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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: 39768
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: 1462
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: 1019
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: 26908
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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: 1035
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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Reged: 10/08/05
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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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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39768
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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
.333 member


Reged: 04/01/09
Posts: 348
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
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3575
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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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26908
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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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