RE: Do I need a .338?
 

JamesB, It looks like you and I both have experience with the .40+ magnums and you are right once you have been there and thencome back down to the .338 and .375 range they both feel pretty gentle by comparison and it is tempting to call them about evenwhen compared to the real kickers and they are kind of close, but.... I remember the first time I took a 375 to the range, it was a heavy rifle too, I warmed up with the 338 and then grabbed the 375 and slid one of those long H&H rounds in, applied my best 338 shooting form, and damn, it left a pretty strong impression on me ofkicking more and jumping more. I found I had tohold on to the forearm or it wouldjump right off of the stand where the 338 would stay put with the forearm un-grabbed. I felt like I had moved a significant step up. Now, compared to the .40+ mags it's no big deal however for some who may becoming up from a 3006 as their maxit may be a bit of a big step. That is why I recommended the in between stopin the338WM neighborhood. Somewould fair better than others and take right to a 375, others might have trouble.Maybe no big deal for you and me given the path we've travelled but might be a bit much for others that are getting slapped around for the first time by that much recoil.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

A huge statement come on BC I am not 12 I am 42 I have shot many rifles and my share of deer. I also was in the army ranges so I feel I can hold my own at the range or where ever. And I was really talking to eagle . I am usally as accurate as you can get as far as your statement goes , I am a electrician so i know how to be accurate on my statements. Its been a pleasure talking to you two but its going to end here.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Dan ain't no big deal. It was a mix up. But 2350fps from a 405gr bullet is a huge statement.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I know 300 fps don't sound like much, but to get a 405gr .458 bullet to 2300fps would require a 458 Winchester Magnum loaded fairly warm. To hear someone claim to get that out of the old 45-70 just jumped out at me as being.... well.... huge. That is what triggered my red flag, sorry for the perceived abuse. I've made a mistake on a forum (usually innocent, but a mistake nonetheless) and like yourself I just absolutely hate it. To your credit you hunted down the source of confusion and fessed right up. Its about the only thing one can do and still remain credible. Lashing back don't usually help tho.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Gosh, a 375 should be the biggest I would need. The money! RIches are watsed on the rich. I would make a horrible rich person, no yachts, no country club memberships, but a bazillion rifles, a garage full of hunting and fishing equipment, and I'd be gone all of the time. EJ

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

eipaul1 - looking at what you already have, and what you are considering as your next purchase - I should have been getting your advise 10-15 years ago before I made some of my choices.

I have so many chamberings that mirror each other it's kind of pointless. You've covered the whole range, and each one can serve a purpose others only partially overlap.

Do you need a 338? No. But a 338 will contine on the line of adding something your current calibers wouldn't to as well. I just started shooting my 338 recently. So far I like the caliber.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

What brand is yours?

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Eagle 338. When I used to think my other rifles kicked, I would take the 416 down to the range and run a couple rounds through it. PRESTO!! , The other rifles seemed like ***** cats again.;). I just was never impressed with the 338. I would choose a good 300 Mag over the 338 for any aplication. JMO.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Within 400 yds. the 300mag isn't in the same class as the 338 ,you give up too much mass and that little increase in volicity doesn't come close to making it up. Pull your head out of the sand and do some math. One of my speer manuals states that the 338 is so close to the 375hh as to overlap in preformance. that cannot be said for the 300. I'm not taking anything from the 300 it's a great round,but use your math it's not in the same league as the 338, so stop putting it down. You dont understand that of which you speak.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I quess you are the one who does not understand. Math has not one darn thing to do with the fact that I feel the 300 Mag will do anything that the 338 will do. A bit of mass, a bit of velocity a bit of bullet weight, What difference does it make int he real world? NONE. The difference between the 25-06 and the 338, I can see, but in the field, the 300 wWin Mag will do the same class of game animals that the 338 will do. I have learned years ago that there really is such a thing as ENOUGH. I can see no reason for using more. In the same respect as seeing the difference between the 25-06 and a bigger mag, I can see the difference between the 30-06 and the 375 H&H. I speak of use in the field not what differences may or may not show up on paper in a book. Sorry but I have been there and done that.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

James how would you compare the .300 to a 30-06? assuming that there wasn't that much difference between a .300 win mag and a .338? It makes sense to say that whatever the .300 win mag can do....the 30-06 can do too. Epsecially as it books that there are even less differeneces between those two bullets than the differences between .300 win mag and .338

just curious...this is not to start an argument....its actually to see another opinion:)

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

James - Iagree completely. The huge popularity of the .300 Magnums is no small coincidence. Smaller caliberslack the "thump" of a .300 Mags; and bigger calibers provide more penetration at the expense of poorer trajectory. These new bonded bullets allow the .30 caliber bullets to penetrate and retain weight like never before, so the niche that the .338's have carved out over the years is one I would expect to be on the decline. If I can't kill it with a .300 Mag pushing a premium bonded core bullet, I'm looking for something in the .416 Rem Mag class of rifle.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Those premium bonded bullets are also available in .338. Not saying that a .300 mag with a premium 200 gr. bullet won't punch through anything on this continent.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Read it again. I am not comparing the 30-06 to the 375. I am saying that if the 30-06 won't do the job, I want the 375 H&H. If I couldn't have that, I would use the 300 Mag. To do something better than the 300 or the 30-06, I would move up to the 375 H&H. This is from using them all extensivly in the field. INCLUDING the 338. Move up to the 340 Weatherby and gain another 1000 lb of energy, then I might consider that caliber. However the 340 Is to expensive to own and operate. I have my Uncles old 375 H&H.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Personally, I have been dreaming of that sluggish .700 Nitro!!!!!. Heavier I know, but it took down that Mastodon last year in the tundra...LOL. Seroius though, I have no problem taking out my .338 Lapua when I go brownie hunting, and coming back with mucho meat for the second freezer. Good luck big game hunting to everyone, and be safe darn it.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Its just one of those thing, I tried a couple 338's and they just didn't show me anything that I didn't see in the 300 Mags. To each his own. What Roskoe said is just what I expierenced.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I'm the one who is sorry, cause I spent too much of my time in math class. Heck I'd have sworn that 50-75 grns more bullet weight and bigger hole and deeper penetration really ment something shucks, if that durn math teacher wern't already dead I'd whoop his butt!

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

fornra, there are a few constants in the universe. One is pi, not the type you eat. Another is gravitational constant, and another is James B thinks remingtons are the greatest most accurate guns, and he thinks a 30-06 is all that is needed in North America and if you need bigger or going to africa go up to the 375, and the 300RUM's have no place in the huntering world, and nobodies going to change his mind:D. Once we all can accept this it will be fine. :D

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

This is one of those deals where paper ballisitcs clash with field experience. Similar example is the .50 caliber muzzleloader vs. the .54 caliber. You can make a convincing case for the .54 in terms of more bullet weight and diameter, but the .50 calibers just flat work and are pushing the .54 into a serious decline.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Hell, you don't "NEED" one but buy one anyway, when it turns up in your gun cabinet you wife will think it's allways been there, thats what I do.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I never intended to stir up a hornets nest anyway,I just stated a fact that no one has or can prove wrong. I know everyone has their pet caliber.I know that James Bs 300 is a potient rifle, though it's not the (end all ) of power,at the same time neither is the 338. But Nutions law still rules!!! The truth is that most game killed in this country with any of the magnums could be dispatched just as cleanly with a 243 or 270 and with less meat screwed up.The critter that was shot aint gonna look at you and say( is that all the gun you got ) ha-ha.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Ah you aint' going to stir up nutin with JamesB. He like it. Go ahead.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Nah, go ahead use your .243!

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

The 338 used to have factory loaded 300 grain softpoints. I really could not tell the difference between getting thumped by my 338 and my buddies
375 H&H at that heavy a bullet. I am sure the 338 would do the job, but I am the type that considers fatter calibers for bigger critters. Thus I would go 375 and the ammo is not anywhere near the cost of 416 Rigby. (Heh, some folks also use the 7mm Rem Mag on bears.)

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

270 7mm 308 3006 300 338 375 45/70 450.if the shooter does not do his job.the cal and the gun has nothing to do with it.Fred Bear killed more big game with a stick bow then most of us will kill with a gun.but i would go with the 450 over the 338.take a look at the new hornady lever evolution sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Forna@yahoo. There is nothing wrong with yiur axample of math, However It does not really make that much difference. Here is what some people can't crasp. Lets say you drop 100 ton rock on a rabbit. Ok now take another rabbit and drop a 200 ton rock on him. Which one will be the most dead. There is such a thing as enough. No-one has to listen to me, in a discussion I relate my expierence as in this case having plenty of use with both the 300 Mag and the 338 Mag. I can't see any noticable difference and the 300 to me has more practical uses and is just plain more versitile.

BC Where would you ever get the idea that I like to argue?;)

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I never said the 300 wasn't versital, to the contrary I said it was a very useful cartrige. I never said it wasn't a powerful cartrige, it clearly is. What I said was it isn't as powerful as the 338, and the 338 was more than powerful enough for the big bears. If you need to stop a charge from a wounded bear then give me a 460 Wby or take away his credit card. Bot seriously I'd just as soon have my 1895 45-70 with 420 gr hard cast hand loads, cause it will break heavy bones and penetrate for days. This way you don't have to depend on an expanding bullet to hold together, and this removes one element of Murphy's law. I've saw pictures where barns x bullets even lost their fingers when striking balistic medium at too high volicity, so I wonder if their is a 100% dependable expanding bullet out their.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

There you go. Finally something we can agree on. The 45-70 Marlin is my Bear gun.. A good cast buller is good medicine but so is the 350 grain Hornady RN. Also the 450 Marlin and 444 . I have not used these on bears but they would do the job.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

whats the range on a 338?

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

As far as it will fly and still stay above Mach1. I guess I don't understand whan you say range. Range to kill a rabbit, range to kill elk, range the bullet will become unstable? Range you stay over 1000ftlbs of energy?

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

It's "point blank range" is about the same as a 30/06.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I would like to re-visit this topic. If you hunters of large game had to choose between the .300 Remington Ultra Mag. and the .338 Winchester mag.what would you choose and why?
Thanks.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I would say that it is a very good choice for hunting in Alaska. Whether you are hunting big bears or not, you are still amongst them, in THEIR territory, and a chance encounter could happen at any time. You can never have too much gun when hunting where the Big Bears of the North live!

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

While I have never hunted large dangerous game, I base my opinion on the best rifle for you would be the one you shoot best. I'm not talking off of the bench, I'm talking from actual field/hunting positions, and a rifle you can make a fast follow up shot with. Now, if you don't have either caliber and are planning on buying one, I would say either one will fit the bill. Personally, I would get the 338 over the 300 Rem Ultra Mag, mainly because I don't like Remington 700s.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I have never owned a .300 ultramag but have owned a couple of .338 win mags and taken lots of moose as well as smaller game with them. The .338 is just about ideal for the heavy stuff like moose and elk. With proper bullets it just plain rips right through animals no matter what it encounters. If I was hunting Alaska regardless of wether I had a grizzly tag or not, its what I would carry. Even if your not hunting the big bears they could be hunting you and your kill.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

You might not be hunting the Big Bears, but they might find you!:)The .338 would be the minimum caliber I would carry.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Everyone need a 338 win mag. I in fact have two. It is a great round and you have a good choice of bullets if you handload. I use mine for both elk and mule deer and it works great. Make sure you shoot it a bunch after you buy it to get use to it. They kick harder than a 06 but with a good recoil pad you shouldn't have a problem. Jovan

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

I love my .338 - use it for caribou, moose and bear. That is why they call it the Alaskan.

RE: Do I need a .338?
 

Who Doesn't!!!!!!!!!