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Hunting & Fishing Who here hunts with a 338WM?

R

redneckbmxer24

Four Star General
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Jan 15, 2005
    12,137
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    Gulf Coast, FL
    I’m thinking hard about a Sako in 338 Win Mag as an all around hunter for where my 6mm’s leave off. 6mm to 338 is a big jump in bullet mass but would really only be for bigger stuff since I have no real interest in whitetail hunting anymore. The 6mm’s do fine for that anyway and the 338 could be loaded with lighter bullets like the 160gr Barnes TTSX too.

    Looking at the data for a Barnes 250gr LRX (.602 G1 BC) which should be able to be driven 2600-2700fps it almost mirrors my 6.5x47L with 140 Hybrids for drop and drift which would be convenient for dope on the fly, just with a shit ton of energy compared to the 6.5. Shots would never be taken beyond 600 yards.

    So to those that use it or have used it, any reason why I shouldn’t go this route? The only downside I can imagine is recoil but model I’d go with weighs 8.1lbs bare so it’d probably be a 10lbs gun with optic and loaded.
     
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    used to when I lived in alaska. 338WM is a fine round especially when bigger game is on the menu. I ran a stout load with 250gr hornady interlocks. that load accounted for a few caribou and couple nice brown bears. I ran it with the barnes 185? TTSX for a while before I sold it. the recoil was night and day different than with the 250gr load. this was a light tikka t3, probably 8.5lbs loaded down. My 338 was easy to laod for and I had very acceptable accuracy out of most loads I tried in it. Leaned the most of RL22 and 7828ssc, but there are better powders now.
     
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    For about 30 years and still would if I could handle the recoil. I prefer 250gr Partitions what I believe are made for the 338. The 338 is just about the optimum caliber for performance and wound channel especially on mid / large size game if you can handle the recoil and carry weight.

    Any reason why you shouldn't go that route? weight and recoil. A little heavy to tote all day in the mountains and Gucci it out light weight to tote it all day and recoil becomes quite harsh. I never had a brake, bought mine back 1979 when brakes were not that common and I never wanted to spend the nuggets.
     
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    Been filling the freezer with mine for the last 8 years or so shooting 210TTSX. Certainly not necessary, but it sure works and I really like the rifle. I’ve got other options, but it sure gets the job done. If I could pick a round for everything up here it would probably be a 300wsm, or WM. However, I shoot a 30-06 a lot and this shares the same powders so it’s less to keep around. A 300 WSM would do the same, but I’ve already got the other two.

    Where are you headed for moose and Bou?
     
    Last edited:
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    B2F09A4A-3A76-461F-816E-1BFDEB6C2037.jpeg
     
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    Hello, I hunt with my .338 win. I actually have 3 of them. My favorite is my Sako m995 (trgs-s) And all 3 shot softer then my .300 win mag. It’s more of a push then a punch like the .300win. I used everything from 165gr-300gr. My favoret is the 230gr eld-x. Got my cow elk in MT at 890yards, dropped at the spot. 230gr eld-x, 71.5gr H4350 is pushing the bullet at 2920fps.
     
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    I have a .338 I like it except it makes a lot of noise and it does like to come back at me a bit.... it has killed every elk I have pointed it at, BUT it has not killed near as many elk as my old .300 H&H which is much pleasanter to shoot any day of the week! I normally use just a plain and simple old time real Winchester silvertip in 150grns, but my supply is dwindling so I will eventually have to stop with that load!
    But to answer your question the about fusion .225 will it kill an elk??? yes......... will it kill it any deader than a hit from a 30-06????? NO!!!!!
     
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    I have a Pre 64 in 338 Win mag, but it is just to pretty to beat up in the brush. Probably would only hunt with it if I ever draw a moose tag. Otherwise my Rem 700 in 7mm mag delivers the right medicine for all the other critters I hunt with.
     
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    I have a "safe queen" 338 Win Mag,...though it's too long for my safe --- Custom made by a Baltimore City, Maryland gunsmith, with a scoped FN Belgian Mauser receiver and a Douglas barrel.

    I bought it used about 5 years ago, and I've only fired it at the range.
     
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    Go for it, mine is a GAP m70 with a Bartlein 24”-#4 fluted with a Vais break, Manners MSC-T. Shooting Barnes 225TTSX. It’s the top rifle, bottom is a 6.5 SAUM. This pasts seasons moose, DRT . 704005070400527040053
     
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    71.5 gr of H4350, I have found that all Barnes in all calibers like to have the top of the brass somewhere in the middle of the top groove, closest to the tip. This is a hot load, in current reloading manuals, not older ones, use with caution. Without looking in my notes, iirc it’s 2850fps out of a 24” bartlein. Animals look like God, jerked the earth out from under them, they fall so fast.
     
    VDVSNIPER said:
    Hello, I hunt with my .338 win. I actually have 3 of them. My favorite is my Sako m995 (trgs-s) And all 3 shot softer then my .300 win mag. It’s more of a push then a punch like the .300win. I used everything from 165gr-300gr. My favoret is the 230gr eld-x. Got my cow elk in MT at 890yards, dropped at the spot. 230gr eld-x, 71.5gr H4350 is pushing the bullet at 2920fps.
    Click to expand...

    Have you shot any decent sized critters with the 230 eldx at close range. Just picked up a box and am going to try them out. I’m figuring they’ll just come apart like others have posted, but I still wanted to give them a whirl.
     
    rope said:
    71.5 gr of H4350, I have found that all Barnes in all calibers like to have the top of the brass somewhere in the middle of the top groove, closest to the tip. This is a hot load, in current reloading manuals, not older ones, use with caution. Without looking in my notes, iirc it’s 2850fps out of a 24” bartlein. Animals look like God, jerked the earth out from under them, they fall so fast.
    Click to expand...

    My Sako fires the best also at 71.5gr of H4350, I got sticky bolt close to 74gr. At 71.5gr H4350 I was getting 2920fps out of a 24” barrel.
     
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    ykrvak said:
    Have you shot any decent sized critters with the 230 eldx at close range. Just picked up a box and am going to try them out. I’m figuring they’ll just come apart like others have posted, but I still wanted to give them a whirl.
    Click to expand...

    I have only shot elk with the eldx as of now. One was at 890 yards and it stoped under the hide on the other side, I think I got around around 70% of the bullet, and another was hit around 600 yards, that we only recovered about 60% of the bullet. What I noticed is they don’t expand and keep a form like nosler accubonds that I used to shoot.
     
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    VDVSNIPER said:
    My Sako fires the best also at 71.5gr of H4350, I got sticky bolt close to 74gr. At 71.5gr H4350 I was getting 2920fps out of a 24” barrel.
    Click to expand...
    It's fine in mine, however some of the manuals say otherwise. I don't have my notes in front of me, sticky bole @74ish sound about what mine was, also. I only have in the 80's of rounds down the tube. All my other Bartleins did not hit full speed until the 200ish round count, they normally speed up 100-150fps rule of thumb average. And not knowing the condition of firearm, when someone ask for a load, I- (CYA) I would rather them work up to my load and be safe in their firearm. Then to say I followed what you did and blew my gun up.
     
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    I love 338 for elk. Busted a bunch with the rem LW Mountain rifle 210 barnes X

    Now I use 338L mostly or 300N but again...long heavies - I like the ability to plough through a quartering shot and still destroy vitals. Has worked for me many an elk.

    That being said a .300 win mag will do everything needed as well, I killed a fair number with 200 accubonds.

    As far as recoil is concerned I never notice it when busting a critter.
     
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    Bumping this thread up as I am also curious about the 250 Barnes LRX bullet.
    Does anyone have experience with this bullet from the Win Mag case?
     
    I’ve killed caribou and moose with .338WM. The only animal I didn’t get complete pass through was on a moose that I spined. Pulverized the vertebrae and stopped just under the hide. Was shoot 225gr Accubond CT. Weighed 210gr after. I carry it with black bear as well. I use my 375HH for brownies. Of note, the heavier slow moving bullets work great on smaller game like deer. Less meat loss from the hydrostatic shock. 338 and 375 recoil is easier to tolerate than a 300wm without a brake or can to me. Pay attention to the min velocity for the different bullets to maintain reliable expansion. I can lob a bullet farther than it will be able to perform well.
     
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