Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting .338 Win Mag

I’ve shot deer with 210 partitions, 200g Interlocks, and 200g BT (all worked well). I finished off a deer my buddy wounded at 550 and the 210 partition expanded great on a shot through the ribs. In that rifle, the BTs would regularly shoot 3 into 1 hole. Unfortunately, they were way too soft for reliable penetration. These were the old style BTs.... New ones are reportedly tougher. The Interlocs were perfect for deer. 210 are also perfect for elk so I kept it loaded with those.

I've killed a good many whitetails with a .338 WM using 200 grain NBT and a few more with the 225 Hornady SP. Never had an issue, though it's a long ways from my first choice.

Lots of deer with the 338 Winny and 250 Partitions for me. Of course, I hunt brownie infested woods.

The deer won't appreciate it, that's for sure. Your shoulder might get a little grumpy as well

-Jake

Luckily mine is semiautomatic so recoil isn’t that bad considering I am launching a 225 grain bullet around 2800fps. If it was a bolt gun it wouldn’t be much different than my .375 ruger.

I shot 1 whitetail with a full power 250 and it did not destroy a n excessive amount of meat. I loaded down to about 338-06 levels w speer hot core 200s and that ws more reasonable (on me).
don't know how reduced loads would affect cycling of a semi though.

I shot a deer with a .338 once. It died.

I am sure it didn’t bounce off🙂

I had rather a bad experience with the 338WM shooting the 250 Partitions at a large mulie buck. That was the only deer I have ever lost and it took 2 days to find the carcass. However that same box of bullets dropped two moose, a caribou, two elk, assorted jack rabbits and coyotes, not to mention a few prairie dogs throwed in just for practice. Since then, I have settled on 210 partitions unless we are headed to Alaska, because my Model 70 likes them and my Kimber 338 Fed likes them best. For fun shooting I have some cheaper 200 gr and seems like maybe a box of Hornady 225s. The 338 WM is one of those cartridges that will shoot any reasonable bullet pretty well.

They had 200&225 grain bullets for the SST’s. I figured the 225 grain ones could be a “do all round”. I was very happy how they shot in my rifle.

I haven't, but I would without thinking twice about it.


Okie John

I have used my .338 since 2002 and I have taken lots of game in the US and Africa with it from a buffalo/bison to small Carolina whitetails. I have several 100's still of the 180 gr. BT's from back when they were an option. I am sure you could use the 180 Accubonds in lieu of those. I load those 180 Bt's down to 2800 fps with H-4895. The load is accurate and works great on hogs, deer & antelope. If you are a reloader you could make your .338 an all around rifle from loading the Barnes 160 gr TTSX and up to a 275 gr Swift A frame and lots of options in the middle of those two bullets.

I bought my first 338 at the advice of a close friend and world round Hunter in 1990 to go on an Alaskan black bear hunt (Browning A-bolt Stalker). He carred his everywhere. It really seemed to like the Federal Premium 210 Nosler partitions. I liked them as well since they had very similar ballistics to my trusty '06 with 150 gr. I shot it a lot to get used to it for the hunt. At the time is was working in STX and my eyes and steadiness were considerably better and live targets were plentiful. I took many smaller STX WT deer with it up to 650 yds. All were DRT. Most impressed with the 650 yarder in that the 210 gr had enough gumption to pass through the critter with a rather impressive exit. I still shoot that rifle from time to time and have taken many critters from 100 lbs to 700 lbs with the same 210 partitions. I like it and I don't think it thumps me that hard for my age, but I weigh over 250 myself. I love the round and think if you are a reloader you could develop some extremely potent pills from 165 gr up. As always shot placement is key and the almost big bore comes with lots of pill options for various game. Good luck....

Next year for the buck rut I want to carry my 338 Win Mag with the 185 TTSX. No particular reason, just want to do it.

Still kicking my self for not grabbing a 338 rcm when cdnn sport were selling them for $499

Had a Stainless Tikka T3 338 win mag it shot the 210 partition very well but traded it before I got to hunt with it.

Actually, a 338 WM is a labor saving gun. It'll kill, clean, and cook a deer all with 1 touch on the trigger. And, if you're aiming in the right direction, it might pack out the meat, too, if any.

That’s the reason my wife loves hers....saves her a lot of work! memtb

I have loved the ones I've had! Just kicks too much for me anymore. Always loaded 225 NP's.

Have killed some deer with the .338, some while hunting other stuff, and some not, with bullets from 200-250 grains. In general I've found the lighter "softer" bullets kill quicker, even if loaded down some. Used to use the 200 Speer Hot-Cor at about 2650-2700 fps, which killed well and didn't shoot up much meat. The 250-grain Nosler Partition didn't shoot up much meat either, but didn't kill them very quickly without a CNS hit.

I've used Hornady 200 grn spitzers and 215 Sierras on white tails and mule deer. It really knocks the heck out of them!