8mm Rem Mag versus .338 Win Mag

[neweboarhunter]

Which is a better round for elk say to 400 yards max. I know the 8mm does not have very many factory rounds to choose from, but I reload so that won' t handicap me to much. Thanks, NBH

[James B]

I think I would opt for the 338 but I have never had an 8mm. I think the 8mm might shoot a little flatter but go to a good ballistic chart and compare them side by side. Both would be a good elk killer.

[Vapodog]

Good that you' re a handloader. Either will do the job as well as the other.

However you really got to ask why the .338 has outsold the 8MM Mag better than 500 to 1...( I' m guessing on the number) I personally have never seen a 8MM Mag and I spend a lot of time is gun shops.

[neweboarhunter]

Vapodog, I too have not seen a 8mm mag. I have an opportunity to buy one from a friend of a friend. The price is reasonable. I think the 8mm was outsold by the .338 for two main reasons. 1. When the 8mm was introduced it was in Remingtons expensive African or Safari model. 2. The bullets they loaded were light for caliber and not very good constructed.

[Vapodog]

Newboarhunter, if you' re a handloader then you know how many premium bullets are available from Swift, Barnes, Trophy Bonded and other companies and for that matter sheer bullet selection of 8MMs compared to .338 bullets.

Both extremely powerful cartridges....yet the .338 just has to get the nod because of bullet selection. Oh yes, there are a few great bullets available in 8MM, but that' s it...a few.

[oldelkhunter]

In their initial production run Remington allegedly screwed on some horrible barrels...and accuracy good accuracy was hard to achieve. Another thing is that most american shooters are biased towards anything metric unless it is a 6mm or a 7mm. If it is rebarreled and carefully handloaded it is a fine caliber though no where as versatile as a 338 look at it this way your luggage gets rerouted on your yearly out west hunting trip and your packing a 8mm Rem you are SOL... I can go to a Walmart or any gun shop out there and probably have a pretty good selection of ammo to choose from ..the same applies with a 270 06 7mag and a few other popular caliber.

[handloader1]

.338 Win. Mag. Good luck.

[neweboarhunter]

Vapodog, The .338 does have a lot more bullets available for it for reloading. The 8mm has the Swift A-frame, Nosler, etc. I figure I would load one load for elk then a light load for deer and other game. I think the 8mm should have a flatter trajectory than the .338. I am not talking down to the .338 it is a legend in its self. I just lean toward more obscure cartridges. Besides I traded my 8x57JS and I have a bunch of 8mm bullets laying around.[>:]

[akbound]

I have owned a number of .338 Win Mags and have used them to good success. I have never owned an 8mm Rem Mag but have to conceed that it might indeed be the better " long range" cartridge between the two. Colonel Charles Askins used and wrote about the 8 Mag alot and I have a great deal of respect for his opinion. Col. Askins proclaimed it a great cartridge for big and or dangerous game at all ranges resembling anything near reasonable.

With your being a reloader I don' t think I would have any reservations about buying and using the 8mm Mag. As someone said earlier though if you ever get separated from your ammo on a hunt you are certainly going to catch the dickens finding 8mm Mag. in just any ole store. As long as you are willing to live with that possibility I think the 8mm Mag would be a great long range elk gun!

[neweboarhunter]

Well I passed on the 8mm Rem Mag. After looking at the .338 Win Mag more closely I see that I can load lite, 200 gr-220 gr bullets and not give up a noticeable differanace to the 8mm Mags velocity. Even though I do handload, sometimes I do not always have time to do so and the .338 Win has plenty of awesome factory loads for any game. Thanks for your help.