[sgtbpm]

A friend of mine is talking about getting a 300 wby mag to beat out my .338. I have looked at the ballistic table and both seem comparable in alot of loads. He says the 300 wby will out perform the 338 win in all areas.
I was just wondering what you all thought and has anybody used a 300 wby mag or seen any comparisons between the two??

 

[andy]

the 338 can be had in the greatly superior BAR, with a BOSS compensator, so you can practice a lot more. Reloading the belted rifle rds can be a bit of a PITA. So your friend's fos. The 300 win mag is a better choice than 338, tho, being a bit less recoil, plenty of powder, wider range of bullet types and wts, and less drop and drift.

 

[sgtbpm]

Sorry Andy, not comparing the 300 Winchester but the 300 Weatherby Mag, to the 338 winchester mag, If i missed typed sorry.

 

[andy]

I realise that, but it's a mistake on your part. The BAR offers a ton of advantages over ANY bolt action.

 

[sgtbpm]

Ok, well I'm not asking about comparing the Bar either, thanks though.

 

[Aslan]

Personally, I like the .338. As far as the whole BAR thing, JD's a little fixated on auto loaders - I guess he can't get the whole first shot thing down, or doesn't know how to work a bolt quickly. (here comes a whole useless 4 x as many shots in z seconds rant.)

I think the .338 is a bit more versatile - you can load down or up. I personally prefer 225gr Barnes 'X' bullets flat shooting, great terminal ballistics.

:devil:

 

[.45 COLT]

The 300 might shoot a little flatter, outperform the .338 on those long shots at mule deer on the prairie. Both are too much gun for eastern whitetails. The .338 is clearly a better choice for big bears and elk. If I had to choose between them, I'd pick the .338.

DC

 

[andy]

guys take elk EVERY YEAR around here, with 30-30's, dude. lots of 270 Win kills, too. The 30-30 has also taken many a grizzly, and only Montana has grizzlies in the lower 48 states. So much for NEEDING the greater power of the 338. You can always load down the 300 mag to 308 levels of performance, on deer, but you dont need to do so, given the 25% reductionof recoil by the gas op BAR. Personally,I'd never bother with more power than the alloy framed 308 BAR offers. That's plenty of range, for any sort of repsonsible taking of big game.

 

[Aslan]

guys take elk EVERY YEAR around here, with 30-30's, dude. lots of 270 Win kills, too. The 30-30 has also taken many a grizzly, and only Montana has grizzlies in the lower 48 states. So much for NEEDING the greater power of the 338. You can always load down the 300 mag to 308 levels of performance, on deer, but you dont need to do so, given the 25% reductionof recoil by the gas op BAR. Personally,I'd never bother with more power than the alloy framed 308 BAR offers. That's plenty of range, for any sort of repsonsible taking of big game.

There's really no need to load the round down. If you can't handle the recoil, then you probably should not be considering a .338 or a .300.

It's not necessarily a matter of need. I have harvested elk with my .280 and would not hesitate to use it to hunt bear.

I prefer to use the .338 for elk and bear for a number of reasons. One of which, is simply because I like the rifle. Another is that it hits them harder, makes a bigger hole and will generally exit the other side of an elk, where other rounds may not. I like two holes for a blood trail. (though the longest distance I have had an elk run after being shot is a little over 10 yds)

Sometimes, the choice of a weapon is simply that, a choice.

:devil:

 

[41mag]

I found it!I knew that something about those two bothered me.According to the Speer manual w/the Weatherby round for your 10% more powder used you get 400fps more velocity.

 

[andy]

the issue is, can you USE that extra 400 fps effectively? without prone bipod, the answer is no, and in most hunting country, prone means you can't SEE anything, other than grass-brush.

 

[DJetAce]

Aslan, guntwit CAN'T handle the recoil. And he CAN'T handle the noise either. So he as no experience with either the .300 or .338. Never has, never will.

 

[andy]

either one just means you aint hunter enough to get within reliable 308 range,which aint saying much about your abilities. A decent man should be able to get within sidearm range, since that's about 50% greater "reach' than bowhunters have, and they take trophies every year.

 

[Garand]

I'll stick with my .308, but I'd like to hear the details of your escape from prison though!

 

[Aslan]

either one just means you aint hunter enough to get within reliable 308 range,which aint saying much about your abilities. A decent man should be able to get within sidearm range, since that's about 50% greater "reach' than bowhunters have, and they take trophies every year.

What do you consider side arm range? 100yds? that's about 50% more than bow range. (personally, my long pin is set for 50yds, but I have hunted with archers that have 70yd pins set.) My ex-neighbor (old neighborhood) took a mt lion at 70yds with his bow. Nice big tom. Has it on video.

Are you making up numbers again? Do you even know anything about modern bows and equipment?

you'd be surprised at what a good, single cam bow and carbon arrows can do.

As far as getting close to game, I like a good stalk on game. But, you obviously don't know too much about elk, or their habitat.

:devil:

 

[Dorobuta]

the 338 can be had in the greatly superior BAR, with a BOSS compensator, so you can practice a lot more. Reloading the belted rifle rds can be a bit of a PITA. So your friend's fos. The 300 win mag is a better choice than 338, tho, being a bit less recoil, plenty of powder, wider range of bullet types and wts, and less drop and drift.

There’s nothing difficult about reloading a belted magnum. I load a .338 a lot.

 

[Dorobuta]

either one just means you aint hunter enough to get within reliable 308 range,which aint saying much about your abilities. A decent man should be able to get within sidearm range, since that's about 50% greater "reach' than bowhunters have, and they take trophies every year.

My bow sight goes to 100 yds. I practice out to 80. I have my personal ethical limit set to around 60 yards, depending on the circumstance. I will get complete pass throughs on elk sized animals at that distance. (However, if a 400 class bull was feeding unaware at 80 yards, and there was no wind, etc. - I'd consider taking the shot; freeze it with a cow call or a grunt, and shoot. Conditions would have to be perfect, and no other options presented themselves. I am saying I'd consider the shot, not that I would take it - ethics matter)

If anybody cares, it's a black gold ascent verdict on a dovetail bar. Single pin sight.

what is side arm range to you? I doubt you will give an honest answer here, but I'd like to hear it.

As far as abilities, when rifle hunting elk, there are situations where a 1000 yards shot across a canyon might be the only option (not for me), for many hunters. Spend some time on Youtube, you might learn a thing or two about long range shots and hunting. It is not my thing, I'd rather stalk and use a bow on elk. But, that is a personal choice.

 

[Dorobuta]

the issue is, can you USE that extra 400 fps effectively? without prone bipod, the answer is no, and in most hunting country, prone means you can't SEE anything, other than grass-brush.

You really don't know how to shoot rifles effectively. Shooting sling works well, kneeling works well, sitting works well. Then there are a variety of options involving shooting sticks and the like. There's seldom a need to go prone, but if you need to, you can use your pack as a rest, or even one of your hunting partners.

As a western hunter, you clearly meant in many parts of the country, not most hunting country, and even in thick brush, prone can be an option.

You just don't have enough varied experiences to understand this - in addition to not being able to use a rifle effectively.

also, claiming you know what anyone can do, other than yourself, is silly.