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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Rifles
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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39984
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
is the .338 Mag Dead?
      #387274 - 16/10/24 09:31 PM

Once upon a time, not long ago, the .338 Win Mag seemed the must have cartridge chambering. Especially in North Ametica. Bullets from 200 to 250 Guns were later extended to 160 gr to 275 gr, even 300 grs.

In Australia a sporting BAR in .338 Win Mag was considered an ideal sambar rifle. Nowadays a BLR might suffice.

The .338 Win Mag had the advantage of being chamberable in a standard length action.

The wildcats .338/06 and .338/08 later followed. Later legitimised.

Hotter offerings like the .330 Dakota followed.

But the original .338 Win Mag and especially the .338/06, was really a copy of the success of the great .318 Westley Richards, a .330" calibre rifle. Bullets weights like 180 gr but especially 250 gr made it a proven successful killer of large antelope and cape buffalo. WDM Bell regarded it as his favourite elephant hunting cartridge. A 250 gr .330" FMJ penetrative an elephant's skull deeply.

While slightly different, .30:06 brass can be expanded to make .318 WR cartridges.

Today there are substantial ranges of projectiles available in the. 338 , 8.5 mm calibre.

From my armchair I regard it as the ideal North American hunting calibre. And no slouch in Africa, fulfilling the same role as the original .318 WR.

Like the 9.3x62; an excellent larger medium game rifle. And would make a useful driven game choice as well.

Why has it died out in the fickle press?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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3DogMike
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Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1468
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: NitroX]
      #387278 - 17/10/24 01:49 AM

Just one man’s opinion here, and I love my .338 Win Mag Ruger No.1

Firstly, I think that in the USA, the majority hunting of Whitetail Deer and Black Bears does not require this much gun.
Second, there is the particular fascination with “AR type” platforms, the 6.5mm fad, and having to have the “newest and greatest” rifle/cartridge.
Third, seems to me that many “average” Americans are recoil intolerant and think even a common .30-06 is a huge kicker.

The .338 Win Mag is better specialized for larger game found in the Western USA and Alaska. Never going to be the “every man” choice of hunting cartridge and it is not the newest whiz bang offering from the industry.

Just my 2˘ worth…..
- Mike

--------------------
"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

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85lc
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Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1038
Loc: Georgia, USA
Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: 3DogMike]
      #387279 - 17/10/24 02:10 AM

Mike,

I agree with your opinion with the exception that I believe the 338 WM is really not needed in the western US where the game may be elk. There are milder cartridges that are considered ideal elk cxartridges.

A friend has a 338 WM which he used for whitetail deer but retired that rifle.

--------------------
RB

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27093
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Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: 85lc]
      #387281 - 17/10/24 02:20 AM

For hunting elk and moose in grizzly country, a ctg. is a great choice, as-are the 9.3's and .375's.
Needed? no, but those who use them, like them a LOT.
Most around here used the 200gr. Speers on up to the now-discontinued 275gr. Speer. I of 2 chaps who hoarded those heavier Speer bullets, used them only for moose hunting, but both guys also liked the 200gr. Speer.
I can "see" the use of the 160 to 185gr. "X" bullets to be more suitable for smaller game at longer ranges, but allow the use of this "old" favourite ctg. and rifle.
If you need a rifle to "do it all", the .338 Mag. is a good choice.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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mauserand9mm
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Reged: 03/09/09
Posts: 1042
Loc: Queensland, Australia
Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: DarylS]
      #387287 - 17/10/24 12:31 PM

Being a good cartridge doesn't necessarily guarantee long term popularity I guess - something new always come along to displace it. Maybe they need to rename it to "338 Creedmoor" to resurrect interest in it?

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DarylS
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Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: mauserand9mm]
      #387288 - 17/10/24 12:48 PM

LOL - the belted mangle-ums are a thing of the past it seems, with the rimless cases taking over. Afterall, the belts are superfluous.
The .375 Ruger necked down might seal the fate of the .338 Winnie.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: DarylS]
      #387290 - 17/10/24 03:34 PM

Quote:

LOL - the belted mangle-ums are a thing of the past it seems, with the rimless cases taking over. Afterall, the belts are superfluous.
The .375 Ruger necked down might seal the fate of the .338 Winnie.



A .338/06 already exists. A 8.5x63 also exists.

The .330 Dakota is based on the .404 cartridge.

Notneed for a Crymoor.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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450_EXPRESS
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Reged: 04/01/09
Posts: 351
Loc: S.C.Montana
Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: NitroX]
      #387293 - 17/10/24 11:45 PM

The only thing dead about my .338 is the game it shoots. I find it excellent for putting meat in the freezer. With the load I shoot , 70gr 4831, and a .225 gr Nosler Partition or a Hornady Interlock, very little blood shot meat, just match the bullet to the game, Nosler for elk and large black bear and the Hornady for smaller. Most of the time it'll do like Ol'Elmer said and you can eat right up to the bullet hole. As far as gun writers ,met some years back most were hacks with a typewriter and their hand out for freebies, very few were really knowledgeable, they were rare they were handy for advertising that's all. These ones run off like little kids because it's new and shiny, as far as the AR I couldn't care less about them or the "platform". Here in US it's much easier to find components for the .338 than the .318, same for the metric cartridges.

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Marrakai
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Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3612
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: 450_EXPRESS]
      #387300 - 18/10/24 10:24 AM

While I love the traditional vintage British hunting cartridges, to the point of waiting on time to stock-up a .318 Westley Richards barreled action in my gunsafe (and waiting on affordable loading dies!), I have said many times that imho the .338 Win Mag is the cartridge the British gun-trade was trying to 'invent' all along!

.333 Jeffery, .33 BSA, even the .318 WR all fall in line behind the .338 Win Mag when it comes to ballistics and performance down-range.
Hell, the oft-criticized belt was even invented by the Brits!

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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DarylS
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Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: Marrakai]
      #387308 - 19/10/24 04:16 AM

Yes, it was, and was needed on that little 400/.375 of 1905. After that, not so much.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Waidmannsheil
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Reged: 19/04/13
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Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: DarylS]
      #387313 - 19/10/24 01:29 PM

The 338WM is still a popular cartridge in Victoria for hunting Sambar, lots of guys in our club and heaps of customers have them. I have one as well, have had for 35 years and find it a superb cartridge. Easy to load, recoil is minimal, gentle on brass and very effective. I only use 250 grain projectiles. It has always had a steady following here in Vic.

Matt.

--------------------
There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.

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DarylS
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Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: DarylS]
      #387315 - 20/10/24 02:16 AM

Quote:

LOL - the belted mangle-ums are a thing of the past it seems, with the rimless cases taking over. Afterall, the belts are superfluous.
The .375 Ruger necked down might seal the fate of the .338 Winnie.



My comments do not address the popularity of the .338 Win Mag. It is for sure, a popular ctg. here in B.C. for hunting moose and elk. Many hunters have one and are very happy with their performance on moose, elk and grizzlies.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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LTK
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Reged: 27/02/24
Posts: 40
Loc: Alberta Canada
Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: DarylS]
      #387321 - 20/10/24 12:32 PM

IMO, as far as suppository guns go, the .338 WM made all other calibres obsolete. Best all around calibre (for North America). Doesn’t mean I don’t like/appreciate my .500BPE or 45-90 but if I had to be limited to one hunting centerfire calibre it would have to be the .338. My Ruger #1 in .338 has killed a LOT of game and everything I ever pointed it at fell over and I can only recall one instance where more than a single shot was required. Now, having said that, I no longer hunt with mine as I hunt with muzzleloaders and intend to use my .500 once I get a satisfactory load for it.

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coll416
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Reged: 19/02/12
Posts: 82
Loc: Central Queensland
Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: LTK]
      #387386 - 23/10/24 11:38 PM

Definately a great medium bore the .338W handles almost everything. I have shot water buff, scrub bulls & various other heavy hoofed ferals with this cartridge using bullets from 200-250grains. I do however prefer to use the 9.3x62 with 250-320grain bullets on the same animals, my observation of the terminal ballistics shooting both cartridges in the same conditions on the same day is both are efficient with similar deep wound channels & quick dispatch. Muzzle blast is my key negative with the .338, splitting hairs I know....
A .318 now there is a dream!

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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
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Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: coll416]
      #387387 - 24/10/24 12:44 AM

I love my 338 .... Its not dead ... but everything I shoot at with it ... is...








--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: is the .338 Mag Dead? [Re: buckstix]
      #387388 - 24/10/24 02:43 AM

The same with my 14 bore English Sporting Rifle, but they
aren't very popular these days, same as the .338, perhaps?
Of course, I'll admit there are many more .338 WMags being
used these days, than 14 bore Sporting Rifles.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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