300 Win Mag opened up to .338

[M60A3TTS]

Has anybody tried opening the case for .338 bullets. The neck is short for sure even with .308. Why did they shorten the .338 win mag? Shortening the case certainly impacted the performance.

 

[mike mccormick]

It's called 338 federal, commonly available

 

[M60A3TTS]

Pretty sure .338 federal is based on 308 Win

 

[CJ6]

You meant 300 Win Mag I think. Title says 308 Win Mag confusing people.

 

[M60A3TTS]

opps didn't catch that. Fixed

 

[mike mccormick]

Pretty sure .338 federal is based on 308 Win

That's what he was originally asking about

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Pretty sure .338 federal is based on 308 Win

You should try my .338 Thumper! .338 Federal with a blown out shoulder to 30*

 

[358WCF]

Why did they shorten the .338 win mag?

Not to be too pedantic, but the 338 predates the 300 by around 5 years.

 

[ebb]

I shot a 338 win mag off and on since the 1980s and never once did I consider it under powered. I took mine to my friend's junk yard before my first hunt and shot a 6-71 Detroit engine where the cast iron is the thickest. All I can say is all the kings horses and men will never get it to run again.

 

[Loudenboomer]

Plenty of times while pulling a load up hill with a 6-71 Detroit I wanted to shoot it!!

 

[PDS]

I remember Earl Leibatrau from Wisconsin shooting one in the 1980's. It may have been what he used to win the Wimbledon Cup (twice).
It let you shoot heavy bullets at a slightly higher velocity than either the 338 Win Mag or the 300Win Mag
From what I've read about it it was not a good choice for a repeater hunting rifle because of the short neck not having a good grip on the bullets and the OAL for magazines.
The 340 Weatherby was available then and now the 338 Lapua and 338 Rem Ultra Mag are available.
It was a simple wildcat that served a specific purpose for a while.

 

[Oso]

Has anybody tried opening the case for .338 bullets. The neck is short for sure even with .308. Why did they shorten the .338 win mag? Shortening the case certainly impacted the performance.

People have/are opening the .308 Win case to make .338 Federal (ie 338-308). The neck expansion die/process should be same for .300 Win Mag to .338 Win Mag. I believe it is a straightforward one-step operation using a tapered neck expanding mandrel. Anneal case, clean and lube inside of neck, neck expander operation - slow and smooth. Probably wouldn’t hurt to finish off this process by running newly formed cases through a .338 Win Mag FL Die or .300 Win Mag FL Bushing Sizing Die with proper .338 bushing insert.

 

[RevJim]

Years ago, I shot one a guy had at the Rifle Range. He claimed he had killed many big bull elk with it. He also had that sucker loaded to the Gills! Big flat primers and all. At the time I was using my old 35 Whelen Ackley and he was telling me how much speed I had left on the table by not having it made into a Brown-whelen or a 35 Gibbs. I was very happy with it as it was. Now, the 300WM necked down to 7mm is supposed to be a good one.

 

[Leeman]

I remember Earl Leibatrau from Wisconsin shooting one in the 1980's. It may have been what he used to win the Wimbledon Cup (twice).
It let you shoot heavy bullets at a slightly higher velocity than either the 338 Win Mag or the 300Win Mag
From what I've read about it it was not a good choice for a repeater hunting rifle because of the short neck not having a good grip on the bullets and the OAL for magazines.
The 340 Weatherby was available then and now the 338 Lapua and 338 Rem Ultra Mag are available.
It was a simple wildcat that served a specific purpose for a while.

I heard of the 338win mag being necked down to .30 cal as the volume of the 300win mag was considered a bit excessive, and the 338 was shorter, could it be the 30-338 he was using?

 

[effendude]

I heard of the 338win mag being necked down to .30 cal as the volume of the 300win mag was considered a bit excessive, and the 338 was shorter, could it be the 30-338 he was using?

Yes, I believe it was a 30-338 cartridge. Many old match shooters used this fairly common wildcat for their 1000 yard shooting. I have a rifle chambered in it, but never shot it.
Scott

 

[Steel Mover]

Was in Africa with a fellow hunter that brought his 338 Ultra Mag Rem 700 and 225s in reloads. I spotted for several of his kills and it was something to watch. The 338 mags are really something at long distance on big plains game.