Opinions on .338 win. mag.

[Hunting7mm]

So guys I normally shoot my 7mm rem. mag. for big game.  160gr. Accubond and it does pretty well.  Lately I've been wanting a larger caliber rifle.  No real reason except for just wanting one.  A buddy and I were talking and were both interested in either .300 win. mag. or the .338 win.mag.  I was leaning more toward the .338 just because.  Anyways any opinions? 

[Biggerhammer]

The .338 Win Mag is a excellent cartridge, my all time favorite chambering for many years has been the .300 Win Mag. I've taken many animals with the .300 Winchester and several with the .338 Win Mag. For a general purpose hunting rifle the .338 is a power house, one can run 180gr bullets flat and fast for the bore size or they can shoot heavier bullets than the .300 Win can.  I guess it's all personal preference, I wouldn't hesitate to use either.

[snowpack]

I think it is a pretty good round.  Popular enough to come in a large selection of rifles and ammo combos.  It would be fine for any animal that lives in the state.  Not quite as flat a shooter as the 7 mm, but it can deliver a big bullet out to some good distances.  You can get up to 300 grain bullets for reloading.

[Jonathan_S]

.338 win mag is not enough gun for around here 

okay, just kidding.  I don't have much experience with the .338 but the .300 win mag is a really awesome gun and a flat shooting, tack-driver.  So is the gun you already have though 

If you're just dying for a new gun and don't have a bad case of magnumitis, I'd look into the .300 WSM, definitely cheaper to reload 

[Rick]

Not enough difference between your 7mm and a .300 Win mag to make the switch IMO. Go straight to the .338

I shot a Ruger "boat paddle" M77 MKII  .338 for a few years.  Decent rifle,just weighed a ton.

I've actually been thinking of picking up another .338 WM. 

[bobcat]

I agree with the previous post- not much difference between a 7mm Rem Mag and a 300 Win Mag. Go with the 338 if you want to go bigger. Awesome elk cartridge. You could also go to something like a 300 ultra mag if you want a flat shooter.

[Westside88]

I've had a 338 win mag in a Browning Stainless A bolt for about 16 years. I love it. Hard hitting pretty flat shooting. It sends a 225 grain bullet downrange with quite a bit of retained foot pounds of energy. 300 is an awesome all around gun too, but with a 7 mag it's pretty close.  Performs quite nicely on Elk although I have no reservations using it on deer too, just stay out of the shoulder

[LEN]

Little bit different opinion here. The 7mm 300 and the 338 are in about the same class. If were me I and wanted a bigger gun I would go the the 338 edge, bigger is better? Or go to a really bigger gun and go to the 375H&H and be done with it.

LEN

[Biggerhammer]

Little bit different opinion here. The 7mm 300 and the 338 are in about the same class. If were me I and wanted a bigger gun I would go the the 338 edge, bigger is better? Or go to a really bigger gun and go to the 375H&H and be done with it.

LEN

The .338 Edge is a wicked cartridge.

[C-Money]

If you can handle the recoil and not develop a flinch, Go for the .338 Win. As said, lights out elk round. They do kick!

[RadSav]

I have both the 325WSM and the 338WM.  Both excellent shooters and both like factory ammo as much as they do hand loads.  That's a big plus for me over the 300 WM as most I've played with didn't like much factory ammo.  325WSM is a flat shooter and flat out hammers poor little bear, but in the Kimber Montana it's not the most enjoyable gun to shoot.  The Winchester 70 338WM just may be the most accurate gun in my safe.  Don't carry it much since it's 8+#, but dang if that extra weight doesn't make it a nice gun to shoot.

I agree with what has been said about the 7mm.  Especially if you are shooting the 160 there really isn't much difference over the 300.  Of course you can't shoot 200 grainers in it like you could the 300, but if I were going that heavy I'd rather combine it with the big bore of the 325 or 338.

IMO the 300WM or 300WSM have one advantage in that they can be found in reasonably priced, super accurate, lightweight rifles like the Tikka and Sako A7.  Most likely going to spend almost a grand extra to find a 325 or 338 with those features.  Unless you get lucky like I did and get a good one from a H-W member

[BULLBLASTER]

If I was going to buy a 338 it would be a bigger case than a wm. I'd get a rum or edge. Just because of more power. I would buy a 300 wm over a 338 wm. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Well of you want the entry level 338 get one.  If you want a flat shooting hammer of doom that will give you the max out of a 225 or 250 get bullet  get a 338 rum or 340 wby mag.  The 338 win mag is just flat out disappointing compared to those rifles.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Ingwe]

I have a browning A-bolt .338 win mag that I bought in 1988, one of the first A-bolts. .338 win mag is about the only gun I have used since then. I have shot many deer and elk with it plus about 40 African animals. I shoot 250 grain nosler partition bullets in that gun and most animals have been one shot kills, although most of my hunting is close range in the timber. Even in Africa never shot over 200 yds. Best deer and elk gun ever in my opinion. I have a couple friends who live in Alaska and all they use is .338 on moose and caribou. Both have also killed dall sheep and grizzly. I also now have a Tikka t3 .338 win mag that I use 225 grain nosler accubond bullets in. It is super accurate and only weighs 7.52 lbs with a leupold scope. I like shooting big guns so the kick does not bother me. Maybe if you are doing a lot of long range shooting, the .338 win mag would not be the best gun but for me it is the best.

[ICEMAN]

I love these "just because" threads! Like a bunch of kids wishing for xmas gifts!!!

I have a 300RUM and love it.

If I ever go bigger, it will be a 338.