338 wim max effective range.

[darrindlh]

Gentelman
I need some help on the potential effective range of my 338 win mag for long range hunting.
Thanks
Darrin Hodgkiss

[Tang]

Depends on barrel length, bullet used, and the animal you are going after.


I have a Ruger M77 MkII in .338 Win Mag with a 24" barrel.

My load is a 225gr Nosler Accubond leaving around 2800 fps.

at 500 yards it has 1988fps and 1975 ft/lbs of energy

at 1000 1451fps and 1051 ft/lbs

[MontanaRifleman]

Like Tang has already mentioned, the answer to that will vary and can be subjective depending on your definition of effective.

My definiton is based on bullet velocity and the minimum opening and expanding velocity of the bullet. i.e., if I am shooting a 225 AB that has a mininum expanding velocity of 1800 fps, then where ever down range the bullet reaches that velocity is my max effective range for that load. Velocity will vary with rifle, load, elevation, etc.

Hope that helps,

Mark

[Tang]

Well said. I consider 500yds the max for my rifle, I like a little extra fps over the min. requirment to ensure good expansion.

[MagnumManiac]

As already stated, it all depends on the bullet chosen and the velocity it's achieving.
I run my 26" barrelled 338 with 225gr AB's at a velocity of 2900fps, it has an effective range of 800yrds with this combo, but it still depends on the size of the animal hunted as to whether this should be shortened.
This combo retains 1746fps and 1522ft/lbs @ 800yrds, adequate for most deer sized game, excluding Elk and Moose. Even though these figures are probably adequate for either, I wouldn't take the shot at that range.
I would limit myself to 600yrds on such game as the figures at that range are 2002fps and 2003ft/lbs.
It's all relative to what you're trying to achieve.

[darrindlh]

I want to exploit the high bc of the 338. I don't have a lot of money for a custom 338 edge or 338 lapua. I feel that the 338 wm would be a darn good long range hunitng rifle for anything in North America. I Don't know though. Mabye the 338 rum would be even better.

Darrin

[MontanaRifleman]

The 338 RUM would definitely be a better LR rifle than the WM. It will shoot a 250 bullet about 300 fps faster than a WM. It will also have greater recoil. The RUM is about equal to the Lapua and just behind the EDGE.