The 338 Winchester Magnum - An American Classic

[t165]

I cannot not figure out why beartooth is being so defensive over the 338 Winchester Magnum. Was there a recent thread bashing this fine round? If so then direct me to the thread. I would like to read what is wrong with the our most popular .338 cartridge.

I own a Weatherby MKV ClassicMark Rifle chambered in the 340 Weatherby. Fine rifle and cartridge. That rifle is pictured on top.

I also own a Savage 338 Winchester Magnum. Fine rifle and cartridge. Pictured in the middle. Current scope problems is the reason for the absence of one. This is a fine long distance big game round and deserves a scope.

And I own a Remington 700 Chambered in the 257 Weatherby Magnum pictured on the bottom. Again, fine rifle and cartridge.

The Winchester 338 Magnum and 340 Weatherby Magnum are close enough in performance that I doubt anyone can ever tell the difference on game. If you need more gun that a 338 Winchester magnum then you need a bigger caliber...not a 340 Weatherby Magnum. And while both the 340 and 338 would make great deer calibers I'll stick with smaller calibers for that endeavor. Hunting/shooting is suppose to be fun. I advise everyone to pick whichever caliber they like and enjoy shooting.

Now point me to those guys who mocking the 338 Winchester. I could use a good laugh!

 

[Redneck with a 40]

So do you guys enjoy the 35-40 ft lbs of recoil on these things? My .308 only hits me with about 16 ft lbs, that's enough for me.

 

[Offfhand]

There have been some great hunting articles about the 338 WM in Outdoor Life magazine by Jim Carmichael. He hunted with the 338 from Alaskia to Africa and even killed cape buffalo with it. I think Carmichael's rifle was made by David Miller and he always used ammo loaded with 250 grain Nosler Partitions. I'd like to see that rifle, I bet it has some great stories to tell.

 

[ArmedBear]

So do you guys enjoy the 35-40 ft lbs of recoil on these things? My .308 only hits me with about 16 ft lbs, that's enough for me.

Yeah, I'm sure the .50 BMG is a great all-around hunting cartridge, too.

Seriously, the .338 is a great round, but if you aren't at least going after elk-sized game or larger, there are plenty of options that recoil less, cost less, and shoot flatter.

I'd much rather have a .240 or .257 Weatherby for pronghorns or mountain goats, but .338 WinMag for moose if I ever try that. There's no such thing as a cartridge that's ideal for every field application.

That said, since you mentioned some varmints, do they make a .339" V-Max bullet?

That might be fun...

 

[dubbleA]

Nothing against the 338WM but I would place the 7mm RM ahead of it as a "classic" due to it's popularity, rifle availability, ammo and reloading die sales and usefullness, but that's just me.

 

[beartooth]

I do appreciate the comments on this forum to my article. I have hunted in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. I have hunted all kinds of game both none dangerous and dangerous game.

Jim Carmichael has killed more buffalo and DG in general than most anyone alive today. Both sport hunting and in culling operations. I must conclude he knows better than any occasional DG hunter (including me) what it takes to kill DG. His gun of choice for DG is a 458WM..though his statements about "just 1 gun in Africa for all game.." being a 338wm speaks loud enough for anyone but the ones who have not been on these type of hunts or those that ignore field experience as though it does not matter.

If I had to pick up just one rifle to do it all (where legal) it would be the 338Win Mag.

My favorite rifles are the 257Wby, 30-06, 300Wby, 358Win and the 338WM. This is from use in the field for 30 years and these are not mentioned as though all the other great cartridges out there are no fun to use and useful. I have just found these to be highly effective cartridges doing specific jobs very well, with the 30-06 and the 338Win Mag as truly versatile cartridges when on the hunt. Once again, thanks for the comments and allowing me to visit this forum and present my article. Mike Price

 

[ArmedBear]

257Wby, 30-06, 300Wby, 358Win and the 338WM

Great list.

...but look out for those .270/7mm guys...

 

[257WM_CDL-SF]

the 270 is good but I prefer my 257 Wby