.338 WinMag

[jvspopeye]

My Sako started out with no brake and a 2-7x33 Leupold. Eye relief was right near 4 inches. No issues with scope eye. My 3x9 40mm is close to that at 3.8". I would shoot for 4" of eye relief on a 8-9 pound setup (rifle, mounts and scope). 3 inches is a little close.
It has a brake on it now just because I want to shoot it more and I'm getting older and less in favor of recoil.

Thanks for scope info and eye relief. I like the idea of having at least 4+...This gun is the heaviest caliber I will have ever shot, should be interesting. I was told it should not be that much more recoil than my former Browning A Bolt 2 Hunter model in .300wsm

 

[jvspopeye]

I put a redfield on my 338wm just for the reason it has over 4in of eye relief. Don't quote me but I think it's closer to 4.7. Didn't want to get busted by scope,I don't have brake

I had a redfield on my .300wsm and loved it (it was a 4-12 with build in range finder) What redfield scope are you using now?

 

[Rilow]

I had a redfield on my .300wsm and loved it (it was a 4-12 with build in range finder) What redfield scope are you using now?

4-12 redfield revolution

 

[memtb]

Great pic! I was just searching what type of scope to put on this Ruger Guide Gun.....I first noticed what you said you have mounted on it. Do most guys have a Standard Eye Relief or a Long Eye relief on their .338 win mag rifle? Or maybe I should start a different thread for this question....hmmm

jvspopeye, We used Leupold 2.5-8's (generous eye relief) on our rifles for 20+ years and loved them. The Leupolds have long noted as long eye relief, lightweight, quality scopes. For your application that should be a great power range. We changed our hunting locations, which offered us a much higher percentage of longer range shoots.....most @ 300 or greater. We stepped up to the Leupold 3.5-8 with CDS....though we kept our 300 yard zero. As we use Leupold Quick Detachable base/rings, we keep our 2.5-8's for a quick back-up if needed!

A lot of folks are having "less than nice" things to say about the new Leupold's. We've only been using our new scopes about 10 years, so far so good. Our older 2.5-8's were used longer, withstanding a lot of rounds with recoil higher than most scopes endure.....as so many people use brakes these days! They were put away, placed on "stand-by", never having given a problem!

PS: Also, especially for your mentioned application.....the low end of your power range is much more critical than the higher magnification. With our 10 power (maximum setting), I'm very confident on deer/antelope sized game to 500 to possibly 600.....under "ideal" shooting conditions! On elk sized game....much farther than I feel comfortable taking the shot! memtb

 

[memtb]

Just depends on whether you are using a muzzle brake or not. If you are then I would keep it at a minimum of 3 inches. If not, then I would feel better about 3 yards!
Whatever you decide make sure you have good, no, great hearing protection on before pulling the trigger!

Just our opinion.....we don't use brakes! We prefer "not" going to hunt with ear protection. My wife has shot and does not hesitate to shoot her (relatively) lightweight .338 WM, when taking game! If you're going to do a lot of shooting, particularly from the bench.....the brake starts to become important! memtb

 

[Gone Ballistic]

Just our opinion.....we don't use brakes! We prefer "not" going to hunt with ear protection. My wife has shot and does not hesitate to shoot her (relatively) lightweight .338 WM, when taking game! If you're going to do a lot of shooting, particularly from the bench.....the brake starts to become important! memtb

"What did he say, what did he say?" This is a very common question I heard some of my older hunting friends repeatedly asked after never using ear protection over decades of hunting.
Any sound above 140 decibels causes permanent ear damage. A .22LR hits that mark. The .338 WinMag w/o a muzzle brake produces 175-182 decibels so by not using hearing protection, you are causing permanent damage to your hearing. You might not realize it now but, you certainly will later on in life. Hearing loss has absolutely nothing to do with age but everything to do with what you exposed your hearing to as you grow older. Just wish I had protected mine sooner!

 

[dogz]

I recently purchased a Ruger Guide Gun in .338 winmag.
I have always hunted deer with either my 7.62 or my 30-06 an ocasionally with my old .300wsm. I always used 180 gr in my 30-06/300 wsm for whitetails, as I found less meat damage than a lesser grain bullet. Of course bullet placement is everything.
My question is this, would my .388 win mag be way to much caliber for Whitetails? Im just curious on whether I should try it out at longer shots. I have used a .300 wsm 180gr bullet in the past and it was fine, but I no longer have that 300wsm. If I do use the new .338 what bullet would you recommend for deer. Most of my shots are anywhere from 50 to 200 yards.
Thank you
Jaime

I've used the 338 a bit, the 340 Wby and 338/06 a lot! If I were you I'd go with a 250 Nozler Part. Load it to 2650-2700 and it'll be wonderful on deer. Great blood trails, not much for blood shot meat. About as good as it gets

 

[memtb]

"What did he say, what did he say?" This is a very common question I heard some of my older hunting friends repeatedly asked after never using ear protection over decades of hunting.
Any sound above 140 decibels causes permanent ear damage. A .22LR hits that mark. The .338 WinMag w/o a muzzle brake produces 175-182 decibels so by not using hearing protection, you are causing permanent damage to your hearing. You might not realize it now but, you certainly will later on in life. Hearing loss has absolutely nothing to do with age but everything to do with what you exposed your hearing to as you grow older. Just wish I had protected mine sooner!

Yes you are correct! However a couple, maybe three shots fired during a hunting season is not something I concern myself with. While my hearing is not as good as it could/should be......it ain't bad. Working in industry for 40+ plus years, shooting for 60+ years, and racing cars/motorcycles.....with much of that prior to hearing protection being "fashionable"! So, going back to my original comment.....I don't think that a few shots fired during hunting season will do a great deal of harm! memtb

 

[jvspopeye]

jvspopeye, We used Leupold 2.5-8's (generous eye relief) on our rifles for 20+ years and loved them. The Leupolds have long noted as long eye relief, lightweight, quality scopes. For your application that should be a great power range. We changed our hunting locations, which offered us a much higher percentage of longer range shoots.....most @ 300 or greater. We stepped up to the Leupold 3.5-8 with CDS....though we kept our 300 yard zero. As we use Leupold Quick Detachable base/rings, we keep our 2.5-8's for a quick back-up if needed!

A lot of folks are having "less than nice" things to say about the new Leupold's. We've only been using our new scopes about 10 years, so far so good. Our older 2.5-8's were used longer, withstanding a lot of rounds with recoil higher than most scopes endure.....as so many people use brakes these days! They were put away, placed on "stand-by", never having given a problem!

PS: Also, especially for your mentioned application.....the low end of your power range is much more critical than the higher magnification. With our 10 power (maximum setting), I'm very confident on deer/antelope sized game to 500 to possibly 600.....under "ideal" shooting conditions! On elk sized game....much farther than I feel comfortable taking the shot! memtb

Thank you again memth for your valued input. I am steering towards a 2-7, or 2-8 powered scope and was looking at Leupolds, Vortex (much nicer price) and possibly a couple other ones. I was also looking at a Vortex 1-6 gen II, but I think I'll stick to a more traditional scope rather than a more tacticle scope. I figure that if I am doing any kind of instinctive shooting at very close range , as is the case when I am dogging for deer I usually use either my 44 mag ruger rifle or my old trusted REm Woodsmaster in 30-06. Much lighter guns to be hiking through the bush when my dog is out chasing deer to us. At least that is my thought on the scope anyways in which case for these guns I still use ironsights and still do good up to 100 yards, but most shots come in at less than 40 and the deer is running in full speed sometimes right at me..hahaha.

Around these parts we can still hunt whitetail with dogs, we do chases through plots and mountain terrain which is quite something to do if youve never done it. My dog, which is amazing at tracking and chasing deer, is now entering her 5th year deer hunting and has put out so many deer for our camp its amazing. For your info, I had DNA testing on her, and she is approx 80% Walker and 20 % border collie. Great hunting dog and pet! Thought Id share. Thanks again and if a good dog is needed let me know, I will hunt anywhere with her where it is legal.

 

[jvspopeye]

"What did he say, what did he say?" This is a very common question I heard some of my older hunting friends repeatedly asked after never using ear protection over decades of hunting.
Any sound above 140 decibels causes permanent ear damage. A .22LR hits that mark. The .338 WinMag w/o a muzzle brake produces 175-182 decibels so by not using hearing protection, you are causing permanent damage to your hearing. You might not realize it now but, you certainly will later on in life. Hearing loss has absolutely nothing to do with age but everything to do with what you exposed your hearing to as you grow older. Just wish I had protected mine sooner!

Good to know and thanks for sharing. Unfortunately I have never used ear protection when hunting, and maybe I should start, but I've always wanted to hear whats coming towards me or moving around in the bush where I hunt, so never thought of it that way.

 

[jvspopeye]

I've used the 338 a bit, the 340 Wby and 338/06 a lot! If I were you I'd go with a 250 Nozler Part. Load it to 2650-2700 and it'll be wonderful on deer. Great blood trails, not much for blood shot meat. About as good as it gets

Interesting on the partition, however I do not do my loads so I am restricted to factory ammo.

 

[jvspopeye]

Yes you are correct! However a couple, maybe three shots fired during a hunting season is not something I concern myself with. While my hearing is not as good as it could/should be......it ain't bad. Working in industry for 40+ plus years, shooting for 60+ years, and racing cars/motorcycles.....with much of that prior to hearing protection being "fashionable"! So, going back to my original comment.....I don't think that a few shots fired during hunting season will do a great deal of harm! memtb

I agree, and I always use protection at the range. Cheers

 

[dogz]

Interesting on the partition, however I do not do my loads so I am restricted to factory ammo.

If you're looking for factory ammo, last I saw Federal had a 250 NPT loading. That's exactly where I'd look

 

[memtb]

jvspopeye, I very familiar with "dog hunting" deer.....I'm from Louisiana. I've a cousin that's been hunting with dogs, deer and coons, since the late '60's! He loves it, he must.......he feeds that bunch of hounds for 12 months and only gets to use them about one. Louisiana has seriously shortened the dog season! memtb