Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: spoonman on August 15, 2015, 11:00:51 PM

Title: 338 win mag
Post by: spoonman on August 15, 2015, 11:00:51 PM: Hello,

So I have a chance to pick up a Browning A bolt rocky mtn elk foundation version .338 win mag for a very good deal. I'm not too familiar with browning rifles and wanted to hear some of your experiences and or thoughts? Also what round has worked best for you guys? I have been looking to get a new rifle for bear/elk/moose and I think this one will work just finel. Thanks In advance!!
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: MountainWalk on August 15, 2015, 11:12:56 PM: Good rifle. Don't like them, but good guns. Love the 338wm. You will too.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: bobcat on August 15, 2015, 11:14:28 PM: I like A bolts, I've had my 270 Winchester since 1997. But they're lightweight rifles, and because of that I'm not sure I'd want one in 338. If recoil is not an issue for you, then it'd probably be a great rifle. I think the 338 Win Mag is a very good, and versatile cartridge. Just if it were me I'd want it in a rifle that's at least one pound heavier than the A bolt.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: yorketransport on August 16, 2015, 06:20:09 AM: I think it's the perfect caliber for WA. Even better if you hand load. I've never owned a browning rifle so I can't say much about the gun it's self. I've shot a few though and they all felt and shot like a quality gun.

Andrew
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Magnum_Willys on August 16, 2015, 06:48:42 AM: Probably has the boss muzzle brake? Elk getting machine.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: spoonman on August 16, 2015, 07:20:10 AM: Thank you guys for all the feedback! There is not a brake on the rifle and I don't really intend to put one on as I want to keep my hearing and the hearing of others around, I also don't mind the recoil that much of bigger cal. guns. I'm going to probably start with the Barns vor-tx 210 at first and see how that works.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: black hog on August 16, 2015, 07:44:26 AM: I shoot a tikka t3 in a 338 win mag and my brother shoots one in a Browning a bolt he loves it
Great for elk moose large bear
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Igor on August 16, 2015, 08:10:47 AM: Quote from: spoonman on August 15, 2015, 11:00:51 PM
Hello,

So I have a chance to pick up a Browning A bolt rocky mtn elk foundation version .338 win mag for a very good deal. I'm not too familiar with browning rifles and wanted to hear some of your experiences and or thoughts? Also what round has worked best for you guys? I have been looking to get a new rifle for bear/elk/moose and I think this one will work just finel. Thanks In advance!!

I believe that the tang-safety and the 60° bolt-throw make the Browning A-bolt an excellent hunting rifle. Also, I think Browning uses a McMillan synthetic stock which is a much quieter stock than most synthetics. Go for it !!
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: MountainWalk on August 16, 2015, 09:52:54 AM: If I have one complaint about the two A bolts I 've shot was that the stock had too much of a pistol grip coupled with to me, a shortish stock. Kicked more unpleasantly than the calipers should have. Shot a 300wm and a 7Rem. Both were synthetic. Great guns, not for me.
When I loaded for the big 338, I really liked 225-250 NP
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: spoonman on August 16, 2015, 03:42:40 PM: Well I got the rifle all set up and I hit the range and that thing is awesome!!! I'm shooting right at 1" groups at a 100 yards but I hope to tighten that up a bit with some more time with the rifle. I also would like to shoot it at further distances to make sure im good with at all ranges. I'm excited to shoot a bit more then get out and try and take my second bear of the season. Thank you guys for all your feedback.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Westside88 on August 16, 2015, 03:52:54 PM: I've used one since '96. I love it, I have no desire for anything different. It's a good shooter and I think the recoil is less than some guns I've shot in .338. I think it may have to do with the stock being pretty balanced. They seem to like 225 grain bullets
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Biggerhammer on August 16, 2015, 06:56:21 PM: Haha!

Not for the recoil sensative princess crew here on Hunt WA. Can't stand pansies, even Jack O'Conners wife shot a cartridge that out classed his. Screw the .270 Winchester!

The .338 Win Mag is a "Do All" cartridge and a daisy of a chambering for the handloader. One wouldn't be under gunned with the right bullet selection anywhere on the planet no matter the game.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Ingwe on August 16, 2015, 08:46:46 PM: I bought my A-bolt .338 Winchester mag in 1997. I have killed many deer and elk with it also many African animals. It is the one rifle I would never get rid of.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: GoldenOscar on August 16, 2015, 09:18:06 PM: A Bolt Stainless stalker .338 is my go to Meat and potatoes gun.......Antelope & Deer with 180 gr Accubonds and .225 or .250 Barnes for Moose......pretty much shoots everything well
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: spoonman on August 17, 2015, 06:09:51 PM: Well it's official, little over 24 hours since I shot the 338 and I'm having withdrawals! Got the shakes and everything.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Bob33 on August 17, 2015, 06:19:06 PM: Quote from: spoonman on August 16, 2015, 03:42:40 PM
Well I got the rifle all set up and I hit the range and that thing is awesome!!! I'm shooting right at 1" groups at a 100 yards but I hope to tighten that up a bit with some more time with the rifle. I also would like to shoot it at further distances to make sure im good with at all ranges. I'm excited to shoot a bit more then get out and try and take my second bear of the season. Thank you guys for all your feedback.
That's great to hear. You have a shooter in a versatile caliber. :tup:
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Taco280AI on August 17, 2015, 06:31:27 PM: I like ABolts but you may want to get a limbsaver on it
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: spoonman on August 17, 2015, 07:04:31 PM: Quote from: Taco280AI on August 17, 2015, 06:31:27 PM
I like ABolts but you may want to get a limbsaver on it

It already has a pad on it and it seams to work good enough for me. I have never used one, does it make that big of a difference? Or are you talking about the one that goes on the barrel?
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Bob33 on August 17, 2015, 07:14:59 PM: Quote from: spoonman on August 17, 2015, 07:04:31 PM
Quote from: Taco280AI on August 17, 2015, 06:31:27 PM
I like ABolts but you may want to get a limbsaver on it

It already has a pad on it and it seams to work good enough for me. I have never used one, does it make that big of a difference? Or are you talking about the one that goes on the barrel?
A Limbsaver is a brand of recoil pad. If you don't have any problem recoil-wise shooting the gun as is, it is little value.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Halo on August 20, 2015, 08:42:31 PM: Quote from: spoonman on August 17, 2015, 07:04:31 PM
Quote from: Taco280AI on August 17, 2015, 06:31:27 PM
I like ABolts but you may want to get a limbsaver on it

It already has a pad on it and it seams to work good enough for me. I have never used one, does it make that big of a difference? Or are you talking about the one that goes on the barrel?

I think you are thinking a Limbsaver barrel de-resonator. I put one on my .338 win mag and played with many rounds with and without the de-resonator and was skeptical but it pretty much tightened each group up by about a third. I've tried them on other rifles with similar results. I would definitely try it.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: spoonman on August 21, 2015, 02:34:57 PM: Might have to look into that. Shot the rest of my first box of hornady 200grn with consistent results, now shooting Barnes ttsx 210grn and it has tightened up ever so slightly. Either way very happy at this point and I am taking it bear hunting tomorrow morning!!!
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: MountainWalk on August 21, 2015, 02:43:55 PM: Rock on!
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Labs07 on September 03, 2015, 10:10:27 AM: I have had one of the stainless stalkers with the Boss for years now and it is a kick butt gun! I have taken Elk and deer with. I killed a cow elk a few years back at 485 yards and dropped her in her tracks..... not many guns I own could do that.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: starbailey on September 03, 2015, 10:42:58 AM: I used the Nosler 210 partition for years with great results from moose to blacktail. It's my favorite cartridge.
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: Woodchuck on September 03, 2015, 10:52:19 AM: 225 Gr TSX fan here. :tup:
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: ValleyHunter88 on September 21, 2015, 09:04:31 AM: I agree, probably won't find a much better elk cartridge. I shoot 250 grain Barnes TTSX out of my 340 Weatherby and they shoot great! I'm not a huge fan of the A Bolt, but they aren't a bad gun. If you need to know more about the 338 WM just look and see what Dave Petzal has to say about the cartridge.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 338 win mag
Post by: demontang on September 21, 2015, 09:18:53 AM: Great round I load up 225gr accubonds and shot all general season game animals in the state with it. As for a bolt files I don't like the stock shape they seem to kick harder then other rifles because of it.