.338 Cartridges: What have played with? Which do you prefer?

[xphunter]

The only 338 that I have used, was a 338 AX (338 Lapua Improved-Raised the shoulder and shortened the neck). Center-Grip XP-100
I ran 300 grain SMK’s just under 2700 FPS.
It had an 18 inch barrel. It was too heavy to practically take hunting, and it was too light to do sustained shooting for distance on steel.

 

[Alaska]

In the new thread regarding the question about the 338 Engels, while trying to find out more about the cartridge, I came across the Shooting Times article by Payton Miller, "11 Great .338 Caliber Rifle Cartridges".

It got me to thinking about the various .338 rifles I have owned, or played with, over the years.
Of the 11, I have owned or played with *7 to date:

1. *338 Marlin Express: owned a Marlin MXR
2. *338 Federal: Own 2; one on a LH Sako 85 Finnlight II, and the other on a Winchester Model 88 - love the cartridge and having fun with these rifles!
3. 33 Winchester: have not owned or played with one as yet, but hope to!
4. *338-06 A Square: Own a custom LH Rem 700 really like this cartridge! (Sold my first 338 Win Mag when my shoulders were bad, and built this rifle for the 338 performance that would be easier in the shoulder)
5. 338 RCM: Have yet to find a LH Ruger Hawkeye...
6. *338 Win Mag: Have owned 2 over the years; a LH Rem 700 BDL and a LH Sako AV - love the cartridge and enjoyed these rifles! (My 338-06 with its' preferred handload with the 215 gr SGK actually outperforms the factory 210 gr NP ammo past 300 yards! with less felt recoil!)
7. *338 Lapua: Played with a friend's custom lightweight Winchester Model 70 - shot very well and felt recoil was quite manageable from field positions
8. *340 Wby: Played with a Stainless/synthetic Rem 700 chambered for this round from the bench - shot very well, factory LimbSaver recoil pad made felt recoil quite manageable
9. *338 RUM: Played with a Stainless/synthetic Rem 700 - shot very well, factory LimbSaver recoil pad made felt recoil quite manageable
10. 33 Nosler: Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
11. 338-378 Wby: This is one that I have no desire to try...too much of a "good" thing for me...

Apparently there are a number of other .338 cartridges, that I have not had the opportunity to try, or have only just learned of them:

1. 338 Whisper: Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
2. 338 ARC: new cartridge recently released - article in the latest Gun Digest
3. 338 Engels: just learned of today
4. 338 Jarret: Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
5. 338 Edge: Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
6. 338 Sherman Short: Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
7. 338 Enabler: Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
8. 338 Spectre: Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
9. 338 Norma: Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
10. 8.59 Titan (long): Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet
11. 8.59 Galaxy (short): Have not had an opportunity to play with one as yet

I know there are more that I am missing (JDJ?, etc.)...

After looking at this list, there are quite a few .338 rifle cartridges out there...but to be quite honest, I am happy with my Federals and 338-06.
And with an average shot distance of just 132 yards, the Federals will provide all I need for the rest of my hunting career (the bolt action for most hunting as it is synthetic/carbon fibre for lightweight and resilience, and lever action for the thick, dark timber for bear and moose). It is nice to have the extra bit of velocity and energy in the 338-06 for any potentially longer shot opportunities on moose and elk, and for bison. And I would love to use it on an eland.
That is not to say that should I finally find a LH Ruger Hawkeye in 338 RCM, that it won't be coming home with me!
I really liked the Marlin in 338 ME in the MX (wood/blued), and am still on the lookout for the MXLR (stainless/laminate)

So which have you owned/played with?
And which rifle cartridge do you prefer?

338-06
338 Win mag
340 WBY
338 RUM
338 Lapua

Carried the 338 Win Mag the most in Alaska with 225gr Accubonds and Part.
My 338 RUM in REM 700 XCR great carry gun.
My 338 Lapua stand gun only for Tripod at 14lbs for moose stand hunting very accurate.

338-06 loved the round especially with 210gr Nosler Part done a lot of elk hunting with that round easy to reload and loved Reloader 17. Sold the rifle

340 Weatherby great gun the accurmark but went to the 338 RUM in REM 700. Always love the REM 700 action !