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So, who here shoots a 338 Win Mag for hunting?

gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
edited March 2015 in General Discussion
I've always been a 30-06 guy. For years I've been hearing about and seeing 338's in action. I never hear a complaint about how they shoot. So I found a beautiful Browning Safari Grade from the early 60's that appears un-fired. Nice, but almost too nice to use so it's now eye candy in my gun rack. Then I find an early 70's Model 70. Perfect, been used but not abused and the price was right. But, I really enjoyed hunting last year with my BAR 30-06! So, I find a like new BAR 338 right here on GB and that is the one I'll hunt with.
For the last couple years, I've been shooting Barnes Vor-Tx 180 gr. factory loads from my 30-06. Any recommendations for the 338? I do not reload, I like to shoot factory loads.
Thanks,
Ed
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Comments

  • hillbillehillbille Member Posts: 14,461 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    you may ask the guy who posted the other thread..........




    dang that disapeared fast....
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  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by hillbille
    you may ask the guy who posted the other thread..........

    I deleted it because I typed hear instead of here!!!
    I have soft skin and didn't want to be attacked by the grammar Nazi's this morning!![:(]
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  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,572 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    the BAR that I had liked the 225 grain the best especially the Barnes triple shocks
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,695 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by hillbille
    you may ask the guy who posted the other thread..........

    I deleted it because I typed hear instead of here!!!
    I have soft skin and didn't want to be attacked by the grammar Nazi's this morning!![:(]


    Your use of the apostrophe on the word "Nazi" implies possessive, when in fact you are using in in the plural sense.
    Signed,
    Grammar Nazi
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  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by hillbille
    you may ask the guy who posted the other thread..........

    I deleted it because I typed hear instead of here!!!
    I have soft skin and didn't want to be attacked by the grammar Nazi's this morning!![:(]


    Your use of the apostrophe on the word "Nazi" implies possessive, when in fact you are using in in the plural sense.

    Signed,
    Grammar Nazi

    Damn!! I can't win for losing today![;)]
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  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by savage170
    the BAR that I had liked the 225 grain the best especially the Barnes triple shocks

    This is the direction I have been leaning.
    Thanks for your input,
    Ed
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  • likemhotlikemhot Member Posts: 2,885 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That is a lot of gun for white tails, and I hope you are not recoil sensitive.
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  • ChrisInTempeChrisInTempe Member Posts: 15,562 ✭
    edited November -1
    I know a guy who uses one for Elk. He keeps in practice shooting coyotes. Sure makes a mess of a yote, but the buzzards don't seem upset by it.
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  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Keep it coming guys!
    I'm actually planning on using the 338 for Elk. If I'm strictly hunting deer I'll probably carry my '06.
    I have my application in for deer in Montana, and in June we can apply for a Cow Elk tag.
    I'm also not typically recoil sensitive. However, I have found myself making excuses for not shooting my 375 H&H for the first time!!
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  • texaswildmantexaswildman Member Posts: 2,215 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I really like Federal 210 gr Nosler Partitions, since they shoot similar trajectories as my '06 150 gr bullets. I rarely use the 338 for WT deer, but when I first got it, it really put it through the wringer on them in south Texas to see how it shot (always been an '06 guy - and still am). I have also shot a fair amount of 225 gr accubonds and bear claws, but all things considered now, would probably opt for the Barnes bullets in either bear claw or triple shock. Like you, I don't reload .

    I've really been impressed with the 338. Several of my, " oh my gosh shots" have been with the rifle (Browning A bolt stalker)....
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  • MG1890MG1890 Member Posts: 4,460 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I liked Sierra 250gr. SBT's in my Ruger 77 .338.

    Contrary to popular belief, traditional cup and core bullets kill game just fine and just as quickly as Miracle Bullets.
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  • GuvamintCheeseGuvamintCheese Member Posts: 38,932 ✭
    edited November -1
    I'm gonna need a photo of these so called .338's. [:)]
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  • DPHMINDPHMIN Member Posts: 953 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My Abolt in .338 Win Mag shoots great. I bought it for elk hunting, but only shot one Rocky Mountain squirrel with it (through the head!). I used it one morning on a White tail stand. Shot a coyote about 6:30 that morning. dropped him about 30 yards from my stand. At 7:40 that morning, I shot an 8 point buck that dropped 10 yards from the coyote.

    The recoil is much more than a .30-06, so I usually use my .30-06 for deer hunting.
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  • OakieOakie Member Posts: 40,565 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by hillbille
    you may ask the guy who posted the other thread..........

    I deleted it because I typed hear instead of here!!!
    I have soft skin and didn't want to be attacked by the grammar Nazi's this morning!![:(]


    hear, hear.[:D][:D][:D]
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  • Riomouse911Riomouse911 Member Posts: 3,492 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had an A-bolt medallion many years ago in .338 WM. The recoil was a bit too much for me back then to justify using it for deer, and I have never had a chance to go for an elk (which is why I got it in the first place, a dream hunt gun).

    (For what it's worth (probably very little, IMHO) I say stick with your good old 30-06 for your deer and elk hunt, but since you bought the .338 BAR...)

    You'll have to stick to loads close to factory specs to operate the action and not cause damage (too hot) or faulty feeding (too mild). I used to use 225gr Winchester Power Points in my old .338...again that was 30 years ago.
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  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Havent shot the 338 Win Mag but I used to own a 338 Rem Ultra Mag. Same bullet and near same velocities. I shot a big fat doe with it using a 220G Hornaday Interlock, damn near ruined the entire deer with one shoulder shot. Meat was ruined all the way from the chin to the hind legs, too much gun for anything smaller than a grizzly bear!
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Lonnnie, that 338RUM can't even begin to be compared to a 338win mag. That 338 RUM is a bad M'F'R. You can't hardly find it anymore because the Lapua eclipsed it, simply because of marketing. You and I both know the RUM and Lapua are only seperated by a VERY SMALL amount. You shoot a whitetail with that, and you are asking to blow the deer into oblivion. (which you already experienced)

    I am betting you used a nosler balistic tip to have had the result you mention. I love NBT's btw, they make tracking unnecessary[}:)]

    I have a model 70 in 338 win in the safe, but have only worked with 200gr NBT's and RL19 thus far. I also had a break put on it before I even shot it. But hey, the dude sold it to me for $290 delivered to my FFL, with a hogue overmolded stock and full length bedding block. I am planning on taking it to hog hunt in SC next month, just to see how it does.
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  • m88.358winm88.358win Member Posts: 7,269 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My go to gun is a .325wsm using 200gr AB's = dead elk.
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  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,572 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The recoil is why I traded mine and went to the .338 Federal with my eyes now I don't shoot as far as I use too anyways and the .338 Federal gets the job done at the range I shoot at anymore
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  • Gunman760Gunman760 Member Posts: 140 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a Ruger M77 MK II chambered in 338 Win Mag. The only thing I hunt with that particular rifle is black bear here in PA. I did take the "boat oar" stock off of it and replaced it with a Boyds laminate. Helped a little with the recoil. I reload, so any information on bullistics wouldn't be helpful.

    Terry
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  • GanderGander Member Posts: 264 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have taken 5 bull Elk, 2 in Idaho, 2 Wyoming, one in Colorado and 2 Michigan Whitetail with this rig. 4 Elk were one shot kills the other took two. I just love this thing and would use it more but it is a little more than what I need for Deer here at home. Remington 700 338 Win Mag. with Leupold 1.5 to 5 glass. Speer 225 grain in front of 75 grains of Reloader 19.

    Image1_zpsury9e2ac.jpg
    Lead me not into temptation as I seem to find it often myself !
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Gander
    I have taken 5 bull Elk, 2 in Idaho, 2 Wyoming, one in Colorado and 2 Michigan Whitetail with this rig. 4 Elk were one shot kills the other took two. I just love this thing and would use it more but it is a little more than what I need for Deer here at home. Remington 700 338 Win Mag. with Leupold 1.5 to 5 glass. Speer 225 grain in front of 75 grains of Reloader 19.

    Image1_zpsury9e2ac.jpg


    how do you get 75gr in the case? I am running 74gr and it is up to the neck.
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  • GanderGander Member Posts: 264 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:

    posted by JustC

    quote:Originally posted by Gander

    I have taken 5 bull Elk, 2 in Idaho, 2 Wyoming, one in Colorado and 2 Michigan Whitetail with this rig. 4 Elk were one shot kills the other took two. I just love this thing and would use it more but it is a little more than what I need for Deer here at home. Remington 700 338 Win Mag. with Leupold 1.5 to 5 glass. Speer 225 grain in front of 75 grains of Reloader 19.




    how do you get 75gr in the case? I am running 74gr and it is up to the neck.

    I use a clear long powder funnel, not dumping, but pouring the powder near the outer rim, to create a swirling action of the powder as it goes into the funnel. This packs the powder into the case much better than just dumping it. Then I give the case a few taps with my finger nail just to be sure it has packed into the case.
    Lead me not into temptation as I seem to find it often myself !
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a BAR MKII with Boss in .338 Winchester Magnum in Alaska. It is everything it is hyped up to be. Very hard hitting, easy to load for and shot honest 1-1/4 inch groups with Hornaday 225 grain bullets.

    Moose died real fast when hit with the .338.
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