Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 Win Mag

I picked up a as new Sako 338 Win Mag on GB a few weeks ago for a song. This gun is a AV, long action Stoeger Import which were only made between 1978 and 1982. The only difference between the AV5 and the older L61R is a streamlined shroud and was the last of the hand fitted guns that Sako ever built. I plan to use it as a Whitetail, Muley/Elk crossover so I zeroed it for both 180 grain Noslers for deer and 225's for Elk. It's a beautiful rifle to boot. Top target 225 Hornadys est MV 2850, bottom target 180 gr Nosler BT chronied at 3081'/sec, both 100 yards. Regards, Rick.

Very nice. I think that will work just fine. Looks like you can handle the recoil. Great shooting!!

I was happy until you made a 338 a 300.

If you have not guest Iam.. Very nice rifle!

I love it...that is a nice rig. I myself purchased my 1st sako about 20months ago and used it last week on elk. It is an AIII stoeger import in...338 WM, and looks identical to yours. I also used the 225grns. It was a great rifle to carry all over the mountains and shoots better groups than I can hold. I'm sure you will love yours...and I'm guessing this is not your 1st sako...

Nice find! The 225 Swift A-Frame has been my go-to bullet for the .338 WM in my '03 custom with a Douglas barrel. It has worked very well on every elk that I have shot with it. I have been shooting the 210 TTSX in my No. 1-S. It groups well but I have not had occasion to kill anything with it.

Too many bullets and too little time...

Question for those who have used the Nosler 225s for deer... they are not too strongly constructed, are they? They'll still open up on smallish Muleys, right?

Sweet rifle, man. I wish I could afford to become a Sako slut!

Once you go Sako, you never go back.

I'd rather own just one Sako than two of anything else. But that's just me. I have never owned a rifle as accurate and as reliable as my Sako Classic.

I think you are really going to like it. Those Sakos shoot like a house on fire. Mine is extremely accurate with anything. It's a 375 H&H.

It depends on what bullet you're using. Nosler quit making the Ballistic Tip in the 338 some years ago. I found out about it and ordered 200 180 gr for deer. If you are shooting the Partition or the Accubond you won't recover it! If you like big wound channels and dead deer you will like them. Regards, Rick.

I bought a new Sako Finnbear .338WM in 1969. I put a 3x Leopold on it and loved it. Back then, it was Bob Peterson's favorite caliber and he used it a lot in Africa.

I play with 200's in mine and use the 210 NP for hunting.

Jayco

I'm running the 200gr BT at 2,850fps in my 22" .338WM this year. It's likely a bit much for deer, but I've always wanted to try out a .338 and these medium-duty loads aren't too terrible in the recoil department. They are also quite accurate and track well with my Boone and Crockett reticle.

I just run 250's. When I want to drop down to 180's and 200's I go to my 300 mags.....That may just be me but........

My AIII is not marked finnbear, but I believe it is still considered one...correct? I have never seen an AIII marked Finnnbear, that must be rare. Mine has 1 recoil lug. Did they make them with 2? My S/N is 534834...I'm guessing late in production. It had a number of dings, etc on it when I bought it; which was exactly as I wanted so I could hunt it hard and not worry about it.

I actually bought a 2nd sako, a M85 in grey wolf, '06 that I am considering using for whitetail in a few weeks. I'm not quite a sako nut, but am impressed and will certainly be looking for them in the future.

My AIII is not marked finnbear, but I believe it is still considered one...correct? I have never seen an AIII marked Finnnbear, that must be rare. Mine has 1 recoil lug. Did they make them with 2? My S/N is 534834...I'm guessing late in production. It had a number of dings, etc on it when I bought it; which was exactly as I wanted so I could hunt it hard and not worry about it. [/quote]

When Stoeger took over from Garcia in 1978, the AIII was marked Finnbear and they had only one lug. At some point in time, the Finnbear was dropped, the 2d lug added, checkering modified and then the shroud was streamlined. At this point they were re-designated the AV around 1980. Info on the Stoeger era guns is sketchy, however, they all are beautiful rifles with high grade Walnut. Regards, Rick.

JPro, I ran 2002910 in my 338-06, those BTs run very flat and hit deer HARD.

I loaed 225 PT as my 'Elk' load. It and the 225 Barnes would be my BIG game bullet of choice, but as Mudhen said, too many bullets....they all work when placed.

Nice rifle OP. Enjoy and good hunting folks.