.338 Win Mag appears to be a shooter.

[Scott Spencer]

As many of you know, I just bought a used Win Mod 70 stainless .338 Win Mag a couple of weeks ago. I don't have my reloading components for it yet but I wanted to shoot it. I bought a box of Remington 225 gr core-lokts off the shelf just to see what it would do.

Here are the first 5 shots. Two were just to check boresighting at 25 yds since I "eyeballed" it (I don't have a laser boresighter) from the bench. I moved it to 100 yds and moved it the wrong way. I was having trouble figuring out the direction of movement on the Zeiss scope. :grin:

After making adjustments I decided to try a couple of 3-shot groups. The first was shot at the lower left diamond. I actually shot a 1.137" group! Completely surprised with my results, I moved over to the main diamond and came up with, what is outstanding for me, a .728" group!! This came on just my 9th - 11th round ever through this rifle!

Needless to say, I can't wait to get my dies and reloading components to see what I can pull off with some handloads! If you all knew what I've been through with my last two rifles - struggling to get 1.5" groups - you would understand why I am so excited to see these results right out of the box and after only 11 rounds. :grin:

 

[bullet]

Looks good and looks consistent to boot.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

That's great Scott.
It's always nice to have that, "just in case I need Factory load", load".

 

[JD338]

Scott,

Nice shooting. Congratulations on your 338 Win Mag.

JD338

 

[JDMAG]

Good job!
Fun, ain't it?

 

[FOTIS]

Not too shabby huh? :lol:

 

[DrMike]

A great calibre that again lives up to its reputation. You done good. Those are fine groups.

 

[BK]

Scott,
Glad to see it's a shooter. Nice when thing work the easy way, isn't it?

 

[Scott Spencer]

Buying a used gun over the internet - even if it is a reputable seller - is always a crap shoot. I am tickled to death that it shoots this well with off the shelf ammo. All I need to do is replace the butt pad and have the trigger smoothed out.

Hopefully I'll be able to find multiple bullets that work just as well so I can cover 180 gr to 250 gr with it. I just placed an order for some 180 gr AccuBond and 100 pieces of Winchester brass from Midway. Now if I could only find some Fed 215M or CCI Mag primers!

 

[JDMAG]

I have some CCI mag primers! I'll lettem go for $50.00 per primer! :twisted:
You buy enough and I'll deliver them personally! :lol:

 

[bullet]

I have some CCI mag primers! I'll lettem go for $50.00 per primer! :twisted:
You buy enough and I'll deliver them personally! :lol:

WHAT A DEAL ON PRIMERS!!!!! I don't think I have ever seen such a DEAL!! :shock: :shock: :lol:

 

[JDMAG]

Obama seems to be running a little late on making my house payment, so I decided to take things into my own hands.
Oh, thats the way it is supposed to be already!

OK $45.00 each.

 

[Scott Spencer]

Good gracious, JD! Only $45 a pop? :grin:

I've got my name with so many stores and email lists I hope I can finally land some primers from somewhere!! I never honestly thought it would get this bad!

 

[tjRoberts]

That is darned good !
I have a model 70 classic. Blue and wood. Beautifull stock.
But I don't use it much it gets about 1.5 inches from the bench. Not to bad really. I need to get it glass bedded and maby put a better pad on it.
If I get it to shoot a little better doing that, I think I would like to cut and crown at 24 and add a set of NEGC sights. More for looks that anything else.
I also prefer the whelen , fo about 90% of what i bought my .338 for anyway.
..but i amglad yours is shooting so well. You can with confidence hunt any animal in North america with that.
...tj3006

 

[jmad_81]

Nice shooting! If your excited now wait till you drop something with it :twisted:

 

[SJB358]

Man, that has to give you alot of confidence. It might be tough to duplicate the accuracy (not really tough), but you can pick what bullet you want to shoot. That rifle is a shooter. I have a M70 338 also, and man it is a great shooter. It does have the BOSS, so about anything you feed it can be tuned to shoot pretty well. Congrats on a great rifle, you are ready for elk now. Scotty

 

[JD338]

Can't wait to see your results with RL 19 and 225 gr AB's. :wink:

JD338

 

[Scott Spencer]

Hey JD -

I'm starting with some 180 gr AB's and the RL 19, new Win brass, and CCI250 primers. Looking to see what sort of whitetail and mule deer load I can get with the 180 AB's.

I've been invited to go an a DIY mule deer & antelope hunt in WY this fall - presuming I'll draw the tags. Just need to decide if I want to take my .338 WM for both or take the .338 for the muley and my Mod 70 .270 for the antelope. I know I can take both animals with the .270 but I really want to hunt with the .338 and this hunt will be my first opportunity to take it to the field.

 

[JD338]

Scott

The 180 gr AB is an ok choice, but the 200 gr AB is better and the 225 gr AB is best.
Its all about BC. The .550 BC of the 225 gr AB will buck the wind better and retain more velocity and energy down range. Yes, you will have more drop than the lighter bullets but you can easily adjust for that. Its the wind that makes long range shooting tricky.
Also, you will get plenty of expansion on deer size game with the 225 gr AB with less blood shot/wasted meat than from the lighter bullets.

Run the numbers on the advanced ballistic calculator and you will see how the higher BC will work to your advantage.
http://www.biggameinfo.com/

JD338

 

[Scott Spencer]

Well.....glad I didn't sink all of my money into the 180 grainers.

My ignorance of the .338 is deep and I guess I was wrongly using the logic that a smaller bullet would do less damage to a 160 lb Alabama whitetail. I think I now understand that light and fast usually equals more mass damage vs a larger slower bullet just hitting hard and solid.

Should even try to hunt an antelope with the .338 or would I just be better off taking both my .270 and my .338? I have a double rifle aluminum travel case so it wouldn't be extra effort to take both.