Am I crazy? .338 Win Mag
 

I know a guy with two .338 win mags for sale. One is an older Ruger 77 and one is a Winchester 70 XTR "Sporter magnum" he believes he bought new in the mid 80s. Both are in really nice shape. I kinda have an itch to buy one of these. I don't "need" it. Just something to play with I suppose and take out a few times each season. Thoughts between these two rifles? They're both really clean.

If I buy them I'll need some load suggestions as well. This will primarily be just something to play with that I'll take out occasionally in PA for whitetail or bear. It won't be my primary deer rifle though. Although I would probably take it out west in the future. I have mule deer and elk preference points building so eventually I'll get out there.

-Jake

What's the prices on them? Either one could be a good rifle depending on the price.

We haven't discussed price. I honestly think I could get either for around $500. But I'll have to discuss it with him. What do you think would be a good price on either? Or should I just man up, buy both and sell one lol?
-Jake

I'd say $500 would be fair but not really a "smokin" deal unless you really want one...

If you enjoy getting your teeth knocked out, go with the Winchester 70 XTR. My granddad has one in .30-06, and even that cartridge is a nightmare with the factory plastic(?) buttplate. I can only imagine what it's like in a .338WM.
He's since put a LimbSaver on it, which made a world of a difference, as you can imagine. Still, there's something about the gun's balance that's just a bit off to me.

I've never shot either of those guns but own two 338's for elk hunting. I highly recommend that caliber for elk.

About how heavy are your .338's, Cal? With and without scope?

Both are Browning BAR's. The newer one has the BOSS system and was made in the US. I believe it's 8 pounds 3 oz without the scope. The older one was made in Belgium and weighs around 7.5 pounds, give or take without the scope. With scopes and mounts, probably add another pound, give or take. Neither of them seems to be too heavy for me to carry and the recoil is manageable.

I can see selling the newer Browning with the BOSS unit but would never sell the one made in Belgium.

That's kinda my justification for buying one. Knowing I'll eventually go for elk in colorado and wyoming. I wouldn't feel undergunned with the '06 but, in my mind at least, the .338 win mag is the "classic" elk choice. What load do you use for Elk Cal?

-Jake

I don't reload currently and couldn't justify it with this caliber as I only shoot a box or so of bullets each year. I use Federal's 250 grain Nosler Partition bullet. I can vouch for it on elk and moose. It's overkill on a black bear but probably just right for a brown bear if you go to Alaska some day.