What to do with a .338 Win?

[Snorkel Bob]

I have the possibility of buying a Remington 700BDL Stainless/synthetic in 338 for 500.00 out the door. or I could buy a Sako 75 Stainless/Synthetic .338 Win for 800 out the door. Both NIB
Problem is that I shoot my 7mm Rem Mag real well with my handloads. Got her dialed in to .5 MOA.
But Im always looking for deals with guns, and the 338 seems like the next logical step in size, especially if I want to go after elk here in the next couple of years.
Which one to get? Or should I by-pass both of them

 

[Wildalaska]

If ya really want a 338, get the Sako.....better deal...plus the extra wieght will help tame the recoil. Ya really dont "need" it if you have a 7, since that will do everyhting a 338 will do, but hey, none of us "need" more guns, neh?

WildouchAlaska

 

[artherd]

.338 is a great caliber, it can reach waaaaaaaay out with the 300gr SMKs.

Although, your 7mm mag is fine for elk. But you NEED a .338!

Get whichever of the two you like best, both are great guns. The sako is more $ off msrp I think.


I've got a .338 Lapua Mag (Armalite AR-30) it's a 1/2MOA gun when I do my part. the lapua is in another class, good to 2kyds with the 300gr SMKs.

They go for $1300. Worth thinking about.

 

[duckslayer]

I agree that you should get the heaviest of the choices, or you won't shoot it very often.

And to help your purchase decision...You are not a real man if you don't have a .338!!!

DuckapparentlynotarealmanSlayer
(apologizing to WA for the MO hijack )

 

[dakotasin]

the 338 is a fantastic cartridge. very flexible, and accuracy that will surprise ya.

i'm going to go the other way, here, and say get whichever you like better. i am not a fan of heavy rifles at all. so, i'd get the remington, and then look for ways to cut the weight on it - which is pretty easy to do w/ rems.

to me, recoil of the 338 is very tolerable, and i wouldn't mind having another one a little lighter.

used my 338 on deer last season - sort of as a test bed for elk, and it worked out very well. i wish i had gotten a 338 years ago.

 

[Preacherman]

I'm afraid I'm going to swim against the tide here. I regard the "mid-.30's" as largely overhyped cartridges, too powerful for many uses and not powerful enough for others. I'd pass on any .338 on which I had to spend my own money.

I'd strongly recommend going up to a .375 H&H Magnum. It has no more recoil than a .338, but uses far heavier bullets, and is as accurate as you could wish out to 250-300 yards. It's plenty powerful enough for anything in North America, including the biggies in Alaska, and is also powerful enough to take to Africa as an all-around rifle if you want to go there.

IMHO, the .338 and its ilk are simply overpowered .30-calibers, and don't offer enough advantage over their smaller brethren to impress me very much. I'd rather scale my rifles to get real advantage out of each jump, as in (say) .243 - .30-caliber of your choice (mine's .308) - .375 H&H. This makes much more sense to me. However, others will (and are free to) disagree, I guess.

 

[Warner]

Amen 110% to Preacherman's thoughts on the .338/.375 H&H comparison.

I've owned both, reloaded for both and found the .375 to be ultra-versatile and a most pleasant "big bore". It can easily go down to the .338's territory for a visit when needed, yet still go UP to places where the .338 cannot.

Unfortunately I owned the .338 first, and learned the harder way.

 

[SteveS]

Preacherman, I disagree that .338's are just over powered .30's. I like being able to shoot heavier bullets (250 gr.) and it is plenty accurate out to my limit. OTOH the .375 is a nice choice and I will probably break down and get one in the future. Just when I think I have every gun I want, I always find some other niche to fill. IMHO, you couldn't go wrong with either choice.

 

[artherd]

The .338 Lapua has more energy at 400yds than the .375H&H has at 200yds.

 

[Preacherman]

Artherd, that's largely irrelevant in terms of the intended use of the rifle. The point is - what is enough energy to get the job done? I could drive a .30-caliber bullet fast enough to equal or beat the energy figures of a .375 H&H, but what's the point? Also, the .338 Lapua was designed specifically for military sniping purposes, to retain downrange energy for long range use. It's unlikely to prove popular as a sporting round, being significantly "overbore" for most hunting-style bullets.

 

[artherd]

PM: While I hardly condone it, I do know of a guy who has taken Elk at 900yds with his .338 Lapua. He's sighted in at that range on a clearing, and is confidently able to make sub 6" groups at that range. Retained energy does the rest.

Good example of the general use of hunting arms? no. Intresting extreme use? Yep.


If you're going to hunt outside North America with it, consider the .375H&H. If it's just for giggles and continental hunting, the .338 will do just fine, and is the choice for 1k yard target shooting too.

 

[only1asterisk]

I agree with the .338 being a logical next step. A 358 Norma or 9.3x64 might be my choice, but thats akin to 270 vs 30-06.


David

 

[RH45]

I've owned a Remington in that same configuration, and it has become my favorite rifle.
Mine shoots almost every load to the same point of aim at 100 yards, under an inch, and with Federal premium 210 Nosler partitions will shoot 3/8" at 100 yards regularly.
I agree that a .375 is more versitile, but, I have a .458 also, so I really don't NEED a .375 too, but, who knows, maybe a .375 will wander it's way in to my gun safe anyway.

 

[Northslope Nimrod]

On recent elk hunt: A buddy of mine dropped a cow elk at over 700 yards. Missed once then dropped it. My dad also had a tag....he just left his 30-06 in the truck....not even thinking of toying with such a long range shot.
If you're going to hunt elk where long range shots are necessary then get the .338. If you hunt elk in close range...then the 7mm Mag with the heaviest bullets you can put through it will do great. (with just the right amount of expansion).
Good sniping capabilities with the .338. I'm just too poor or too cheap to buy the bullets for that bear. Of course, last year my High Energy Nosler Partition '06 rounds were $2 a piece.

 

[duckslayer]

I'm just too poor or too cheap to buy the bullets for that bear.

That is a good reason to take up loading your own. Factory .300 SAUM bullets are $2 each, but I can load them, with better accuracy, for around $0.45.

 

[brian roberts]

.375....

what I want is a good, light action, but i'll settle on a LOOOOOOONNNNNG Rem for the ultra-mags. then get a #3 or 4 contour Kreiger, 28-34", put it in a McMillan Edge, cryo-prossed, open the bolt-face, then chamber 'er fer .378. should be able to get it around 7-8lbs, but i might have to go w/a shorter or lighter bbl. i'm fightin' the weight-length trade-off, y'understand, but i figger them Speer 300gr AGS tungstin's would just be about right for the mastodons n' trannys, mebbe a terra'daktul when i get m'time machine cranked up, (gotta get a new krystul for the palladium reacter nex'week). i HAD given some thought to a Solothern(thought it wuz a sunspot storm at ferst), figured you didn't HAVE to be so accurate on those 1453.6827yard longshots, i figured i'd just get me some 2" pipe, pull the payload on some 40MM set-back rounds & load 'em singl-shot, then pour about another cup or two of varget down the bore, then drop in the set-back just before i light 'er off. that oughta stampede the elks, then i'd git behind the Solo, an' drop a few HEs in front of 'em so they'd fall in the craters an break ther necks, or at least a legger 2, and i could walk up an' pop 'em behind the ears w/muh .22 and wouldn't hav'ta put up with blood-shot meat all winter in muh stews. my question is: have anny of you guys tried this???? and how'd it work out. mah buddy Elroy told me(we wer gonna put a plastic nose-cone on the setbacks) we had better sodder a bronz point on the setbacks because the plastic wouldn't hold up. so what kinda sodder shud we uze??? and how good do they fly, way out ther', ken we get 'em in front of THE elk, or dowe just picka herd?? shud we getus one' a them Dr. shoals gel footpads to put on the shoalder of the shootin' caot to keap down the rekoyl?? enny help will be reel good, thanky.

 

[artherd]

bahahha, post of the month!

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Get the Remington 700. The Remington 700 is like the 1911 in that there is every single imaginable aftermarket part available for it, and they are plentiful, too. You can even puchase bare receivers only, and build your own gun.

If you want a new match grade trigger for the 700, look in Brownell's catalog and you will find no less than 9 different triggers to choose from, compared with 1 for the Sako.

Want a new stock?. Brownell's has 15 different stocks for the 700, compared with ZERO for the Sako (I couldn't find even one, correct me if I'm wrong).

Let's not get started on barrels - EVERYBODY makes 700 barrels. How many make Sako's that aren't custom ordered?.

Do you want scope mounts?. The sky's the limit for the 700.

Last but not least - your neighborhood gunsmith. Most gunsmiths cut their teeth on Remington 700's. I would rather have my gunsmith work on a firearm that is familiar to him. Parts for the 700 are readily available and usually on hand for your gunsmith to fix, modify, or accurize your rifle quickly and hassle-free.

Please don't think that I'm bashing on the Sako, 'cause I'm not. But if you want to go a little further with your rifle than what the factory gives you, then the 700 is the way to go. (I know that some Sako lover is going to say that Sako's are perfect from the factory and that they don't need anything more, but I believe that nearly every factory gun can use some handfitting, and aftermarket parts are an easy way to accomplish amazing accuracy).

 

[Dave R]

If you need a 'practical' reason to get the .338, go bear hunting.

WildAlaska, how much does it cost a non-resident to get a bear permit in Alaska?

If bear won't work, you can hunt elk at a fairly reasonable price in Idaho. Prolly Utah and CO, too.

 

[Wildalaska]

Preacher, keep in mind the original purpose of the 338 was to give an equivalent to the 375 in a shorter action......ballisitcally in terms of trajectory and energy they are aalmost equivalent, but 338s are usually smaller and lighter....

WildAlaska, how much does it cost a non-resident to get a bear permit in Alaska?

It aint the permit its the guide

Figure nice griz, 10K total

WildsmallgameAlaska

 

[45/70 GOVT.]

I agree with Sir Ardvark more after market and custom goodies. Besides the Remington is AMERICAN MADE

the orignal post was a 338 in Rem or Sako Not 375 vs 338
So why get bogged down with caliber debate

We all have our favorites Mine is 45/70 in a Ruger single shot that can be loaded to the low end of a 458 Win mag . Why own anything else this will kill anything on earth. Why own anything else, because its fun

If I could afford it I would have one of every gun and caliber there is.

 

[pete f]

why ask silly questions.

shoot it

then book hunts for animals that fit the gun

elk, Nigali, bear, lion,

seee simple...

 

[Guns_and_Labs]

(I know that some Sako lover is going to say that Sako's are perfect from the factory and that they don't need anything more, but I believe that nearly every factory gun can use some handfitting, and aftermarket parts are an easy way to accomplish amazing accuracy).

Yep, they are. Well, almost perfect. And you can close that little itty bitty gap with a Brownell's catalog and any competent gunsmith just fine. Adjustable triggers, decent barrels, bombproof rings, all stock. Maybe a better bedding job, replacement trigger for that sub-2 lb. break, a mildot or TDS scope, and you're ready to rock and roll. The elk will probably lay down and surrender, the Sako's so cool. {OK, maybe that last bit was too far...}

Go for the Sako, and have something just a little bit different and with a whole lot more class. Kind of like Scandinavian furniture and Volvos.

But then, consider the source...I'm a Finn stuck in Berkeley.

 

[Heavy Barrel]

I'll sell you my 340WBY.You can have a good elk rifle and get the s**t kicked out of you at the same time.

 

[rick_reno]

Go elk hunting. I've got an older Sako AV in .338 Win mag - it's a good rifle.