but they are not ironclad nor carnivorous. My wife has dropped a nice 6 X 6 with her 7mm-08. Bang/flop no. DRT? Once he thought about it for 20 seconds he figured he should lie down and die rather than fall down.(She did drop a kudu as I watched in the binos... guess I blinked when the gun went off. I missed the flop on that one.) Bullet placement, as noted above, is what counts.
Yes, you CAN put a 338 RUM into the south end of a northbound elk but I would like to think I would be able to forego that temptation. I generally do but not always so a little edge helps at times.
That all said, I like and use a 338 WM usually pushing out 250 gr Grand Slams. At last count I have taken 17 different species (total #s might take some research)from Alaska to Africa and not found it wanting, multiple elk included. I generally take it if I suspect my game will exceed 500-600 pounds or might eat me given an opportunity. I also find it a little bit of a plus that obtaining 338 WM ammo, should airlines abuse me, is at least probable at my destination. Wildcats, I have a couple, and those less than "old stand-by" cartridges that may be problematic get to skip the trip unless I can drive.
I'm glad you cherish your 338 RUM but I have no need or desire for one and I believe I have at least 9 elk capable cartridges in my vault in addition to my 338 WM given my personal parameters of an ethical shot on an elk size game animal. But upon reflection: Why do I only have 10 such rifles??
Son, you need a nice soak in the hot tub, relax, find a wee dram of Scotland's finest and relax..... This is supposed to be FUN. jm2c

I love my 338 RUM but after seeing 22 of 23 elk killed in six years, I can't say it makes a noticeable difference in killing over my buddies 7RM. We are shooting cows and raghorns on highly pressured public in Colorado. I'm still going to grab my RUM but I don't think its necessary, but I still like killing stuff with it. I shoot 210 Scirrocos and he shoots 160 accubonds. Pretty much put it in the boiler and they die. Off the mark a bit requires follow up shots.

Now that's a real-world, no-nonsense post.

I think I'll just keep my Kimber 7WSM.