ofbandg
Well-Known Member
I, too, am a .338 fan. I presently have a 338 Win Mag, a .338-06 and my wife shoots a .338 Federal and we hunt in Northern BC as well. As far as efficiency is concerned the 338-06 is amazing in what it will accomplish, pushing a 180 grain bullet out of the muzzle at 3000 fps. Second only to that is the 338 Federal. My wife's Tikka T3 pushes a 160 grain Barnes TTSX also to 3000 fps and a 180 grain over 2800 without serious recoil problems. My wife is a small lady and a senior citizen (as am I) and she has no fear of this particular rifle. She has taken both deer and elk with these loads.
If I was to be restricted to just one of them it would be the 338 Win Mag. I have owned and shot a number of them and they are capable of excellent accuracy and manageable recoil. I did put a muzzle brake on one and as far as I am concerned that was a mistake. The noise and extra length wasn't worth the evident recoil reduction. Recently, I had a Tikka T3x stainless in my hands in this caliber and I told the dealer I liked everything about it except the stock. I preferred the laminated stock because it is easier to adjust the length and re-pad, and it absorbs more recoil. He said he could swap one on for me and I may just end up with that rifle.
If I was to be restricted to just one of them it would be the 338 Win Mag. I have owned and shot a number of them and they are capable of excellent accuracy and manageable recoil. I did put a muzzle brake on one and as far as I am concerned that was a mistake. The noise and extra length wasn't worth the evident recoil reduction. Recently, I had a Tikka T3x stainless in my hands in this caliber and I told the dealer I liked everything about it except the stock. I preferred the laminated stock because it is easier to adjust the length and re-pad, and it absorbs more recoil. He said he could swap one on for me and I may just end up with that rifle.