Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Lost a bear with .338 wm.

^^^^This^^^^^

Go to a Partition bullet or a tipped Bear Claw

Or a Swift A-Frame.

Matty99669, I know that many will argue with my response, but, I’m in full agreement with pabucktail. I had miserable experiences with the Sierra 300 SPBT’s in my .375 H&H. No matter what game animal I shot them with, the bullet totally fragmented. Yes, I got kills, but a 300 grain fired from .375 H&H should exit a deer or a sub 300 pound black bear. Granted this happened many years ago, and “supposedly” Sierra much improved the bullet.....but, fool me once! Sierra will never get the opportunity to fool me twice!

My wife and I have been using mono’s since the mid ‘90’s, with zero issues. If I were using the rifle for large and or dangerous game, a standard not lightweight mono would be the “only” bullet I would consider. There are other fine bullets available, Swift A-Frame, Nosler Partition, the Hammer mono’s, to name a few. memtb

If you shoot em on a beach in a kelp bed, or in a dry locale, ie; Idaho Montana Colorado Wyoming etc, it’s much easier, like everything else...

If I were hunting big bears with a 338, I’d reach for the 250 grain partition every time.

I would use a Swift A-Frame in 225gr or 250gr weight. Accuracy is second to tough bullet construction when hunting game that can hurt you.

"Accuracy is second to bullet construction"? We will have to agree to disagree...

How much accuracy do you need for a moose or brown bear at 100yds?

I shoot up to 600 yards for caribou. I wouldnt do it if I wasnt 1 moa at that distance.

You tried Partitions...right?? You said you tried 6 or 7. How did the Partitions group? Did you try different powders and charges to try to get them to group better?? Different seating depths? I can usually get any bullet I want to use to shoot good enough to hunt with by working with a few variables.

Was up the hill last night carving a curly maple stock in my buds gun shop. All you can do to stay sane in dark 30-40 below weather, is work on interesting guns. These guys put out rifles that sell between $75,000-$12,000.

I was handling three pre 64 model 70's that were all in various stages of the build with the most precise walnut stock inletting possible in the fine gun making trade. A 30-06, 300 h&h and a 458 win mag with drop box. None of them will group better than 2" from a rest at 100 yards. BUT, they will sell for 8-12 grand all day long.

Are you planning on shooting caribou at 600 yds with a 416 Rem?

Can you use a different bullet for shorter shots on bear versus possible longer shots on caribou? I would.

No

Accuracy is a distant second to bullet construction when talking dangerous game.

Shoot'm in the earhole....or the eyeball.

As you have indicated all shots are inside or at 150 yards. I believe the 338 Win Mag is at its best w/ 250 grain load just as the 375 H&H is with a 300 grain load. Using the A-Frame or Partition in the 338 Win Mag it has recorded kills on cape buffalo, big bears, moose and elk. Those bullets in that weight have always shown to be very effective on large game. I have used 250 grain Partition and Hawk bonded SP hand loaded at 2,650 fps on elk with great satisfaction.

Ok then, learn how to shoot , use a good bullet and quit whining on the internet..... if you can't do it with a 338 then you can't do it

Had a 200 grain interlock from a 338 federal stopped by a whitetail this fall. Shot was 220ish yards. Buck probably weighed around 175 pounds. Jacket separated from core. Bullet on offside hide.
I shoot a lot of Sierra Gamekings at deer. They are accurate, and some seem to be harder than others. I like to keep starting velocities under 3k. 27-2900 is usually the sweet spot.