Using the .338 Win Mag?

[Kestrel]

I'm thinking about a .338 Win Mag for possibly elk, moose, mule deer. My question, though, is - if I have a .375 H&H, what benefit would the .338 be?

How practical and versatile is the .338? (I'm always looking for an excuse for a new gun...)

The gun I was thinking about, is a Win M70 Classic Super Grade (26" bbl).

What are the ballistics of the .338? (bullet weights, velocity, etc.)

Thanks for any help,
Steve

 

[H&Hhunter]

Just my humble opinon............

The .375H&H will do everything that a .338 will do and so much more. The recoil level is close enough as to not be worth mentioning and the .375H&H tends to perform better than the .338 out of shorter barrels. Not to menton the .375 is legal for hunting dangerous game in Africa where the .338 is not.

The 375 will shoot a 260gr bullet as flat as the .338 shooting a 250gr bullet and then you have the option of using up to 380gfr bullet for the .375. and if you really want a flat shooter you can launch 210gr bullets at over 3000fps. The .375 is just a more versitile round no if ands or buts about it.

I've owned a .338 and I liked it but I really like my .375's better. When it comes down to it however it's just a matter of personal choice if your not planning on hunting African dangerous game. Both rounds have about the same power level, tajectory and recoil. So it winds up being what you prefer.

To my way of thinking if you already own a .375 the .338 is just to close of a preformer to justify having both. But if you really want one go for it it's a great round.

 

[BusMaster007]

I sold my .338 to get the .375 H&H I've always wanted - - - I just can't FINALIZE which platform it'll be in.
It WON'T be a CRF, though.

 

[Wildalaska]

In North America, if you have a 338 you dont need a 375 or vice versa...

The 375 has a notch over the 338 for really big game, the 338 is better IMHO for smaller game....

I use a 338...becasue thats what I found cheap first....

WildtheyareinterchangeableAlaska

 

[buttrap]

with lighter bullets the .338 shoots flater and kicks a lot less..end of story..unless you have a deal on hippos in the cascade or rocky mtns..

 

[goalie]

I disagree, the .338's I have shot have had much more perceived recoil with similar weight bullets than the .375 H&H has. Of course, a .375 H&H shooting 300+ grain bullets hot is going to kick more than a .38 shooting standard 250 grain bullets. As for trajectory, my .375 H&H shoots light bullets with about the same trajectory as a factory hunting .308 round. That's good enough for me.

 

[Preacherman]

Being an old African hand, I totally agree that the .375 H&H is a far more versatile round than any .338. It gives you the option of really heavy bullets for the big stuff, and throws lighter bullets with a nice flat trajectory out to any reasonable range. I agree with Wild, though, that if you already have a .338, it's probably not worthwhile going to the .375. My "ideal" battery would be spaced out, caliber-wise, going from a .223-class round for varminting, to a 6.5mm. for lighter game, to a good .30-caliber for general medium game, to a .375 or .416 for heavier stuff.