statjunk

If you're a long distance shooter you may want to opt for the BC advantage that the .338 WM offers. If not I'd go 300 WM for the reduced recoil and lower cost to shoot.

I've shot both and I believe the 338 has more umph to it. I've been known to shoot my 300WM up to 30 times at a range session with no issues. I was able to detect the difference when shooting a 338.

Though like others stated. It's very subjected and heavily reliant upon rifle fit.

Tom

needs_recoil

There is nothing a 338 win can do that a 300 win cant. If there is an animal on this planet I cant kill with my 300 then I guess I shouldnt be shooting it. 180 - 200 grain bullets will tip over everything on this continent. And if you have a 7mm remington magnum load it with 175 gr bullets and it will do the same as well. im not trying to hack on the 338 im just saying same job can be done with either gun. Just pick what you like better.

bigbulls

Which would be the equivalent of the .300 Win firing a 175/190 grain bullet which is pretty heavy for caliber.

A 250 grain .338 bullet has the same sectional density as a 210 grain .308 bullet.
A 225 grain .338 bullet has nearly the identical sectional density as a 190 grain .308 bullet.
A 210 grain .338 bullet has the same sectional density as a 175 grain .308 bullet.
A 200 grain .338 bullet has the same sectional density as a 165 grain .308 bullet.
A 180 grain .338 bullet has the same sectional density as a 150 grain .308 bullet.


A .300 win fires a 180 grain partition at 2960fps and retains 1600 foot pounds of energy at 400 yards.
A .338 win fires a 210 grain partition at 2830fps and retains 1800 foot pounds of energy at 400 yards.
The difference in trajectory is less than 1.5 inches at 400 yards when sighted to be zero at 200 yards.

salukipv1

Exactly, get a .340 Wby!

statjunk

Yup that is about right but the difference in wind drift would be more dramatic. Especially as the distance gets longer.

Tom

CommonSense

I personally think the .338 is a better choice for hunting large game such as moose, brown bear, etc. because those heavyweight (250 grain and up) bullets hit very hard, and will flat smack animals down harder than anything out of a .30 caliber, and despite what a certain uninformed individual has been saying, it's no trouble at all to get a 250 grain bullet moving at 2700 fps or faster out of the .338 WM, which will handle anything in NA and most of Africa.

For me, there is not enough difference in felt recoil to choose one or the other based solely on that.

300ultramagshooter

I'd go with the 338 Win mag

HEAD0001

I like those new Rugers. I think you are making a fine choice for your rifle. Now your cartridge. I really like the idea of the new 375 Ruger Cartridge. You can still reload a lighter bullet if you want. I believe you can load a 225 and a 235 grain bullet. But that 375 would just knock the snot out of an elk. And they make a fine long distance rifle as well, if loaded properly. Take a look at the 375 Ruger, you just might like it. They are making them in LH rifles, and I am seriously looking at one. And I already have a 340 WBY!! But then who needs an excuse for a new rifle. Tom.

salukipv1

Not like we need another new cartridge, and ruger/hornady already have released the .338RCM,

but a .338-375Ruger would be a nice round, so would a .300-375Ruger, course we already have tons of 30's.

I wonder how the .416Ruger will do, become the #1 .416??

Not sure the .375ruger can compete with the .375H&H, but it seems like it would be a great parent case for the other calibers...

CalHunter

I've shot both calibers and don't think you'd notice much difference in either caliber's recoil if you're just shooting a couple rounds at big game. Both kick and will get the job done.

Having said that, I prefer the 338WM with the heavier 250 grain bullets for elk and moose. They have never let me down. Now if I were hunting brown bears or grizzlies, I would definitely want a 338 instead of a 300.

In the end, it pretty much comes down to your preference. If you can, shoot both. Better yet, if you can, buy both. Then you can study this problem in depth.