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Author Topic: 338 Winchester Magnum  (Read 5251 times)

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Offline dannyfro

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338 Winchester Magnum
« on: December 02, 2011, 12:51:06 PM »
I was wondering what your thoughts were on the round and what experiences you've had with it. I've been interested just never took the leap. I should have a few years ago when I saw an ad for a brand new Howa 1500 in 338 Winchester Magnum for $300. I have regretted it ever since. Am I missing out guys or am I just reading to much into it? Thanks for your help.

Dan
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Offline bulletstuffer

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2011, 01:14:13 PM »
I think it's an awesome round.  160-275 grain bullets for anything that walks in Ameriaca and beyond ;D   Shoot cast bullets and it's a fun plinker gun ;D
 
What's not to like!
 
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2011, 03:00:11 PM »
Whats been your experience on game? I am sure it was lethal but just curious as far as ranges and terminal performance. Thanks for your reply.

Dan
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Offline sidewinder319

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2011, 03:48:24 PM »
I shoot the 250 gr. bullets for hunting.  It is a lighting strike killer on Moose, Elk and Brown bear. I have made kills in "Dog Hair Aspen" as close as 25 yards.  I shot a Bull Elk at 450 yards.  The big slug does not blow up the meat like a 7 MM Remington. You can eat right up to the bullet hole.  As mentioned I shoot cast Lee 220 Linotype Gas Check for off season. It is all so  a great round for shooting iron at 1,000 yds, ;D
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2011, 05:04:46 PM »
I like mine. 
I shoot the Rem 225 grain soft points
The recoil on my Model 70 is not much more than a 30-06 with a 180 grain bullet.  A month ago we were at one of hte local rifle ranges and the guy next to me wanted to shoot my 338 and was suprised at the recoil.  He expected it to be like the 375H&H and was impressed.
Grab a ballistic chart.  It flies almost as flat as 7mm Rem mag and hits 1.5X as hard.
I have mine sighted in for 200 yards and off the bench taking the tops off of a 2L soda bottle is not hard.
So far mine has been Elk hunting twice, and blooded on a Hog hunt .
Hit the pig on the hing of hte Jaw at 200 yards he jumped up and took off running.  2nd shot was 12 feet behind him at 250 yards and the 3rd round was right in the boiler room at almost 300 yards.
With the boar hangin there was very little meat damage.  Pinky sized entrance hole and about a dime sized exit.  No jelly meat around either. Turned both lungs into goo and took the top half of the  hart off.  He took three more step as he was in full out sprint and crumpled and rolled down the hill.
I don't think you can go wrong with one.
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Offline streak

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2011, 05:05:11 PM »
When my oldest son moved to Alaska I bought him a .338 Win Mag Mod 77 Ruger, He has been a killing machine with it! Moose, Caribou, and deer, although now uses a .270 Win for deer and goats!! Has made some extra long shots on caribou with the .338.
 A very versatile round with handloads!! Also a very confronting round to be carrying in brown bear country!!
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2011, 05:56:01 PM »
Sounds like I couldn't go wrong with one. I've been contemplating one forever. I always end up talking myself out of it cause I have a 300 RUM and I always ended up convincing myself that whatever I could kill with a 338 Win Mag I could kill just as dead with the 300 RUM but I like the thought of being able to use heavier bullets. Thanks for all your insight its been very helpful.

Dan
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Offline tobster

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2011, 04:32:59 AM »
I'm glad I'm not the only one who is haunted by the one "I should have bought" many years after the fact!
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Offline bulletstuffer

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2011, 12:41:06 PM »
The 160 grain barnes x are awesome on deer!  I also shot a button buck and a couple of does with the 250 grain sierra game kings.  Great groups at 400 yards with that bullet too ;D   Have not had a chance to shoot anything big or bad with it yet but you never know what the future holds ;)
 
Good luck,
 
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2011, 05:14:24 PM »
Never hurts to have enough gun when chasing after the wild and wooly.

Dan
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Offline webbspinner

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2011, 02:29:45 PM »
I just made the "plunge" this year, loaded the 225 hornady sst and 225 hornady spire point.  Accuracy and shootability is very good. (Love that Thing ;D ) but so far have only shot 2 coyotes, the guys nicknamed it the hammer :)   devastating results, windsocked both.  one head on and one broadside.  Never even twitched. 
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2011, 06:59:17 PM »
Any coyote that would have gotten up after being hit like that is where you just need to turn and run! Glad to hear of your positive results.


Dan
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2011, 02:14:02 AM »
where are you finding new howas for 300 bucks?
Quote from: dannyfro on December 02, 2011, 12:51:06 PM
I was wondering what your thoughts were on the round and what experiences you've had with it. I've been interested just never took the leap. I should have a few years ago when I saw an ad for a brand new Howa 1500 in 338 Winchester Magnum for $300. I have regretted it ever since. Am I missing out guys or am I just reading to much into it? Thanks for your help.

Dan
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Offline RevJim

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #13 on: December 24, 2011, 02:41:56 AM »
 I've used them years past; 338 winmag, .340 Weatherby, .338 RUM. All with Barnes 185 XLC to 210 XBT (this was pre TSX) and killed elk/Aoudad sheep around 250 with 185XLC and 180 Accubond with the 338 win/RUM. I've killed plains game with 210XBT from both a 338 winmag and .340W out to 375 or so. All killers. I can highly recommend it.
  I never tried the 160 X but I would if I still had a 338. I use a .35 Whelen Ackley Improved in place of any 300 mag or 338 mag. I can do this as I use the Banres 200X or TTSX going 2950 from my rifle, plus, it's an old friend, and very jealous rifle-it "demands" to go hunting all the time! ha. A 300 RUM is awesome, lots more range than a 338, add a 338 mag to it and you have a perfect combo for world class hunting. I highly recommend Barnes TSX/Partitions & Accubonds/Hornady/Sierra bullets, in that order. Good luck to you. Merry Christmas.
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #14 on: December 24, 2011, 09:29:21 AM »
Lloyd I found them a few years ago at a Fishermans Marine in Portland Oregon they had a sale on the blued synthetic 1500s and I was tempted as they listed the 338 Win Mag but couldnt get my old man to swing in there and swoop one up.....thought riding with him to the gun show entailed all gun related stops...I was wrong that day. Jim I have a Remington 700 300 RUM and its a shooter. It wasn't really a matter of need more than a matter of want.


Dan
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Offline RevJim

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #15 on: December 25, 2011, 02:45:05 AM »
 Yep, I put food, shelter, clothing, medecine in the "need" category, everything else is in the "want" column, ha. Merry Christmas guys. PS  Get that 338, you will love it!
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #16 on: December 25, 2011, 07:32:54 AM »
Merry Christmas fellas!


Dan
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Offline webbspinner

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #17 on: December 26, 2011, 08:31:48 AM »
It was definitely a want not a need for me, but I am extremely happy that I finally made the plunge.
I topped mine with an elite 3x9 and think I have found a favorite go to rifle, and the accuracy is phenomenal, it's the older tang safety ruger and got it for 400 w/o scope, been well loved but functions like a dream.  Gotta say love the rainguard hd coating on the scope, works very well and for western washington it is a good fit.  Might be a bit much for these little blacktail but really like the gun.   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. 
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Offline streak

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #18 on: December 26, 2011, 09:10:01 AM »
Quote from: webbspinner on December 26, 2011, 08:31:48 AM
It was definitely a want not a need for me, but I am extremely happy that I finally made the plunge.
I topped mine with an elite 3x9 and think I have found a favorite go to rifle, and the accuracy is phenomenal, it's the older tang safety ruger and got it for 400 w/o scope, been well loved but functions like a dream.  Gotta say love the rainguard hd coating on the scope, works very well and for western washington it is a good fit.  Might be a bit much for these little blacktail but really like the gun.   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Yeah webbspinner!If you reload you can customize loads for those little blacktails!!
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #19 on: December 26, 2011, 11:25:44 AM »
Those little blacktails can be mighty tough at times. Good eating though I know I have no complaints about it.

Dan
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Offline webbspinner

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #20 on: December 26, 2011, 01:53:32 PM »
I am currently running IMR 4831 cause I had it on hand, would love to have any load recipes on both ends of the spectrum, I know when my boy was younger I downloaded his 06 to slightly more than 30-30 range.  Worked real well, pretty much hit mostly same as his full loads at close ranges, under 100 yds.  I have a couple other rifles  ;D to use but really like the rifle combo the 338 offers
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Offline RevJim

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #21 on: December 27, 2011, 04:08:02 AM »
 Somewhere around 74gr of Varget with the Barnes 160; H4350 with 67 to 69gr and the Barnes 210 TTSX; 66-67 gr H4350 with he 250gr Nosler PT or Hornady sp...all work well. I killed most of my game with either the Barnes 185 XLC and 68gr H4350 or the Barnes 210 XBT and a tad less powder. I found that a lighter weight gave me better velocites/range yet the bullet diameter was still a factor in good killing power. That's what most people miss when they try and compare a medium magnum with say, a 300 magnum. Bullet diameter is significant in wound channels! I used the Barnes 210XBT in a .340 Weahterby with great results, and a Nosler 180 Accubond in a 338 RUM. Its a great caliber, the 338, you can't go "wrong" with it. If I wanted to shoot deer and such with it, either the Barnes 160 going fast or the Nolser 180 Accubond slowed down to 2700 or so would be swell.
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Offline webbspinner

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #22 on: December 27, 2011, 02:39:57 PM »
I'm running 70 gr. IMR 4831 with the 225 gr Hornady (SST and spire) book shows max load and 2800 fps but haven't chronograph ed it.  No signs of pressure and overlapping groups if I do my part.  I could step it back alittle probably, trying not to push the 225 to fast.
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #23 on: December 27, 2011, 04:29:41 PM »
Those SST's are violent at higher velocities make a hole in a deer you could sleep in.

Dan
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Offline webbspinner

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #24 on: December 27, 2011, 09:30:27 PM »
What is a good velocity to keep them under?  I figured 2800 was good if I kept it in the chest, mainly wanted it for elk and bear.  Went from brisket to stern on a yote, pretty much emptied him right then and there  :o   little messy, but don't think he suffered.
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #25 on: December 27, 2011, 10:07:52 PM »
If it works for you then I wouldn't worry much but it just seemed to me that it wasted a bit of meat but dead elk is better than no elk.

Dan
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Offline webbspinner

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #26 on: December 28, 2011, 01:49:17 PM »
I think my next loads for it will be Accubonds in the same weight.
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Offline dannyfro

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #27 on: December 28, 2011, 02:04:02 PM »
The Accubonds seem to hold up really well across a broad range of velocities.

Dan
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Offline nomosendero

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #28 on: January 24, 2012, 04:28:08 PM »
Indeed
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Offline yooper77

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Re: 338 Winchester Magnum
« Reply #29 on: January 24, 2012, 05:02:05 PM »
I always wanted a 338 caliber rifle, but not a magnum.
 
I now have two 338-06 A-Square's, the Weatherby Mark V Ultralightweight and T/C Encore.
 
I currently use IMR-4320 with Winchester/Nosler 200 grain Combined Technology Silver Tip Ballistic Tip for deer. I have bullets ranging from 180 to 250 grain to try if only I had the time.
 
Being able to use 30-06 Springfield brass is such a savings.
 
yooper77
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