Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338/ 308?

I have heard of, (but never actually seen!) a 358 winchester, which is a 358 stuffed into a 308 win case...correct?

What about the 338 stuffed into a 308 case? Is this on the market in a factory load? Is this a good dood dad or is the 358 win better?

Thanks

As far as I know it's a wildcat that you have to reload for.
I have one made from a Winchester Model 88, that started life as
a 308 and was rebored to 338.
It's a sweet little round that falls right between a 308 and a 358. I don't think it does anything any better or worse that what's it's between, but it's different, it's fun, it's lethal, and I gots one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Mine likes anything from a 200 to 225 gr. bullet

I had a model 7 rebarrelled to a 338-08 by MRC. Mine likes 200 gr Hornadys. I too don't think is is any better or worse than a 358 but it is a very good round for anything under say 250 yards. And it is different, which I like.

I have a light 338-08 built on a 700 S/A. The only advantage it offers over the 358 is bullet selection in the lighter weights. I chose the cartridge for exactly that reason. I felt that 180-225 gr bullets were all I would/could ever need. The 338 bore has more offerings in that area. (I certainly didn't want any part of 250's in a 6 lb. rifle)

This is not a terribly common wildcat, but it's easy to load for and there is data available from Ken Waters, and Bob Bell among others. While the 358 (is) a factory cartridge, that's not much of an advantage since ammo is often pretty scarce.

JimF

I have an old issue of Handloader, or Rifle, that had an article on the round. It is a the perfect case for the 210 gr partition, and can drive it 2500 fps, if you don't cut the barrel too short. That's basically on par with what a 30-06 can do with a 220 gr bullet.

Personally I think the 358 is superior due to better bullet selection, especially cast bullets. But, I have highly biased towards the 35 bore.

I think you'll probably get the same arguement
here as you would with the 338-06 vs the 35 whelean?

By the way JimF's 338-08 is a beaut!

I came VERY close to having one built, but I realized it already exists, its called the 8x57 Mauser. Albeit, that will not fit in a true short action, but works fine on the inbetween lengths, and could probably work in the 1999 SA.

I agree with Steelhead. I had a sporterized military Mauser in 8 x 57. With the 200 grain Noslers & Speers at 2600, what more do you need? Well, I needed a "scout rifle', so off goes the 8 mm barrel, and on goes one of those Israeli .308 barrels. The barrel was shortened to put the original front site back to the first step (about 19 inches) and a weaver base was sweated onto the barrel by Dennis Sorensen for a Burris ier scope. Oh well! It's different, and it's mine.