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Author Topic: 300 win or 338 win  (Read 1164 times)

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Offline NitroSteel

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300 win or 338 win
« on: July 25, 2009, 02:35:07 PM »
How much worse does a 338 recoil than a 300 in a similar rifle?  I am comfortable (if that is an appropriate word) with the recoil of the 300, but have never shot a 338 win.  I BELIEVE I'd rather go with a 338, but I'm just not sure what's going to happen with the recoil.

Thank you for any advice.

NitroSteel
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Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2009, 04:02:27 PM »
 :D Nitro, I have shot 300's since the early 1970's. As for recoil, they kick, but I have never had a problem with them. I have used 3 or 4 .338's. To me their recoil is more noticable. I can still handle it, but for the kicking I was taking, it didn't seem worth the effort. ??? I also rebarreled a 700 to .375. It with the .300 make an excellent pair of rifles for all hunting, but varmits. To me the .375 has less punch in recoil than the .338. Also to get good speed out of the .338, I had to load it very heavy, the recoil was even worse. Several years ago, I got a .340 on a 700 action.(Long story.) I like it better than the .338, but if I were down sizing, I know the 33's would go long before the .300's.  ;D I like fooling with rifles, but unless you are going to be doing a lot of hunting in very heavy brush country like Alaska, I find the .300 a better all around caliber than the .33's. I have used the 300's on about 35 elk. The 33's on 3. I don't see them as better elk killers than the 300's. One of the writers I respect, said if he needs more caliber than a 30 he would go directly to the .375's. I feel that makes good sense. ;)
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Offline jasonprox700

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2009, 04:03:12 PM »
If you were to have the 338 in the same rifle as the 300, you would notice a little more recoil due to the larger bullet weight.  

That being said, if I were choosing a rifle for elk or moose, it would be the .338.  It has similar ballistics to the 300, plus you have the option to shoot anything from 185 grain bullet all the way up to a 300 grain!
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Offline lucky guy

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2009, 09:02:07 AM »
Well, I'm gonna tell what a few of us found for what it's worth.  Five of us spent an afternoon with 2 300WM's and a 338.  To a person the 338 was more comfortable to shoot.  Not necessarily less overall energy in the recoil, just that the 300 felt to us like a very sharp fast kick, the 338 a little more like a longer push. 

Just saying, might shoot both in different brands of rifle if you can to see how it feels for you.  You might find the same thing if the 338 is what you really want to shoot.
 
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2009, 10:20:16 AM »
  In the exact same gun ect..., they have about the same felt recoil, AS LONG AS the same weight bullets are used.  BUT, you have to shoot much heavier bullets in the .338 to get the added performance it can give, and when you do, the recoil of the .338 goes up!

  DM
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Offline jro45

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2009, 09:12:07 AM »
I shoot any new rifle with alot of persure until I know how much recoil it has. Like my Lott I used a sand bag on the bench but standing I just held it firm. Both ways didn't hurt.
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Offline PA-Joe

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2009, 10:10:19 AM »
Go 338 Federal!
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Offline yooper77

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2009, 10:41:23 AM »
I would go 338-06.  Licks the heels of a 338 Winchester Magnum's velocity and energy with re-sized 30-06 Springfield brass.  Plus I don’t have to mess with belted cases.

yooper77
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2009, 11:33:56 AM »
  How can anyone recomend a cartridge, BEFORE they even know what the gun will be used for???

  DM
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Offline yooper77

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2009, 05:54:27 PM »
Quote from: Drilling Man on July 27, 2009, 11:33:56 AM
  How can anyone recomend a cartridge, BEFORE they even know what the gun will be used for???

  DM

Never gave it a thought, I like what I like.

yooper77
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Offline Dand

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2009, 08:12:59 PM »
Back about 1981 I decided to have a gun built. I agonized for 3 months on 30-06, 300 win, 308 Norma, or 338 win. I was living on the Alaska Peninsula at the time and decided the  30-06 was a little light with the brown bears around and I have trouble estimating ranges over 150ys so dropped the '06.  The 308 Norma was really appealing but cases and ammo very hard to come by. So that left the 338 and 300 win mag. While the 338 was better for bears ( I don't really hunt  them but did plan to carry the rifle for defense). But most of my hunting was for caribou and moose and the 338 seemed a little much. So I got the 300 win mag.  I've been happy with it and it has done well for my uses. A few times I was wishing for a much fatter bullet when a bear was around but never needed it in the end. 300 Win Mag ammo has been very available statewide here in Alaska.  I have shot a couple 338's and the feel is very dependent on the gun. One was a pre 64 Model 70 and I didn't mind shooting it at all, including the old factory 300 gr bullets. But later I shot a Browning Abolt in 338; it was extremely accurate but beat me up with factory Rem 250 gr loads.  Maybe I was softer when I tried the Browning but it made me glad I got the 300 win. Still, the 338 is a mighty fine cartridge and is quite popular here in western Alaska.  If I had planned to go after bear more I'd get the 338.  Now days I think about a 338-06 as a little lighter gun than the 300 win and now that a greater variety of bullets are available. Still hard to beat the versatility and availability of the 300 win mag.
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Offline nomosendero

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2009, 05:15:01 PM »
Quote from: Dand on July 29, 2009, 08:12:59 PM
Back about 1981 I decided to have a gun built. I agonized for 3 months on 30-06, 300 win, 308 Norma, or 338 win. I was living on the Alaska Peninsula at the time and decided the  30-06 was a little light with the brown bears around and I have trouble estimating ranges over 150ys so dropped the '06.  The 308 Norma was really appealing but cases and ammo very hard to come by. So that left the 338 and 300 win mag. While the 338 was better for bears ( I don't really hunt  them but did plan to carry the rifle for defense). But most of my hunting was for caribou and moose and the 338 seemed a little much. So I got the 300 win mag.  I've been happy with it and it has done well for my uses. A few times I was wishing for a much fatter bullet when a bear was around but never needed it in the end. 300 Win Mag ammo has been very available statewide here in Alaska.  I have shot a couple 338's and the feel is very dependent on the gun. One was a pre 64 Model 70 and I didn't mind shooting it at all, including the old factory 300 gr bullets. But later I shot a Browning Abolt in 338; it was extremely accurate but beat me up with factory Rem 250 gr loads.  Maybe I was softer when I tried the Browning but it made me glad I got the 300 win. Still, the 338 is a mighty fine cartridge and is quite popular here in western Alaska.  If I had planned to go after bear more I'd get the 338.  Now days I think about a 338-06 as a little lighter gun than the 300 win and now that a greater variety of bullets are available. Still hard to beat the versatility and availability of the 300 win mag.

Outstanding post, very well thought out.
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Offline KAYR1

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2009, 06:13:26 AM »
For what it's worth, handloading and working up my loads slowly is how I learned to shoot my .338 well. I have not shot any game with it, but like to be familiar with all of my guns.  Unless I crept the stock and gotten scope bite, I've never noticed recoil while shooting at a game animal.
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2009, 06:30:30 AM »
I have a hard time telling the recoil difference between my 30-06 and my 338 Win mag.
I shoot standard Remington 225 grain soft points out of mine.
With 300 win just being a little moore speed over 30-06 i did not see an advantage and went with the 338WM.
Really like mine and first animal was a Ca hog.  First shot was square in the Jaw at around 200 yards.  OOPS
Next was a miss and third was a perfect boiler room hit at 250+ yards.  Almost no meat damage. A little bit of jelly, about the size of a Quarter around the entrance hole and none on the exit.  I really like mine and want another one.
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Offline RaySendero

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Re: 300 win or 338 win
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2009, 01:18:25 PM »
Quote from: NitroSteel on July 25, 2009, 02:35:07 PM
How much worse does a 338 recoil than a 300 in a similar rifle?  I am comfortable (if that is an appropriate word) with the recoil of the 300, but have never shot a 338 win.  I BELIEVE I'd rather go with a 338, but I'm just not sure what's going to happen with the recoil.

Thank you for any advice.

NitroSteel

Here's a comparison all using an 8 1/2 Lb rifle:

300WM, 2950 fps, 180 gr bullet - Recoil Energy 31 ft-lbs, Recoil Velocity 15 fps
300WM, 3100 fps, 180 gr bullet - Recoil Energy 34 ft-lbs, Recoil Velocity 16 fps

338WM, 3120 fps, 180 gr bullet - Recoil Energy 35 ft-lbs, Recoil Velocity 16 fps
338WM, 2800 fps, 225 gr bullet - Recoil Energy 37 ft-lbs, Recoil Velocity 16 fps
338WM, 2950 fps, 225 gr bullet - Recoil Energy 38 ft-lbs, Recoil Velocity 17 fps
338WM, 2660 fps, 250 gr bullet - Recoil Energy 38 ft-lbs, Recoil Velocity 17 fps

Hornady Heavy Magnum Velocity
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