Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 Win Mag Barrel Length

My current .338 WM started out with a 24" barrel; when it was rebarreled it got a 26" barrel. The 26" is too long for my tastes (like a 30" barrel on a pump shotgun to me). The only reason I haven't had it cut back to 24" is that it is shooting so good like it is, but the trim job is coming.

I've had four with 22" tubes and 23" is as long as I'd go.

I've got a 22 inch tube on mine. Loaded up some 210 TSX with IMR 4064. Kinda of just picked a max load and went for it as I needed a hunting load relatively quick. Shot about 10 and they grouped well so loaded the rest of the box. Chrongraphed them a year later and 4 shots averaged 3006 fps. I was surprised but there are no pressure signs. The point is you won't loose anything with a 22 inch tube in 338Win.

The only .338 I've had wore a 24-in. barrel, but it seems I recall all or some of the Atcheson guiding clan prefer to cut their .338s to 20-in. for the sake of handiness.

Didn't Sako chamber that caliber and .375 in 20- or 18-in. bbls?

Here's a wild thought, take two .338s with you: a 26-in. .340 Roy for shooting long ways, and a BAR .338WM cut back to 20-in. to take into the thick stuff at mid-day.

Mine is 26". I'm leaning towards a bob to 23"-24". Mine is such a shooter that I've been loathe to mess wit it. It'd be just my luck that all the mojo in my barrel lives in the last few inches.

Jeff, I've cut a lot of barrels and never found it to reduce accuracy, and will sometimes improve accuracy.


I'd cut it to 23" and not look back...

Thanks for all the comments.

I had my SSM70 338 cut down from 26 in to 23 in for a muzzle brake. Twenty three inchesa may be the best compromise for handy without much blast, etc.

I don't use the brake, way too noisy.

I like the 23 in but would prefer a 22 in. May get that done yet.

The 3in appear to have cost me around 50 fps depending on the load.

For me, the whole point of the 338 WM over the 300 WM is that the 338 runs so efficiently in a 22" bbl (or 23" if a guy is into odd numbers - grin).

Sure the 300 WM can run in a 22" tube, but it really needs 24" or more to be at its best IMO. Definitely not the case with the 338 WM and I'd no hesitate to go as short as 21".

Old topic, sorry. How is the muzzle blast on the 22" and 23" barrels? Mine currently wears a 24" barrel with a brake. Looking to remove the brake and lose a little length..

............JRaw,,,,,,,,,,,,Depends on what your definition of "ideal" is pertaining to barrel length. If your only criteria is the best velocities then you go with the 24" or 26" barrel length.

On the other side of things, if you are going to be hunting in the thicker terrains where shorter killing shots mostly occur, then if it were me for easier carrying and manuvering, I`d be thinking along the lines of a 20"-21"er, which will give you about a 40"-41" rifle OAL. Any velocity losses vs the 24s or the 26 inch barrels won`t matter.

My 40.5" OAL 375 Ruger Alaskan (20" barrel) as an example, is a great handler and an ideal rifle OAL when in the thicker terrains.

Imo, the ideal barrel length should be more determined by your individual hunting situations.

...........No schit! Just looked at the damn date of the the original post. ....3 years old!

bglimpse,,,,,,,I don`t get any muzzle blast from my 20" 375 Ruger Alaskan. In fact, when I`ve fired my friend`s 23" 375 Ruger African during the same range session and same ammo, there was (to my ears with muffs on) absolutely no difference.

So imo, there should be very little difference if any at all with noise and blast between a 22"-23" barreled 338 WM vs a 24" barreled one.

I run a 22" on mine, and didn't really any more significant blast that when it was 24". I would think that if you are trashing the brake, then felt blast may even be reduced.
A lot of the comments seem to be around velocity loss as well. If you roll your own, then you can step on the gas a bit to make up for any percieved loss.
I like the length, as the rilfe handles well in all types of situations. I have certainly never felt the need for a longer barrel on the hunting rifle.

R.

I did end up shortening mine, to 23". I like it! An injury has kept me from shooting that rifle much, but when I have, the muzzle blast hasn't seemed excessive.

Sure handles nicer now than it did at 26".

Mine's 24" and I have no problem with it. Just shot it sunday too and it's still doing great!!! 5 shot sub moa groups...

Chicks dig a 22"

R.

Can't wait to get mine rolling again. It was my main 600-yard steel whacker for a while there. I think I'll be able to shoot it this spring without it setting me back!

I did carry it for elk season and, of course, checked it out to 450 yards prior. I just love how those 225 Accubonds sound hitting steel.

22" is the only way to fly on a 338 winny

After 3yrs later, I rebarreled mine the same, @24", but I could still do 23. I just like the balance as is.

Jeff, I hope you heal up good as new my friend!!! My 338 whacks the chit out of stuff too. Sure does put the elk down on the ground as well . Mine doesn't do to bad for a ruger m77 mkII: