338 Win Mag

PSFD DONKEY

Just picked up a 338 for a moose hunt in '07, would like to get use to the gun before I go on my moose hunt, but the only thing I will be hunting before that is whitetail (a little overkill) one guy suggested loading a 33 Winchester load in the 338 brass, anybody ever done this or know any other options. Thank You

temblor

Wouldn't advise it. Especially don't use bullets that are designed for the 33 winchester in the 338 win. mag. They are designed for the slow velocity of the 33 win. and will come apart on game when used at 338 mag. velocity. -- Stay with loads that are designed for the 338 so you don't develop any pressure problems ( low pressure can be just as bad as high pressure ). -- I've shot one for years and I think the biggest problem people have with the 338s is not practicing with them enough to master the recoil. I'd reccomend practicing with the same load you will be hunting Moose with so you don't screw up a good shot opportunity on your moose trip. I still hunt small black tailed deer with a 338 occasionally, and yes it's a little overkill but keeps you sharp for the bigger stuff. What I do is load 200gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets for Deer ( they will expand on the smaller Deer without just passing thru )and then switch to a 210gr Nosler Partition for bigger, tougher stuff. They load the same and usually hit to almost the same point of aim at 100yds as the 200gr bullet when using the same powder charge. -- I load a near maximum charge of IMR4350 powder with both bullets with good results. The ballistic tips are also cheaper to practice with than the partitions. Another plus is that you generally don't have to track a wounded deer when you hit one with a 338. They usually go right down. And some times you'd be surprised at how little meat the bigger calibers destroy. I've had high velocity small calibers tear up more meat than the 338s on deer. -- Just my .02 cents.....good luck........[8D]

bpost

You will love your .338. I agree with temblor on shooting the crap out of so it feels like second nature. I lived and hunted in Alaska for many years. PRACTICE OFFHAND SHOOTING. The tundra is famous for leaving you with no other shot.

My .338 likes RE-19 and 225 Hornadays and IMR7828 with the heavier bullets.

Moose die easy so don't let them scare you. Plunk them through the lungs and they stumble, look around, go back to eating and then decide to fall over dead.

Ray B

I have a M70 Alaskan that has killed about 2 dozen moose. I have a few old factory loads of 250 gr Silvertip and 300 gr PowerPoints, but they are now rationed. To start shooting one from scratch, I'd load Swifts as the big game bullet, for practice I'd get about 10 boxes of Speer 200 gr semi-spitzers, load them to about 2700 fps, which is easily done with IMR 4350 and somewhere north of 60 grains. The recoild will be very near that of a 30-06 and will be great on smaller game. If I had to keep one rifle for larger game, the Alaskan would be it.

Snellstrom

If you are concerned about recoil and want to start with some reduced loads go to the Hodgdons website and look up Youth reduced loads. The rule of thumb that they use on their website is to go to their online load info for the cartridge you are loading for, look up the load for H4895. You can go as low as 60% of that amount ( no lower they caution ). So for instance the load for a 210 grain bullet is 60 grains of H4895, 60% of that is 36 grains, that is the most reduced load that they recommend. Any loading between 36 and 60 according to their website is a safe reduced load.
You may start with a reduced load to get used to the gun and hunt deer with but in my opinion the best way to get really familiar with the gun is to shoot the intended load you will hunt Moose with, trust me the deer you shoot won't argue about the bullet weight.
One method I use to get comfortable with a big kicker ( like my 7.5 pound 375 H&H Mag ) is to shoot it frequently but not very many shots at each sitting. I took a .375 on a Moose hunt last year my routine went like this, first off I got it shooting where I wanted it shooting at 100 yards( sighted in ), then took it to the range every other week and sometimes once a week and shot it from the bench 3 shots ( just to see it shoot in the bull ) then I would stand and shoot offhand 2 shots at this point my session was done. As I got closer to the season I would shoot 3 to 5 shots total for the day from standing ( offhand ) or sitting or leaning against a pole to simulate feild shots and skip the bench shooting because I knew the gun was well sighted in. All the while never taking more than 5 shots ever so as not to develop a flinch or to get sore from the recoil.
When sighting in a big kicker I will shoot 3 shots then shoot a 22/250 or .223 for 5 shots then go back to the big gun, this allows both you and the gun a little cool down time in between 3 shot sessions.
Whatever you do don't muzzle brake the damn thing, you will regret it if you ever fire it in a hunting situation.
Shoot it get used to it and don't rush it.

PSFD DONKEY

Thanks for the input everyone, it sure is a sweet shooting rifle and I don't think the recoil is any worse then my 3.5 in. turkey loads. I just didn't want to tear up half a deer getting use to it in a hunting situation.

chuck

The 338 is my favorite Caliber. I have shot deer Elk and Bear It has never let me down, the only cal that might be better at close range is the 375 H&H.[:D][:D] Get used to it you'll love it.