Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What to do with my 338 WM

When I was in my late teens, I felt like I needed a 338 Win Mag. I was impressed by raw power and the literature written about the 338 always talked that up. I was even more impressed by the 340 Weatherby, but the rifles were too expensive and the ammo wasn’t easy to find.

The 338 seemed like a reasonable choice for elk, since I read how tough they were. I was convinced that any hunting cartridge had to have a belt and if it didn’t have 3500 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle, it wasn’t suitable for elk-sized game. My 7mm Rem Mag was relegated to deer-sized game since it just didn’t have the juice.

I’m older now and realize that most animals don’t need so much killing. Experience has shown that milder cartridges are easier to shoot and critters die just as quick. My “big” rifle has been a 30-06.

So, what to do with the 338? Keep it? I’m not hurting for options, so it doesn’t hurt to have it. Sell it to someone who “needs” it? Maybe rebarrel? Always wanted a 257 Weatherby. Its an M70 Classic Stainless, so not a lot of room in the box.

Describe the rifle? Maybe some changes to it could get it back in your good graces, haha… new stock, scope, barrel length…. A .338 is a great Roosevelt rifle if it’s set up right. Mine (M700 XCR) had a 26” barrel, but I had it shortened to 23”. Put it in a B&C Alaskan stock. With a 3-9 Conquest in Talley’s it’s a great carry. I don’t load it hot anymore, it’s like a 338-06 plus P, so the recoil isn’t bad. You could load it down to 338 Fed levels and go blacktail hunting in the thick stuff, but not bloodshot a bunch of meat. Could be a great rig, IF the rifle itself is set up for that kind of hunting.

If you’ve got it set up as a big long cannon then yes I can see being “over it”.