338 Win Mag Cow Elk Bullet?

[RevJim]

I have just never used any 225 in anything! ha I have always had a "heavy thumper" for woods/medium range and a lightweight Mono/NAB for a flat shooter ( 375/400 my limit) My furthest kills with Medium calibers are just a few; cow elk at 250yds/185xlc 338; Aoudad at 250yds/180NAB 338 RUM;Black Wildebeast at 347yds/200x 35 WAI; zebra at 250/200x 35 WAI; all the rest of my 350-375yd shots were with either a 257W or 300WM. Shot a wad of them 200 and closer with 33-375s. They get that "Oh MY God, I've been shot!" look on their face! ha

 

[RevJim]

Rocky, I'm waiting to see what this rifle likes "before" I order any Hammer bullets. The 7mm Sledge Hammers I bought for the 7x57 Mod 70 I traded off "after" finding out that rifle was a lemon. The 35 cal Hammers for the 358 Norma mag were also sent off after I had to sell the Norma for an Obammacare Extortion Vig! I hated Obammacare….yeah Medicare! So, while I am not superstitious....no use buying some hammers right now before I've tried this rifle, ha.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Rocky, I'm waiting to see what this rifle likes "before" I order any Hammer bullets. The 7mm Sledge Hammers I bought for the 7x57 Mod 70 I traded off "after" finding out that rifle was a lemon. The 35 cal Hammers for the 358 Norma mag were also sent off after I had to sell the Norma for an Obammacare Extortion Vig! I hated Obammacare….yeah Medicare! So, while I am not superstitious....no use buying some hammers right now before I've tried this rifle, ha.

I'm sorry I jinxed your rifles! We just got in a new load of copper, so the bad juju is gone!

 

[RevJim]

 

[RevJim]

Monday was finally a range day! My 338 did .85" with R17/210 but it loves the 250s! I used R26/250AB (2800) and N560/250PT (2750) it put 3 rounds each starting with the Partition, into less than .65" The AB went .52"! I was in awe! Now, I have tried to use my flip phone for pics ( as I have been called a liar for years about my groups) but I can't get them onto my computer. I am going to Verizon for a tutorial! ha But tiny groups are as much a result of proper bench rest technique as an accurate rifle/load. Especially with a pretty light 338WM! ha So I understand when people are skeptical.

 

[memtb]

Monday was finally a range day! My 338 did .85" with R17/210 but it loves the 250s! I used R26/250AB (2800) and N560/250PT (2750) it put 3 rounds each starting with the Partition, into less than .65" The AB went .52"! I was in awe! Now, I have tried to use my flip phone for pics ( as I have been called a liar for years about my groups) but I can't get them onto my computer. I am going to Verizon for a tutorial! ha But tiny groups are as much a result of proper bench rest technique as an accurate rifle/load. Especially with a pretty light 338WM! ha So I understand when people are skeptical.

Jim, Those that are skeptical, either don't know you, or simply can't "man-up" behind a rifle of moderate recoil"! memtb

 

[BUCKWORKMAN]

The 200 grain Speer Hot core has retained the most weight and the largest mushroom than them all.......That has been my handloading experieñce.......DRT.

 

[RevJim]

Back in the early 80's, I was visiting a GS in Houston and they had a Mod 70 .338WM "on sale" for $250. Well, I didn't have anywhere near $250, but I knew it was a good deal. I told a friend at work about it and he bought it. Neither of us had ever shot one. He bought the makings and mounts along with a Weaver 2x7 scope he had. I set it all up for him and I worked him up two loads. One with the Speer 200HC and the Sierra 250 SBT. That rifle was one of the hardest kicking SOBs I have ever, ever, before or since shot! ha

Well he mastered it and shot a Texas WT with it that fall. It blew a 6 inch hole for an exit! Now, I shot them in a little 338 Federal, but never killed any game with that rifle myself. My SIL used the 180 NAB instead. Anyhow, I always figured them to be a bit soft. Anyhow, I've never played with them in the 338WM. That Texas WT was about as big as a pronghorn doe. Maybe "anything" over 30 cal would have done it!

 

[Lefty G-gear]

Most people kill cows with smaller calibers than a 338WM here in Utah (at least the ones I've talked to) and usually to save meat. I want to know what you 338 Mag guys have used on elk; light/fast or heavy/slow or medium/fast/slow ( ha) that did not bloodshot a lot of meat? The last elk I killed was with the old Barnes 185 XLC going fast from a 338WM. It was perfection. I like how the newer TSX & TTSX shoot, but never used one on game. I won't be shooting past 300yds ( chip shot for most of you LR hunters!) but will be picking one out of a herd I'm sure. Love that elk meat! I want to hear from you guys! Here is my choices I have on hand: 160TTSX/185TSX/225TTSX, 180NAB/200NBT/200NAB/210PT/250PT/250NAB. I will even tually end up playing with them all, I like to work both ends against the middle in load workup. I have loads ready to try with the 160TTSX , the 200NBT and the 250 NAB.

I DOWNED A BUCK MULEY WITH THE 210-GR. NOSLER PARTITION.
3100-FPS WITH A .338 RUM, BUT THEY'D BE NEAR 3000-FPS IN A .338 WM.
DEVASTATING! - WITH THE RUM, AT 205-YARDS, BROADSIDE, ENTERED BEHIND THE SHOULDER, BLEW HIS HEART IN HALF, MADE MUSH OF HIS LUNGS, AND EXITED THRU HIS OTHER SHOULDER.
WE HAD ELK AND DEER TAGS IN SAME AREA OF SUNLIGHT BASIN, NORTH OF CODY, WYOMING. (GRIZZLY TERRITORY!) .338 RUM - JUSTIN CASE.
SINCE THEN, SOLD .338 RUM - AND WOULD RATHER HAVE .338 WM. (GOOD ENOUGH.)


AT ABOUT 60-YARDS, I DOWNED A 5-PT. BULL ELK WITH A 30-06, USING THOSE 165-GR. NOSLER PARTITIONS -- THEY WORK GREAT - AND QUITE ACCURATE TOO.

 

[DesertDweller62]

Have had great success on elk with 250 gr. Nolser Partitions... that will also take care of any big brown critters who might try and have you for lunch! <Grin>

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Tho the 338 Win mag works very well with many bullet weights. I think the 225 gr @ around 2800 fps. Is a truly great standard.
I'm a Barnes guy. Not a Berger guy.
Nothing against Berger . Except I won't hunt with them . Having never bow hunted because I never needed to. I'm not going to be hindered by a bullet I would only put where I would put an arrow if I had to.
I have lots of bang flops with Barnes X, TSX and TTSX bullets.

On the flip side, I won't argue with someone that has had bad success with Barnes bullets . Lots of different things can happen when hunting. And I sure ain't seen it all. For me. I'll shoot Barnes.
Any rapidly expanding bullet is going to radiate blood shock. Wether its an SST or Berger or any other fragile fronted bullet.

Granted most Barnes bullets aren't really Long range bullets , and this is the LRH forum.
But, where I hunt its kind of hard to find anywhere to take longer than a 500 yard shot.

225 gr TTSX BT in 338 cal @ 2800 fps is about as close to a do it all bullet as one could likely find.

 

[memtb]

Cold Trigger Finger, My wife would pretty much mirror your sentiments. Though we're pushing her TTSX's pretty hard, getting 2950 from her Win. Model 70, 24" barrel. The .338/225 combination has worked for her with many one shot kills, from antelope to moose, from 30 yards on a cow elk to a little bull elk at 400 yards. I started her out with 225's ( the original X bullet) in '96, and we've progressed with Barnes to the 225 TTSX. As you said, Barnes are not recognized as long range bullets....but with her self-imposed limit of 500, that is not an issue. memtb

 

[DesertDweller62]

There are lots of cartridges and bullets that will work... Shot placement is the key. Put a good bullet where you want and you will go home a happy camper! :>)

 

[Lefty G-gear]

With all of the 6.5mm (.264) hype and success, I see the simple .270 Winchester become interesting (to me).
I shot my Dad's custom rifle years ago and it shot fine at the range, but never tried it on a hunt.
Here's another guys 2-cents on it - in Alaska, of all places.