Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Is the .338 Winchester enough ?

I have no African experience and little Alaskan experience. Having said that, I'd go lighter and heavier for a two rifle battery, .308 caliber something (.30-06 with 180 grain partitions at 2900 fps Federal Light Magnum is my choice) joined by a true medium heavy. The .416 Taylor is my personal favorite in a standard CRF action. One gun for everything plan: any good .375, led by the .375 Ruger or slightly less versatile, .416 Ruger. The Barnes 350 grain TSX would give you an all around rifle in .416, if you could shoot it as well as the .375 class rifles. I like the Ruger Hawkeye African model as well as the Alaskan model. Ruger and company looked at my Mauser 98 when they built the Alaskan model, same weight, barrel length and stock! I was too cheap for back up iron sights. I put good apeture sights on my .375 Ruger African, just to see how cool it would be to shoot. I haven't played with the quick release scope concept but it's in the works.

I agree with Ray "the best all 'round caliber ever"

I used one last year on the Peninsula for Brown Bear, 30 yards slightly quarting shot, placed a 225gr Partition on the inside point of the shoulder........DRT!!!

Admittedly I was planning on taking my 416 Rem, but thats another story. Just remember, like Africa you will have a guide/PH there to help you out if things get dicey.

Bottom line, I recommend it highly, but next time I would use a 300 grainer.

A little off the original topic, but my next Bear hunt will likely be a SE AK Boat hunt. I will likely use my 375 H+H with 300 gr, or more likely a 416 of some variation. Bears close to Dark, close to thick stuff & possibly close to me warrant this decision.