There are no flies on the 338Win, it is the prefered round for elk in these parts as g-bear are always present. My cousin has shot elk and g-bear with it, 225 FXB and Now TSX bullets work well. For me i have owned 2 338Wins, shot some moose and bears with the first one, the 2nd was bought because it was SS, couldn't get that one to shoot to my satisfaction so I let it go. What the whole experience taught me was big, fast, and or heavy is not the total answer in downing big game, game bigger than deer. The whole time during this 338 experment i was shooting game with the 35 Whelen. This round with the 250 gr FXB is equal aor better than the 338, I say better as it is easier to place shots well. I remember in 2001 I shot a bull moose, average big in size, guess 1100 lbs, with the 35. It was standing accross a small lake at just over 300yds facing us, my partner says to wait until it turns side ways, I said I can not knock him down with that shot, he needed to be knocked down on the spot as it wood take an hour to get to him,so with the 35 I amied for the point of his nose, the bullet entered center of the chest and was found under the skin near his anus, thats 7 ft of moose, he dropped on the spot and never moved. I wood not try that shot with anything less than a good medium.
I wanted to take my .35 Whelen with 250 gr FXB for grizzly but my guide talked me out of it. Things happened and I finally took my .416 Taylor with 350 grain TSX. After hearing of the 7 ft of penetration you got on a moose, I don't think I'd give it a second thought about taking the .35 Whelen in grizzly country. Barnes has stopped making the 250 grain flavor, more's the pity. I have a box of bullets left so a couple of hunting trips are still available before I have to downsize to 225 grain X bullets. The 9.3x62mm is nice in my CZ550 FS for a brush gun. I have debated on using a peep sight (NECG) but want to comparison test it side by side with my .375 Ruger Hawkeye, which has its peep sight ready for testing. The CZ 550 is heavy, 7.75 lbs without a scope, but points well. All of my .338 Win Mag experience has been with low power variable scopes and 24 inch barrels. I have no proof how well they'd work on something big, fast, and up close wanting to make people-burger out of me. More perforated pie plates at close range are needed or at least wanted. My wife thinks this is play, we armchair "grizzly bear" hunters know it is serious work. There is a good reason you can only hunt Alaska brown bear every four years, it takes that long to recover financially.
