.338 win mag

see no reason why a 338 Win Mag could not be conditioned for deer.
Energy wise it is below the 300WM
QUOTE]

I dont know what ballistics source you are reading from Bewsh but the 338 Win Mag beats the 300WM on energy with nearly every bullet weight!

Ian.

comparing popular bullet weights it has no energy gain, most are marginal or below by comparison with average loads
its just physics, lower the speeds and and without a significant increase in weight you will get less energy

300WM
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/typeVelocityEnergy
165 gr (10.7 g) GMX3,260 ft/s (990 m/s)3,893 ft·lbf (5,278 J)
180 gr (11.7 g) BT3,146 ft/s (959 m/s)3,972 ft·lbf (5,385 J)
190 gr (12.3 g) BTSP3,083 ft/s (940 m/s)4,027 ft·lbf (5,460 J)
200 gr (13.0 g) Partion3,029 ft/s (923 m/s)4,092 ft·lbf (5,548 J)
220 gr (14.3 g) Sierra MatchKing (HPBT)2,850 ft/s (870 m/s)3,908 ft·lbf (5,299 J)

338 Win Mag

Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/typeVelocityEnergy
200 gr (13 g) SP2,950 ft/s (900 m/s)3,866 ft·lbf (5,242 J)
225 gr (15 g) SP2,800 ft/s (850 m/s)3,918 ft·lbf (5,312 J)
250 gr (16 g) SP2,655 ft/s (809 m/s)3,914 ft·lbf (5,307 J)
275 gr (18 g) SP2,489 ft/s (759 m/s)3,784 ft·lbf (5,130 J)
 
Last edited:
According to an RFD I was speaking to someone has a .338 Lapua conditioned for Deer in Lincolnshire. Seems the chap came in to buy reloading components for it and it's on his ticket for deer.
 
comparing popular bullet weights it has no energy gain, most are marginal or below by comparison with average loads
its just physics, lower the speeds and and without a significant increase in weight you will get less energy

300WM
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type
Velocity
Energy
165 gr (10.7 g) GMX
3,260 ft/s (990 m/s)
3,893 ft·lbf (5,278 J)
180 gr (11.7 g) BT
3,146 ft/s (959 m/s)
3,972 ft·lbf (5,385 J)
190 gr (12.3 g) BTSP
3,083 ft/s (940 m/s)
4,027 ft·lbf (5,460 J)
200 gr (13.0 g) Partion
3,029 ft/s (923 m/s)
4,092 ft·lbf (5,548 J)
220 gr (14.3 g) Sierra MatchKing (HPBT)
2,850 ft/s (870 m/s)
3,908 ft·lbf (5,299 J)

338 Win Mag

Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type
Velocity
Energy
200 gr (13 g) SP
2,950 ft/s (900 m/s)
3,866 ft·lbf (5,242 J)
225 gr (15 g) SP
2,800 ft/s (850 m/s)
3,918 ft·lbf (5,312 J)
250 gr (16 g) SP
2,655 ft/s (809 m/s)
3,914 ft·lbf (5,307 J)
275 gr (18 g) SP
2,489 ft/s (759 m/s)
3,784 ft·lbf (5,130 J)

I am aware of the physics involved bewsh, however i dispute your ballistic information, factory ballistic data confirms what i quoted.

Ian.
 
I am aware of the physics involved bewsh, however i dispute your ballistic information, factory ballistic data confirms what i quoted.

Ian.

Well Norma, Nosler and Winchester factory data MV's are worse, worse and exactly the same in that order for 200, 225 and 250gr bullets.
Even Hornady Superformance rounds are only 30fps faster than the figures above.
The 338 just doesn't shoot heavier bullets than the 300WM at similar speeds. I seriously considered it when I was offered one so did the homework and maths. Just not worth the hike in weight as the energy figures are on the whole lower.

​what data are you looking at?

http://www.norma.cc/en/Products/Hunting/338-Winchester-Magnum/Norma-FMJ-225-gr/

[URL="https://fusiontables.googleusercontent.com/fusiontables/embedviz?viz=CARD&q=select+*+from+1C5o2xk_hWmBsTsTUWwoZ262XZOtOsNloF2QDW28+where+col4+%3D+60086+order+by+col0+asc&tmplt=1&cpr=1"]https://fusiontables.googleusercontent.com/fusiontables/embedviz?viz=CARD&q=select+*+from+1C5o2xk_hWmBsTsTUWwoZ262XZOtOsNloF2QDW28+where+col4+%3D+60086+order+by+col0+asc&tmplt=1&cpr=1


http://www.winchester.com/products/rifle-ammunition/Advanced/AccuBond-CT/Pages/S338CT.aspx


[URL]http://www.hornady.com/store/338-Win-Mag-200-gr-SST-Superformance/
[/URL][/URL]
 
ft/lb energy figures are biased towards velocity and are perhaps not a true reflection of the rounds effectiveness ?
 
ft/lb energy figures are biased towards velocity and are perhaps not a true reflection of the rounds effectiveness ?

agreed,
but the point of the comparison (and my original comment) was to demonstrate that a 338WM should not be an issue "conditioned" for deer as it actually has less velocity and less energy than a 300WM which is never an issue getting the deer condition.
yet another example of the Police looking at calibre by itself and freaking out!
 
Bewsh i am reading direct from this book:

http://www.safaripress.com/Ammo-Ballistics-5/productinfo/FORKER93Z/

Where i can cross reference loads very quickly, not only can i not find a 300WN factory load with a bullet weight above 200gr, the 338 with 230gr and 250gr might not be as fast as the 300WM but clearly delivers more muzzle energy then the 300WM, after all it is muzzle energy we are talking about, in your own words "Energy wise it is below the 300WM"
Even your own links show this not to be the case!

Ian.
 
Bewsh i am reading direct from this book:

http://www.safaripress.com/Ammo-Ballistics-5/productinfo/FORKER93Z/

Where i can cross reference loads very quickly, not only can i not find a 300WN factory load with a bullet weight above 200gr, the 338 with 230gr and 250gr might not be as fast as the 300WM but clearly delivers more muzzle energy then the 300WM, after all it is muzzle energy we are talking about, in your own words "Energy wise it is below the 300WM"
Even your own links show this not to be the case!

Ian.

er actually the way I'm reading bewshers link the 300wm has more energy , sorry
 
Bewsh i am reading direct from this book:

http://www.safaripress.com/Ammo-Ballistics-5/productinfo/FORKER93Z/

Where i can cross reference loads very quickly, not only can i not find a 300WN factory load with a bullet weight above 200gr, the 338 with 230gr and 250gr might not be as fast as the 300WM but clearly delivers more muzzle energy then the 300WM, after all it is muzzle energy we are talking about, in your own words "Energy wise it is below the 300WM"
Even your own links show this not to be the case!

Ian.

Show me what numbers you are reading
I am willing to be corrected but I don't see the increase in ME in any of them
I am not comparing like for like bullets (even though the 200 and 220gr examples in my tables above are clear) but all bullets in the popular range
300WM 165-220gr
338WM 200-275gr

none but the lightest 338 is anywhere near 3000fps, most are 2500-2800fps
none but the very heaviest 300 is below 3000fps and most are 3000-3200fps

the links I posted are just what I found on factory sites but the tables are easier to cross reference,
they all show the energy levels to be lower with the exception of 165gr 300WM loads which to be honest at 3260fps is not what I would expect from a fast load when it will push a 185gr bullet the same speed.


​sort of lost its point now though
 
Last edited:
I have to agree with Ian on this topic. I own and use regularly both 300wm and 338wm, and let me say that the ballistic chart that bewsher500 post for the 300wm is WAY optimistic to say the least ! I have reloaded my 300wm for years and never been close to these performances. The ballistic chart for 338wm on the other hand is very close to reality. But charts can only tell you so much, but performance in the field let me tell you there is a significant difference between the two calibers…..the 338wm really is like a hammer of Thor, game just drops on the spot. I usually use 180 gr. in 300wm and 230-250 in 338wm and on bigger game the 338wm definitely has an edge.
 
Last edited:
I have to agree with Ian on this topic. I own and use regularly both 300wm and 338wm, and let me say that the ballistic chart that bewsher500 post for the 300wm is WAY optimistic to say the least ! I have reloaded my 300wm for years and never been close to these performances. The ballistic chart for 338wm in on the other hand very close to reality. But charts can only tell you so much, but performance in the field let me tell you there is a significant difference between the two calibers…..the 338wm really is like a hammer of Thor, game just drop on the spot. I usually use 180 gr. in 300wm and 230-250 in 338wm and on bigger game the 338wm definitely has an edge.

Thankyou Konnari but like Bewsh said, it does not really matter anymore, i dont think we will convince him anyway;)

Ian.
 
Thankyou Konnari but like Bewsh said, it does not really matter anymore, i dont think we will convince him anyway;)

Ian.

no convincing necessary...its coincidence that I have a 300WM, (I actually seriously considered the 338 when offered one)

The point was not a "which dick is bigger" more along the lines of "they are both similarly big dicks and f@#k deer" so conditioning deer for one over the other should not be an issue.:D
 
Even if I don't know properly your national legislation (I'm french), that's true that the customs paid attention to shoted brass in my hunting bag when I came in UK the last time.
Nevertheless, I use 338 WM since 2000 with success on many games. Many different bullets are availlable. on my side, I dedicate this rifle for driven hunt when animals are "pushed" by dogs and full of adrenaline. According to me a bullet not too soft would be perfect for stalking, I used Norma Oryx with success on many red deers without any damages.
Concerning the recoil he is really bearable and on my opinion more comfy that a 300 winch for example.
Rgds,
 
...............................................so conditioning deer for one over the other should not be an issue.:D

Absolutely, the problem is that when our licensing staff see "338" their minds are automatically one tracked to "338 Lapua, british army sniping round" we dont want anyone to have one of them for field shooting!!! forgetting that there are several very fine .330"-.338" cal Hunting rounds.

Ian.
 
Absolutely, the problem is that when our licensing staff see "338" their minds are automatically one tracked to "338 Lapua, british army sniping round" we dont want anyone to have one of them for field shooting!!! forgetting that there are several very fine .330"-.338" cal Hunting rounds.

Ian.

Tis the same with the .375 calibre. There are several others and not just the .375 H&H which is the only one that the plods seem to that every .375 calibre rifle is chambered for.
 
Back
Top