Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 338 WM

BobinNH, I certainly mean no disrespect but, my wife's .338 is pushing 225 Barnes 225TTSX's at 2950, while my .375 AI is pushing a Barnes 250 TTSX at 3130. At extended ranges her .338, shots flatter,hits harder, and has less wind drift. I'm not giving up my .375, but those are the numbers! memtb

memtb: No problem.

I know that stuff can vary depending on what you feed theses cartridges. What I saw was based on our shooting to 400-500 yards with the 375-250's at 2940,and the 210 Partition in the 338 at the same distances.IIRC the 338-210 was started at 2950 or so.

A Plastic tipped bullet (higher BC?) could change that, and I have no idea what happens beyond 500 because that's as far as we went. I only report what I saw.I believe I did mention the Partition specifically.

My buddy who did the shooting with me is an engineer by profession....he was incredulous and we had to run this several times to satisfy him but we kept seeing the same things.

As to the "hit harder" part, I'm sure you're referring to energy numbers and I never even looked at them. In choosing between the two calibers I will still go 375 due to larger expanded frontal area and cross section of the 375.Those are things in terminal ballistics that are less frequently discussed and not so easily quantified, but i do believe they matter at some level.

Well, I'm a bit late to the party, so where do we stand on the "list" so far?

I've perused the thread, tired eyes and all after watching the Sharks beat the Stars on the laptop screen, and haven't seen enough loonyism to sooth my soul.

I believe, the gap mentioned by the OP is quite large and needs a bit of filling. John has done a fine job of getting the ball rolling with his choices. I say the OP has a NEED of a number of rifles (or a good switch barrel gun with a large asst of tubes) to successfully fill the gap. Any that he later finds to be unnecessary can be used for trade fodder.

Some possible fillers:
.303 Epps - Bigger frontal area than the 7mag for more "shocking" power, and it's "improved" which is important to loonies.
8mm Mauser - Just because
8mm/'06 -
some of the .325 and .338's have been mentioned already but I haven't seen these, they are a bit more power to close the gap between the .338 WM and the .375
.338/378 Weatherby
.338 Lapua

I hope I have successfully made the list a bit more thorough and that the OP will take us up on our recommendations for bridging the expansive discrepancy in power, usefulness, and versatility between his two cartridges. He has friends here, I hope he realizes it!

Respectfully,

Geno, rifle loony still in the "budding" stage (from what I've seen around here I have a LONG way to go to catch up )

memtb: This is gack of the highest order but you piqued my curiosity about what I was seeing back then between the 338-210 Partition and the 375-250 gr Sierra SPBT.I wasn't crazy after all, but had never run numbers to confirm what the actual shooting was telling me.Matter of fact,when i said the trajectory of the 250-375 was the same as a 338-210 NPT, I was pretty much spot on.

So I ran the numbers through the Hornady Ballistic calculator this morning,and looks like my memory was pretty good.

I gave the 210 NPT a velocity of 2950,and the 250 Sierra 2940,with the BC's listed by the manufacturers. From a 250 yard zero for each,drop at 400 yards for the 338-210 was 17.5 inches;for the 250-375 it was 17.7".

At 500 yards, the 338-210 drops 40" from a 250 yard zero,and the 375-250 drops 40.3".

As to wind drift the two were so close it isn't worth mentioning in a 10 mph wind.

I also recall shooting the 338-210 at 600 and noticed it dropped 18-20 inches more than a 300 magnum with a 180 gr bullet at 3100-3200 fps. The calculator showed that to be correct also. I decided the 338, as we loaded them back then,was not exactly the answer to a long range shooters dream.

While I was at it, I ran the numbers for your 225 gr TTSX at 2950 fps with a BC of .514 (Barnes numbers),and you are also right. Your load beats the 375-250 by about 6.6" at 500 yards and of course increases that edge as distance increases as well.

All that said, i did not run your 375AI load. Personally, i would still take it over the 338-225. I think it's a bigger hammer,numbers notwithstanding. YMMV.

For the record i will never run these tests again with more modern bullets.I have no desire to run a 338 Win Mag anymore. The cartridge is on my "blasts from the past" list.You guys can do it and i will watch and listen.

Numbers Schmumbers. A .375 beats all the others simply because the others are illegal for hunting dangerous game in Africa, except the 9.3X62 in some countries.

Indy that was the other reason I picked it over the 338 eventually. In case i ever went "over there".Just seemed the right choice.

That it did what the 338 did, with the bullets of the day was a bonus. I could also put it to use here.

Win/win.

I always find this arguement funny. I think most people are aware of the regulations and in this case the OP has a 375. But buy a 338 Win Mag and you will never be able to hunt in Africa. The 338 is nothing but another rifle. Buy a 30-06 and you'll never be able to hunt in Africa... Honestly the 338 is just another medium magnum and a somewhat middle of the road one by today's standards, but boy mention it and people scare themselves $chittless over it. The 9.3X62 is legal in some areas for dangerous game in Africa but why bother buying one in the United States because one day you might hunt somewhere it's not allowed for DG. Another poor sod on these forums had a wonderful oppertunity to buy a 338 WM, same story... "you'll never go to Africa," "it won't do anything a 300 WM will do (nevermind the guy had a 30-06 already)" "you can download it to a 338 federal" and so forth, basically saying it will be the biggest mistake of his life and trying convincing him not to buy a rifle he has a great oppertunity getting. Congratulations?

This makes a lot of sense!

I've not been to Africa but if I did and the P.H. was OK with it, I would be OK with Partitions in a 7RM or 30-06 for most of the game and leave the .375 in a hard case in the hunting car. Regarding the gap, a non looney would not be worried about it, but you are already bitten so you should just buy whatever you want. There is nothing to force you to keep it if you are disappointed, looney's sell guns all the time.

If I wanted a .338 bore I would rather a .338 Lapua in a heavier long range rig to screw around with.

The 338 WM is the best cartridge Winchester ever put their stamp on. I thought everyone knew that.

I like the 375 H&H and the 06 and the 7mm RM and the 300 WM and the 350 RM and have several of a couple of those. But the safe had a gap so big that I had to fill it with two 338 WM's (700 and 70).

Oh, wait a minute. I had the 06's before the 338 but the others came later.

Now I want to try to buy MD's 35 Whelen AI at half price. Because...

Bugger,

That horse has already left the barn!

Well, at my age, I'd probably never get around to shooting at game anyhow. It already seems to be a problem with other guns I had to have. I really liked My brother's old 35 Whelen, but for some reason I have not owned one yet. Sigh

Never expected this thread to turn into what it did, but shouldn't be surprised. Thanks to all for the input and chatter. I've been entertained and learned a bit. CDNN is out of stock on the All Weather. Hope everyone here who wanted one got one. The sales rate definitely ticked up noticeably after this thread took on some life.

Here's something for you 338 fans to knaw on...



http://www.hallowellco.com/mark_penrod%20Custom%20Model%2070%20%20338%20Win%20Mag.htm

Bit heavy but looks nice! I like all this 338 bantering I find the 338 always brings out passionate sides.

small fry: I'd slum it.

I only have an ought6 and the 338wm. I thought I was set, now I feel so woefully underprepared.

WDO

BobinNH, it's nice! I just bought another 338. A stainless ultimate shadow. The barrel seems decent on it so it's getting a haircut 26 down to 24", stocks going bye bye, and slathering on some Cerakote. Haven't decided on the stock. The darn thing from the factory weights 7lbs 3oz. I really debated doing a 22" with NECG sights.

Whitedogone, well if you haven't purchased or wasn't able to purchase tickets to Africa, now you know why! Duh

9.3x62 is what the OP should get. Just sayin'.

Well that's been the elephant in the room hasn't it? I mean this entire thread has been "Yea you say you want a 338 WM but we know you really want a 9.3X62!"

I sold my 9.3x62mm and kept my 338...Hint...