Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles More .338 questions

I've been looking into purchasing a 338. Most likely a win mag but possibly a RUM. I've also seen the lapua and edge. What is the difference in all these chamberings? Just case size. I think the lapua and edge are more long range target/ snyper loads. More powder? Does anyone know a site I can look at and compair different loads in the same size projectile. Thanks. Ryan.

I don't know anything about the RUM, but the Lapua is in a whole other league from the 338 Win Mag in terms of powder, blast, velocity and poor relations with the guy at the next bench. You can add a brake and double your fun.

The 338 bore cartridges were developed in the late 1940's thru the 50's and into the early 1960's. The developers wanted the smallest bore cartridge that would give reliable performance on a wide variety of game and be consistently effective WITH THE BULLETS THEN AVAILABLE! In those days the bullets had thin jackets and soft lead cores. A 338 250-275 grain bullet was needed keep the velocity down and to insure that something was left to penetrate. TODAY the 338's are answers to concerns that no longer exist. A 6.5 130 grain monolithic will out perform the thin jacketed bullets used generally in the 1950's. The 338 bore cartridges are on their way to being obsolete. Get a 30.

The 340 Wby is much harder to handle than the 338 Win. The 338 RUM , Edge, and Lapua are even worse. You will need a heavy rifle and a muzzle break. They are great for shooting at hardened targets in combat but silly for hunting.

The 338 RUM,338-378,338 edge,338 Lapua,340 weatherby are all excellent hunting rounds. I shoot 300 gr SMK's and Bergers. If I where to recommend one I would go 338 RUM, fairly heavy rifle and brakes work excellent.My 338-378 with a brake, shooting 300 gr bullets is very nice to shoot.338 rum,338 edge, and 338 Lapua are all very close . 338-378 will go faster with heavy bullets than those 3.The big advantage to the big .338's is long range performance.They are a Long Long way from becoming Obsolete!! That is just plain silly....

You make no mention of the win mag. Where does it fall along with the rum

My elk/bear rifle is the 338 RUM, it is my long range rifle. I get 3025 fps with 225 gr. Accubonds, with 1/2"MOA at 100yds. I opted for no muzzle brake, recoil is still manageable.

It burns about 25% less powder IIRC

Pick a target weight for your rifle and move forward....

W

I would say the RUM would be the ceiling for comfort of recoil in a hunting rifle by many and most....

Tolerable is a relative term.....

W

I've had a 338Win for many years and it's been my go to rifle for mule deer and elk. A few years back, I bought a leupold scope at an auction that had a 338RUM attached to it. The guy said he had two boxes of ammo less 3 rounds that he'd give me. Said it was more gun than he could handle. I took it out and even though the stats say it has a ton more recoil I couldn't tell much difference but I'm sure it's there. Where the RUM has some advantage over my Win besides the obvious is the RUM has a 26 in. barrel and the Win has a 21.5" barrel.

You gonna be huntin' paper or game animals?

Gunner

In the field the 338 is all needed. I have shot one since before monoliths were introduced, and you can drop the bullet weight and increase the velocity if desired. The win mag is pleasant to shoot and is an effective large game round. I have no experience with the heavy 338 rounds, but do not believe them neccesary for most bush hunting.

It's going to be the big game hunting rifle. I took some heat a month ago on this forum asking 300 vs 338 and the majority said I'm crazy to get a mag. Just get a 270 or 30-06 and master it and that's all you'll ever need. But I want a large magnum so win mag or rum? I'll build a paper puncher and varmint rifle next. Probably a 308. All being said the mag won't be used often as we don't have anything but white tail and some black bear here and my local hunting is shotgun only. But I'll get it out to hammer targets any chance I get for practice and confidence in myself and the rifle.

There has been a few awesome videos posted here of long range kills with "smaller" rifles. The girl and the elk was impressive!

Cost per "Bang" also goes up exponentially


W

A good 338 Win Mag, firing the 250 gn Nosler Accu-bond at around 2700 fps, will take care of all Your NA hunting needs. and you can stretch it out a little by zeroing +2 @100 yds, will hit zero at 200, and be around 8" low at 300, and roughly triple that at 400, or -24" low.
Then its shoot, shoot, and then shoot some more, have fun, be safe, and good luck.

Oh and, there alot worse powders out there than H-4350 for the 338 WM.

Gunner

Get a .338 Win Mag and go pound some critters! RUM and Lapua are for ultra long range. The .338 Win is a fantastic round and isn't that bad in the recoil department with bullets from 185-225 grains. For some reason, most on this forum think the .338 is overkill for everything and we should all be hunting the world over with some improved version in .25 or 6.5 caliber using target bullets or an '06 with PT's.

Realistically what is the effective range on a win mag vs a rum? I understand the skill and practice needed in long range hunting and that is not my primary goal in what I buy. Just asking for information sake.

Farther than most anyone can shoot off a bench in dead calm conditions

Seriously


W

The additional 300 fps may get you around 200 yds max. PBR, assuming the optics and skill is there.

Gunner

Not sure there is a real answer for that... If you comparing the same rifle with same accuracy on the same day your past 1k before you start splitting hairs... IMO

I still like the RUM though


W

Its sure a dang far piece out there woofer

Gunner