• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Hunting & Fishing 338LM for hunting?

7.62_Reaper

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 5, 2012
96
0
35
now im familiar with people hunting using the 338LM on elk or moose but I came across a thread on another forum that shows people hunting for whitetail and mule deer. now i'm sure that these shots were taken at a good distance but still I always thought that something as big as the 388LM would destroy a deer but on this particular thread it seems like a bunch of guys are doing it, they even had a pic of a coyote that they took with a 338LM.

don't you think that using such a large caliber would just destroy too much meat on medium game?
 
Not a lot of meat to ruin on a well-placed double lung shot, especially with a non-expanding bullet. Now, a high shoulder shot could get ugly.
 
We use a 338LM for deer. We use a 300g SMK and it really works wonders on deer. I can not speak to other bullets besides the 200gr Hornady softpoint. Neither bullet really caused too much damage to meat. Granted we have never made a habit of shooting them in the butt. I did hit one in the very bottom of the hind quarter the bullet came in and went out the leg leaving a hole about the size of a nickel or quarter. The other leg it hit basically fully destroyed the whole bottom of the leg. I have seen a 30-06 do the same thing on more than one occasion.

My brother and I have shot many deer with that 338LM over the years and I have nothing but praise for the 338LM with 300gr SMK for deer hunting. Once I can find a left handed action I really like I will be building up a 338LM for me.
 
I plan on my wife taking a Buffalo next winter with my AIAW 338 Lapua. Need to get the new 3 chamber brake on her. She wears the 1998 vintage single chamber brake now. The 300 grainers fly really well but can cause shooters to flinch after a few.
 
I knew guys that hunted javelin and deer with 50 BMG's. As one guy told me, 1/4" hole going in and out, unless you hit bone and then all bets are off.
 
Antelope with a 300gr Berger Tactical OTM through the heart and out the opposite shoulder @ 400+ yds. He still ran 30 or so yards.

IMG_9322.jpg
 
I've shot two whitetails with my 338 LM both under 300y. The 300g SMK's put them down for sure... But, I put a high shoulder shot on a button buck. in addition to an wxit hole i could put my fist through it made the offside shoulder completely useless. Miss any substantial bone and your gtg.
 
Anyone shoot with the 300g Berger hunters? Given they are supposed to shed most of their mass 2" in I'm wondering how the back side of a shoulder shot would look.

L
 
Here's a shoulder exit from the 300gr Tactical @ 400 and something yards on a Pronghorn.

securedownload3_zps75722a52.jpg
 
Oryx shot at 75 yards here in New Mexico. Berger 300gr OTM bullets. Dropped him like a rock. Recovered the bullet and it weighed 173 grains.

100_0325.jpg