Oh no! I now own a .338 Win Mag

[gunrinwa]

Got a good deal on a Left hand stainless .338 Win mag Browning. Reasoning was I only get a few days to Elk hunt, and I wanted to have a little more knock down power than my .30-06. I'd like to hear peoples thoughts on scope choices and loads. It's my plan to someday reload as well. What can you tell me about this caliber?

[Bean Counter]

Congrats! I'm all for jumping on a good gun deal 

... That being said, I'd like to hear stories about how your '06 wasn't enough knock down power  I've never seen an elk run too far after a well placed .30-06 round--maybe 5 yards. If it were me, I'd resell it and buy a better riflescope for my '06 with the profit.

[demontang]

look toward the .225gr accubonds. They are flat shooting and will perform on coyote up to moose. My handload have my .338, 223, and 243 all shooting about the same out to 400yds 

[KillBilly]

look toward the .225gr accubonds. They are flat shooting and will perform on coyote up to moose. My handload have my .338, 223, and 243 all shooting about the same out to 400yds 

 
I load Accubonds in almost all of my calibers. I seem to get the best performance from them consistently.

[Rick]

I shot 225gr Core-Lokts out of mine.

I sold mine to a member here after I carried it for 5-6 seasons. Went back to a 30-06 after I realized elk are only bulletproof on the internet.

[Biggerhammer]

225 Accubonds..
 

[JohnVH]

never tried accubonds, better than barnes?

[gunrinwa]

Congrats! I'm all for jumping on a good gun deal 

... That being said, I'd like to hear stories about how your '06 wasn't enough knock down power  I've never seen an elk run too far after a well placed .30-06 round--maybe 5 yards. If it were me, I'd resell it and buy a better riflescope for my '06 with the profit.

You know Bigger hammer and all! No one needs a safe full of guns, but I get 2 weekends a year, failure is not an option. So why not. Balistically the .338 has the same energy at 200 yards as 06 at muzzle from what I've read.
I got a Zeiss Conquest 3x9 on my '06 so I don't need any better. Now glass for the .338 might just go Zeiss again?

[carpsniperg2]

225g accubonds in the 338 wm I like the 200g in my 340wby

[Special T]

Since i'm a LH hunter as well i would tell you to hold on to that gun. LH gun sales make up only 3% or so of sales. I had too look a long time to get the 06 i wanted and i paid full price. I have rarely seen steals on LH bolts, normally i see a used 06 7mm with a med grade scope for just under the price of a new rifle... and not normally what i'm really interested in. 

[6x6in6]

I had a 338WM for about 5 years.  Ruger M77.  It was topped with Leupy VXIII 3.5x10x50.  250g Partitions pushed by IMR 4350 loaded to the Nosler max recommended charge.
It was a tack driver!!!!  It dropped 3 elk for me, very quickly!
Got tired of packing the total weight of gun/scope and gave it to my son-in-law the summer of '10.  He's young, he doesn't feel the pain to the shoulder form the pack or the trigger squeeze. 

Besides, I'm good on Christmas and birthdays with him until, oh probably, 2015.  And I created space in the gun safe.  Win/win!

[KillBilly]

never tried accubonds, better than barnes?

I have done quite a bit of experimenting with different bullets in my different calibers. I find the Nosler Accubonds to be the best shooting bullet out of all the brands I've reloaded. Not getting into expansion or stopping power, I find that my Browning, My Winchester and all 3 of my Tikkas like the noslers best. Oops, forgot my AR... it likes them best also. So that's what I use and stand behind. Many of the bullets out there are probably just as good for other reloaders and their particular guns but all of my guns like Accubonds.

[Ingwe]

2-7 leupold and 250 grain nosler partition. It will take care of anything you hunt.

[C-Money]

Cool! Glad you got a new toy! 225 accubond is what I would shoot!

[yorketransport]

I'm going to jump on the 225 Accubond band wagon as well. They're a great shooting bullet. I wouldn't over look the 225 TTSX though. That is one of the most accurate bullets I've shot out of any of my 338s. The Barnes just needed more tweeking to get them to shoot well.

Andrew

[high country]

It's near impossible to best the conquest for like money.

My opinion from cheapest on;
4200
Conquest
S&b, nightforce, Leica.....etc

[Bean Counter]

Congrats! I'm all for jumping on a good gun deal 

... That being said, I'd like to hear stories about how your '06 wasn't enough knock down power  I've never seen an elk run too far after a well placed .30-06 round--maybe 5 yards. If it were me, I'd resell it and buy a better riflescope for my '06 with the profit.

You know Bigger hammer and all! No one needs a safe full of guns, but I get 2 weekends a year, failure is not an option. So why not. Balistically the .338 has the same energy at 200 yards as 06 at muzzle from what I've read.
I got a Zeiss Conquest 3x9 on my '06 so I don't need any better. Now glass for the .338 might just go Zeiss again?

LOL, I DO have a safe full of guns. 

Not sure I follow your logic--you've got the right glass on your rifle though  It sounds like you aren't limited to a budget which is just fine but I would probably be spending my money on trail cams and/or a good GPS. Again, why choose one or the other when you can have all I guess.

FWIW, most of my hunting buddies and I all use the cheaper ammo out there. My main hunting partner hunts the same caliber as I do. Here are a couple of .30-06 Springfield rounds recovered from the hide of elk. These are Federal Power Shok's... Similar to Remington Core-Lokt. Both brands mentioned sell for about $1/round. Both of these were one shot, one kill. Both shots were around 150 yards, with a rib being smashed on the way in, the heart shredding to goo, then passing through the shoulder blade, and finally stopping in the hide just before exiting. Both elk walked a few paces, then piled up.

Here's to hoping your shoulder can tolerate the recoil for practice sessions and your wallet can cough up $$$ for those magnum rounds. 

[webbspinner]

Put a Bushnell Elite Firefly 3x9 on my Ruger 338, Love it nice heavy duplex and the Rainguard HD kicks azz.  Thinking about replacing a few of my scopes with some more elites, the 4200's were just on sale at Cabelas for under 200.00. Closing out last years inventory I imagine.  Shot the Hornady interlocks in mine this year in 225 but will be moving to the accubond, I am using it in all my other rifles and really have good luck with it.  Just my    I love my 338, hope you enjoy yours.

[Ridgeratt]

Congrats 
My primary elk rifles are 338's and wouldn't change for a minute.
Never had to chase anything that ran into a bullet yet.   

[Huntbear]

225 gr. accubonds.  If you reload, can give you a load to play with... send me a message.  ours shoot real well.  2 rds. touching at 200 yds. is good enough for me.