The 338 Winchester Magnum: King Of The Elk Cartridges

Guns Magazine, Nov, 2000 by Holt Bodinson

Some barrels shoot the "X" bullets very well and some do not. The homogenous bullet does not have the elasticity of a lead core bullet and is less forgiving if the diameter of the bullet and the internal dimensions of the bore are not an ideal match. Having said that, the "X" bullet really performs and likes to be driven hot.

Barnes offers seven grain weights in .338 caliber ranging from 160 to 250 grs. When it was first introduced, we used the 175 gr. flat-based XFB with 66.0 grs. of RL-15 for 3,105 fps in a Winchester Alaskan and dropped a cow elk at 75 yards so fast it looked like the rug had been pulled out from under her. We are a little bit more conservative now and would recommend their 200 gr. XFB with 76.0 grs. of RL-19 or their 210 gr. XBT with 73.0 grs. of RL-19 for about 3,000 fps.

The XFB bullet forms driven at maximum velocities have always shot more consistently in my .338s than in the boat-tail (XBT) form. Both bullets are pure dynamite on elk and typically penetrate completely.

Years ago when all we had in the 225 gr. weight class were conventional lead core, copper jacketed bullets, I didn't see much use for them. The 225 gr. bullet didn't offer any significant performance advantage over the existing 210 gr. Nosler Partition bullet, and it came up short when compared to the classic 250 gr. loading.

Given the advances in bullet technology since then, the modern 225 gr. projectile can do what our older 250 gr. bullets did years ago. It may be nirvana or the ideal compromise bullet for your rifle.

A Slam In The Shoulder

Last, but not least, the 250 gr. is the classic bullet for the .338 Win. Mag. You don't necessarily need it for elk hunting, but if the additional recoil generated by this weighty projectile does not bother you. by all means try it.

The controlled expansion 250 gr. bullet has a high sectional density and ballistic coefficient and surprisingly good ranging qualities. It delivers tremendous energy and penetration upon impact. In thick elk covers, it gives the hunter the edge that maybe essential to the conclusion of a successful hunt.

In terms of hunting trajectory, take Nosler's 250 gr. Partition at 2,780 fps. Zeroed for 250 yards, it is 3" high at 100 yards, 4" low at 300 yards and 18" low at 400 yards. That's flat -- as flat as the lighter-but-faster 210 gr. Partition.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the 250 gr. Nosler Partition ahead of 71.5 grs. of H-4831. With it I took a stunning 6x7 at a little over 200 yards during an elk season in which I had exactly one day -- the last day of the season -- to hunt because of out-of-country work commitments. The splendid bull was facing downhill at a slight angle. At the shot, the bullet broke the near shoulder and ranged through the lungs and exited. He may have moved five feet, but I don't think so.

The .338 Win. Mag. is simply "heap big wapiti medicine."