300 win mag vs 338 win mag?
- Thread starter orrbull48
- Start date
bigsky_songdogs
Active member
300 wm. More bullets selection, mice to moose, less recoil.
Love it
Love it
steve- N.M
New member
I love my 338 and if you hand load you can shoot from 160 grain bullets to 300 grain,But if you are recoil sensative you prolly should stick with the 300.
Steve
Steve
Tim Neitzke
New member
I've shot 300WM ,not a 338 WM. Guys that shoot the 338 tell me recoil is much more.
300WM is my limit with out a brake.
300WM is my limit with out a brake.
steve- N.M
New member
Tim is right the 338wm will thup ya but its not unbearable and with a little practice its easyally manageable. off the bench i can shoot mine about 15 shots before it starts makeing me flinch a little. Off a Bipod its not bad at all.
And this is without a break
Steve
And this is without a break
Steve
Harvey7
New member
I see that the sectional density of the 30 cal 180 grain bullet is .271 . The sectional density of the 338 cal 225 is .281. So the 338 should penetrate a little more.
The ballistic coefficient of the .308 interbond is .480 .
The ballistic coefficient of the .338 interbond is 515!
It seems that the 338 is superior in both areas, IF you can shoot it better.
The ballistic coefficient of the .308 interbond is .480 .
The ballistic coefficient of the .338 interbond is 515!
It seems that the 338 is superior in both areas, IF you can shoot it better.
tripod3
New member
The .300 is easier on you and performs very well. With a well designed stock the recoil is very manageable in all shooting positions. I have killed most everything with it including two grouse in one shot, and yes there was meat left, it took their heads off.
There is no overkill. Guys say a tiny caliber will kill with shot placement. Same goes with a larger caliber. Nothing wasted with a good shot. I regularly kill whitetails/elk with the .300 and waste very little to no meat.
the .338 is good but is always trying to bite you. Even with a well designed stock, some hunting shooting positions will make you vulnerable.
There is no overkill. Guys say a tiny caliber will kill with shot placement. Same goes with a larger caliber. Nothing wasted with a good shot. I regularly kill whitetails/elk with the .300 and waste very little to no meat.
the .338 is good but is always trying to bite you. Even with a well designed stock, some hunting shooting positions will make you vulnerable.
300 mag. vs 338 mag ? ..... I've ask myself that question because I do not own either one. I only need the killing power of the 270 , 30-06 , or 7mm mag. Any of these will cleanly take elk or caribu. If dangerous game like griz is on the menue or that once in a lifetime trip to Africa. 338 win mag would give more killing power over any 30 cal and under. Bigger heavier bullets with greater sectional density. 250gr. Nosler should do some serious damage on any game animal.
cornstalker
Active member
I prefer the .338. The performance I get with 225 grain bullets leaves nothing to be desired. Seems to ruin less meat than my buddy's 300 WM with 165's. Maybe the 180's would be a little better.
I had a muzzle brake installed on mine. My wife can shoot it comfortably on the bench. It actually kicks less than her 7mm Mag, which has a brake as well.
I had a muzzle brake installed on mine. My wife can shoot it comfortably on the bench. It actually kicks less than her 7mm Mag, which has a brake as well.
bigsky_songdogs
Active member
I've killed antelope to elk with my 300, and it puts a definative end to the animal with no noticable increase in meat loss over a smaller caliber.
Alot of people say you only need xxx caliber and anything bigger is overkill. Which is no different than the 17hmr debate, except with different players. In my neck of the woods you have to put an elk down immediatly because if he moves one wrong direction you will not recover him easily if at all. So ilike a little more horsepower on target. But everyone has their own style.
Alot of people say you only need xxx caliber and anything bigger is overkill. Which is no different than the 17hmr debate, except with different players. In my neck of the woods you have to put an elk down immediatly because if he moves one wrong direction you will not recover him easily if at all. So ilike a little more horsepower on target. But everyone has their own style.
6mm06
Well-known member
I have owned and shot both calibers over the years, and still have one of each. I don't have a lot of experience on big game with either, deer being the largest taken with each caliber, but if I had to choose just one for elk, it would be the .338 mag.
As some have noted, the .338 Win. Mag. is a thumper, especially from the bench when sighting in or doing load development. However, in the field under hunting conditions, the odds are that you won't even remember the recoil.
I'm used to shooting big caliber rifles, so it really doesn't bother me that much, but I realize that some people are more recoil sensitive. You need to choose a caliber that you are comfortable with, even if it's less than a .300 Mag. We all have to consider our limitations and what we can handle effectively, and I think that's more important than the caliber itself, within a given caliber range of course.
The frontal diameter of the .338 over the .300, plus the added bullet weight, will make a better elk cartridge, in my opinion. Having said that, if a .300 Win. Mag. is all I had, I would choose a good bullet and go elk hunting.
You won't go wrong with either cartridge, but the .338 will give you an advantage. It's not considered one of the top choices for Alaska or for African plains game for nothing.
As some have noted, the .338 Win. Mag. is a thumper, especially from the bench when sighting in or doing load development. However, in the field under hunting conditions, the odds are that you won't even remember the recoil.
I'm used to shooting big caliber rifles, so it really doesn't bother me that much, but I realize that some people are more recoil sensitive. You need to choose a caliber that you are comfortable with, even if it's less than a .300 Mag. We all have to consider our limitations and what we can handle effectively, and I think that's more important than the caliber itself, within a given caliber range of course.
The frontal diameter of the .338 over the .300, plus the added bullet weight, will make a better elk cartridge, in my opinion. Having said that, if a .300 Win. Mag. is all I had, I would choose a good bullet and go elk hunting.
You won't go wrong with either cartridge, but the .338 will give you an advantage. It's not considered one of the top choices for Alaska or for African plains game for nothing.
wyoshooter
New member
I have killed over a dozen elk, a shiras moose, a black bear and numerous deer and antelope with my .338 Win Mag. Performance on all has been stellar. If I ever get the chance It will be the gun I take with me to Alaska. You can't go wrong with it.
bigsky_songdogs
Active member
I should mention that the only big game rifle i used to have was a rem 700 .338 but i have a neck injury that prevents me from comfortably shooting a 338.
so wither way you are good to go
so wither way you are good to go
6mm06
Well-known member
This may be getting off topic just a bit, but I can't help it. I'm curious.
Wyoshooter, at what distances did you take the deer and antelope with the .338? I'm curious as to a capable range and trajectory of the cartridge for antelope, specifically.
My experience is limited to deer at around the 100-125 yard mark with both the .330 and .338. Both dropped like they were pole-axed.
Wyoshooter, at what distances did you take the deer and antelope with the .338? I'm curious as to a capable range and trajectory of the cartridge for antelope, specifically.
My experience is limited to deer at around the 100-125 yard mark with both the .330 and .338. Both dropped like they were pole-axed.
bigsky_songdogs
Active member
i dont know about him but my farthest is 368 yards on an antelope, connected my second shot
cornstalker
Active member
340 on antelope here. One shot dump. Got the shoulder on that one and blew up a little bit of meat.
Cornstalker is on to something. If you go with heavy bullets (250 275 grain) the .338 will recoil considerably more than a .300 WM with 180 grain bullets. If you use 200, 210 or 215 grain bullets (and even some 225 grainers) in the .338 the recoil is not that much more than a .300
I forget if it is 210 or 215 grain bullet but I love the Sierra GameKing .338 hand load I made a few years ago for a Colorado Elk hunt. I am serious I was very much like a 30-06 180 grain load. Not bad at all.
I forget if it is 210 or 215 grain bullet but I love the Sierra GameKing .338 hand load I made a few years ago for a Colorado Elk hunt. I am serious I was very much like a 30-06 180 grain load. Not bad at all.
6mm06
Well-known member
Bigsky Songdogs and Cornstalker, those are some really good distances on antelope with a .338. I may have to give mine a try one of these days. My 7mm STW did see some action in Wyoming this past October and got some impressive distances - 403 yards on a doe. My son used a .300 Rem Ultra Mag for a 360 yard shot a nice antelope buck. Since I haven't used the .338 at any great distances, I really didn't know what to expect. How did you sight at 100 yards, and what bullets did you use. We used Barnes TSX on all of ours.
I am currently shooting 210 gr. Barnes TSX in my .338 Mag. These bullets shoot really well, and like sumrifle mentioned, the recoil is not as bad as with heavier bullets.
I shot a whitetail buck at about 100 yards with that load. The entrance and exit wounds were no more destructive than what I have seen from a .270 and a 30-06. The deer dropped on the spot.
I touched one photo up a bit due to a lot of blood on the exit side skin (keeping with PM policy), but nothing was done to the exit wound nor the first photo where the bullet entered. It is as it happened.
Since we don't have grizzlies running around back here, I wanted to get the rifle out a bit and put it to use. If there is anything to the classic overkill philosophy, then the .338 ranks right up there. But, it was an enjoyable hunt and using the rifle made it even better. I like to do things differently sometimes.
Deer was shot on this side. It's difficult to see where the bullet hit.
Exit side, about the size of a quarter or a little more.
I am currently shooting 210 gr. Barnes TSX in my .338 Mag. These bullets shoot really well, and like sumrifle mentioned, the recoil is not as bad as with heavier bullets.
I shot a whitetail buck at about 100 yards with that load. The entrance and exit wounds were no more destructive than what I have seen from a .270 and a 30-06. The deer dropped on the spot.
I touched one photo up a bit due to a lot of blood on the exit side skin (keeping with PM policy), but nothing was done to the exit wound nor the first photo where the bullet entered. It is as it happened.
Since we don't have grizzlies running around back here, I wanted to get the rifle out a bit and put it to use. If there is anything to the classic overkill philosophy, then the .338 ranks right up there. But, it was an enjoyable hunt and using the rifle made it even better. I like to do things differently sometimes.
Deer was shot on this side. It's difficult to see where the bullet hit.
Exit side, about the size of a quarter or a little more.
ruggedcountry
New member
I have owned a few .300wm's and liked them all. Currently play with a Sendero pushing 125's, but it is someting that doesnt get far from the truck. This led me to a .300saum in a lightweight that I truely loved come deer season. Then my wife required a deer rifle, thus it now is hers (I can still borrow it now and again)hopefully one day she will find someting she wants more thus I will get it back. Giving her the SAUM justified my purchase of a .325wsm This is my go-to rifle for all big game anymore, it is both a pleasure to shoot and pack. In relation to the .338 I have a .340wby and like it as well, but I have carried it in the mountains ONE time now it waits patiently for something along the line of a White Sands Oryx hunt. Would have to say all are a blast to shoot and would not be scared to use any of them on any hunt I had the chance to go on.