Both animals are thick-hided, heavily muscled, and prodigiously strong. As to the muzzle break comment, I have yet to see a rifle around here with a muzzle break. 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. If you want factory ammo, try the Federal loaded with 300-grain Trophy Bonded bullets. The .338 Winchester Magnum became the iconic elk, brown bear, and moose cartridge, and it spawned competitors as the market demanded ever-faster velocities. background-color: #333333; All the others mentioned here will continue to get the job done as well. The .416 Rigby, .416 Remington Magnum, .458 Winchester Magnum and .458 Lott all make a solid choice for brown bears, especially the coastal giants, and are very comforting when the vegetation gets thick and distances are measured in feet. The main factor is to know the maximum and minimum anticipated impact velocities and the intended game, then select a bullet that is reliable under those conditions. Let's look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Grizzlies are widely distributed, and have the decency to live in mostly open country, including mountains. BC quantifies a bullets aerodynamic efficiency, and SD predicts relative ability to penetrate into a game animal; the larger each number, the better. The 8-pound hypothetical rifle above might be a tad light for the 338, although I hunted with one (Ruger Hawkeye) in about this weight class and didnt find it objectionable. The newest .338 magnum, the 33 Nosler arrived on the market in 2016. Read on for his take on this Thai-inspired fusion dish. The .338 Winchester Magnum (top) compared to the .375 H&H (bottom). 250 gr. It hits the shooter the least, has proven itself in both Alaska and Africa for decades, and ammunition is available most places. Youre probably a lot better off with an 06 that doesnt cause you to wet yourself than with a .495 Thunderf**ker that does. Not at all. Weatherby, for a change, followed Winchesters lead. It took one shot from a .340 Weatherby and that was that. Their superior sectional densities combined with high velocity and bullet weight anchor these killer bears like few other cartridges. Youre going to need something with more horsepower. . All things equal (they seldom ever are), Id go with the .338 Win. Specifications & Features. has 780 ft.-lbs. Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in grizzly or brown bear hunting. The SD of that .308 bullet at .331 is not far behind the 300-grain .338 at SD .375. background-color: #efefef; Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Loaded with a heavy Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX, Hornady GMX, Swift A-Frame, or the like, the .338 Win. See what else he has to say in the video, along with some bear footage hes taken over the years while guiding. This put some cartridges at a disadvantage since only factory advertised velocities were used. The flat-shooting .338 Win. But every potential 338 Win. Mag. Ive used a .260 Remington on elk and a .338 Federal on moose, neither of which are particularly large, and Ive also used a .450 Marlin on caribou and have shot a whole petting zoo worth of crittersincluding the tiny duikerwith my .416 Rigby. of energy, while the 10mm has about 728 ft.-lbs., both with a 180-grain Buffalo Bore bullet. Ill let you and the bear answer that. Sbt Sierra Game King 20-pack. Mag. } Both of them will bash just about anything absolutely flat. 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. A 12-gauge shotgun and slug will deliver impressive energy and is effective to moderate ranges. BM3GN3 Grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis, standing on the riverside. of energy at the muzzle. Mag. So why choose a 338 Win. Trajectory in this test is defined as Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR): the distance over which a bullet rises three inches above sight line and then drops three inches below to hit within a six-inch kill box. The second newest cartridge in this test, the .338 RUM has been around since 2002. KISS. I have a Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless in .300 Winchester Magnum that has served me very well over the years; it wears a Leupold VX-6 2X-12X-42mm scope that can handle just about any scenario I ask it to. text-align: center; A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. They offer not just raw violence (at both ends of the barrel) but also flatter trajectories than the big bores and consummate accuracy. Hmmmm, Nosler bullets and Nosler winner.just saying. The '06 has been the big-game king forever. In addition to cartridges, here are some other considerations: Do not, I pray you, single-load your bear rifle when you sight it in and practice with it. If, however, true long-range hunting is anticipated, they will all benefit from the specialized long-range bullets now on the market which expand well below 1800 fps. was inspired by big-bore aficionados such as Elmer Keith. At least in the USA. Ursine disputes are not always settled in three shots. Or close enough. If you handload, get 200-grain Swift A-Frames. The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet. Over the decades, several cartridges have proved themselves as worthy against the nastiest bears North America has to offer. Ultimately, its his ass on the line, not yours. 338 Winchester Magnum, 300-grain AccuBond Long Range. AccuBond (.550 BC/.281 SD) at 3025 fps. Muzzle breaks are a cheat; they produce excessive back blast and flash which both deafens and blinds (in low light) a shooter. Make no mistake, the .300 Win Mag will never have the same amount of energy or knock down power as a .338 Win Mag or .375 Win Mag rifle. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) .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. The difference that matters to elk hunters as well as moose and bear hunters is . are rifle length, weight, and huntability. They provide more performance than most hunters will ever need. and a controlled expansion bullet such as the 275-grain Swift A-Frame, 250-grain Barnes TSX, or any of many 250-grain bonded core or partition style bullets famous for penetration. Youll be shooting it at extremely close range. 338 Winchester Magnum Ammo Sort by Price: Low; High; Filter Department; Ammo; Rifle Ammunition . of energy. Like the Spartans xiphos blade, the handgun is a much shorter secondary weapon intended for up-close-and-personal encounters. border-color: #656565; 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. It is based on the blown-out, shortened .375 H&H Magnum. owner needs to consider the recoil issue carefully. border-color: black; An increasingly larger and more aggressive grizzly population in northern Rockies elk forests suggests bear defense is a concern in places other than Alaska. The 338 Winchester Magnums overall length is 3.340, same as the 30-06, 270 Win, etc., so its cases hold about 12 percent less powder than the Weatherbys. That one should be churning out 3,887 f-p of energy at the muzzle. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Also, everyone should know that the above velocities collected from various handloading manuals are not guaranteed. Its chambered in nearly every major manufacturers rifle and has a plethora of ammunition choices as well. As much of the spring weather can be intermittently inclement, this is a perfect situation for the synthetic-stocked rifles. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether .338 Winchester Magnum is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest grizzly or brown bear - and to this question, the response again is yes, the .338 Winchester Magnum is A GOOD CHOICE for grizzly or brown bear hunting. Elvis was young and Marilyn Monroe was THE Hollywood sex symbol when the 338 Win. .454 Casull Developed by Dick Casull and Jack Fulmer in 1957, the .454 Casull is a dangerous game hunters dream come true. MPBR for a 10 inch kill box illustrates the concept. Thank you, sir! Both bears are highly territorial, peaceable enough if unprovoked, but quick to take offense at all manner of things. Things might be different on the bench. Federal 338 Win Mag 225 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw Vital-Shok 20/Box $94.99 ($4.75 / round) . That is to say, we assume the grizzly or brown bear being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). Yes, the .338 Winchester Magnum is A GOOD CHOICE for grizzly or brown bear hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement. font-size: 18px; You must log in or register to reply here. John B. load in the same weight rifle will come back with 24.3 foot-pounds at 13.2 fps. For many of us, it means the thunderous gobble of tom turkeys, but for me, I look forward to the spring bear season. Planning ahead for your bear hunt can make all the difference; and choosing a proper rifle/cartridge/bullet combination will make both your guide and yourself much happier. These genuine magnum Mausers are indeed expensive and not available off the shelf in most gun stores. }. border-color: #656565; X bullet out of a .338 Win. There are seasons for both black and brown/grizzly bears in the springthough the black bear is much more popular and affordableand depending on the terrain and type of hunting you intend to do, your choice of rifle, cartridge and bullet may change. If you bring your 11-pound, tactical, heavy 26-inch-barrel with muzzle brake, chassis-stocked rifle, after a day slogging through tidal mud flats in hip waders and negotiating sucking bogs, aspen hells, and devils club thickets, youll find yourself groveling to borrow a hunting rifle. Its also been incredibly popular among Alaskan hunters and guides, especially in lever-actions like Marlins 1895 Guide Gun, which is compact, fairly lightweight and highly maneuverable in close quarters. This combination is the goal Winchesters designers had in mind when they introduced the first production .338 magnum in 1958. from the muzzle. One of the most useful cartridges ever developed by the hand of man, the .338 will do it all. Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Grizzly Or Brown Bear Hunt. The weather is usually mild, and it always feels great to grab a favorite rifle after the long winter. bullets will penetrate like the proverbial runaway freight train. The 338 Winchester Magnum's overall length is 3.340", same as the 30-06, 270 Win, etc., so its cases hold about 12 percent less powder than the Weatherby's. That amounts to about 50 to 100 fps less muzzle velocity with a 250-grain bullet. 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