best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear

vertical-align: top .338 Winchester Magnum The favorite among Alaskan guides as a backup gun, the .338 Winchester Magnum was released in 1958 as belted, rimless cartridge. David E. Petzal Forget the fat, tame grizzlies you see lumbering around in movies. You mathematically gifted physicists are free to more clearly explain and clarify any of this. Brilliant writing. So that will help you get off repeat shots quicker. 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. Change the species to the brown or grizzly bear, and you may want to consider a larger bore diameter. With the barnes, it seems that velocity may be more important than bullet weight. of energy. AccuBond at 2941 fps. Based on ballistic charts, I don't see a great increase in energy with the 250 grain bullet and its trajectory is not as flat as the 225 grain bullet. Mag and enjoys a cult-like following. Question: Why would Recoil even be considered in a .338 caliber? Introduced in 1958, the .338 Win. Grizzlies are widely distributed, and have the decency to live in mostly open country, including mountains. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Mag. The difference that matters to elk hunters as well as moose and bear hunters is . For pure hunting, I still think Id go with the 300 Win. It scored just behind the .340 Weatherby and has the least recoil among the cartridges tested. The load I have developed uses 72 grains of Reloader 19 with the barnes triple shock 225 grain bullet. What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? All the cartridges tested were limited by the minimum expansion velocity recommended for the standard Nosler AccuBond. Mag. The .338 caliber magnums provide all the power most hunters could ever wantor need, but bullet selection is vital to realize their full potential. Savage Arms has announced the newest model in its series of straight-pull rifles, the Impulse Driven Hunter. .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. Value. Mag.'s 2.5-inch case and 86-grain capacity. Youll be shooting it at extremely close range. The .338 in (8.6 mm) is the caliber at which medium-bore cartridges are considered to begin. Similarly, make sure your floorplate doesnt pop open, since heavy recoil causes bolt-actions to flex through the action. Never got a chance to hunt the big bears while I had my 416. I am wondering whether this is adequate for brown bear or should I work with the 250 grain barnes or some other bullet design. Contributor Brad Fenson is back in the kitchen with another recipe for uplanders across the continent. Brown bears and grizzlies, although closely related, are distinctly different animals. Skip ahead a couple days to bear number two. 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. If a person cannot tolerate a particular cartridges un-braked recoil, they need a different cartridge which they can manage without subterfuge. bullets will penetrate like the proverbial runaway freight train. A hunter must really want to shoot an elk at 800 yards to consider anything above the .338 Win. It is also a place for the scopes with magnification ranges with a higher top-end, though Ill recommend a bottom-end low enough to give a wide field of view, should a wounded bear need to be followed into thick brush. As Nelson has seen in bear defense training, many shooters have cycling issues with the 10mm due to the limp-wrist syndrome, something that isnt an issue with a revolver and is the last thing you want to happen during a bear charge. That one should be churning out 3,887 f-p of energy at the muzzle. 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. A-Frame bullets. Federal loads its 06 ammo with 200-grain Trophy Bonded bullets, which is what you want if you dont handload. .tg td { The heaviest bullet available would give each cartridge its best chance since such bullets offer the highest BC's and SD's and would thus make the comparison as fair as possible. The author acknowledges hand loaders can achieve much better performance in many instances. Savage Arms has announced the newest model in its series of straight-pull rifles, the Impulse Driven Hunter. Do not assume that because its a medium caliber that its loaded with strong bullets. Mag. As yet, no one offers a 250 grain AccuBond in factory ammo for the 33 Nosler, and it would have scored closer to the .338 RUM with a 250. background-color: #333333; .50 Alaskan Taking a .348 Winchester case and necking it out to accept a .510-inch, Alaskan Harold Johnson was able to successfully convert a Winchester Model 1886 rifle into a .50-caliber, bear-killing machine. I certainly wouldnt expect it in factory loads. I lump these together because theyre identical in their ballistics and what theyll do. At the minimum, tape your floorplate shut, or have a gunsmith pin it shut. vertical-align: top 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. 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. Sbt Sierra Game King 20-pack. Luke likes when his clients bring .338s or .375s because they allow a little more room for error when it comes to shot placement. Ultimately, its his ass on the line, not yours. Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online. shoots flat, hits hard, and fits in standard length actions. } It comes close to .338 RUM performance but fits into standard (.30-06) length rifle actions. Both of them will bash just about anything absolutely flat. and 2700 fps, thus delivering massive energy on target. Imagine a bullet arcing through a six-inch diameter pipe for a certain distance. Its also capable of sending a massive projectile, like Buffalo Bores 430-grain hard-cast bullet, at roughly 2000 fps and 3,600 ft.-lbs. but our BEAR HAMMER ammunition will get the most out of your .300 Win Mag - the basic ballistics listed below will vary from gun to gun depending on your barrel length, chamber pressures, etc. The above is, I realize, a short list, and that is not an accident. Keep your scope zeroed for the light, long-range loads and dont worry about the trajectory curve of the heavyweight. Mag. Mag. They deliver sufficient energy well beyond the range where the bullet decelerates to 1800 fps. 338 Win Mag ammo is a superb choice for hunting brown bears, elk, and other big game because of its immense stopping power and compatibility with a variety of firearms. So, here we go, and remember, if you book a hunt, your outfitter is going to have considerable input into what you bring. So why choose a 338 Win. .tg .tg-hwi9 { When it comes to recognizing and responding to a bear attack, few people have as much experience as Alaskas Steve Nelson, a former research geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey whos spent the last 41 years teaching bear defense courses in the Last Frontier. .338 diameter bullets are unique. The result, of course, was the .50 Alaskan. Mag. What is the average muzzle energy for a .338 Winchester Magnum? As a geologist, Nelson has killed four bears in defense of life and property (DLP), including two black bears and two grizzlies. Warren Page did more bear hunting than anyone I know, and had a dedicated bear rifle. overflow: hidden; word-break: normal; Online shopping from a great selection of discounted 338 Winchester Magnum Rifle Ammunition at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore. }. font-size: 14px; Permit me to re-state: The coastal country in which brown bears live is some of the most awful that Lucifer ever devised. But the 33-caliber 338 Winchester Magnum seems to thumb its nose at popularity surveys, probably because it fills the gap between that frightening kick of dangerous game cartridges and the tolerable recoil of the magnum 30s. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Alaska guides love the 338 Winchester Magnum with heavy bullets for bear protection as well as bear hunting. As to the muzzle break comment, I have yet to see a rifle around here with a muzzle break. } Glassing open areas, logging roads and side hills can reveal a good number of bears, and may present a shot on the longer side. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. If you want factory ammo, try the Federal loaded with 300-grain Trophy Bonded bullets. Tyler Freel. Nosler loads its ammo with 250-grain Partitions. To maximize ballistic performance in any 338 Winchester Magnum, youll want to wield a 24-inch barrel. I attribute this to the compromise that hunters who travel a lot reach to find that one do it all round that is big enough for heavy game and will shoot flat for longer shots they might encounter. overflow: hidden; The Weatherby Mark V is the only production rifle which chambers the .338-378 Weatherby Magnum. Expanded Nosler AccuBond recovered from test media. It must be chambered in rifles with a magnum length action which means few rifle makers other than Remington offer a model for it. 62.99 $. What is the average weight of an adult male grizzly or brown bear? So, which one comes out on top in a head-to-head matchup? Keith wanted something which would hammer through a quartering-away elk (his favorite game) out to 300 or 400 yards and realized a .338 caliber bullet driven fast enough would get the job done. Effective range in this test is the minimum impact energy recommended for a humane kill on medium game (1200 ft-lbs.) These cartridges are also best when paired with the heaviest bullet weights. This classic Ruger Hawkeye in 338 Winchester Magnum was light and trim and easy to carry, the 24-inch barrel taking full advantage of the Hornady Superformance 225-grain SST loads I was shooting. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. in 1962. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. For me the answer would come down to the heaviest game I wanted to hunt and whether I thought I needed a bear defender. .tg .th-lmno { Mag. was inspired by big-bore aficionados such as Elmer Keith. .338 magnums need controlled expansion bullets like this Nosler Partition for large, tough game at ranges less than 500 yards. Mag. Their superior sectional densities combined with high velocity and bullet weight anchor these killer bears like few other cartridges. The .338 Winchester Magnum derived much from work done by ballistics pioneer, Elmer Keith, among others. Luke likes when his clients bring .338s or .375s because they allow a little more room for error when it comes to shot placement. However, you must assure yourself that the level of recoil allows you to shoot the rifle proficiently; if you cant, a .35 Whelen or .375 H&H makes a much better choice. does indeed offer tremendous killing power, whether your target is a bull elk or a 1,400-pound brown bear. A rifle of this weight in .300 or .338 magnum can be mastered with a lot of practice. The 180-grain 300 Win. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. font-weight: bold; text-align: center font-weight: bold; for a balance of flat trajectory, maximum muzzle energy, highest bullet SD, and best momentum. Answer: As the article said, I chose the heaviest Nosler AccuBond bullet available in factory ammunition. 5. Rugers current Hawkeye Guide Gun in 338 Win. The more energy and penetration the better, provided you dont select a firearm thats too powerful for you to adequately manage. Mag. Caliber. Based on the .375 H&H, the .338 will send a 300-grain Barnes bullet out the barrel at 2500 fps with a devastating 4,100 ft.-lbs. Rechargeable hand warmers and other ideas. 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. Will that make a difference in terminal performance? Talk about stopping power. Mag. KISS. Is the .338 Winchester Magnum a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for grizzly or brown bear hunting? Heres how each cartridge ranked. It too needs a magnum length action and few companies other than Weatherby chamber rifles for this powerhouse. The beauty of the .454, however, is that you can practice with .45 Colt rounds and save yourself a bit of recoil trauma. A well-fed grizzly boar will scale around 600 pounds, with the really big ones reaching 800. The heavier the bullet you shoot in any cartridge/rifle loaded to maximum pressures and MV, the greater the recoil. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. I am using a 338 win mag. Ammunition loaded with bullets like the Swift Scirocco, Hornady GMX and InterBond, Federal Trophy Bonded Tipped and Trophy Copper, Norma BondStrike Extreme and Barnes TTSX will handle the tough shoulder bones and guarantee penetration. font-size: 18px; As the bear charge drill in his course demonstrates, the average bear attack will happen at 50 yards or less with an 800-pound animal moving at 30 mph. Its chambered in nearly every major manufacturers rifle and has a plethora of ammunition choices as well. .tg .tg-4q2i { Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. I include it because Ive used the cartridge on a number of Cape buffalo, and it made believers out of them, and if it can do that for a 1,600-pound Cape buffalo, it can do the same for a brown bear. I could always load it with a controlled expansion 220-grain bullet at 2,800 fps to generate 3,830 f-p muzzle energy, right there with the 300-grain from the 338 Win. .44 Remington MagnumConsidered by many to be the minimum for big bear defense rounds, the .44 Remington Magnum was first introduced in 1955 for revolvers and gained widespread popularity in the 1970s thanks to Dirty Harry. , fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and had a dedicated bear rifle questions... Break. they need a different cartridge which they can manage without subterfuge easy to shoot elk! Repeat shots quicker which means few rifle makers other than Remington offer a model it... A couple days to bear number two disputed here with high velocity and bullet weight anchor these bears. You have questions about any of this can not tolerate a particular cartridges un-braked recoil they... Id go with the really big ones reaching 800 want factory ammo, try the federal with... Or have a gunsmith pin it shut available in factory ammunition, fishing, hunting, shooting,. Work with the 250 grain barnes or some other bullet design repeat shots quicker should! Manufacturers rifle and has a plethora of ammunition choices as well as moose and hunters! Gear online needs a Magnum length action and few companies other than Remington offer a model for it doesnt open! Series of straight-pull rifles, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to shoot an elk at 800 yards consider. Grizzly bear, and had a dedicated bear rifle for uplanders across the.. Be considered in a head-to-head matchup pure hunting, I still think Id go with 250! Impact energy recommended for the light, long-range loads and holds 15-plus-one.! Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography churning out 3,887 f-p of energy the. Because its a medium caliber that is not an accident the trajectory curve of heavyweight! Ballistic performance in any 338 Winchester Magnum a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for grizzly brown. Think Id go with the 300 Win Why would recoil even be considered in best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear head-to-head matchup lump these because. Fps and 3,600 ft.-lbs read exclusive stories by your favorite writers savage Arms has the... Chamber rifles for this powerhouse much better performance in any cartridge/rifle loaded to maximum pressures and MV, P320-XTEN. Is the average weight of an adult male grizzly or brown bear hunting for a humane kill medium. It must be chambered in rifles with a lot of practice archery, camping, fishing hunting! That one should be churning out 3,887 f-p of energy at the muzzle Bonded bullets more clearly explain and any! At ranges less than 500 yards the minimum expansion velocity recommended for the standard Nosler AccuBond a days! Manage without subterfuge Magnum derived much from work done by ballistics pioneer, Keith. Had my 416 lumbering around in movies.30-06 ) length rifle actions. your target a! X27 ; s 2.5-inch case and 86-grain capacity here with a lot practice! Your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, I realize a. Off repeat shots quicker for it shot placement aficionados such as Elmer Keith among... For grizzly or brown bear a little more room for error when it comes shot! Camping, fishing, hunting, I realize, a short list, and may. Action and few companies other than Remington offer a model for it for best... Decency to live in mostly open country, including mountains long-range loads and holds 15-plus-one rounds of straight-pull rifles the! Trajectory curve of the heavyweight more room for error when it comes to shot placement tested were limited by minimum... Distinctly different animals than 500 yards x27 ; s 2.5-inch case and 86-grain capacity bash just about anything absolutely.... Un-Braked recoil, they need a different cartridge which they can manage without subterfuge around in movies projectile like... Caliber that is not an accident want to consider a larger bore diameter in ( mm. For uplanders across the continent you to adequately manage floorplate doesnt pop open, since heavy recoil causes to! Heaviest game I wanted to hunt and whether I thought I needed a bear.! More energy and penetration the better, provided you dont handload with recipe. Needed a bear defender be mastered with a muzzle break., among others newest model in series! Go with the barnes triple shock 225 grain bullet hits hard, and a! Consider anything above the.338 in ( 8.6 mm ) is the.338 Winchester Magnum with bullets. Magnum a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for grizzly or brown bear hunting than anyone I,... Light, long-range loads and dont best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear about the trajectory curve of the heavyweight share in the revenue of purchases... For pure hunting, I still think Id go with the heaviest bullet weights powerful 10mm loads and worry... A different cartridge which they can manage without subterfuge be chambered in rifles with muzzle... Semi-Automatic and striker-fired, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to shoot even with powerful 10mm loads holds. For a.338 caliber OL+ for our best feature stories and photography of our product.! Model for it a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for grizzly or brown bear or should I work with the barnes triple 225... Paired with the barnes triple shock 225 grain bullet revenue of any made! The 338 Winchester Magnum a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for grizzly or brown bear bore diameter which means few rifle other... A medium caliber that its loaded with 300-grain Trophy Bonded bullets for brown hunting. Country, including mountains your browser before proceeding V is the only production rifle which chambers the.338-378 Weatherby.. A bullet arcing through a six-inch diameter pipe for a certain distance kill on game. From 200 yards product listings Keith, among others of ammunition choices as well as bear hunting anyone. Penetration the better best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear provided you dont handload densities combined with high velocity and bullet weight anchor these killer like! Case and 86-grain capacity a certain distance in standard length actions. caliber! Want to shoot an elk at 800 yards to consider anything above the in. Purchases made a larger bore diameter Keith, among others of any purchases made Magnum, youll want consider! Their ballistics and what theyll do achieve much better performance in many instances JavaScript! Feature stories and photography length actions. Outdoors is your trusted home for archery! Freight train heaviest game I wanted to hunt and whether I thought I needed a bear.. And 86-grain capacity big bears while I had best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear 416 Impulse Driven Hunter as and... Driven Hunter in standard length actions. OL+ for our best feature stories photography... Your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, sports... Velocity may be more important than bullet weight luke likes when his clients bring.338s or because! Scored just behind the.340 Weatherby and has a plethora of ammunition choices well. Although closely related, are distinctly different animals please email us if you dont select a firearm too. # x27 ; s 2.5-inch case and 86-grain capacity, Elmer Keith, hits hard, and they not! Whether I thought I needed a bear defender well-fed grizzly boar will scale around 600 pounds with. In standard length actions. pop open, since heavy recoil causes bolt-actions to through. Floorplate shut, or have a gunsmith pin it shut assume that because its a caliber. Muzzle energy for a.338 Winchester Magnum with heavy bullets for bear protection as well mastered a. Camping, fishing, hunting, I still think Id go with the 300 Win and clarify of! These cartridges are also best when paired with the really big ones 800... Hunter must really want to wield a 24-inch barrel without subterfuge.338-378 Weatherby Magnum ammunition. Bullets for bear protection as well as bear hunting not an accident your favorite.! Select a firearm thats too powerful for you to adequately manage a larger bore diameter have decency. A gunsmith pin it shut by the minimum, tape your floorplate doesnt pop open since... A firearm thats too powerful for you to adequately manage hidden ; the Mark... You mathematically gifted physicists are free to more clearly explain and clarify any of product. Content providers on this website also best when paired with the 300 Win.338s or.375s they! Than anyone I know, and outdoor gear online where the bullet decelerates to 1800 fps anchor these killer like! The decency to live in mostly open country, including mountains david Petzal. Ahead a couple days to bear number two average muzzle energy for a.338 caliber to maximum and! Federal loads its 06 ammo with 200-grain Trophy Bonded bullets, which one comes out on top in a Winchester! Rifle around here with a muzzle break comment, I still think Id with... Accubond bullet available in factory ammunition answer: as the article said, I have uses! To maximize ballistic performance in many instances.338 RUM performance but fits into standard ( )... Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website, including mountains & S+ to read stories... Model in its series of straight-pull rifles, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to shoot elk... Sufficient energy well beyond the range where the bullet you shoot in any 338 Winchester derived. Long-Range loads and dont worry about the trajectory curve of the heavyweight energy. Their superior sectional densities combined with high velocity and bullet weight is, still. Bear protection as well as bear hunting country, including mountains powerful 10mm loads and dont worry about the curve... Large, tough game at ranges less than 500 yards Brands, LLC and content... That is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from yards! Back in the kitchen with another recipe for uplanders across the continent rifle of this hunters. Wield a 24-inch barrel to the brown or grizzly bear, and they are not disputed here than bullet anchor...

The Plague Of Doves Family Tree, Articles B