Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 338-378 weather mag

So I am considering a big bore rifle to add to my collection. I am currently very intrigued by the 338-378 but am open to some suggestions. I have been more into smaller faster calibers as of late (17 furball, 220 swift, 257 weather mag) but I am thinking about going big. Let the suggestions fly!

Rifle weight
Recoil
Reloading expense

Why?

Both the 30-378 and the 338-378 seem like nothing more than ego-stroking cartridges to me. They really don't extend one's effective range beyond that of the .300 or .340 Weatherby magnums 99.9% of the time, and when they do, a .338 Lapua is a better round.

Excellent cross canyon shooters. I run a 30-378 Accumark capable of dime sized 3-rd groups at 100 with 180 grain Noslers. Run them just short of 3,500 fps with H870 (Can't get that powder anymore). Extremely confident in it's capabilities. Does well on moose, elk, and caribou. Might be a bit much for bou, but did not want to pack a second rifle.

Both the 30-378 and the 338-378 seem like nothing more than ego-stroking cartridges to me. They really don't extend one's effective range beyond that of the .300 or .340 Weatherby magnums 99.9% of the time, and when they do, a .338 Lapua is a better round. [/quote]

I agree with you on most of your points. I like the Lapua mag but it has become somewhat cliche where am from and with the people I shoot with. I like to shoot different guns than everyone else. With the exception of my 270 win, my other guns are all somewhat off the beaten path. Recoil in the Lapua vs. 338-378 would be insignificant. As far as hunting goes, most days when I leave the house to hunt big game, I grab my trusty Ruger M77 270 win. I have not yet had the chance to go hunting for anything larger than elk though, so I may have need for a larger gun someday! Mostly I would use it for shoot 1K target. As far as just stroking my ego, maybe a little. LOL

I know a couple of guys that use 30-378WBY for deer in PA,
long range of course.

If you're anywhere near Fort Collins, you can try mine.

I too would lean towards 338 lapua or 338 RUM.

I have 338-378 and have nothing against it, but IMHO the Lapua would be my choice if I had to start over again and had a choice.

i am near fort collins often. i would love to try yours. send me an email greggohrc at yahoo dot com. i will email you next time i am over that way.

jericho, thats seems like a lot of gun for the deer i am used to seeing in PA. Seems like we always used the 35 rem or 3030. we never shot that far though, 100-200.

i know they are not in the same category but i am also interested in SAUM? any thoughts on those, the 300 in particular, would be welcomed also

E-Mail sent

You're probably going to think I'm a real downer, but I would shy away from the SAUMs.

The 300 WSM has it beat pretty handily in sales and that will likely continue. I would suspect those SAUMs are going to be hard to find brass and factory loads for in the coming years. You could lay in a supply of brass now, but unless you're looking at a killer deal on one, go for the WSM instead.

I agree with you completely but given my affection for "off the beaten path caliber" it would seem to be right up my ally!

To be fair, everything I've shot with mine has been impressed...



As Jeff said, there are a few other choices you may want to consider...the 338 RUM, 338 Edge, 338 Lapua, etc. If I were to start over from scratch I can't tell you for sure what I would end up with. It may be the 338 Lapua Improved with a detachable mag. bottom metal...I'm a little twisted, to be fair...

Go 338 rum. Just about the same performance as a lapua, but cheaper.

thanks for all the input. i do not want to go with anything that is run of the mill. my brother shoots 300 rum and someone else i know shoots 338 rum. the lapua is cool but as i said before, kinda become like everyone at the ranges fantasy. this may sound really odd, but when i go to the range and start shooting, if someone asks me what i have i want to have a puzzles look on they're face when i tell them. i shoot at a public range so not everyone is that well versed i admit. thats why i have a swift instead of a 22-250, because it isn't something you find in everyones cabinet. so, i want something that not everyone has, but is still at least a factory offering. maybe someday a wildcat for me, but not yet. big 30 or 338 first

My new accumark 338-378 is going under 1/2 inch with 5 shots, 300 gr SMK. All I did was float the barrel better.Awesome rifle and caliber!!

AAw crap I hope it can do somthing I just got one. If not I still have the 300 sav.

One of my moose hunting partners uses a .30-.378 with 30" barrel for long shots around the edges of the lake. He takes a little kidding about the need to use a coal shovel as a scoop for powder when loading for it. He is now on his second barrel.

Jim

If you truly want something different why not go the 338Edge route. I can almost guarantee you'll be the only one on the range with one, and most will not even know what it is.