300 or 338

[bukhunters]

the, 300 has a good range and power
recorded range about 2500yards
the, 338 has a great range and heavy power.
recorded range about 2800yards.

I need feedback on what's better gun)

 

[MudRunner2005]

You will get varying opinions on this...

I am one of the nay-sayers for the .338 caliber rifles (which seem to be rare these days thanks to the new.338 craze). I believe there is very little a .338 can do, that a heavy-for-caliber 7mm or .30 caliber can't do, when pushed hard enough.

But there are those that are die-hard .338, and have their sound reasons, as well.

I had a .338 WinMag, and I never could see what all the fuss was about...

In Alabama, the only large game we have to hunt is whitetail deer...And my "puny" 7mm RemMag with Berger 168 VLD's will drop them out to 800 just fine. And if that's not enough, my 7mm STW and .300 Ackley will drop them ALOT further out.

Being an avid medium-sized game hunter, I am biased. So my opinion is only truly valid from a deer hunter aspect.

Buy what yoi want, but I personally think anything larger than a .30 cal for deer is pointless.

But oncd again, that is opinion.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I think I'm saying the same thing as MudRunner2005 with my comment.

Its not the caliber, its the use and user.

 

[howco]

There is a reason you see a lot of 338s on used racks after hunting season. Sticking to hunting and shot placement, I say 300 and I'm a 7mm guy like mud.

 

[elkcoast]

the, 300 has a good range and power
recorded range about 2500yards
the, 338 has a great range and heavy power.
recorded range about 2800yards.

I need feedback on what's better gun)

I agee with the feedback so far, as well. I would go with the lighter of the two unless you want a specialty second (third...fourth) rifle for occasions where the additional power might be needed. I would use 338 on the big bear if I had the choice, but the 300 has such a huge range of bullets and choices and ranges and types, it's an awesome all around rifle. 7mm is great too, not quite as much variety but takes out anything in the lower 48.

 

[Broz]

the answer comes down to one word... DISTANCE

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

What will you be using it for. . I loathe and despise the 30 caliber and I've had close to 20 of them. I've killed several deer with 30 cals and dozens with the 338. If all you want to do is knock over a deer then the 30 s work fine but so does the 338. . However. The 300 gr 338 bullets really fly flat and bullets like the 300 gr bonded core and 285 TTSX 275 gr Swift A Frame and 265 TTSX will work great on heavy game.

The way I look at it. But I'm looking at it from an Alaskan view point. I would go 338 automatically.
I have a place where I hunt caribou that has plenty of grizzlies hangin around. Shots at bou could be 800 yards but could also need to dump a grizzly at 15' while packing the bou out.
Wider is better on bear and in the 338 excellent long range bullets are available.

 

[Timber338]

Gotta throw in my $0.02 here. i simply love 338 bullets. Partly based on preference/opinion and partly based on experience. I hunt elk. They are big. After watching lots of elk shot by lots of calibers, I think 338 bullets hit harder than anything smaller. It is my opinion that the 338 is THE perfect blend for elk. But I admit that is totally my opinion, I just love chasing elk around with 338 bullets. But I do use my 300 for everything smaller than elk. But I also do not push the limits when it comes to the distances I shoot like some here do so well.

When you apply energy/trajectory/velocity/experience/intelligence, either a 308 or a 338 is going to be very effective out to very long distances for all North American game species. For extreme shooting like some guys do here I think the 338 starts to edge out the 308. no pun intended.

 

[MudRunner2005]

the answer comes down to one word... DISTANCE

I'm not trying to argue with you Jeff, but I have a few questions based on your lone reason of "distance".

Why not jump to something better than a .338? Why not go straight from .30 to .375 or .408 Cheytac or ole' faithful .50 BMG?

The .338's are LR capabale, but not so much when compared to even larger and longer range calibers that don't cost THAT much more to shoot and load.

Also, gun weight being a factor, I'm sure you can build a 12 lb .375 Cheytac.....But I'm also sure it will beat the **** out of you, but it'd be doable.

 

[bukhunters]

Well it,s not looking good for the 300 but it seams that im still favor of it.

I heard that there was a sniper that killed more than 500 in his years he
started with a 300 a few years later he got a 338 and never looked back.

I still don't known what's better?
gun)

 

[Timber338]

Well it,s not looking good for the 300 but it seams that im still favor of it.

I heard that there was a sniper that killed more than 500 in his years he
started with a 300 a few years later he got a 338 and never looked back.

I still don't known what's better?
gun)

Well I love my 300 win mag. i can shoot it easily without a brake. It's very easy to split hairs because it's what we do, but maybe it's possible that the best choice is the one that you want more. In the end I had to have both so that's why I have a 300 win mag and several 338's. Couldn't make up my mind either, and will spend the rest of my life trying to figure it out I know this is not a very technically based response, but think we could debate which is better for a very long time and never reach a verdict.

 

[Broz]

I'm not trying to argue with you Jeff, but I have a few questions based on your lone reason of "distance".

Why not jump to something better than a .338? Why not go straight from .30 to .375 or .408 Cheytac or ole' faithful .50 BMG?

The .338's are LR capabale, but not so much when compared to even larger and longer range calibers that don't cost THAT much more to shoot and load.

Also, gun weight being a factor, I'm sure you can build a 12 lb .375 Cheytac.....But I'm also sure it will beat the **** out of you, but it'd be doable.

The answer is the same. Here let me say it again. "Distance!"

If 2500 ~ 3000 yards is not far enough then buy all means go bigger. By the way Mud. I am not trying to argue but I have a few question for you based on your questions to me. Have you ever shot any of these? a 12 lb 375 Cheytac ? or any 375 Cheytac ? a 50 BMG? or an elk? or anything past 1500 yards?

Inquiring minds want to know

Thanks!

Jeff

 

[MudRunner2005]

The answer is the same. Here let me say it again. "Distance!"

If 2500 ~ 3000 yards is not far enough then buy all means go bigger. By the way Mud. I am not trying to argue but I have a few question for you based on your questions to me. Have you ever shot any of these? a 12 lb 375 Cheytac ? or any 375 Cheytac ? a 50 BMG? or an elk? or anything past 1500 yards?

Inquiring minds want to know

Thanks!

Jeff

Shot a couple .50's...Both Barretts. One bolt, one M82A1 semi-auto. Never shot a Cheytac, but have heard they are quite impressive ballistically.

Elk, no...Always wanted to, but never have.

Past 1,500...Not that I can recall.

Wouldn't mind having an EDM Windrunner in .408 CT, just for fun shooting. Make a nice pack-rifle, too.

I've never claimed to know anything more than anybody, or be better at anything than anyone. I am not perfect. I'm not blessed to live somewhere like you do, where you can walk out your backdoor and make 3,000+ yard shots. So my practice is almost always rusty and in dire need of tuning.

Not all of us are lucky... Some of us just learn to do the best we can with what we have. And try to help others with the best of our knowledge.

 

[xdeano]

I've got a 338Norma Mag and when this barrel is burned out, it might be changed to a 300-338Norma Mag Improved 30. Shooting a 230grn berger.

Either that or just switch up to something new by the time it comes to that.

I've shot next to a buddy with a 300Rum at 1798yds and he was keeping up very well. So there is something to be said about that also. I believe he was pushing the 230's.

xdeano