Browning 338 is it to big

Jola00 · August 15, 2005, 06:19 PM

I went in to buy a new gun and was going to purchase a Browning 7mm and was talked into buying a 338. I hunt now with a30-06 for deer and moose. It has been a great gun but last year it took 2 for my moose to go down and so I thought I would go to a larger gun for moose. The guy at the store said he hunts Deer and moose with this gun and it will be fine. Where I hunt you are going to see both Deer and Moose so I dont want to end up wasted a Deer if this gun is truly over kill. Has anyone out there ever shot a Deer with a 338 before and if so how did the game fare. Thanks

mete · August 15, 2005, 06:45 PM

The bullets for a 338 are more heavily constructed usually, for bigger animals ,so you won't disintegrate a deer !!!

HSMITH · August 15, 2005, 09:54 PM

I've seen a couple deer shot with a 338, and a few elk. There used to be two guys I hunted with that used them. On deer I didn't see much difference in how and when they went down between the 338, my 284, my 7 mag, and other guys using 30-06 and so on. My guess is the bullet was still expanding as it went out, and one thing I KNOW is that with good bullets a 338 will damage a LOT less meat on a deer if you hit a shoulder or two when compared to a 7mm mag or a 300 mag. On elk the 338 was a hammer, it put them down very well. It is hard to describe but it just hits a big animal HARD. I don't own a 338 but I would like to, after seeing it in action I am a believer.

artsmom · August 16, 2005, 10:40 AM

A .338 Winchester Magnum would work well for deer, but I think a .30-06 would still have been okay for moose. One must be careful not to make judgements on an isolated incident.

However, now that you have a .338, don't look back. I think meat damage is more dependent of where the bullet hits and not what bullet. Just try to punch it through the rib cage and get the heart and lungs while avoiding the shoulders and you should be fine.

I do agree that speed has more to do with bloodshot meat than size of bullet, but even an arrow can ruin a lot of meat, which surprised me when my brothers finally started connecting with their bows.

T. O'Heir · August 18, 2005, 09:31 PM

There's no animal in North America that needs a .338 Mag to put down. Not even big bears. Up here, the .303 British drops big moose with one shot and 180 grain SP's annually. What ammo did you use with your .30-06?

musher · August 18, 2005, 10:02 PM

I've hunted with a 338 for the last 15 yrs. Moose, Bear, Caribou, Sitka deer. I've never felt like meat damage was excessive. Penetration is great, like lengthwise through a caribou if you need it.

As for animals not going down, sometimes it happens. It doesn't matter what caliber you use.

One year a moose I took required 5 shots to take him off of his feet. When I took him apart, all 5 had gone through the boiler room. I've no idea why or how he kept moving, but there it was.

Mostly though, things I shoot just fall down.

Fremmer · August 19, 2005, 08:55 AM

Is it too big? Probably not for the animals you plan to shoot. The real question is whether the gun is too big for you -- and I'm not trying to insult you when I say this. The .338 mag is not a light-recoil round. It's not an elephant gun, but it is gonna let you know when you shoot it.

Take the gun to the range and practice with it. Make you you get some good range sessions in before you hunt with it so that you can get used to the gun and its recoil/noise.

And give us a range report!

sum-rifle · August 30, 2005, 02:11 AM

The .338 is a great round. Like several people have said it hits like the Hammer of Thor and animals tend to die real fast. Meat damage is not usually a problem either.

I am confused though. Tou said you wanted a "bigger" gun because your 06 took two rounds to kill a Moose last year, then you said you went in to buy a 7mm, Rem Mag. That may have more velocity and energy but it generally shoots a lighter bullet and is definately smaller in diameter.

Sometimes you have to shoot and animal more than once. Use a good bullet and make a good shot and the 06 will do wonders. Now that you have the .338 I would choose that over the 06 but I would still take an 06 over a 7mm Rem Mag for Moose.

mdhunter · August 30, 2005, 02:09 PM

although I agree with others that two shots from an .06 to down a moose doesn't equate to bad performance by the .06.

And T. O'Hair, I disagree about "no animal in North America needing a .338 to put down." I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to try to stop this bear with an .06 or .303 British.......

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=16368

Michael

keens · August 30, 2005, 06:24 PM

The deer (whitetail) I shot with my .338 went down...but no better than with my 30-06, 7 mag. or .308. Having said that, I like having new rifles, and calibers are a good excuse to buy another. For elk, the .338 would be my choice.

Dave Haven · August 30, 2005, 10:14 PM

Quote:

For elk, the .338 would be my choice.

I know a number of people (including myself) who wholeheartedly agree with you.

August 15, 2005, 06:19 PM	#1
Jola00 Junior Member Join Date: August 14, 2005 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 4	Browning 338 is it to big I went in to buy a new gun and was going to purchase a Browning 7mm and was talked into buying a 338. I hunt now with a30-06 for deer and moose. It has been a great gun but last year it took 2 for my moose to go down and so I thought I would go to a larger gun for moose. The guy at the store said he hunts Deer and moose with this gun and it will be fine. Where I hunt you are going to see both Deer and Moose so I dont want to end up wasted a Deer if this gun is truly over kill. Has anyone out there ever shot a Deer with a 338 before and if so how did the game fare. Thanks

August 30, 2005, 02:09 PM	#9
mdhunter Member Join Date: February 4, 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 65	.338 is a Great Cartridge..... although I agree with others that two shots from an .06 to down a moose doesn't equate to bad performance by the .06. And T. O'Hair, I disagree about "no animal in North America needing a .338 to put down." I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to try to stop this bear with an .06 or .303 British....... http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=16368 Michael

August 30, 2005, 06:24 PM	#10
keens Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2004 Posts: 446	The deer (whitetail) I shot with my .338 went down...but no better than with my 30-06, 7 mag. or .308. Having said that, I like having new rifles, and calibers are a good excuse to buy another. For elk, the .338 would be my choice. __________________ Speak the truth in love, for truth without love is legalism, and love without truth is liberalism. If you count ease and comfort more than character, you will never be who God meant you to be.

August 15, 2005, 06:45 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	The bullets for a 338 are more heavily constructed usually, for bigger animals ,so you won't disintegrate a deer !!!

August 15, 2005, 09:54 PM	#3
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	I've seen a couple deer shot with a 338, and a few elk. There used to be two guys I hunted with that used them. On deer I didn't see much difference in how and when they went down between the 338, my 284, my 7 mag, and other guys using 30-06 and so on. My guess is the bullet was still expanding as it went out, and one thing I KNOW is that with good bullets a 338 will damage a LOT less meat on a deer if you hit a shoulder or two when compared to a 7mm mag or a 300 mag. On elk the 338 was a hammer, it put them down very well. It is hard to describe but it just hits a big animal HARD. I don't own a 338 but I would like to, after seeing it in action I am a believer.

August 16, 2005, 10:40 AM	#4
artsmom Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2005 Location: Nebraska Posts: 334	A .338 Winchester Magnum would work well for deer, but I think a .30-06 would still have been okay for moose. One must be careful not to make judgements on an isolated incident. However, now that you have a .338, don't look back. I think meat damage is more dependent of where the bullet hits and not what bullet. Just try to punch it through the rib cage and get the heart and lungs while avoiding the shoulders and you should be fine. I do agree that speed has more to do with bloodshot meat than size of bullet, but even an arrow can ruin a lot of meat, which surprised me when my brothers finally started connecting with their bows.

August 18, 2005, 09:31 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	There's no animal in North America that needs a .338 Mag to put down. Not even big bears. Up here, the .303 British drops big moose with one shot and 180 grain SP's annually. What ammo did you use with your .30-06?

August 18, 2005, 10:02 PM	#6
musher Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Posts: 462	I've hunted with a 338 for the last 15 yrs. Moose, Bear, Caribou, Sitka deer. I've never felt like meat damage was excessive. Penetration is great, like lengthwise through a caribou if you need it. As for animals not going down, sometimes it happens. It doesn't matter what caliber you use. One year a moose I took required 5 shots to take him off of his feet. When I took him apart, all 5 had gone through the boiler room. I've no idea why or how he kept moving, but there it was. Mostly though, things I shoot just fall down.

August 19, 2005, 08:55 AM	#7
Fremmer Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2005 Location: Nebraska Posts: 3,482	Is it too big? Probably not for the animals you plan to shoot. The real question is whether the gun is too big for you -- and I'm not trying to insult you when I say this. The .338 mag is not a light-recoil round. It's not an elephant gun, but it is gonna let you know when you shoot it. Take the gun to the range and practice with it. Make you you get some good range sessions in before you hunt with it so that you can get used to the gun and its recoil/noise. And give us a range report!

August 30, 2005, 02:11 AM	#8
sum-rifle Junior Member Join Date: August 28, 2005 Posts: 13	The .338 is a great round. Like several people have said it hits like the Hammer of Thor and animals tend to die real fast. Meat damage is not usually a problem either. I am confused though. Tou said you wanted a "bigger" gun because your 06 took two rounds to kill a Moose last year, then you said you went in to buy a 7mm, Rem Mag. That may have more velocity and energy but it generally shoots a lighter bullet and is definately smaller in diameter. Sometimes you have to shoot and animal more than once. Use a good bullet and make a good shot and the 06 will do wonders. Now that you have the .338 I would choose that over the 06 but I would still take an 06 over a 7mm Rem Mag for Moose.