Is a .338 win mag too big for deer?

Forestore · 06-22-2003, 08:32 PM

The reason I ask is I have a unbelievable deal in front of me for a .338 win mag, but I dont hunt anything bigger then whitetail. My father in law hunts elk and would probally borrow it for that, but me personally only hunts for deer.

frizzellr · 06-22-2003, 08:39 PM

Nope, can' t kill a deer too dead. In all seriousness if you reload I understand there are some nice deer load recipies out there.

Pro-Line · 06-22-2003, 08:49 PM

Friz is right...Dead is dead. If you can stand the recoil, then go for it!

I' m sure the guys you hunt with will know when you shoot.......

KA------BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!

LOL

bigbulls · 06-22-2003, 09:19 PM

Well like these guys said, dead is dead. But, it is a heck of a lot more gun that you will ever dream about needing for whitetails. If you might go on an elk hunt with your father-in-law one day then it will actually be in it' s right place. If you' re only going to hunt whitetails for the rest of your life then I would lock away the money you would spend on the .338 for something you REALLY want. It' s your money though.

handloader1 · 06-22-2003, 09:43 PM

NO!! The .338 Win. Mag. Is not to big for deer. Good shooting!!

Hector500 · 06-22-2003, 10:19 PM

This is from Chuck Hawks page:

' Recoil, of course, it the biggest drawback to the .338 Ultra Mag. A Remington Model 700BDL rifle in .338 Ultra weighs about 7.5 pounds, or approximately 8.5 pounds with a scope and mount. A rifle of weighing 8.5 pounds is going to pound the shooter with about 43.1 ft. lbs. of recoil energy. This is over twice what the average shooter can tolerate.

It seems unlikely that this new outsized .338 will challenge the established .338 Winchester Magnum' s popularity, but it might give the .340 Weatherby Magnum, which offers similar ballistics, a run for its money.'

I personally don' t own rifles that big because I won' t shoot them as much, hence I will not be as accurate with it. But you are also talking to someone who will grab a .270 and think that is enough recoil for me. But if you are getting a good deal on it...I would take it! Have fun!

-Hector

seattlesetters · 06-22-2003, 10:24 PM

Way too big for deer. It will kill them, though, so if you want it, get it.

bearhuntr · 06-22-2003, 10:32 PM

The 338 Win. Mag. is too big for a lot of animals, but dead is dead, obviously. I' d get it.

James B · 06-23-2003, 12:38 AM

No its not to big. Niether is a 50 BMG. Could try the 4 guage double rifle as well. If you can find even a few hairs left of the deer then your not over-gunned

338 · 06-23-2003, 06:00 AM

I have used one for years and I have had yet one deer to complain. I use 200 gr ballistic tips... Bill