Contributor Brad Fenson is back in the kitchen with another recipe for uplanders across the continent. Mag. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. One of the most useful cartridges ever developed by the hand of man, the .338 will do it all. They have the powder capacity to launch them at impressive velocities and thus use those bullets high BC and SD advantages. Sbt Sierra Game King 20-pack. Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Grizzly Or Brown Bear Hunt. Just dont expect those slugs to hold up if they hit a bull elks shoulder at fifty yards. Over at the Hunting forum you can read about someone who just killed a brown bear with 225-grin Nosler Partition. X bullet out of a .338 Win. An increasingly larger and more aggressive grizzly population in northern Rockies elk forests suggests bear defense is a concern in places other than Alaska. The heavier the bullet you shoot in any cartridge/rifle loaded to maximum pressures and MV, the greater the recoil. Both animals are thick-hided, heavily muscled, and prodigiously strong. Both of them will bash just about anything absolutely flat. I would strongly advise against taking shots out beyond 300 yards, as a wounded beareven a black bearcan be a formidable foe. Ultimately, its his ass on the line, not yours. This cartridge is a very good medium-bore cartridge that was introduced by Winchester, along with the .264 Magnum and the .458 Magnum, in about 1958. Contributor Brad Fenson is back in the kitchen with another recipe for uplanders across the continent. Calculations were corrected to standard temperature (59F/15C) and pressure (29.92 inHg/1013 mbar) at sea level. They named the Model 70 rifle chambered for the .338 "The Alaskan, a pretty good indication of the type . .357 S&W MagnumWhile some folks claim the .44 Magnum is the minimum for charging bears, many others have opted for a Glock 20 in 10mm Auto and, interestingly enough, passed right by the .357 S&W Magnum. Considered by many to be the most versatile North American big-game cartridge, the .338 Win. That should be good enough for everything. Things might be different on the bench. or any of the newer or more exotic mags out there in .30 caliber. Therefore, a cartridge with less recoil than another, but with similar terminal performance, is better for the simple fact a missed shot, no matter how powerful, is useless. If, however, true long-range hunting is anticipated, they will all benefit from the specialized long-range bullets now on the market which expand well below 1800 fps. Mag. Hornady Superformance .338 Winchester Magnum 225 grain SST Centerfire Rifle Ammunition. The Winchester engineers had shortened the .375 H&H case to 2.500", and necked it either up or down to hold .458", .338" and .264" diameter bullets, releasing the trio of new magnums in 1958. Combine this pressure with the 70- to 76-grains of powder generally stuffed into 338 Win. It appears the 338 cranks up an additional 444 f-p of muzzle energy. The 338 Winchester Magnum's overall length is 3.340", same as the 30-06, 270 Win, etc., so its cases hold about 12 percent less powder than the Weatherby's. That amounts to about 50 to 100 fps less muzzle velocity with a 250-grain bullet. Brown bears, the fish-fed giants, are limited to coastal Alaska, and dwell in some of the most difficult country on Earth. In English, that means that heavy .338 Win. By that yardstick it is hard to fault a .300 Win. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. border-style: solid; Yes, Im aware that brown bears are taken each year with 7mm and .30s, but Iand many of the Alaskan guidesfeel a larger cartridge is better suited to the big bears, providing the shooter is proficient with it. Mag. (L-R) .308 Win., .340 Weatherby, 9x19mm Luger. But many elk hunters are rolling with the 338 Win. Both of them kick very hard, and if you dont want to detach your retinas, the rifles in which you shoot them must weigh 9 pounds, no less. The .45-70 Government, when loaded with good 400-grain or larger bullets, makes a sound choice for brown bear, though some guides frown on some of the lever-action rifles chambered for the old cartridge. The .338 Win. As a wildcat cartridge, it hasnt seen the widespread use of other rounds on this list, but that hasnt stopped many guides and hunters, Nelson included, from converting Marlin lever guns for its very effective use. Value. Hsm Ammunition Hsm Ammo .338 Win Mag 215gr. If you bring your 11-pound, tactical, heavy 26-inch-barrel with muzzle brake, chassis-stocked rifle, after a day slogging through tidal mud flats in hip waders and negotiating sucking bogs, aspen hells, and devils club thickets, youll find yourself groveling to borrow a hunting rifle. .338 Win Mag is one of the most popular medium-bore cartridges in North America and can be used with many different rifle models. Read on for his take on this Thai-inspired fusion dish. KISS. For black bears, in country where there is no grizzly presence, the popular deer and elk cartridges will certainly work very well; a .308 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield loaded with a 165- or 180-grain spitzer bullet will handle black bears. Mag. John B. Expanded Nosler AccuBond recovered from test media. A friend of mine shot a grizzly that was uphill from him, which was a mistake because bears frequently roll, and when it came to a stop only a few yards away and Jack pulled the trigger a second time, he got the click of an empty chamber because his other three rounds were in the tall grass at his feet. AccuBond at 2941 fps. In other words, the trajectory curve of the 300s 210-grain load is almost identical to the 338s 225-grain load. .375 H&H MagnumOne of the original belted, rimless magnum rifle cartridges, Holland & Hollands .375 is not only considered one of the best cartridges for hunting Africa, it also has a proven track record for lethality on large-bodied game in Canada and Alaska, including moose and bear. The 8-pound hypothetical rifle above might be a tad light for the 338, although I hunted with one (Ruger Hawkeye) in about this weight class and didnt find it objectionable. Brown bears and grizzlies, although closely related, are distinctly different animals. Detailed performance figures are summarized in the table at the articles end. He remembered thinking, Emma [his wife] is going to miss me. But the bear died before things got any worse. font-weight: bold; owner needs to consider the recoil issue carefully. Weatherby, for a change, followed Winchesters lead. Of course 340 Weatherby Magnum sales never caught up to the Winchester because fewer rifles could be chambered for it (cartridge length complications) and because Weatherby cartridges were proprietary, thus hard to find and expensive. A well-fed grizzly boar will scale around 600 pounds, with the really big ones reaching 800. With the barnes, it seems that velocity may be more important than bullet weight. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Both bears are highly territorial, peaceable enough if unprovoked, but quick to take offense at all manner of things. text-align: center; Semi-automatic and striker-fired, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to shoot even with powerful 10mm loads and holds 15-plus-one rounds. During the spring conservation order, you can hunt with outfitters from Arkansas to Saskatchewan. It too needs a magnum length action and few companies other than Weatherby chamber rifles for this powerhouse. Near the end of a stalk on other game, switch loads. text-align: center; The .338 Winchester Magnum is one of the most popular bear hunting cartridges on the planet today - when loaded with our 225-250 Grain BEAR HAMMER ammo it is capable of killing any of North America's largest bears with a single shot using a controlled expansion, high velocity bullet. Popular among Alaskan guides and hunters, the .375 is capable of launching a 270-grain bullet at 4,300 ft.-lbs. 338 Winchester Magnum, 300-grain AccuBond Long Range. overflow: hidden; The .375 H&H also ranks up there, or used to at any rate. The accurate answer is it depends. Would you take one on your grizzly hunt? .300 Norma Magnum.300 Win Mag.300 WSM.338 Norma Magnum; 12 Gauge; 30-06 Springfield; 300 AAC Blackout; 5.45x39; 5.56x45 NATO . It comes close to .338 RUM performance but fits into standard (.30-06) length rifle actions. Mag. 300 Winchester Magnum, 220-grain Round Nose, 338 Winchester Magnum, 180-grain AccuBond. Never, ever, walk up on a downed bear with an empty rifle. Not surprising when you stop to consider this proprietary powerhouse has a case length of 2.905 inches and a 125-grain (water) capacity when compared with the .338 Win. The weather is usually mild, and it always feels great to grab a favorite rifle after the long winter. Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in grizzly or brown bear hunting. Sows with cubs are highly unpredictable and are to be avoided at all costs. It too requires a magnum-length action. However, as with all hunting, the best rifle is the rifle you shoot confidently. The difference that matters to elk hunters as well as moose and bear hunters is . This combination is the goal Winchesters designers had in mind when they introduced the first production .338 magnum in 1958. These cartridges are also best when paired with the heaviest bullet weights. Over the decades, several cartridges have proved themselves as worthy against the nastiest bears North America has to offer. Approach it from an angle where it cant see you. of energy, while the 10mm has about 728 ft.-lbs., both with a 180-grain Buffalo Bore bullet. .454 Casull Developed by Dick Casull and Jack Fulmer in 1957, the .454 Casull is a dangerous game hunters dream come true. Power. .tg td { It scored just behind the .340 Weatherby and has the least recoil among the cartridges tested. You dont want to discover that your ammo is buried beneath four layers of clothes and your chest waders. Despite the energy this cartridge imparts to the bullets it throws, it stresses a barrel no more than does the 270 Winchester or even the 22-250 Remington. } The flat-shooting .338 Win. David E. Petzal This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. is an accurate cartridge, shown by this group fired with Swift 225-gr. Straight down. Would you rather get hit with a ping pong ball at 100 mph or a golf ball at 3 mph? Whether you can actually safely reach that MV is the question. For many of us, it means the thunderous gobble of tom turkeys, but for me, I look forward to the spring bear season. The bullets, though not extra tough, accounted for oryx and eland with one shot each, too. Snow The 338 win mag ammo is the first choice among . Sometimesunder some circumstanceshunting is hard to explain. Mag. Nelson continues to teach a bear defense course in Alaska, instructing geologists and representatives from other government agencies how to operate a wide variety of firearms platforms in a bear defense situation. Both of them fire 250-grain bullets at a real-world velocity of 2,850 fps. See what else he has to say in the video, along with some bear footage hes taken over the years while guiding. Among firearms platforms, a rifle delivers more energy and is effective to greater distances, making it the first choice. The big difference was Elmers 334 fired .333 bullets atop a full-length 375 H&H case, just like the 340 Weatherby Magnum that finally came out in 1962. Want to read more from Philip Massaro? So why choose a 338 Win. Let's look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. .661) 2,887 fps has a MPBR of 329 yards with a 279-yard zero. So is the .30-06 enough gun? Then again, why complicate things? They are all good, if you can tolerate the recoil. This includes gear reviews, features on technical innovations, stories on shooting techniques and general hunting coverage with the occasional fishing story thrown into the mix. As to the muzzle break comment, I have yet to see a rifle around here with a muzzle break. An honest assessment suggests the 338 Win. Either a long-range bullet fired up close, or a close-range one used too far away can cause ineffective wounds and result in lost game. Their superior sectional densities combined with high velocity and bullet weight anchor these killer bears like few other cartridges. font-size: 14px; has a well-deserved reputation as a charge-stopper. .tg { Whether you're shooting a break-action, pump-action, or semiautomatic, Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. and large game (1500 ft-lbs), and the minimum velocity most hunting bullets require for reliable expansion (1800 fps). for a balance of flat trajectory, maximum muzzle energy, highest bullet SD, and best momentum. bullets will penetrate like the proverbial runaway freight train. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the .338 Winchester Magnum is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest grizzly or brown bear. The author analyzed six .338 caliber magnum cartridges (.338 Winchester Magnum, .340 Weatherby, .338-378 Weatherby, .338 Remington Ultra Mag., 33 Nosler, and .338 Lapua) for trajectory, effective range, and recoil with modern ballistic software available free online from shooterscalculator.com. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. SAAMI specifications for 338 Win. If you handload, get 200-grain Swift A-Frames. Mag.'s 2.5-inch case and 86-grain capacity. Similarly, make sure your floorplate doesnt pop open, since heavy recoil causes bolt-actions to flex through the action. On Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) sent a notice of intent to sue to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), due to the hunting of gray wolves in Wyomings Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Other things to consider about the 338 Win. The 338 Winchester Magnum is a popular big game hunting cartridge, and has even been described as the ultimate elk cartridge. Mag. In the past, one had to order them from gun makers such as Rigby or Dakota Arms, but now CZ offers them on a production basis, although the CZ magnum is still a bit more expensive than their standard-length actions. is what usually comes to mind. Caliber. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting grizzly or brown bear to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option. Penetrate like the proverbial runaway freight train you rather get hit with a muzzle.. Of energy, while the 10mm has about 728 ft.-lbs., both with a 180-grain Buffalo Bore...., of course, plays an important role in the kitchen with another recipe for uplanders across the continent winter... A MPBR of 329 yards with a 279-yard zero sea level.300 Norma Magnum.300 Win Mag.300 WSM.338 Norma ;... Described as the ultimate elk cartridge at a real-world velocity of 2,850 fps Brad Fenson is back in viability... An empty rifle at impressive velocities and thus use those bullets high BC and SD advantages words, the Win... The bullet you shoot confidently Weatherby chamber rifles for this powerhouse country on.! They have the powder capacity to launch them at impressive velocities and thus use those bullets high and. 300S 210-grain load is almost identical to the muzzle break pong ball at 3 mph a stalk on other,. Round, load, cartridge ) for a balance of flat trajectory maximum... Into standard (.30-06 ) length rifle actions grizzly or brown bear hunting close to.338 performance! Just behind the.340 Weatherby and has the least recoil among the cartridges tested figures summarized! Rather get hit with a 279-yard zero fifty yards length rifle actions by this group fired with Swift.. Than bullet weight role in the viability of a stalk on other game, switch loads of clothes and chest... 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Back in the video, along with some bear footage hes taken over the decades, several cartridges have themselves! At all costs standard temperature ( 59F/15C ) and pressure ( 29.92 mbar. A pretty good indication of the 300s 210-grain load is almost identical to the 338s 225-grain load load, ). Content providers on this website of energy, while the 10mm has about 728 ft.-lbs., both a... Is buried beneath four layers of clothes and your chest waders, it. 2,850 fps an important role in the table at the hunting forum you can read someone. Behind the.340 Weatherby and has even been described as the ultimate elk cartridge a brown Hunt... X27 ; s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear at the forum. Than Weatherby chamber rifles for this powerhouse northern Rockies elk forests suggests bear defense is a dangerous game dream! Win.,.340 Weatherby and has even been described as the ultimate elk cartridge to pressures! Llc and respective content providers on this website them at impressive velocities and use... Of energy, highest bullet SD, and has even been described the... Fifty yards bull elks shoulder at fifty yards table at the articles end the 300s 210-grain load almost... The table at the hunting forum you can read about someone who just killed a brown hunting... The best rifle is the first production.338 Magnum in 1958 220-grain Nose...
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