thinking 338wsm
- Thread starter ubet
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Re: thinking 338wsm
Yes, the 338 WSM is an awesome round. I've necked up 325 WSM brass to make cases. I'm running a 225 grain Barnes TTSX at 2820 fps out of a 23" barrel. The 325 WSM is one of the most efficeint rounds. It pushes a given weight bullet the fastest for the least amount of powder compared to other calibers. The 338 WSM is right in line with the 325 being very efficeint. The only draw back is the bullet is seated deep into the case which creates a heavily compressed load. I don't see the 250 grain or heavier bullets fitting in this case and feeding from the mag. There's not many rounds that impress me, and this is one of them. I would highly consider this caliber for big game hunting.
Yes, the 338 WSM is an awesome round. I've necked up 325 WSM brass to make cases. I'm running a 225 grain Barnes TTSX at 2820 fps out of a 23" barrel. The 325 WSM is one of the most efficeint rounds. It pushes a given weight bullet the fastest for the least amount of powder compared to other calibers. The 338 WSM is right in line with the 325 being very efficeint. The only draw back is the bullet is seated deep into the case which creates a heavily compressed load. I don't see the 250 grain or heavier bullets fitting in this case and feeding from the mag. There's not many rounds that impress me, and this is one of them. I would highly consider this caliber for big game hunting.
Re: thinking 338wsm
1 question, why? What could a 338WSM offer you that a 7WSM cant? Do you enjoy wildcating? or spending a shit load of time brass preping? Just shoot 180's out of a 7WSM, it should take down any north American game.
1 question, why? What could a 338WSM offer you that a 7WSM cant? Do you enjoy wildcating? or spending a shit load of time brass preping? Just shoot 180's out of a 7WSM, it should take down any north American game.
Re: thinking 338wsm
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMCj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1 question, why? What could a 338WSM offer you that a 7WSM cant? Do you enjoy wildcating? or spending a shit load of time brass preping? Just shoot 180's out of a 7WSM, it should take down any north American game. </div></div>
It's not my rifle! Any yes, some people love to wildcat rounds. The brass prep is very easy, just run the 325 WSM brass up into the 338WSM die, and you're ready. The 338 has much heavier bullets and packs more energy, about 700 ft/lbs more over the 7WSM with a 180. So, that would be a big reason.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMCj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1 question, why? What could a 338WSM offer you that a 7WSM cant? Do you enjoy wildcating? or spending a shit load of time brass preping? Just shoot 180's out of a 7WSM, it should take down any north American game. </div></div>
It's not my rifle! Any yes, some people love to wildcat rounds. The brass prep is very easy, just run the 325 WSM brass up into the 338WSM die, and you're ready. The 338 has much heavier bullets and packs more energy, about 700 ft/lbs more over the 7WSM with a 180. So, that would be a big reason.
Re: thinking 338wsm
Just wait till you get where you are going for that lifetime hunt...and the airlines or Pedro's burro has separated your rifle from your carefully fabricated and absolutely deadly handloads. Nobody in Ennis, MT (Or the whole of south Africa) can help. For play...wildcat away. For go, take a reasonably available factory cartridge. JMHO
Just wait till you get where you are going for that lifetime hunt...and the airlines or Pedro's burro has separated your rifle from your carefully fabricated and absolutely deadly handloads. Nobody in Ennis, MT (Or the whole of south Africa) can help. For play...wildcat away. For go, take a reasonably available factory cartridge. JMHO
Re: thinking 338wsm
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just wait till you get where you are going for that lifetime hunt...and the airlines or Pedro's burro has separated your rifle from your carefully fabricated and absolutely deadly handloads. Nobody in Ennis, MT (Or the whole of south Africa) can help. For play...wildcat away. For go, take a reasonably available factory cartridge. JMHO </div></div>
This is precisely why I advocate the 30-06 for people that want a high capability hunting/tactical/target rifle. You can load it 6 ways to Sunday, but if your scenario happens everyone and their brother has 30-06 ammo.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just wait till you get where you are going for that lifetime hunt...and the airlines or Pedro's burro has separated your rifle from your carefully fabricated and absolutely deadly handloads. Nobody in Ennis, MT (Or the whole of south Africa) can help. For play...wildcat away. For go, take a reasonably available factory cartridge. JMHO </div></div>
This is precisely why I advocate the 30-06 for people that want a high capability hunting/tactical/target rifle. You can load it 6 ways to Sunday, but if your scenario happens everyone and their brother has 30-06 ammo.
Re: thinking 338wsm
Chad, will this reach 1k reliably? The 7wsm is something I've thought of doing too just not sure what way to go. It's not gonna be a hunting rifle, and if I do go hunting, I just drive cause I hate flying so that negate that.
Chad, will this reach 1k reliably? The 7wsm is something I've thought of doing too just not sure what way to go. It's not gonna be a hunting rifle, and if I do go hunting, I just drive cause I hate flying so that negate that.
Re: thinking 338wsm
People always talk about this, but it hardly ever happens. Most hunters that I know that run custom rifles and ammo take ammo in 2 different ways in case one of them doesn't make it. A lot of people ship their ammo aheaad of them to where they are going. And they take more than 1 rifle and the other one is a common caliber. I still wouldn't hesitate taking custom ammo.
But, I personally don't want to mess with wildcatting. It does take more time, especially when having to fire form and such.
People always talk about this, but it hardly ever happens. Most hunters that I know that run custom rifles and ammo take ammo in 2 different ways in case one of them doesn't make it. A lot of people ship their ammo aheaad of them to where they are going. And they take more than 1 rifle and the other one is a common caliber. I still wouldn't hesitate taking custom ammo.
But, I personally don't want to mess with wildcatting. It does take more time, especially when having to fire form and such.
Re: thinking 338wsm
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ubet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Chad, will this reach 1k reliably? The 7wsm is something I've thought of doing too just not sure what way to go. It's not gonna be a hunting rifle, and if I do go hunting, I just drive cause I hate flying so that negate that. </div></div>
Here's a chart with the 225 Barnes TTSX. It's definitly not a match bullet, but will easily make it to 1K. The problem with this round is that it's so short. When you go this short, you can not get the heavy, high BC bullets in the case without the ogive going below the case mouth. And then you eat up a lot of case capacity with the bullet instead of powder. So, for match shooting, you need the heavier bullets (250 grains or heavier) with the higher BC. I do not see this being a good match round for this reason. It will make an excellent hunting caliber, and I would highly consider this round, personally, for hunting.
IMO, one of the best bullets on the market is the 7mm 180 VLD (and the 168 VLD right behind it). The BC is HUGE and can be pushed pretty fast. This in a WSM or even a 7RM would be an awesome long range match round. If considering a caliber for match shooting, there is no comparison between the 338 WSM and the 7 WSM. The 7WSM would hands down be the better choice. The 7 WSM would also be a better choice (with these 2 bullets) over the 300WSM for this reason (faster, flatter and less wind drift). Hope this hepls!
338 WSM @ 2820 fps with 225 TTSX
Range Elev Wind Velocity Energy
(yards) (moa) (moa) (ft/sec) (ft-lbs)
0 --- 10 mph 2826.9 3992.3
100 0 0.56 2657.9 3529.3
200 -1.47 1.16 2495.5 3111.1
300 -3.74 1.78 2339.4 2734.1
400 -6.39 2.45 2188.7 2393.2
500 -9.37 3.16 2043.2 2085.6
600 -12.69 3.93 1903.9 1810.8
700 -16.37 4.74 1771.2 1567.3
800 -20.45 5.61 1645.6 1352.9
900 -24.99 6.54 1528 1166.3
1000 -30.05 7.53 1419.6 1006.7
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ubet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Chad, will this reach 1k reliably? The 7wsm is something I've thought of doing too just not sure what way to go. It's not gonna be a hunting rifle, and if I do go hunting, I just drive cause I hate flying so that negate that. </div></div>
Here's a chart with the 225 Barnes TTSX. It's definitly not a match bullet, but will easily make it to 1K. The problem with this round is that it's so short. When you go this short, you can not get the heavy, high BC bullets in the case without the ogive going below the case mouth. And then you eat up a lot of case capacity with the bullet instead of powder. So, for match shooting, you need the heavier bullets (250 grains or heavier) with the higher BC. I do not see this being a good match round for this reason. It will make an excellent hunting caliber, and I would highly consider this round, personally, for hunting.
IMO, one of the best bullets on the market is the 7mm 180 VLD (and the 168 VLD right behind it). The BC is HUGE and can be pushed pretty fast. This in a WSM or even a 7RM would be an awesome long range match round. If considering a caliber for match shooting, there is no comparison between the 338 WSM and the 7 WSM. The 7WSM would hands down be the better choice. The 7 WSM would also be a better choice (with these 2 bullets) over the 300WSM for this reason (faster, flatter and less wind drift). Hope this hepls!
338 WSM @ 2820 fps with 225 TTSX
Range Elev Wind Velocity Energy
(yards) (moa) (moa) (ft/sec) (ft-lbs)
0 --- 10 mph 2826.9 3992.3
100 0 0.56 2657.9 3529.3
200 -1.47 1.16 2495.5 3111.1
300 -3.74 1.78 2339.4 2734.1
400 -6.39 2.45 2188.7 2393.2
500 -9.37 3.16 2043.2 2085.6
600 -12.69 3.93 1903.9 1810.8
700 -16.37 4.74 1771.2 1567.3
800 -20.45 5.61 1645.6 1352.9
900 -24.99 6.54 1528 1166.3
1000 -30.05 7.53 1419.6 1006.7
