Why I Don't Miss my .338 Win Mag Question

[FNSafari]

As a follow-up to this thread below, what are the physics, dynamics or whatever, behind the comments that the 338WM is a more violent recoiler than larger calibers or other calibers in its range? Are owners just pushing them to the max with heavy for caliber bullets for instance? I have one, have shot it but not enough to form an opinion about its recoil vs. equivalents.

 

[Orr89rocz]

I have a 338 win mag 700 BDL, its pretty lightweight. Federal 250gr partitions, i do not find the recoil bad at all. Same gun 700 classic in 35 whelen with a custom 250 gr solid from a-square hurt some. Just felt sharper to me.
All them were milder than my heavier 376 steyr Using 270 gr at 2600.
My mild loaded 458 win mag has alot more push than any of those others but it is atleast a lb or two heavier, 400 gr at 2129 fps. But it aint sharp so its very manageable. The 300’s at 2450-2500 were alittle sharp but not as sharp as the 376 steyr or so it felt.
So i guess its all relative to what the shooter had experienced. Talked to a guy at the range who said the 338 was the worst gun he ever shot. So idk.

 

[FNSafari]

So much of it depends on bullet weight, MV, rifle weight, stock configuration, etc. But, it seems that a lot of folks have an opinion the 338 is a beast, just wondering if that opinion is based on usage or word of mouth, and what were the particulars of the beast you were shooting?

 

[Orr89rocz]

I certainly dont shoot the big guns the same way as i do my lighter guns and target longe range gun which is heavy and doesnt recoil as bad. Big guns i get up on, hard grip and they shoot good for me. Dont let them get started on recoil, stock design and fit helps a ton i suppose. I hunted with a slug gun for years and had to learn how to shoot under recoil as that gun was sensitive to the type of hold you had and very heavy on kick. If i man handle my light guns they dont seem to shoot as tight

 

[Evlshnngns]

I recently acquired a 338lm, close enough for this discussion. It has a 26" barrel, .82" at the muzzle, factory brake, and a big squishy recoil pad. The gun is heavy. With a 225 sst going 2900fps, it kicks substantially softer than my no brake 7mm mag running 140gr factory ammo.

Its really depends on the rifle and the load. My 338lm is a lot of fun with that fire forming load. The 300's pushed hard add some teeth to its bite.

 

[wboggs]

I have found that high pressure loads give a sharper recoil. A .416 Rigby vs a .416 Rem with same weight rifle and firing identical bullets at the same velocity is more comfortable to shoot. Something like a .378 Wby is awful.

 

[butchlambert]

Recoil is different with different calibers. My real LW 280AI has a real sharp, quick recoil, kinda like my Weatherby. My 9.3X62 with heavy bullets is a pleasure to shoot. A 416 Rem has a slow heavy push. My 458 Lott with 500 grain bullets is not real pleasant to shoot. None have a brake. I'm building a 300RUM-338RUM switch barrel and both will have Fat Bastard brakes. I have not shot my 416 Rigby yet.

 

[wboggs]

You will like the .416 Rigby, it is more pleasant than the .416 Rem.

 

[butchlambert]

You will like the .416 Rigby, it is more pleasant than the .416 Rem.

One of these days.

 

[hgr2]

Had an M70 Laredo 7RM rebarrelled to 338 WM for a planes game hunt a couple years back, 25" Benchmark # 4.5 countour. I would call it a Mid weight hunting rifle. I find it very plesent to shoot with 225 TTXS at +- 2800 FPS, pretty much standard velocity for that weight bullet. 338 WM is a wonderfully accurate and usefull cartridge and this one may be the most accurate hunting rifle I have so far. It is an absolute hammer on planes game. Recoil is very subjective, so if recoil is your biggest concern get something else. BTW I love my 416 RM too, and the Buff didn't know it wasn't a Rigby.

 

[best defense]

I'm just cruisin' thru here trying to see what others have done with their 338 WM. I've had mine for a number of years but just recently decided to tune some new bullets to the rifle. Unfortunately 338 caliber bullets are hard to find right now. I managed to find some Hornady 200 grain bullets, but nothing else on any shelf that I could find either in a brick and morter store or online, so that is what I'm using. My rifle is a converted Mauser with a laminate thumb hole stock. The stock is very straight, so before I put the brake and 2 inch recoil pad on it I had a hard time hanging onto it. Now it is much better. My load is working out to be somewhere between 68 and 69 grains of VV N165. That is not even in the books for the relatively light bullet I'm using. So far I've got about a 2-1/4" group at 200 yards but I think it can get better if I play with bullet seating. Other than what I've mentioned does anyone else have suggestions for what to try to get the group down?

 

[Eloudamy]

You might want to Try the 225 grain options. I found them to be quite nice at 2700 FPS but you can get more velocity if you want. Mine would easily shoot three shots into 1.5” at 200 and better if I didn’t let it twist too much.
I have a 100- count box of Hornady’s with a few gone out of it. PM me if you’re interested. I love the 33’s

 

[Tommie]

As far as I’m concerned, a .308 kicks harder than a similar 30-06 rifle. Makes no sense and it’s probably all “just in my head” but I believe there’s more to it than what the numbers predict.

 

[mauser284]

A 190gr to 220gr 30-06 or 300 Win Mag will out perform the standard 225gr. 338 Win Mag load in real life almost every time if looking at it's effect on game!

Under 500m an 8mm Mauser in 180-200 grain is absolutely as lethal as a 338 Win Mag if talking about the effect is has on living flesh you might be inclined to shoot and fill your freezer with!

I once owned a 338 Win Mag but it is not the only game in town!

 

[wboggs]

The 250 .338 bullets are what you need to compare the .30-06 220s against. For shorter-med range the 275 Swift will put the 30 cals to shame.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

I have a custom .340 Wby mag. Rem 700 LA, McMillan stock, #5 Krieger 26". It is much more pleasant to shoot than my buddies .338 Win Mag. His is about the same as my rifle. Win 70 action. McMillanstock 26" #4.5 Krieger.

 

[wboggs]

Had an M70 Laredo 7RM rebarrelled to 338 WM for a planes game hunt a couple years back, 25" Benchmark # 4.5 countour. I would call it a Mid weight hunting rifle. I find it very plesent to shoot with 225 TTXS at +- 2800 FPS, pretty much standard velocity for that weight bullet. 338 WM is a wonderfully accurate and usefull cartridge and this one may be the most accurate hunting rifle I have so far. It is an absolute hammer on planes game. Recoil is very subjective, so if recoil is your biggest concern get something else. BTW I love my 416 RM too, and the Buff didn't know it wasn't a Rigby.ry similar

They shouldn't notice any difference. Factory loads are loaded to similar velocities.

 

[wboggs]

I have a custom .340 Wby mag. Rem 700 LA, McMillan stock, #5 Krieger 26". It is much more pleasant to shoot than my buddies .338 Win Mag. His is about the same as my rifle. Win 70 action. McMillanstoomeck 26" #4.5 Krieger.

That is a mystery to me. The stock must be different in some way.

 

[slm9s]

So much is stock fit. I had a Browning Abolt 300wsm that was among the sharpest recoiling rifles I've shot, whereas I have a Rem 700 in 300H&H that is very pleasant to shoot.
I've had one 338WM, a Browning BAR. With 250gr full house loads it broke something internally during load workup.

 

[nakneker]

The first 338 win mag I ever bought was a Ruger 77 back in 1988. That rifle had a serious punch, nobody liked shooting it including myself, it was sold before one box was fired through it. A decade later when I moved to Alaska for three years I bought another 338 WM, a Winchester 70, stainless with the cheap synthetic stock. Recoiled was very manageable and I still own that rifle. The only difference between the two rifles was the make of the rifle and stock configuration, neither rifle had or has a brake. I think stocks have a lot to do with felt recoil.