.338 winmag
- Thread starter ziggy
- Start date
I do not shoot mine enough. Possibly the first accepted larger bore calibre - good for plains game in Africa and pretty much everything in the US (including bear). I guess I've sort of answered the Q in as much as there's no real need in this country - but that shouldn't stop us from having one. Great pig gun....!!
certainly got plenty of down range oomph.....when 300WM runs out of steam. Right up there with the SAUMs etc. As ever ammo/reloading components are a consideration....
I guess it depends on what you're used to. Factory loads at 225gr let you know they are there - but it's manageable with reasonable accuracy - even with my limited skill
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
I picked up a new Win 70 super grade in 2008 then bought the cases and dies and I have yet to shoot it. The Kent firearms dept would not allow me to shoot it in the UK not even on a range to sight it in, I could have it on my ticket but for overseas stalking use only.
I have a couple & use them both. One is a ruger fitthed with express sights which I like to use on wet days with 275 gr semi spts for big deer in heavy cover. It's a 100m rifle. I have even done the Texas heart shot on a nice red/elk stag with this with spectacular result. The other a win model 70 with 26" barrel has a 3x 9 x40mm scope & I only use 225 grn barnes X in it now. It might be ok for longer shots for some, but 300m is long for me. I have used a few 250 gn premium pills in these but found them too hard. Some of the greatest bullet failures seem to happen in this caliber, either too soft or too hard, so some thought needs to be given to their choice.
I've been wondering about that condition as I've heard it mentioned a few times on SD - I wouldnt want the first time I used a rifle to be when I was pulling the trigger on a live target, and I'd feel much more comfortable knowing that I had the rifle zeroed and was familiar with its use.
Does that consideration not carry much weight with some FLOs, or would it be acceptable to go to WMS Firearms training (where you can shoot pretty much anything) or somewhere similar if you're not allowed to use it on your cleared land? Or is it just a blanket do-not-use?
Sinistral
Well-Known Member
That's rubbish. A .338WM can be shot on any private HOAC range as it's only 4000 FPE.... so can .338 Lapua, which is sub 5000 FPE.
As you've had it for 8 years unshot then your FLD's assessment was right. Even If you'd justified it for 'Range Use Only' you would have lost it due to lack of interest.
If the OP is serious he can buy it as 'a target rifle'. The next complication will be ammunition. IF there's any ammo around it will be Expanding, but cases & Sierra 250gr MK can be found. If he PM's me, I can arrange an 'approved range' session no bother.
bewsher500
Well-Known Member
actually at factory speeds its got less energy pretty much across the board
The MV drop as you step up to 250-285gr bullets drops into the 2450fps range
the 300wm can push a 200gr at between 28-3000fps
one of the first considerations is the potential for shooting through a transonic phase
the 338 is transonic some distance before the lighter 200-210 range bullets at normal MVs
250gr is your best bet but would need to be pushed at above factory MVs of around 2650fps
but you are using bullets with BCs of .67-.7 when you do it (compared to .55-.65 with the 300)
bewsher500
Well-Known Member
no doubt
but physics is physics, it has less energy in most comparisons and is transonic before 1000yds which is what the statements were countering
bigger frontal area makes a big difference on game though
I shoot a .222 and it knock roe deer down more times out of 10 than a .243 or 6.5x55
out of interest what weight bullets do you shoot?
bewsher500
Well-Known Member
Keep the calibre and rechamber to 338 edge (338/300rum)!
best of both worlds!
best of both worlds!
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