Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Mod 700 Classic .338 Win Mag

I've owned several Classics through the years, the only magnums were in 300WM & .375 H&H. Never owned or ever shot the one in .338WM. Anyone ever used one and how did you find its accuracy and recoil? I didn't find the one in .375 objectionable, for such a light rifle. I had a brake put on it as a friend in south Africa wanted it. He was setting it up for the 300 Nosler handloads. I prefer Mag Na Porting if it a rifle tends to get up in my face, but wouldn't brake another. Curious on the 338WM though...

I have a Sako 338, it’s not bad to shoot at all. I would think it would weigh about the same as a Classic.

Bought a classic stainless 338WM awhile back, first damn load I ran through it shot less than two inches for four or five shots at 200 yards, glad the rifle liked the 250gr Swifts as I have a pile of them.

Hey Hanco, what bullet do you use in that 338 for hogs? Is it rough on the meat?

I've had one for going on 20 years now and it has been my favorite elk rifle. Didn't care much for the tupperware stock that came on it so I put a McMillan McSwirly on it and I like it much better. From the beginning it has shot my favorite 225 grain Nosler Partitions, Hornadies, and Aframes into under an inch all day long and to the same point of aim. I've taken a bunch of elk with it, a moose, and a bear and it has always been as reliable as I could possibly want....

Bob

I need to shoot something big with my 338, Sheister, you can feel the hell your turning loose when you hit the trigger and let go of 250 grains at 2750+ fps, gotta be an excellent killer of big/heavy game.

Personally, I don't think it kicks much worse than most 30-06's I've shot and I've shot a couple 300 Win Mags that were worse in the recoil department. My 26" barreled 70 Stainless Classic pushes the 225's to around 2950 and yes, it is very decisive on game. I'll never forget my guide when I shot the one and only moose I've ever taken- he was behind me when I shot offhand at about 125 yards and the moose just dropped in his tracks- "Jesus Chri^t, what the hell are you shooting? I've never seen that happen before"..... laughed my butt off as I didn't think it was all that unusual after past experiences with elk...

Bob

LOL, always nice when you impress a Guide or PH.

[quote=gunner500]Bought a classic stainless 338WM awhile back, first damn load I ran through it shot less than two inches for four or five shots at 200 yards, glad the rifle liked the 250gr Swifts as I have a pile of them.[/quote

That cartridge shoots well in that particular rifle

I had a 700 classic in 338. It came in about 9lbs all up and the recoil was not bad at all. A great gun that shot fantastic and I never should have sold it. Story of my life.

I wish Remington still did the classic thing...

I know that my wife loves her 24”, SS, Model 70, pushfeed .338 WM ( even with the Tupperware stock). Barnes 225 TTSX’s @ 2950, has produced numerous one shot kills....elk, moose, bear! Some of the elk and the moose were with TSX’s.

You should be very happy with a .338 WM, especially in a 700 Classic! memtb

I'm happy to say I've never had an inaccurate 338 WM OEH, they've always been more then easy to get to shoot well.

I use the 160 Barnes TTSX. It isn’t too bad on the meat.

I plan on using the 160TTSX a lot myself. What I like about the 338 is this versatility. One can load it for long range work to big bruisers in the woods. I also like the Nosler 180AB and the 200 NBT (old style, have about 300 of them).

Hey mmtb- If you wouldn't mind, PM me your wife's load data for that 225TSX!?

I also have a older 700 classic in 338wm, I replaced the factory plastic stock. As stated above it likes the Barnes 225 TSX.

PM in route! This load is not “benchrest quality” though it will match anything else we’ve tried in her rifle....I think it’s about as good as the rifle wants to do. However, this past fall, I shot two(2), two (2) shots groups at 300 yards (made slight scope adjust between 2 groups).....each 2 shots were just over 2”. It’s generally only good for around 1 to 1 1/4” @100 yards (3 shot groups). I know it works good for her to 400 and a bit beyond! memtb

Had a 700 BDL Custom - put a limbsaver pad on it and recoil with full house 250s was stout but not horrible. The nice thing about it ws that I loaded it down to 338-06 levels for local deer.

I bought a Model 700 338 win mag in 1978. Use it for moose and elk. Always have used 250 grain partitions. I really like it. It's not much fun to shoot off the bench but it's tolerable. Recoil isn't bad at all when hunting.