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Hi there, I was "surfing" and came across this interesting site - well, for me anyway. I use a ruger M77 which has been worked on a bit (boss, trigger job, etc). It performs reliably on large antelope, wildebeest, etc out to 400m using any factory mor close to factory load with bullet weights between 200 and 215gr. Zeroed at 200m bullet drop is negligible at 300 and easily compensated for out to about 400 (no sniper scope required) and penetration and impact at those ranges is still more than adequate. With a bit more practice and decent conditions (or with a decent adjustable scope) I would think it would also be fine to 500, but havent tried it.Now I know that a whole lot you all are shooting .338 of different types but, what about the straight .338 Win Mag? What bullets and velocity are you getting along with range. DC you seem to be very curious and inquisitive so I'm hoping that you might have some insight. Driving to the target.
Yep, .338's do recoil, but not nearly as badly as .375's, and they are MUCHHH better for long range shooting and, with heavier, tougher bullets (like the Barnes baded solid for example), will shoot just about clean through anything. Knockdown at range is also vastly superior to 7mm and 30cal mags. Personally, I consider the 338WM to be the ultimate all round african rifle. Only constraints are that you dont want to shoot anything you are intending to eat at close range, esp with a light bullet. Also would not rate it as a "charge stopper", but then I have yet to see anyone use a scoped rifle effectively in that role. Recoil can be tamed with a boss and magnum recoil pad - which make for a better long range set-up. All round, I like, i really do like.I have a Rem.700LH that I bought new to build a 7stw out of it, but my gunsmithtpld me to try it put first that it would probably shoot and boy was he right. It shot the first load I ever tried in it and it will pretty much eat anything you put in it.
The most accurate load it shoots is 68.5gr. of IMR4350 with a 225gr. Hornady SP- 3 shots made one ragged hole at 100yds. And will plant anything it hits and they other load is 74.5gr. of IMR4831 with a 200gr. Nosler BT and plants things also.
I do want to try the 185gr. ttsx to see if they shoot as well. This is a powerful performing, hard hitting rifle and I don't plan on touching it other than to hunt with it and don't see any need for anything bigger that this case unless you plan on shooting it a long way. The only thing it does that could be improved is the recoil, it will punch you pretty good with those 225gr. Loads.
FE
.338 Win Mag barrels last just about forever. That is one of the great things about this cartridge. I would not be surprised if the barrel in that Weatherby Vanguard was just starting to get "Run in" and that is why your accuracy improved. This can take quite a while with some rifles.
Incredibly,that load is the second I tried.The first was just a different bullet,hornady 250 round nose.those shot just over an inch.I bought some blem 225 gr interbonds from midwayusa that were alright.67 grs of imr 4831,good for around an inch moa.I haven`t tried h4831 only because the imr powder does so good in my rifle.
