Why a .338 WM in Africa?

[UpNorthMI]

I own several .338 WM rifles but have yet to take one to Africa as my hunts have included dangerous game. I would not think twice about taking a .338 WM to Africa for non dangerous game, it's a great caliber.

I spent 20+ years using .338 WM for red deer culling in Scotland with 180gn Nosler ballistic tips, it was a super flat shooting round and very effective for long range shooting. Others thought it was overkill but it knocked down large red deer at great distances with authority!

If I was taking a .338 WM to Africa I would select a 225 gn quality bullet, I loaded .338 WM ammo for a friend who took his rifle for a large plains game trip, it killed everything he shot at very well.

I guess having too many rifles is a good problem to have, I hope to also get my 9.3 x 62 on a trip some day.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I own several .338 WM rifles but have yet to take one to Africa as my hunts have included dangerous game. I would not think twice about taking a .338 WM to Africa for non dangerous game, it's a great caliber.

I spent 20+ years using .338 WM for red deer culling in Scotland with 180gn Nosler ballistic tips, it was a super flat shooting round and very effective for long range shooting. Others thought it was overkill but it knocked down large red deer at great distances with authority!

If I was taking a .338 WM to Africa I would select a 225 gn quality bullet, I loaded .338 WM ammo for a friend who took his rifle for a large plains game trip, it killed everything he shot at very well.

I guess having too many rifles is a good problem to have, I hope to also get my 9.3 x 62 on a trip some day.

Never having been to Scotland, I would never have thought there was that large of a population of red deer that they would need to be culled? Guess I need to get out more. LOL

 

[UpNorthMI]

Never having been to Scotland, I would never have thought there was that large of a population of red deer that they would need to be culled? Guess I need to get out more. LOL

Current Scottish deer population is estimated at just over 1M. The Forrestry Commission (DNR) employ guys all year round to work full time culling deer. Many areas are so remote and not accessible to a 4 wheel quad bike, the problem becomes getting the shot deer down the hills. I’m too old for mountain deer culling but still enjoy the slower sport hunting in reasonable accessible locations.

I have a lot of contacts if anyone is looking for Scottish deer hunting for Roe, Red and Sika deer.

 

[CZDiesel]

I wonder why the Failsafes were discontinued? From everything I’ve read about hunters who have used them they are great hunting bullets.

They were very very expensive to make! Unfortunately ended up on Winchesters chopping block…

 

[Choupique]

When I finally get the chance to go to Africa, I'm going with a .338 and a .458

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Never having been to Scotland, I would never have thought there was that large of a population of red deer that they would need to be culled? Guess I need to get out more. LOL

@CoElkHunter
There's more places in the world than Colorado Dorothy.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Choupique]

I'm probably the only one dragging a 26" barrel .338 win mag around Louisiana.

Had a revelation a few years back. I own the thing for elk hunting and I like it a lot. Why not just shoot everything with it?

 

[RedTag]

I wonder why the Failsafes were discontinued? From everything I’ve read about hunters who have used them they are great hunting bullets.

Winchester has a bad habit of discontinuing all their good ammo

 

[RedTag]

I’ve moved away from cartridges that are magnum width without being magnum length. Like driving a Mustang with a V6 engine, it may look cooler but it performs about the same as an ordinary car.

 

[Choupique]

cartridges that are magnum width without being magnum length

Understandable. At least it doesn't suffer from being grossly overbore. Itd definitely be cooler if it was .338 h&h

 

[DB404]

Re Failsafe bullets, if memory serves me, weren’t they at some point in time a joint project between Nosler and Winchester? I do recall a couple of forum posts somewhere complaining of failure to expand. We all know the internet is a veritable font of honesty. Expense is probably the correct answer.

For a do everything rifle in North America, the .338 WM makes a lot of sense. With some of the lighter monometal bullets, it’s fast and flat a long ways out. Farther out there than most people have any business shooting. I often wonder how much game is lost by us shooting too far. Maybe things have changed but I used to note that it’s a variable thing, but most people can’t track a bull moose across a chunk of wet concrete.

I will try and get pics of the 9.3x62 posted mañana.

 

[shark_za]

If you are not shooting any DG and your hunt is in a more open area then there is absolutely nothing wrong with a .338 WM.
Its a great choice for Eland and things like Gemsbok at distance.
Trophy hunting is also not worried about meat damage so even using it in the bushveld is fine.
As long as you can shoot it as accurately as a 30-06 there is no reason not to use it.

 

[DB404]

I looked briefly in the half remembered reloading components section of the bench today and found two boxes (probably 20 or 25 bullets each) of .375 300 grain Failsafes. I know I have a box or two of .338 230 grain Failsafes (I think) but will not be able to do a more thorough search for them until medical apts are over tomorrow afternoon. I also managed to dig the 9.3x62 Springfield out of the safe, but no time for pics until tomorrow.

One thing I have always felt was an asset of the .338 was that the recoil impulse was so manageable. A friend’s featherweight.300 Weatherby inspires fear every time I consider shooting it, but the .338, never.

Dave

 

[Kharn]

300 or 7MM compared to a .338? Please!!!
That would be like showing up to a gun fight with a knife!

;-)

;-)

 

[Houston Bill]

Mark, I know you are in the gun and ammo biz, so my suggesting another vendor might seem odd. However, there is a great deal to be had from a supplier in the Ft Worth area. At less than $40/box, this is a great deal. I bought 5 boxes recently, ordered it last Thursday morning and received it Friday evening. I hope to get to the range on Friday and try it out in my 338 WM. I plan to use this for my leopard hunt in July.

Norma ORYX .338 Win Mag CASE 230 Grain Bonded Soft Point - 200 Rounds (CASE) 20185112

Norma ORYX .338 Win Mag 230gr BPS: Outstanding for large game and designed for deep penetration and controlled expansion. 200 Ct. Case.

kirammo.com

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I am taking my 338 WM to Cameroon in a couple of months. I am shooting the Norma ORYX 230 grain ammunition. My rifle shoots better than 0.5 MOA with this round.