Author Topic: .338 Bullet Weight for Whitetail (Read 2002 times)

HuntingGuy · « **on:** July 20, 2004, 06:02:59 PM »

I bought a Tikka T3 .338 not so long ago, and plan on taking it whitetail hunting this year. It hasn't been shot, just getting the scope on as a matter of fact. Now I am faced with the dilemma.. What sized bullet, and what kind of bullet? I want something that will hit hard with a good entrance/exit wound. What would you do as far as bullet weight, and the type of bullet for whitetail hunting?

Thanks

HuntingGuy

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2004, 08:12:21 PM »

Any bullet you use is more than enough for whitetails. One thing to consider, though, if you use bullets built for much larger game, say the 230 FailSafe, 250 Nosler Partition, 250 grain A-Frame, you will likely get a .338" going in and not much bigger on the exit.

The 200 grain loads, 210 NP, 215 Sierra Game King, and the like will probably give you the performance you are looking for. I've shot quite a few deer with 225 grain, 230 grain FailSafe's, and heavier bullets and the effect wasn't as spectacular as some lighter chamberings. These bullets were meant to be used on Elk, Moose, and Bear, not for game as light and light boned as whitetailed deer.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2004, 08:21:48 PM »

Jack,

Thanks for the advice.. Think I will take it to the bank. I was thinking the same thing as you. With those lighter bullets, I am sure you will get more FPS out of them. Just need to figure out what TYPE of bullet I want now expansion wise..

HuntingGuy

Drilling Man · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2004, 07:27:30 AM »

The .338 is so over gunned for whitetails, that any 200 grain intended for mag velocity will be over kill!!

I've seen hunteds use "too heavy" of a bullet and then cry when the animials runs away, you have to match the bullet to the animial, and in this case 200 grain is the right choise.

Drilling Man

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2004, 11:36:14 AM »

HuntingGuy,

I load nothing but 210 gr. Nosler Partitions. Going to check out the Barnes 185 gr. TSX bullets and see how they work out. They shouldn't ruin too much meat and if they are like the rest of the TSX bullets I have tried they should give excellent accuracy. Lawdog

Arizona Jake · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2004, 01:52:43 PM »

A load that pushes a .338" caliber, 210 grain Barnes "X" bullet at a muzzle velocity around 2900 feet per second will efficiently kill 99% of all living creatures if you place the bullet in the right spot. I've used this bullet /velocity combination to take animals ranging in size from springbok (~40 lbs), a smallish female black bear (~150 lbs) to a zebra stallion (~700 lbs) at distances ranging from 75 to 275 yards. All without excessive meat damage, due, in my humble opinion, to the bullet being of monolithic construction.

Some people might say that you will be "over-gunned". Which brings the following question: Will the critters on the receiving end be "over-dead"?
:cb2:

onesonek · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2004, 02:15:58 PM »

My choice would be a Barnes 185 gr XLC, 2nd 185gr. Barnes TSX, 3rd 210gr. Nosler Partition. which ever shoots the best.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2004, 05:30:17 PM »

how big are those whitetails?I use a 6.5x55 swede with 139 gr bullets and have shot an awful lot of deer with it., plus the odd black bear.I can see a 338 for brown bear,moose or elk but why would you punish yourself with the recoil of a gun that big for deer?[unless of course that's the only gun you have]I dunno, the 6.5 is a sweet little cartridge , low recoil accurate if I hold it straight, and capable of way better shooting than I am

onesonek · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2004, 02:37:10 AM »

While the 338 mag is more than enough gun for the largest whitetail. I certainly see nothing wrong in it's use for such. Any animal can't be too dead!! The 338mag loaded up or down, with proper bullet weight and construction to match intended game, Is still one of the " Best All Around Cartridges" we have .
Dave

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2004, 06:40:14 AM »

nothing wrong with a 338-if you can shoot it without flinching-I am more comfortable with lighter calibre rifles with low recoil-which is probably why I shoot my 22 way better than bigger rifles.The 6.5x55 swede is simply the nicest rifle I have ever shot- and if I do my job[ holding it straight], it does it's job.I wouldn't hesitate to use it on any deer or black bear at ranges up to 200 yards[ my self imposed limit] and have done so with very predictable results- never lost an annimal nor even had one go much further than 50 yards-and often a whole lot less.

hillbilly · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2004, 04:34:46 PM »

i've had great results using Noslers 180gr ballistic tip in my 338 win and have found after a few years and a few deer using this load as well as many deer shot by clients i've found that large bullets moving a good velocity kill very well and seem to ruin less meat, as opposed to medium sized (.284-.308) bullets moving at tremendous speed(3000+fps) as for being over gunned or "overkill" i've found if you can handle the recoil and shoot well/accurately, why not?

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #11 on:** August 15, 2004, 04:02:17 AM »

I think my 65x55 140 gr bullets are about 2600 fps- well under the 3000 fps and I can tell you they seem to be very effective on deer and black bear.Ifyou just read ballistic tables, theywould seem to be mediocre-but offsetting that they have a very high SD,and I wouldn't hesitate to use it on moose or elk if I could take a shot within my self imposed range of sub 200yards[ anything over 75 yards I'm looking around for a rest].

onesonek · « **Reply #12 on:** August 15, 2004, 05:10:27 AM »

Ya but,,, the point is, the HuntingGuy didnt ask about the 6.5x55 now, did he.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #13 on:** August 15, 2004, 11:05:19 AM »

I know- I'm just trying to figure out why anyone would even consider using a 338 for whitetails-unless they are massive northern deer, or that's the only rifle he had

onesonek · « **Reply #14 on:** August 15, 2004, 11:57:51 AM »

Well I have used a 338 on deer before, and I would have to say,,,"why not"
My first rifle was a 30-06 and likely would have served me well for everything I was intending to hunt. But a dozen or so rifles later, I still haven't fulfilled my whims. Alot of this is "just because factor".
I personally prefer .25 cal. and over for deer, but I don't question the next guy's desires, whom uses a .243/6mm cal.
Again, I think the 338Win Mag is a splended round, is it needed for deer, hell no!, is it wrong to use on deer, hell no!, would I shoot another deer with, hell yes!,,,,why not?

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #15 on:** August 15, 2004, 05:36:56 PM »

well, you do have a point and I have sold rifles [haven't we all?] and later wondered why.I have a friend who decided his old 303 wasn't good enough for mule deer anymore and went out and bought a 7mm magnum- figured that would be way more effective- and found out otherwise.He ended up tracking his mule deer a lot further than he would have with his old 303.Hefigured the bullet simply didn't expand and penciled through whereas the larger , slower 303 seemed to dump more energy in the deer.I guess as long as there's smoke from campfires the debate will never end.

bea175 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 16, 2004, 05:18:24 PM »

Noslers 180 or 200 BT is hard to beat in the 338 , instant kills with very little meat loss. I use the 200 BT in my 338 UM on whitetails . You can't kill them to dead. :sniper: