Favorite 338?

[1948CJ2A]

My intentions is to keep this going by moving onto .338 diameter projectiles. What is your favorite 338 rifle cartridge? I'm focusing on bolt and lever rifles mostly used in hunting and target shooting applications. The list of choices in this poll is derived from the Hornady 11th edition reloading manual, which is the latest manual I have currently. Any wildcats or others not listed here can be categorized as "Other 338".

We've already had polls and discussions for 8mm, 7mm, .308 Cal, .25 Cal, 6mm, 6.5mm, .277/6.8mm, & .35 Cal. My thought is to do 1 more of these after this one (possibly .224 cal) then post the results from all the polls into a single future thread.

I don't own any rifles in 338 caliber chamberings! Might have to change that at some point...

 

[1948CJ2A]

Since I like my 35 Whelen so much, I opted for the 338-06 to get my vote. I was mildly interested in a 338 Federal a few years ago but that well seems to have dried up pretty fast. I've always kinda wanted a 340 Weatherby Magnum so that might have my 2nd place vote, if that existed.

 

[someguy2800]

I voted for 338 weatherby rpm, though I have not yet owned one. I just ordered a donor rifle, brass, dies, and a barrel blank to build one. I have had a few 338 win mags and liked them. They are basically ballistic twins so I guess I kinda know what to expect. I an doing the weatherby because the rifle I want to use is not available with a magnum bolt face. I think the weatherby rpm would be an ideal conversion for anyone wanted to convert a 30-06 or 270 up a notch in bullet weight and power without having to mess with the bolt face.

 

[adcoch1]

I had an old tang safety Ruger m77 338wm that was a tack driver and a great elk gun, dang good for smashing bowling pins and rocks with too. I really liked that gun, but after the third stock broke I decided to trade it away for something else. I kinda miss it. But the cartridge I voted for is the Ruger 338 compact magnum. It intrigued me when it released as being just enough and not too much, as a cartridge, and the guns it's offered in. Having a 35 whelen may preclude me ever getting a 338rcm, but they are very interesting to me.

 

[jmr40]

I had a 338/06 for a few years. I sold it and wouldn't buy anything in 338 caliber again. There really isn't enough difference between any of the 33's compared to the 30's with similar case sizes.

But if 338 were the only option, I'd go back to the 338/06. It's really a handload only option, but brass is easily made from 30-06 brass.

 

[rabid wombat]

I own a Ruger No1 in 338 Win. Got a swinging deal on it, but have never fired it (No need). I have always like the 338-06 … so it gets my vote.

 

[hillman23]

I own 2 338 win mags. A Sako AV and a New Haven classic model 70. While I despise the belted case, the cartridge performance is tremendous. Bullets in 338 caliber seem to be designed for win mag performance levels (maybe they are?) as every bullet I’ve shot game with has been outstanding with deep penetration (I have only recovered 1 bullet), no bullet failure/fragmentation, and quick kills (no animal has run further than 30 yards). I don’t have to worry about any short list of bullets I want to run through it because if my rifle likes them, I feel confident they will perform well on game. It is made to kill elk and works good on deer too. That said, if I were shopping for a new 33, I would seriously consider a 33 Nosler in order to get a case designed to headspace on the shoulder and probably never worry about running velocities very far above win mag levels.

 

[gotboostvr]

I'm most interested in 8.6blk, personally.

 

[Mk-211]

.338 Norma

 

[Mercy Me]

338-378 Weatherby Magnum

 

[earlthegoat2]

I usually skip right over 338s but one cartridge is interesting for no other reason than pure novelty and long range fun and that is 338 Lapua.

Inexplicably, it is absent from the list.

 

[1948CJ2A]

I usually skip right over 338s but one cartridge is interesting for no other reason than pure novelty and long range fun and that is 338 Lapua.

Inexplicably, it is absent from the list.

It's on the poll as a choice and was when I first posted the poll yesterday.

 

[lightman]

I don't own a 338 but I voted for the 338 Winchester. The Lapua was a contender.

 

[Litetrigger]

The .338 Win Mag got my vote because it is one of my two favorite big game calibers and has served me well from Alaska to Africa and wild places in between. This .338 was built by David Miller and been the only rifle rifle I've taken on several African hunts, always with handloaded 250 gr Nosler partitions. Miller's drop box bottom metal adds an extra round to the magazine. Despite years of hard knocks from hunting and travel the zero has never changed, no doubt due to the Miller scope mount that is partially built into the action and cradles the scope.

 

[2ndtimer]

I voted .338 Federal because it (and the .338-06) are the only two with readily available brass that can easily be made to work. And I prefer the shorter case,

 

[someguy2800]

The .338 Win Mag got my vote because it is one of my two favorite big game calibers and has served me well from Alaska to Africa and many hunts in between. This .338 was built by David Miller and been the only rifle rifle I've taken on several African hunts, always with handloaded 250 gr Nosler partitions. Miller's drop box bottom metal adds an extra round to the magazine. Despite years of hard knocks from hunting and travel the zero has never changed, no doubt due to the Miller scope mount that is partially built into the action and cradles the scope. View attachment 1193163View attachment 1193164View attachment 1193165View attachment 1193166View attachment 1193168View attachment 1193169

Cape Buffalo with a 338! interesting. That's a pretty unusual caliber choice for buffalo isn't it? I thought most countries had a legal minimum for big 5 of 375 or 9.3x62?

 

[Varminterror]

33 XC, with a tip of the hat to 338 LMI.

 

[JmacD]

I really am not a 338 guy, but it would be either the Lapua or the classic Winchester mag. Though anything on an 06 case is hard to be the wrong answer(to paraphrase whelen). I voted Lapua mag

 

[entropy]

I don't own a .338 caliber rifle but have shot both the .338 Win. Mag. and the 338 Lapua, and I agree with lightman, Win. Mag., with Lapua a close second. Decision based on main use would probably be hunting vs. LRP shooting.

 

[sage5907]

I have two identical 338-06 rifles and they are special to me. I also use 30-06 rifles for hunting and to me the performance of a 338-06 is much like a 30-06 but they have greater knockdown power. Every animal I have taken with them goes down immediately without any followup required. I am always amazed at what happens when I shoot an animal and if a serious hunter doesn't like a 338-06 it's because he either doesn't like his rifle or hasn't found the right load. My rifles are user friendly and will shoot a 180 grain AccuBond 100 fps faster than a 30-06. Any large animal within 300 yards is in extreme danger. My only regret in using a 338-06 is that I wish I could have had one many years ago.

 

[Litetrigger]

Cape Buffalo with a 338! interesting. That's a pretty unusual caliber choice for buffalo isn't it? I thought most countries had a legal minimum for big 5 of 375 or 9.3x62?

I've shot a couple of cape buffalo with the .338 Mag. when not actually hunting bullalo but happened to come across these that were too good to pass up. They both dropped in their tracks faster than I could work rifle's bolt. Normally I carry a .458 Win Mag for buffalo except a couple hunts when I've used .416 Rigby and .416 Hoffman. I've never heard of any minimun caliber regulation being enforced, probably because most hunters bring the appropriate rifles for whatever they are hunting and PH's are usually happy to let them hunt with them or, in some cases, rent them a rifle. The PH's I've hunted with in different countries have been happy with whatever I broght to the party. Speaking of which, here are a couple more of the "Big Five" I've taken with the same .338 Mag.

 

[1948CJ2A]

Actually, I've shot a couple of cape buffalo with the .338 Mag. I wasn't hunting bullalo but happened to come across these that were two good to pass up. They both dropped in their tracks faster than I could work rifle's bolt. I've never heard of any minimun caliber regulation being enforced, probably because most hunters bring the appropriate rifles for whatever they are hunting and PH's are mostly happy to let them hunt with them or, in some cases rent them a rifle. The PH's I've hunted with in different countries have been happy with whatever I broght to the party. Speaking of which, here are a couple more of the "Big Five" I've taken with the same .338 Mag.View attachment 1193340View attachment 1193341

Love those cats! Great pics, great animals, and thanks for sharing!