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  #1  
Old 07-23-2007, 01:01 PM
Bouski Bouski is offline
 
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Default .338 or .350

I am looking for a gun to take up north for grizzly protection, but would still like to use for my annual moose hunting trip. The two calibres that I have been considering are the .338 win mag and .350 rem mag.

I was hoping someone could give me some pro's and con's to each as well as any other suggestions.

Thanks
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  #2  
Old 07-23-2007, 02:47 PM
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Scott N Scott N is offline
 
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Either would work, but I would suggest going with the 338. It's far more popular than the 350 RM, plus more powerful and more choices of ammo are available. The 350 has less powder capacity the the 338. I'm not sure, but I think only Remington chambers rifles for the 250 RM, so your choices of rifles are limited if you choose to go that route.

The 350 could be considered one of the first "Short Mags" because it can be used in short action rifles, which could be an advantage to some people. IMHO it's hard to go wrong with the 338... it doesn't have a lot of flash compared to some of the high velocity cartridges, but it sure is effective.
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  #3  
Old 07-23-2007, 02:52 PM
sheephunter
 
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While I have limited experience with the cartridge, if you are looking for a short-action cartridge, the new .325 WSM might be worth checking out.
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  #4  
Old 07-23-2007, 11:37 PM
Short Round Short Round is offline
 
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The .350 if you handload -- it's just cooler. Ruger makes the 77 Mk II in the .350, and that gun in stainless would make a hella nice moose/bear gun.
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  #5  
Old 07-26-2007, 11:18 AM
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Double Shovel Double Shovel is offline
 
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Go with the .350. Ruger makes it in the wood blued and stainless and Remington also make it in 673 guide gun ($150 higher than Ruger though).A .350 Rem mag topped with a 200gr tsx would make an absolute sledge hammer.This load should get around 2700-2750 fps.I really considered the .350 when I was looking but I wasn't fond of the rugers(just the way they fit me) and the 673 Remington was out of my price range so I opted for the .35 whelen in the Remington CDL.I use a 200gr tsx in it and I had the trigger set down to 3.5lbs and it shoots on a good 3/4 -1"@100yds doing 2686fps.Also with the .350 you have the bigger bullet diameter which will compensate what you lose on speed compared to the .338 ,but an animal isn't going to notice the difference between a .338 and a .350 and 100 fps.Go for the .350.There is a good selection of bullet sizes for the .35 caliber, you can get 180,200,200,225&250gr bullets from different manufacturers.The .338 only has a couple more selections.In all they are almost too close to call.Go .350.
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  #6  
Old 07-26-2007, 12:42 PM
-NDN-
 
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go buy a .338 win mag, and if you dont like it, sell it to me
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  #7  
Old 07-26-2007, 03:25 PM
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aulrich aulrich is offline
 
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The 350 is a 35 whelen with a belt, it will work but 338 wm is a step more.

You won't be able to sell me your 338 if you don't like, it I already have one.
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  #8  
Old 07-29-2007, 11:18 PM
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buckmaster buckmaster is offline
 
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bullets arent cheap for a 338 $45.00 a box!
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  #9  
Old 07-30-2007, 07:39 AM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is offline
 
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Buy and tune a 30-06. Load the thing with 200 or 220gr bullets for bear protection. Then hunt with it using 165 or 180gr bullets.
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  #10  
Old 07-30-2007, 09:34 PM
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cmfic1 cmfic1 is offline
 
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Like Chuck said...hard to beat the good ole' '06.

BUTTTTTTTTT, I will say that

This is an easy one for me, the .338 Win. Mag. is MY bar-none, unquestionably favorite Chambering for anything in N. America. Launch a
185 TSX out of it, and you got ANY Sheep hunting scenario covered. Choose a 310gr. Woodleigh, as your kill ANYTHING/ANYWHERE "Big & Nasty" type Bullet.....or any of the dozens of variations in between those two, and you got the Planets game covered, no matter which Continent your on.

I am also fond of the .358's, and you would do good to get either the .350 Rem. or .35 Whelen. Without looking at the Ballistics of these two, I would bet you could almost match the .350 Mag performance with the Whelen, and do it it with the 30/06 case, which are a heck of alot easier to find. If you want (not neccessarily need) even a little more oomph, you could consider the .358 Norma Magnum, I'm gonna have one built. And all 3 of these have the "Cool" factor IMO.

Which ever you choose, make sure your Recoil tolerence can handle it, you see alot of "Used" .338's on the shelf, there are probably more people who cannot handle the Recoil, then there are that can! If you havent shot them before. It would be beneficial to get your hands on one, before your purchase.

Good luck with your choice, and have fun making it.
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  #11  
Old 07-31-2007, 04:36 PM
jjht65 jjht65 is offline
 
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I got a remington guide rifle on magnum .350 & a .338 Lapua... They are both very capable of dropping any creature that walks the North American Continent... I like both the same but tend to favor the Lapua for some reason. In terms of ammo cost they are equally expensive & reloading is the best way to go.

I might be parting with my Remington in the near future so stay tuned to the buy & sell category.

Picture 052.jpg
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  #12  
Old 07-31-2007, 06:15 PM
Kutenay Kutenay is offline
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The .338 Win. is a FAR superior cartridge to either the old Whelen or the .350 RM. Both of these can be hard to find in small towns while most stores stock at least some .338 ammo and the Federal HE type with 250NPs at 2800 is about as fine a factory product for your needs as has ever been loaded.

It is EASY to get 2750 fps-mv from a 250 NP in a 23-24"bbl'd .338 Win. My four P-64 Mod. 70s in that chambering have 25"tubes and do an easy 2825 fps and "could"go a grain more of RE-22 as some of my friends have been doing for years. I just chrono'd this at 80*F last week and the groups were from .5-.7" @100M for 3 shots. NO Whelen, Ackley, Brown or original will come even close to this and the RM is usually maxed at 2450.

A properly stocked .338 Win. with a GOOD recoil pad such as a Decelerator is EASY to shoot, simply start with 200 gr. loads, a few per session and work up. Most recoil problems are mental, due to BS about "kick"and also badly designed rifle stocks with hard buttplates. I shot my first .338 nearly 40 years ago and prefer it to anything else for serious hunting and as a protection against Grizzlies where that seems indicated.
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