Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .300 Win Mag vs .338 Win Mag

I have owned both and I have killed elk with both.
The 338 makes a larger hole through the elk and with one of the bullets I used, it always left me an exit. One other didn't and penetration was not too good.

Some 300 bullets didn't work out very well, but if you use a tough 180, 200 or 220 grain bullet the 300s also give exits.

I still own one of the 300s. I sold my 338s, but not because I had any complaints. It's just that I found that if I wanted to see more effect on large game then I get with the 270 Winchester of 30-06 my 9.3s and my 375H&H beat them.

If I were to be forced to choose one or the other I would choose the 338 over the 300s. I still own one 300 and I really like the rifle, so that is the reason I kept in more so then what cartridge it's chambered in.

I have owned two 300H&Hs one 300 Win Mag, two 308 Norma Mags, one 300 Weatherby mag and one 30-378 Weatherby mag and I have also owned a 338 Win mag.

To be 100% honest, I can't say I can see any real world difference in how any of my 300s killed elk, being faster of better then the 30-06s I have also killed elk with. You would think the super fast speeds given to me from the 300 Weatherby and the 30-378 Weatherby would just "have to kill better" then the 30-06 ------and I though so too ------until I used them. Nothing wrong with any of them, but I just didn't see any more effect on the killing of elk from the super-duper-uber fast bullets then I did from good 180 and 220 grain 30-06 loads. Flatter and more reach?....................Yes. Better killers? No.

The 2 choices you ask about are the 300 and the 338 mags ----- and if those were the only 2 I'd go with the 338 from my experience as a elk rifle, but if you were to also give a 30-06 as one of the choices I would take that over either one of the belted mags you named.

The reason I don't own a 338 now days is that I do own a 9.3X62 and a 9.3X74R as well as the 375H&H I have owned for the last 43years. All 3 of them put the elk down faster and better then any of my old 300s (including the one I still own) OR the 338 mag I used to have.

Others may disagree. And my opinion can't be said to be "better" then theirs. It's just what I have seen from using them.

But from my 50+ years of elk killing, if I want to step up from a 270 or a 30-06, I would step all the way up to a 9.3X62 or a 375H&H. The 270 to 300 grain bullets they use have been more impressive then the 30 cals I used, (not that there was a thing "wrong" with the 30s either) Or the 338 250 grain and 225 grain bullets I used.

In the 338 Mag I used 225 Grain Hornady Spire Points which came apart badly and didn't kill as well or fast as my 270s or 30-06s.

I also used the 250 grain Nosler partitions which were excellent.

The 250 from the 338 Win Mag put the elk down in a few seconds. My 375s and the 9.3 do it too, but in a few seconds less. (often instantly)

I am splitting hairs here and I admit it. But I figured I'd share what I have personally seen. My opinion is based on experience, but others may have different experience, so my advice may be worth exactly what it cost you. Nothing.