Are the .338s becoming pointless?

[Mram10us]

AGREED !
338 Class hands down for my family !
Working on a 338 Rum for my Brother now !

Rum Man

Looking to see when you'd get in on this

 

[Simo2830]

All things being equal, there's also the question of barrel life in a rifle chambered for an overbore cartridge. The .338 Lapua and .33-378 Weatherby are, to me, far preferable to a .300 RUM or .30-378 for this reason. The improvement in BC and payload are just more reasons for an already superior idea. As someone else mentioned, every cartridge has its purpose and something that sets it apart for that purpose.

 

[greenejc]

Just wait until they do what they did to 7mm bullets to the 338 bullets, then the 338's will have the same advantage they always did

They don't need to. A 338 Lapua with a 300 grain bullet is good for farther than most people will ever shoot. By the way, the Special Ops boys have ordered MG 338's from Sig, and LR sniping rifles from Barret in .338 Norma, optimized for the 300 grain Sierra MK bullet. Velocity for this round is around 2640fps.

 

[Paper boy]

Yes it is, and the only .338s in its class are the .338 RUM, the 338 Norma, and the 378-338 Weatherby. The .50BMG gets used for shots past about 1800 meters, but is used for closer in when needed. It is considered an anti-material round, but rifles and rucks and load bearing equipment are all material. We never shot the big 50 at people. We always shot at their equipment. Clothes, magazines, mortars, helmets, vests, etc. I was usually behind a Ma Deuce. Max effective was supposed to be 1720 yards, but it'll do a lot better if you have a good spotter.

1st Div, 5th Marines

 

[Paper boy]

I don't know. Having shot two, maybe three +/- Elk over the years. And all of them have gone down within +/- 15' with One shot. 300 WM. 180 Gr PT. Nothing special just shot placement! Jack O'Connor shot about everything in the world with a 270 Win. Game I never thought about going after. But the most Dangerous game has fallen to the 300. The 338, 416 Chevy tac the 50 BMG all have there place. As does the lowly 22 short. You hunt? Shoot what needs to be shot with the "best" cal for the kill! One shot, one kill!

Yup! Better eat you Wheatties first!

 

[Rum Man]

Looking to see when you'd get in on this

Well from all the comments on this thread it looks like I need to expand my Reloading and Shooting to help these Guys out! Cant wait to get back at it ! Ha ha

Rum Man

 

[Calhntr]

Pointless?......Hah!!!!!

 

[Betarider]

Talk to the guys that shoot 1500-2k yards competitively. They shoot 338, 375 408, 416. The bigger heavier bullets hold more true in the wind. They're definitely more forgiving in the wind, but much less to the shoulder.

Put a brake on that puppy! Turns a 416 Barrett into a 6.5

 

[Betarider]

I can't get Cutting Edge to group under 2 1/2" @100 yds in anything I've tried them in; what's the secret to loading them accurately?

In trying to find a proper load my 416 Barrett Ip went through plenty of cutting edge bullets. While not as big a group as yours I wasn't happy with most of their stuff. But the 450 grain Lazers are my favorite for now. The Rocky mountain bullet of the same weight also shoots well, but I can't find them anymore. Some guns like any bullet but my most accurate guns are finicky about what they eat. Maybe that's why CEB has so many choices? The search for the best performance is a valid one I use a Hornady bullet truer to line the bullets with the bore as my gun has them pulled out so much for a .017 jump to the lands. Nothing special about it, the work is in finding the right ones

 

[Calvin45]

+1 for the .338 being alive and well.
We all have our own reasons and perspective on what and why we shoot, what we shoot and how we shoot.
I'll be using the .338 RBH this fall for bull elk.
Pushing a 260 hammer at 3k in a 24 inch 10 lb rig hunt ready Sub MOA to 1k yards is a very lethal and capable LRH setup.
Yea it's got some push on the shoulder. The design was a lighter more hunt/pack friendly rifle.
We get choices (for now) in the USA. I take advantage of that!

What does RBH stand for?

 

[RH300UM]

What does RBH stand for?

RBH Cartridge Lineup – R Bros Custom Rifles | Hunting Competition Tactical Rifles

R Bros custom long range lightweight hunting rifles are the best, period. And we're affordable.

rbrosrifles.com

]

 

[Calvin45]

I have owned only two 338 caliber rifles, one 338 win mag and one 338 lapua. They recoil was fierce on the 7lb win mag, but not a problem at all with the 14lb lapua. I took a trip down the BC and impact velocity are all that matters road and sold almost all mo magnum calibers in favor of smaller lighter recoiling 22, 6, 6.5, 7mm cartridges. Last year changed my mind on this issue. I take several new hunters deer or antelope hunting every year. Last year my loaner gun was America's sweetheart The 6.5 creedmoor. It's easy to shoot has high bc bullets factory ammo shoots lights out and on and on and on... However, I noticed a trend last fall my 6.5 creedmoor claimed the lives of 8 deer and three antelope. Every animal, but one doe antelope Hit at 400yds, needed a second shot to finish the job. I watched two drop instantly and then get back up and start walking away. I've never witnessed this with my other bigger calibers. Everything from 270 up has anchored deer and antelope with a single shot. My new course of action, based upon my experience over the last couple years with small light calibers, is to build a 338 edge. (Actually primarily for elk) I will keep the 6mm and 6.5mm for steel shooting and teaching new shooters but when it comes time for killing at long distance I'm going to be shooting a bigger harder hitting round.

thanks for that observation about one shot kill rates. I've long thought that the guides who witness enough kills firsthand to draw some conclusions probably make their recommendations for a reason and I know many elk guides cite the .270 win as the minimum. Some right away point out that with the high bc bullets the 6.5 creed catches and then exceeds the 270 but the headstart on the Winchester is such that the 6.5 only starts beating it at distances where neither would be appropriate.

 

[bdyal1972]

I appreciate this forum because of the information and advice offered. The preceding posts validate that.
I consider the OP as a curiosity best answered by getting one. You'll probably really like the caliber. Whether you're capable or not is another story.
If you're looking to 375, 408, or 416 for long range guns, sell a kidney. Any of those three are built off cartridges where the action alone is ~$2K.

I remember asking the same questions about 338LM back in 2010, before I contracted the wildcat fever.
In short answer, it can be pointless, if you load it with 225 RN or Woodleigh solids.
IIRC, 338LM was being pushed as the ideal long range cartridge. Noise was just starting about the 6.5 Creedmoor.
I drank the Koolaid and bought a 338 LM. It delivers on it's promise. In hunting rifle carry weight (< 8 lbs ), I would not use one for ELR hunting for shots beyond 600 yards. Because of the recoil, for longer shots, you need heavier.
I have wildcats in 338 (Edge), 7mm and 6.5. All serve an intended purpose for different ranges.
There is no "catch-all" cartridge, but I would say plenty of people make the 6.5 Swede, 7mm-08, 7 Rem Mag and 30-06 look like they will do 90% or better of most any hunter's needs.
The sad thing is, there are not enough places where one can go out and shoot 1,000 yards for practice.

With the rain coming down in buckets, sideways, at 30mph. Been caught in that in the mountains above Reedsport. People in Oregon look at you funny when you wear an Aussie cowboy oil coat - maybe it's a side effect of the Matrix movie series. BUT, wearing one, in said storms, you will be warm and dry - better than any foul weather gear I've ever had.

I have photographed the bulls on the fields outside Reedsport HUNDREDS of times!!

I have had sideways looks hundreds of times going to the docs to buy fresh Dungeness that died in the hold coming to market!!!

Kangaroo skin cowboy hat (culling in Australia for aerial target practice) waterproofed liberally with mink oil, whites chokersetter 12" cork boots both waterproofed with used chain saw motor oil and or mink oil, goretex jacket over helly hanson overalls over hickory shirt, key double front pants (pegged of course)

Yep you do what you got to!!!

Ran into some KALIFORNIANS in the snow/sleet mix trying to get from grants pass to gold beach in a VOLVO once....

Of course the cummins was lifted with 38s, chains on, got out and asked the effeminate moron with his bleach blonde wife and pampered kids....

" you guys have made it 5 miles further than the last 3 families got stranded here!!! Congratulations!!! Just remember that those 20 odd signs you passed saying "no passenger cars" the last 3 ignorant, arrogant and dead naked California moron fathers were feeding the bears and coyotes we hunt!!!

Towed them 20? Miles out of the snow down to Agness....

Somewhere in Kali those kids are still talking bout the bearded, heathen dressed like a modern earp carrying a cannon, big ol cowboy pistol with a akita and Rottweiler fighting over a elk leg!!!

Good times!!!

Where else but the pacific northwest can you get hypothermia in an afternoon walk while admiring sturgeon, salmon, bears, whales, otters, seals, sea lions, walrus, elk, deer, osprey, bald eagles, golden eagles, hawks, quail, pheasant and on or near a mile or two of frothing fridged Beach as rocks the size of a bug are being thrown in the air with the wind blowing so hard you can't FALL DOWN!!!

Btw the hunting between bruceport wa and grayland Wa is ALMOST as good as it was north east of the headwaters of Murphy creek in the 80s and 90s

 

[Wingmaster 20]

Not looking to offend or claim they're not effective, BUT...it used to be that the .338 lapua was regarded as in a league apart compared to .300 and 7mms because of the bcs on the 338 bullets. Now this is definitely a thing of the past, with high .7 and even .8 range g1 bc 7mm and .308" bullets that can be driven faster all things equal For true extreme range the big .375s are dominant. For tactical purposes all of the above are way more than adequate antipersonell rounds, body armour or not. None of the above are truly suitable anti material caliber. The way it seems now is that the .33s don't have an advantage over the 7 and 30 trajectory wise and can't match the 375s out of similar size rifles. Nothing wrong with .338 cartridges but not a whole lot I see that would make me choose one with things as they are now. Show me if I'm wrong!

If you THINK about the 338 it creates the questions you ask. If you use the 338 you fall in love as your questions are replaced With experience.