Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting 338 win mag vs. 300 win mag

[Sled Puller]

Thoughts? I have a pretty good deal lined up for a . 338,(swap for an old tractor) but I was in the market for a . 300... what to do?!

 

[JJPage]

Google "300 vs 338 Winchester mag", you will have hours of reading.

 

[Threewolves]

338

Not that you need a reason to have a . 338 in PA. I have owned both. I think the the . 338 with 210 bullets doesn't kick has hard as a 300 wm with 180 grn. I sold the . 338 to a friend who needed a rifle. I have had the 300 since 1988. As a matter of fact I had the 300 out today 1st day of our late buck hunt. Killed a 5/6 elk with it last year and cow elk the year before. Off subject I've been killing a lot of stuff with 25. 06 black bears, mt goat. For what its worth... Take care, Paul

 

[BIGNASTY]

Sled Greg and HH are the one's that I know of on the site to tell you this. NOT TAHT ANYONE ELSE CANT!!!!!!!! I have shot Elk with both My Dad's 338 is a A** kicking round and great for larger game at closer range than the wife's 300 win. I think the bullets are constructed a little better for the 338 than the 300. and just a tad larger. I dont have as much practical experience with the 338 as with the 300. The 300 was what I used for hunting Elk and Mule deer for at least the first 10 seasons when I got married and into the hunting with her family. The 300 did and still does a great job for the wife. The 338 I used was for shorter range timber type hunting and I was impressed with the way it KNOCKED THE ELK OFF THEIR FEET. That's why I went to the 338/378 The best of both worlds but with more A** kicking . Bottom line is there are allot of reasons for both but there is only one degree of DEAD. As a public service this is JUST MY OPIONION. NOT SAYING THAT IT IS A BETTER THOUGHT BUT JUST MINE. After thinking about it for a few the last part of the post wasnt fair. We that post in this part of the forum. Dont have to explain their thought's as much as the political part. It's just an opinion and open to BOTH SIDES OF DISCUSSION AS HUNTER AND SHOOTERS DO that's how we discuss and learn as brethren of the gun

 

[BIGNASTY]

Threewolves What do you do with the MT Goat? Surly their not good eating running up and down mountains they have to be a muscled up. Is it just a trophy?

 

[AMink]

I have a . 338 and like it a lot. You have a choice of bullet weights (if you reload) from 150 grains (Barnes X) to at least 250. Of course, with a . 30 caliber, you have even more choices at the lower end, but maybe not as many in the higher weights. In PA I doubt you'd have any long shots (300 yes plus), but you never know when you might go west, young man!:-laf I'd say if you can get the deal on the . 338, go for it. Shoot it and if you don't like it, trade it. I actually won my . 338 at and Elk Foundation dinner so that's why I have it. If I won a . 300, I'd be shooting that at elk out west and telling you it works great.

 

[GHarman]

.300 vs .338

WOW! What a conundrum:-laf! I'd take both!!!!!!!!!Oo.

Both have their place and both cartridges are outstanding!

What kind of hardware are we talking about? Winchester, Remington,, Ruger, Savage, SAKO, etc? That adds a little more to the discussion!

If I had one rifle, someone else could choose that cartridge for me and I would make it work. However, The platform is another matter. Being picky has its drawbacks. Accuracy and precision is the name of the game. You tune a rifle just like you tune an engine! Some are easy and fundamental and others have quirks! I will not suggest that one firearm is better than the other. They just have their own personalities! Individually and by manufacturer!

GregH

 

[BIGNASTY]

What's the game in your hunt area. Whitetail ? either would blow them up unless reduced load's were used. (and that could be dangerous) Or is there a plan for bigger things in the works

 

[AMink]

What's the game in your hunt area. Whitetail ? either would blow them up unless reduced load's were used. (and that could be dangerous) Or is there a plan for bigger things in the works

Besides reduced loads there are a lot of different bullet constructions that would reduce the damage to meat. With either load you have lots of choices with hand loads.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Thoughts? I have a pretty good deal lined up for a . 338,(swap for an old tractor) but I was in the market for a . 300... what to do?!

Well, it's like this... . in my world, anyway..... you shoot the darn thing and see how you like it. If it shoots good, you reload at least 110 rounds (100 for the ammo box, 10 for the rifle and spare ammo carrier, and carry it with you until you run out of ammo in 6 months, then decide if you still like it. If you do, reload for it. If you don't..... see below... .



If you don't like it, unscrew the barrel, set aside, (it'll make a great tent stake this winter), square the action and bolt, go to the barrel box, pull out a new . 308 barrel(whatever contour you'd like, I usually keep 2-3 different ones), set it up, thread it, chamber it, crown it, tighten it, check it, shoot it. Simple. As a side note, I've got a . 338WinMag I just built, and I like it. It shoots really well with the Broughton barrel. It reloads easy, likes large bullets(250grSMK), and shoots well. I'd not be afraid to take a big bear with it. I think it'll work great if I ever go to Africa, with some Woodliegh or Barnes bullets... ... (I've really got to get me another lathe... . )

 

[GHarman]

Well, it's like this... . in my world, anyway..... you shoot the darn thing and see how you like it. If it shoots good, you reload at least 110 rounds (100 for the ammo box, 10 for the rifle and spare ammo carrier, and carry it with you until you run out of ammo in 6 months, then decide if you still like it. If you do, reload for it. If you don't..... see below... .

If you don't like it, unscrew the barrel, set aside, (it'll make a great tent stake this winter), square the action and bolt, go to the barrel box, pull out a new . 308 barrel(whatever contour you'd like, I usually keep 2-3 different ones), set it up, thread it, chamber it, crown it, tighten it, check it, shoot it. Simple. As a side note, I've got a . 338WinMag I just built, and I like it. It shoots really well with the Broughton barrel. It reloads easy, likes large bullets(250grSMK), and shoots well. I'd not be afraid to take a big bear with it. I think it'll work great if I ever go to Africa, with some Woodliegh or Barnes bullets... ... (I've really got to get me another lathe... . )

YES! There is always that next step. Depends on your desires and resources. Just like an engine. A rifle is the sum of its components! You can break it down and start over, tune it to the Nth degree, or be satisfied with it as it comes out of the box!

HHhuntitall. How well does your . 338 Winchester Magnum like the 250Gr. MK's? Have you tried any match bullets in it. What kind of velocity? What barrel contour, twist and length? GregH

 

[BIGNASTY]

I would love to be able to do what HH and Greg do at the shop with guns. Wife would be a little mad but as most of my Hobbies whats new. I dont have that talent so in my gun safe I like to have as many shooters as I need (subjective term) I have quite a few and there is no perfect gun for every kind of game. My Dad said to use enough gun to take the game humanely. On the other hand I have seen people take 300 WM to get Antelope and 25/06 for ELK. In my book BAD CHOICE FOR EITHER. Can it be done of course but Antelope at long range and make ABSOULTLEY sure of shot placement with the ELK. It goes back to NEED ( THAT SUBJECTIVE TERM AGAIN)

 

[GHarman]

Thanks BIG! I just wished I had more time to work in the shop! HHhuntitall is a real gogetter! GregH

 

[HHhuntitall]

YES! There is always that next step. Depends on your desires and resources. Just like an engine. A rifle is the sum of its components! You can break it down and start over, tune it to the Nth degree, or be satisfied with it as it comes out of the box!

As an old Gunny put it simply, "If you have good components, it's all in the assembly, son"

HHhuntitall. How well does your . 338 Winchester Magnum like the 250Gr. MK's? Have you tried any match bullets in it. What kind of velocity? What barrel contour, twist and length? GregH

Umm, straight taper, down to 1" muzzle, 28" finish, 1:10 twist. I'm shooting some 250SMK seconds from the factory at Sedalia(they were out of 300s!), and it's doing pretty well, I'd say. This is the first 5rnd group, cleaning between shots... it's kinda beat up from being folded up in the box, but you get the idea, the grid lines form 1" squares. I've got some more, but I can't find them... . too much crap laying around!!!! Two groups of the 67gr H4831 looked like . 45 holes, 5rnds, so it's doing well, I think, especially for only 20+ rounds. Recoil is almost non-existant, surprisingly!! I don't know how heavy Sled Puller's rifle would be, but if it's got some heft, it shouldn't kick, either!! Mine's slightly heavier than a Remington Sendero, I'd guess around 11lbs, so..... I haven't had a chance to Chrony it yet. The other day it got too dark before I got to the . 338. It wouldn't give me a reading, even with those big bullets!! I'm kinda eager to get some rainy weather to where I can get some of this done!! Too much work, here lately.

Thanks BIG! I just wished I had more time to work in the shop! HHhuntitall is a real gogetter! GregH

BIG, it's just what you like to do. I like to understand things at a near microscopic level, from component to performance. The machine work comes naturally if you understand how it works. And practice is key. I'm sure GHarm is much better at it than I am, but he's had a head start on me!! But I don't sleep much, and my kids aren't teenagers, yet, either, so I'm catchin' him... ... ... ... slowly!! When you're curiousity keeps you up at night, thinking about how something goes together, or why it came apart, that's when you know you have a problem... ... or a passion, however you look at it.....

 

[HHhuntitall]

and there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a safe full of factory firearms. I used to only have a few, and one of those is still my choice when I have to have someting dependable. It's a Classic Model 70 SS with extractor claw, in 270Win. I've killed a heck of a lot of game with that rifle, probably close to 2000rnds through it, and I still have no problems grabbing it to go wherever for whatever!! Factory rifles can be good if you catch one that's made in the middle of the week after everyone's over their hangover and not rushing to get home on Friday!!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Most were my Dad's Collection. I have added to it but we were always Remington fan's. He almost cried when he looked at my present Game Slayer. My 338/378 is built on a Weatherby action. We went shooting one day and that involved a trip to the desert for the weekend. I took the targets out about like always but one I took out to 800 yards. I got back and he said are you expecting an air strike on the last one? I pulled out the Game Slayer and chambered a round. Squezzzzzed off the round and the target fell at 800 . He said this is no good you have to pick the target up after every shot? While I was setting the target he asked the wife IS HE FOR REAL. I offered up a shot or few to him he wanted nothing to do with it. His theory was if you need something that big to do the job GET CLOSER!!!!!!!! Funny old man but he knew what he was doing in the field

 

[HHhuntitall]

Most were my Dad's Collection. I have added to it but we were always Remington fan's. He almost cried when he looked at my present Game Slayer. My 338/378 is built on a Weatherby action. We went shooting one day and that involved a trip to the desert for the weekend. I took the targets out about like always but one I took out to 800 yards. I got back and he said are you expecting an air strike on the last one? I pulled out the Game Slayer and chambered a round. Squezzzzzed off the round and the target fell at 800 . He said this is no good you have to pick the target up after every shot? While I was setting the target he asked the wife IS HE FOR REAL. I offered up a shot or few to him he wanted nothing to do with it. His theory was if you need something that big to do the job GET CLOSER!!!!!!!! Funny old man but he knew what he was doing in the field

OH, that's classic. :-laf Mine's just the opposite. He doesn't like "Bragnums" as he calls 'em, but an 800yd target would be the first one he took out!! He loves the long range challenge. I do, too, but he's much better at judging the range and offhand shooting at running targets. I'd be a busy booger running back and forth!! I've got some plow discs welded to chains I hang between two fence posts at the edge of a tank, below the tank dam. Paint it bright white, and you can see where you hit, and hear it if the wind's not too bad!!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

. 338 with 250 Hornady spire point!

 

[Sled Puller]

Tanks for the reply's!! Yes, I did google it-but I wanted Diesels guys opinions, not Hyundai drivers. Even Joes!



Aside from Black Bear and Elk, I dont have any reason for a gun like that aside from, I WANT it and LIKE it, and this is AMERICA!!



And woodchucks... . barn to to last corner of the field... . 600 yards. A stretch for the boring . 243. Bignasty, we have used a . 300 on frogs before, at night, as well as 9mms, . 357s, and anything else that had ammo handy. Head shots leaves the legs!



I am also a firm believer of knocking something down when you shoot it.



Its a totally custom gun, Douglas barrel on a Mauser action that was welded up and lengthened, machined back down. . not sure about that , but it looks damn good.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Who did the machine work? As long as it was re-hetreated properly, it should be fine. If it's been shot much and it's not separating the cases, the lugs are plenty hard. Are you sure the action's been lengthened? Mauser makes some longer actions for African cartridges... ... . Mauser: Specifications ... and, well, almost a century ago, now, John Rigby contracted Mauser to manufacture a magnum action for his dangerous game cartridges. Those are around, but extremely hard to find, and not cheap when you do. I've actually owned one and looked at several to buy, but they've always been too high..... the one I owned was a . 450 Rigby Magnum, and I only owned it about 6 hours... . made several hundred dollars on it, so... .



Ah, woodchucks. The only reason I'd want to live East of the Mississippi..... but we've got prairie dogs, so I guess it evens out.....