.338 win mag or 300 win mag

+1 on the 338. It makes sense how it can become an all around platform when you think of the lighter bullet options. My Tikka T3 weighs in at 6.4lb and I got an awesome recoil pad for it, so recoil is no issue. Your 300WSM is an excellent rifle, IMO.

I have both. I'm going to be taking a 338 moose hunting this fall.
Briefly looked at the 300 WM. With heavy premium bullets that would have worked ok for me too.
As it is I'll be loading Partitions in my 338.

.338 WM. Hunt moose, black bear, and caribou with mine and have total confidence in what it can do. Even took it to Africa and it was the perfect caliber for plains game out to 400 yards.

The 300 WSM and 300 WM are very similar in performance and recoil. The 338 is capable of real close in power and long distance accuracy with power.
Ed

jvspopeye said:

<SNIPPED STUFF>I am looking at buying a Ruger Guide Gun in either a .338 or .300 win mag. Not sure which way to go and what scope to put on this gun?? I reside in Ontario and I hunt Moose, Black Bear and Elk and usually my longest shot would be no more than 400 yards, but normally shots taken are no more than 150 yards.

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Since you already have an A-Bolt in .300 WSM, agree with others here: Get the .338 Win Mag for your 'new' gun. But you know that the .300 WSM will be perfectly fine for the three animals you listed, right? Had to say it. Sometimes you just want a new 'toy' and I totally get that!

For scopes, so many great choices! BUT when I think of black bear hunting, I think close range, dark woods, and potentially a 'quick' shot being needed, so my number one recommendation would be:
1) Leupold VX•R 1.25-4x20mm (30mm maintube); street price $550 (has "FireDot" reticle, i.e., illuminated). The lowest power setting gives you a wide field of view and makes it quick to find the game in your scope, and the illuminated reticle 'pulls' your eye to it and the brain naturally wants to center it in your field of view which makes a quick, effective shot possible.

Next, since I'm a big fan of simple is best and you aren't looking for 'long range' shooting, my #2 recommendation would be the:
2) Leupold FX-II 4X33mm (1" maintube); street price $315. Note that your Ruger Guide Gun will come with rings to fit a 1" scope, so this works without having to buy new rings. And a fixed 4X scope will be light, hold up well over time, and be flexible enough for all the hunting you are going to be doing with your new (awesome) rifle.

Finally, I do like the idea of a scope that can be 're-used' again on another rifle with perhaps a different application and the last recommendation will be more versatile should you want to put it on a longer range gun at some point in the future, while still working great for your current application:
3) Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm (30mm maintube) street price $570; others have recommended this as well because it is a great value for the quality and versatility you get. Still, the 30mm tube means you'll be buying rings for it so add that to be budget, too.

I wish you luck in your hunting endeavors there in Ontario. Nice to hear from our northern neighbors!

Thank you all for the excellent advice. I am happy to say I ordered today the Ruger Guide Gun in a .338 win mag . My gun supplier is trying to get one for me and hope to get it soon.
If anyone has this gun, can you please let me know what bullets work best in the gun for my moose needs for shots normally within 150 yards and to a max of 400 yards? Thanking you in advance, what a great website. Thank you

Rhino Hunter said:

I have a Ruger Guide Gun in the .375 Ruger. I bought it for a trip to hunt Sitka Blacktail deer on Kodiak Island (I heard there's some bears up there). It is a GREAT gun! Very handy, reliable and tough as hell. I love the gun. I shot a couple Blacktails with it. One at 310 yards, and the other was a 75 yard off hand shot (pictured below).

You already have two .30 calibers rifles. I suggest you consider the .375 Ruger. If not, then I would definitely recommend the .338 Winnie . You can't go wrong with either.

Make sure you wear hearing protection though. It's "painfully" loud!

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Great looking gun, buck and thanks for the tip! What ammo and brand are you using in that gun?

HARPERC said:

With good bullets you won't go wrong with either, but for what you describe the .338 has a bit more of what I like.

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Congrats on the new gun. The .338s are great. (I like all calibers though) The 225 bullets always seemed to be the best all round for me. I really like the slip on limbsaver recoil pads because mine has no brake and it feels like im getting kicked in the nuts only in the shoulder neck area....if that makes sense. I slip it off to hunt though.....i dont seem notice the pain with a little buck fever..

My favourite all around .338 loads are usually the 210 gr. in Nosler Partitions and Barnes TSX although I have been messing around lately with the Hornady 200 gr. bonded bullets. They have the same weight and BC as the Hornady SST's so it's easy to use the cheaper bullets to work up a load and then switch for serious hunting. The only thing I use heavier bullets for is grizzly's.

jvspopeye said:

Great looking gun, buck and thanks for the tip! What ammo and brand are you using in that gun?

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Popeye,

Thanx! I think you'll really like the Ruger Guide Gun! I know I do. .338 should be an awesome caliber.

I'll have to check and see what ammo I was using.

Good luck setting up your new rig.

my 338 wm loves the 230 eld-x over imr 4350.
but i haven't taken any big game with it yet.

As an older hunter whose used the 338 mag to take a fair amount of elk when I was younger I am going to go against what many have stated here. Over the years I have used many different cals for elk. With the premium bullets available today I see no need for the big boomers. I personally don't care for the heavy recoil. It can cause arithmetic problems in your shooting shoulder as you age. I can absolutely attest to this. I see no reason why anything larger than a 7mm is needed. A 7mm with with one of the 140 to 150 copper mono's will virtually completely penetrate elk every time. If two elk are standing side by side you will kill both. Personally I use a 6.5 with the copper mono's & always get complete penetration. Never lost an elk with one. Have observed many other hunters, friends & out of state hunters use 6.5's, 270's & the various 7mm with the mono bullets. They penetrate thru heavy muscle & dense bone easily with complete penetration. I would at least recommend going to a 30 cal instead of the 338. A hunting friend of mine uses a 308 with the Barnes 150gr TSX mono. Takes his elk every year & has yet to recover a bullet. Info I have given is based on years of in the field experience with my own hunts & game taken by other hunters.

jvspopeye said:

Hi folks,
I am new to this website and have heard many good things. I am hoping to get some help. I am looking at buying a Ruger Guide Gun in either a .338 or .300 win mag. Not sure which way to go and what scope to put on this gun??
I reside in Ontario and I hunt Moose, Black Bear and Elk and usually my longest shot would be no more than 400 yards , but normally shots taken are no more than 150 yards.
I presently have an A bolt Browning in .300 wsm, but looking to purchase a Ruger all the same. Is the .338 too much gun for my needs? I also have a 30-06 Rem Woodsmaster which I have shot many whitetail with.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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i hunt moose in canada every year and have killed 6 in the last 7 years ! i carry a 300wsm but all the guides carry .338's ! if i lived in canada i would use the .338 with 225 or 250 grain bullets to stop either moose or bear !

I would go with the 338WM in the guide gun to cover the potentials with those three animals. I use the 225 TTSX as a good prepared for everything load, but I have had good success with the 210 Partition and the 250AB.

If deer is on the menu, I have loaded a 180 with reduced loads to keep recoil similar to 338/06. This makes the 338 very versatile and manageable for smaller shooters.