300 WIN MAG OR 338 WIN MAG

goinhuntn

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Hey guys wondering what your thoughts are on which is the best caliber for elk. Also what grain bullet in each caliber
 
300 with the 180 accubond!

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For me...


100 grain ---3 blade Thunderhead ---Broad head--

Or

150 grains of Triple X and a .295 grain AeroTip in my .50 cal T/C muzzy...

Or

160 grain Nosler Partioner in my 7 mag. T/C...

Depending on the state and season for an elk.

Robb
 
It really depends on what ranges you are looking at hunting elk in. For thick timber, close range elk, the .338 makes sense. But you really can't go wrong with a .300 in that same situation with a 200gr bullet either.
It seems the latest trends are not in standard magnums anymore. If your looking at a .300, go with a Weatherby, RUM or some other hot .30 cal. Long range shooters are are liking .33 calibers in the Lapua, Weatherby and RUMS's there as well, along with a few other "improved" versions.
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.243!

HA HA! I would go with justr.

HOOK 'EM!
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I kinda like my .338 with 225 grains of kaboom. WHY? cause its mine. To each his own.......happy hunting!
 
Thanks for the input guys I am looking to buy a new rifle and I am leaning toward the 300 win mag. My dad has a 338 win mag that I will inherit someday (hopefully along time from now). So I thought about the 300 than I would have all the arsenal I need.
 
>300 with the 180 accubond!
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dont rifle hunt anymore but this is The same as i shot for years works well!
 
300 ultra. 165 accubonds hand loaded. I've seen this load kill an awful lot of
elk. Cows spikes and big bulls. Kills em good
 
I think .30 cal is a great all around gun, you can shoot everything from 110 to 220 grain bullets. A 300 Win Mag is a great gun, you can find ammo just about anywhere in the world.

That being said, .338 Win Mag is also an awesome gun. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot my .338 with 225 grain Noslers out to 500. I killed a baboon with it at 400. It sure hits hard. A bit big for antelope or young/small shooters to handle the recoil though.

They are both great, you can't go wrong. Just get one of each.

Dax

There is no such thing as a sure thing in trophy mule deer hunting.
 
Years ago I wrestled with this decision and opted for the 300 as my "ultimate elk rifle". It has killed a pile of elk over the last 25 yrs and all were well killed if I was a good shot, some were poor kills when I was a poor shot- had nothing to do with the rifle!
I just splurged on the same rifle (stainless synthetic rem 700) in 338 and am working up some loads right now for it.

Both aren't pleasurable to shoot from the bench but both are tolerable, both are accurate as hell.

If you handload the .30 gives you incredible versatility for an "all round gun" If you lean towrds big stuff the 338 gives you an extra 50 gr of bullet potentially and is in its prime where the 300 leaves off @ 220 gr.

With either the right bullet in the right place is far more important same as with a 243... This was driven home to me last yr when I used generic 180's in the 300 and did some marginal shooting and they failed to penetrate @ (for me) what was some long range shooting @ 400yds. I used this as an excuse to get the 338 but if my wife wasn't around would admit it was poor placement and a non- premium bullet... No gun does well when you start at the ankles and work your way up!
 
I shoot a 300RUM & a 300 WSM. Sold my 338. The 300's have a larger choose/range of bullet weights to pick from and reload for IMO. I have always leaned towards a little lighter bullet which gives a little faster and flatter shooting rifle. Can't go wrong with either though!!!
 
I have killed elk with both. The 300 has more versatility with respect to bullet selection while the .338 has a bit more mass in the projectile. Big deal; I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with either in the field.
 
I had the exact same issue about 20 years back. Went with the 338 and have never looked back. The 300 is a great choice, but I am very happy I went with the 338 and for elk, it has never let me down. IMHO, the 338 is a slightly better choice for elk, moose, bear. The 300 is slightly better for all around. That being said, I use my 338 on deer, lopes, etc., simply because it is my favorite rifle.
 
300 win mag with 165 gr Noslers or 338 Lapua with 250 grn
The 338 Lapua does a nice job on elk. But so does the 300 win mag
 
Couldnt go wrong with either in my eyes both great guns when you get them dialed in and can shoot effectively. Doesnt matter how big you get em still gotta hit em in the right spot :)....
 
I think the folks telling you that you really can't make a wrong choice between the two are probably right. I made this same decision about a year ago. I went with the .300 Win Mag. I did that because hunting the big stuff (elk, moose) is going to be the exception in my hunting. If I could do an elk hunt every year I might have leaned the other way. As it is, I can work up loads and shoot lots of smaller critters with the .300 in between those special hunts. I know I could also have done that with a .338, but prefer being able to use the lighter bullets. I hope to try out some 130 grain TTSXs on a few whitetails in a few months. Actually, I figure that will turn out just like it has when I have hit a whitetail in the heart/lungs with anything from a .243 to a .300 Win Mag with 180 grain bullets, but it sure is fun to get a new rifle and try new loads.

Good luck with your selection.
 
You've not really given us much to go on. Tough to choose between those two great cartridges.
BOTH will work well for elk.

We really need to split hair to say one is better or one is more versitile.

If you're looking at "longer" ranges (whatever that means to you) you'll want to stick with a high BC bullet like the 30 cal 180 or 220 Accubond but I've also used the 168 TTSX and the 180 TSX with great success. Or the Barnes TTSX or 225 accubond in the 338.

To me the 300 is better for all around and the 338 is better suited for the bigger stuff like elk, moose, big bears only.

I've shot several bulls with both and really can't tell any difference in the field.

How can you make a mistake with either one?

Zeke
 
I guess I should of gave a little more info! I have a 223 & 243 for cayotes and such, 270 for deer and a 30-06. I use the 30-06 for elk, but I was thinking about a dedicated elk rifle. I know the 30-06 is fine with 180 accubond or nosler partition. Im just thinking about getting a new rifle.
 
About five years ago I was desiding the same thing. I shot both calibers and prefer the push to the shove. The .338 with a 225g nosler, has has not let me down. A little rough on the blacktails though. Elk go down, even at long distance. Fingers crossed, hoping for a 350+ in Nevada this fall.
 
300 Ultra Mag, seen it take the wind out of a few elk out to 500 yards......
 
.338 WM gets my vote, bigger bullet going a little slower means less meat damage. I shoot a 338 RUM with 250 tsx killed a buff at 80 yds and didn't have the jello shock meat damage like I get with smaller faster cal. Just one big clean hole all the way through.If I could only have one rifle for all my hunting it would be the .338

"You'll never get a big one if you shoot a little one"
 
For elk my favorite has always been a 338 win loaded w/ 185 gr barnes. Shoots flat hits hard. Great for big boned game like a elk !! Altough I have been play with a 300 Tejas as of late.
 
I'm a big believer of shooting 1 gun well. I have the 300 win mag and I love it. You can hunt anything in North America with it.
 
Maybe I can complicate things by suggesting a 300 WSM?
Nothing Wrong with the regular 300, but with all the good premium bullets available, it is my opinion that you can do more with less! (powder that is).
It is a fun decision for sure and I am sure you will make the right choice for you!
Happy hunting.
 
If I read correctly, u already have a 243, 270 and 30-06. If that is the case, it is a no brainer to get the 338 for larger animals. The 225 gr bullets do wonderful on elk.
 
I prefer the 300 Win. Great gun all around, 200-220 for brush and 180-165 for longer range shots. I love mine, very accurate and predictable.
 
Flip a coin.

If you were picking one gun period, I would say 300. Either are EQUALLY good on just elk. Both kick!
 
300 win mag loaded with 200 grain accubonds can't be beat. Great BC holds 2000 ft-lbs out to 750 yards (not advocating most people shoot elk that far though)
 
.338 with 210 gr Nosler Partitions. Shoots pretty flat and kills everything on contact. I'm experimenting with the 200 gr Hornady SST. With the new powder in their factory loads, that thing has the same trajectory as my .270 and has enough retained energy to kill an elk at 1,000 yards. 700 yards is the max with my setup.
 
I was going threw the same thing a few years ago. I had my heart set on a 30 378 for years.They weren't as comon back then as they are now. But Brad from cross canyon arms said that the action on the 30 378 is bigger or longer and more expensive . So is the brass and so on. So he said I should go with his 300 tejas. Which is a 300 rum with the case angle moved up . Like the ackley improved. The speeds are about the same as a 30 378 with the smaller action. I have been happy with it.
 
Thanks everyone for the input!! Sounds like I couldn't go wrong with either caliber. I think I am leaning toward the 300 since my dad has a 338, I will inherit someday (hopefully not for along time) so if I go with the 300 I have have best of both worlds!! Now I just need to narrow down the manufacturer, so this could start a whole new thread! LOL
 

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