Mag. Cartridge popularity drops off dramatically after the 30-calibers. While it is extremely effective, the main reason its been so widely-used is because shotguns like the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are a fraction of the price of bolt-guns and, in turn, thats what the government has provided to its employees. Mag, the softest here, slaps the shooter as hard as a .375 H&H Magnum, while the .338-378 and .338 Lapua are close to .416 Rigby territory. As to the muzzle break comment, I have yet to see a rifle around here with a muzzle break. This can be of considerable importance. That way youre instantly bear ready. Want to read more from Philip Massaro? It too requires a magnum-length action. vertical-align: top Straight down. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for grizzly or brown bear to be approximately 200 yards. Alaska guides love the 338 Winchester Magnum with heavy bullets for bear protection as well as bear hunting. A 12-gauge shotgun and slug will deliver impressive energy and is effective to moderate ranges. Both of them will bash just about anything absolutely flat. The .300 Winchester Magnum has a slightly longer case length (2.62 vs 2.5) as well as a shoulder that sits .156" further forward than the shoulder of the 7mm Rem Mag. You dont want to discover that your ammo is buried beneath four layers of clothes and your chest waders. Hsm Ammunition Hsm Ammo .338 Win Mag 215gr. My dad loves his Browning Centennial 1886 in .45-70; with a premium bullet that combination will handle even the biggest grizzlies. The lighter cartridgesespecially the .30-30will handle black bears with no issue. If you handload, get 200-grain Swift A-Frames. 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. That is a pretty good benchmark. While there are many correct answers to the question, Id like to share some of my favorite setups for different bear hunting scenarios. In this case, the average weight of an adult male grizzly or brown bear is approximately 595 lbs. Imagine a bullet arcing through a six-inch diameter pipe for a certain distance. Current factory offerings include a 250-grain Nosler Partition at 3,060 fps and a 225-grain Barnes TTSX at 3,180 fps. AccuBond (.575 BC/.313 SD) at 2850 fps. Federal Premium 338 Winchester Magnum 225gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw Rifle Ammo - 20 Rounds. AccuBond (.550 BC/.281 SD) at 3025 fps. For most hunters, the upper limit of recoil is the .30-06 or 7mm Remington Magnum. Power. Ive killed a couple of bears with the .375 H&H and Id certainly put it at the top of my list, though for reasons as much sentimental as practical. The heavier the bullet you shoot in any cartridge/rifle loaded to maximum pressures and MV, the greater the recoil. has a well-deserved reputation as a charge-stopper. Its chambered in nearly every major manufacturers rifle and has a plethora of ammunition choices as well. The 458 Win. The ammo comes loaded with bullets ranging from 260 grains, which is suitable for ground squirrels, to 300 grains, which is the only weight I would consider. Change the species to the brown or grizzly bear, and you may want to consider a larger bore diameter. Mag. Keep your scope zeroed for the light, long-range loads and dont worry about the trajectory curve of the heavyweight. The author analyzed six .338 caliber magnum cartridges (.338 Winchester Magnum, .340 Weatherby, .338-378 Weatherby, .338 Remington Ultra Mag., 33 Nosler, and .338 Lapua) for trajectory, effective range, and recoil with modern ballistic software available free online from shooterscalculator.com. .tg { Rugers current Hawkeye Guide Gun in 338 Win. 5. After the first shot immediately shoot it again and again if needed. Winter is finally drawing to a close, and spring brings with it new life, and most importantly, a new hunting season. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. It too needs a magnum length action and few companies other than Weatherby chamber rifles for this powerhouse. Both animals are thick-hided, heavily muscled, and prodigiously strong. Weatherby loads 250-grain Partitions, which is what you want, and if you go for the .338 RUM, you want Nosler ammo with the 250-grain Partition. It appears the 338 cranks up an additional 444 f-p of muzzle energy. Our first client we had was shooting a 338 win mag and I thought nothing of it. border-color: #656565; (How good is their sense of smell? I would consider my 30-06 45-70 or the 416 Rem Mag. Considered by many to be the most versatile North American big-game cartridge, the .338 Win. Ive used my old Ruger 77 in .308 Winchester for baited bears with good success, and for other hunts have taken along a 6.5-284 Norma, .275 Rigby, .300 Winchester Magnum, and even a .375 H&H Magnum, and for each of them I prefer bullets on the heavier side of the spectrum, relying on sectional density (SD) rather than velocity. Skip ahead a couple days to bear number two. Buffalo Bore produces several loads for the .50 Alaskan, including a 450-grain bullet that delivers a whopping 4,400 ft.-lbs. As Nelson points out, the first shot may end the charge but doesnt always kill the bear, which means its handy to have a rifle that can make the longer follow-up shot. If the minimum energy range exceeds the minimum expansion range, the minimum expansion range becomes the maximum effective range since unexpanded bullets are much less effective regardless of how much energy they possess. Mag. Answer: Recoil is a consideration with any cartridge. A frames and partitions are also good. Published Oct 14, 2019 7:00 PM EDT. Muzzle velocities are the nominal industry standard for the tested bullet weight in each caliber. This is an instance where a 7mm Remington Magnum or .300 Winchester Magnum would be right at home, in a good bolt-action rifle. But many elk hunters are rolling with the 338 Win. 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. Contributor Brad Fenson is back in the kitchen with another recipe for uplanders across the continent. Brilliant writing. David E. Petzal text-align: left; Mags 210-grain load. The Black Magic Magnum is a 602-grain slug that carries 3,000 ft.-lbs. 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. (L-R) .308 Win., .340 Weatherby, 9x19mm Luger. Nelson killed one of his charging grizzlies with a .454 Casull, which he says is one of his favorite choices for bear defense. This includes gear reviews, features on technical innovations, stories on shooting techniques and general hunting coverage with the occasional fishing story thrown into the mix. .tg .tg-4q2i { Sbt Sierra Game King 20-pack. Jack OConnor killed a number of big bears with a .30-06 (more than with the .270, despite what some people say) and found it up to the task. Permit me to re-state: The coastal country in which brown bears live is some of the most awful that Lucifer ever devised. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Lets dive right in. 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. And if anyone knows what kind of firepower is necessary to kill a brown bear, its Luke. Mag. 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. border-color: #656565; border-style: solid; Would you take one on your grizzly hunt? Sometimesunder some circumstanceshunting is hard to explain. | The beauty of the .454, however, is that you can practice with .45 Colt rounds and save yourself a bit of recoil trauma. SAAMI specifications for 338 Win. font-family: Arial, sans-serif; We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Luke likes when his clients bring .338s or .375s because they allow a little more room for error when it comes to shot placement. Grizzly Or Brown Bear. 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. Mag. load in the same weight rifle will come back with 24.3 foot-pounds at 13.2 fps. Other things to consider about the 338 Win. .tg .tg-hwi9 { Snow. border-color: #656565; When most people think of grizzly cartridges, something on the order of a .338 Win. 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. Question: Would you say the results of the best .338 magnums of your tests/comparison would be the same if reloads were considered? Mag. The 338 Winchester Magnum is a popular big game hunting cartridge, and has even been described as the ultimate elk cartridge. Mag. That should be good enough for everything. Weatherby responded with its full magnum-length 340 Wby. Similarly, make sure your floorplate doesnt pop open, since heavy recoil causes bolt-actions to flex through the action. 7. 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. Answer: Yes, if your loads used the same bullets at the same velocity as those in the article. A common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. 338 Winchester Magnum Ammo for sale online or in-store at Sportsman's Warehouse. AccuBond at 2941 fps. Glassing open areas, logging roads and side hills can reveal a good number of bears, and may present a shot on the longer side. Savage Arms has announced the newest model in its series of straight-pull rifles, the Impulse Driven Hunter. 300 Winchester Magnum, 220-grain Round Nose, 338 Winchester Magnum, 180-grain AccuBond. 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. font-weight: bold; At least in the USA. | While some may consider it the minimum, its plenty powerful enough to stop an onerous bear. With the barnes, it seems that velocity may be more important than bullet weight. Detailed performance figures are summarized in the table at the articles end. . Mag. The Winchester's Model 70 and the Remington Model 700 you referred to, among others, are just long enough to accommodate cartridges in the .375 H&H Magnum class (3.6 inches overall length) such as the Remington Ultra Magnums. Any way you slice it, the .357 has proven itself as a worthy close-range bear stopper. The big difference was Elmers 334 fired .333 bullets atop a full-length 375 H&H case, just like the 340 Weatherby Magnum that finally came out in 1962. Stainless and laminated, its obviously aimed at Alaskan guides and fishermen needing a reasonably handy yet hard hitting protection tool. Is it fun to shoot? .454 Casull Developed by Dick Casull and Jack Fulmer in 1957, the .454 Casull is a dangerous game hunters dream come true. For shots well beyond 500 yards, consider the Nosler AccuBond LR, Swift Scirocco, Berger, Hornady ELD-X, Hornady SST, or Sierra Game King. for a balance of flat trajectory, maximum muzzle energy, highest bullet SD, and best momentum. 300 gr. Mag. 7. vertical-align: top Weatherby has developed several rounds by necking down their awe-inspiring .378; the .300-378 and .338-378. Never got a chance to hunt the big bears while I had my 416. That amounts to about 50 to 100 fps less muzzle velocity with a 250-grain bullet. Question: Do you think a Remington 700 is expensive? In rifles weighing 9-pounds, the 225-grain 338 Win. Winchester .338 Magnum .404 Jeffery (If you can find one) .338 Lapua All that said, the .375 H&H Magnum with a 300-grain bullet at 2,600 fps has long been the classic brown bear cartridge. Youll be shooting it at extremely close range. .338 magnums need controlled expansion bullets like this Nosler Partition for large, tough game at ranges less than 500 yards. October 10, 2014. and large game (1500 ft-lbs), and the minimum velocity most hunting bullets require for reliable expansion (1800 fps). The more energy and penetration the better, provided you dont select a firearm thats too powerful for you to adequately manage. Mag. Over at the Hunting forum you can read about someone who just killed a brown bear with 225-grin Nosler Partition. Be ready. This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. or any of the newer or more exotic mags out there in .30 caliber. In fact, while shooting eland and oryx bulls, I felt no recoil that I can remember. The above is, I realize, a short list, and that is not an accident. Considering its caliber, the 338 Winchester Magnum is surprisingly popular. text-align: center; That one should be churning out 3,887 f-p of energy at the muzzle. Among firearms platforms, a rifle delivers more energy and is effective to greater distances, making it the first choice. 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. Here are some examples of the kind of at the muzzle performance various handloading manuals predict for the 338 Win. Heres how to avoid the poseurs and choose the right one. } 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. The disadvantages are that the recoil is not for the faint of heart, and you need a rifle that weighs 10 pounds. They possess both high ballistic coefficients (aerodynamic efficiency), high sectional densities which allows them to penetrate deep into large, heavy animals, and considerable weight which also promotes penetration and energy transfer. } But every potential 338 Win. 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. Like the Spartans xiphos blade, the handgun is a much shorter secondary weapon intended for up-close-and-personal encounters. Mag and enjoys a cult-like following. bullets for sheep, caribou, etc. The 338 win mag ammo is the first choice among . You could carry it all day. Approach it from an angle where it cant see you. 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. Youre going to need something with more horsepower. Id recommend a strong action, like the aforementioned Model 1886. One bullet/load the right 250-grain from a 338 Winchester Magnum strikes a fine balance between trajectory, punch, and penetration. Both cartridges are devastating. All things equal (they seldom ever are), Id go with the .338 Win. In terms of firearm selection, Nelson said its really about delivering a few well-placed shots on target in a short timeframe. What is the average weight of an adult male grizzly or brown bear? .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. 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. does indeed offer tremendous killing power, whether your target is a bull elk or a 1,400-pound brown bear. The .357 is also available in smaller-framed revolvers that fit smaller hands, making it ideal for women and less experienced shooters. It comes close to .338 RUM performance but fits into standard (.30-06) length rifle actions. Mag., came out in 1956, made from a shortened, necked-up 375 H&H case. } The flat-shooting .338 Win. Can Coolers | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. Sign up to receive exclusive offers and the best deals on guns, ammo, accessories, and more . 250 gr. So is the .30-06 enough gun? You are using an out of date browser. 250 gr. and 2700 fps, thus delivering massive energy on target. Sentry Ammo, Cheap Ammo, Bulk Ammo, 5.56, 556, 9mm, bulk 9mm background-color: #efefef; 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. As much of the spring weather can be intermittently inclement, this is a perfect situation for the synthetic-stocked rifles. Ultimately, its his ass on the line, not yours. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. While a well-placed shot from a 10mm can no doubt do the trick, the .357 Mag. It took one shot from a .340 Weatherby and that was that. Were talking about a very specialized type of hunting. has 780 ft.-lbs. We have three other primary assumptions being made here. The newest .338 magnum, the 33 Nosler arrived on the market in 2016. 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. An increasingly larger and more aggressive grizzly population in northern Rockies elk forests suggests bear defense is a concern in places other than Alaska. load will recoil with about 30.2 foot-pounds of free recoil energy at a velocity of 14.7 fps. It is best used at 200-400 yards, and has the stopping power of a much . .308 Winchester. The .338 win mag ammo is a .338 in (8.6 mm) caliber, belted, rimless, bottlenecked cartridge introduced in 1958 by Winchester Repeating Arms. Can Coolers | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. In the meantime, if you really want to slow down an overly excited 1,000-pound bear, you might prefer that 300-grain 338 load. Thank you, sir! shooting different bullets (MPBR calculated using high B.C. Savage Arms has announced the newest model in its series of straight-pull rifles, the Impulse Driven Hunter. The .35 Whelen, .338-06 A-Square, 9.3x62mm Mauser and .375 H&H all make worthy brown bear cartridges, and there is nothing wrong with a lower .40 or .458 caliber cartridge. One point for each ft-lbsf recoil less than 15, and one point deducted for every ft-lbsf greater than 15. The .375, because of its considerable case taper and gentle shoulder angle, can be made to feed like greased asparagus in a properly set up rifle. As a general rule, more than 15 ft-lbsf is considered enough recoil to affect most shooters accuracy. 338 Winchester Magnum, 300-grain AccuBond Long Range. 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. Use the right tool for the right job. For black bears, in country where there is no grizzly presence, the popular deer and elk cartridges will certainly work very well; a .308 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield loaded with a 165- or 180-grain spitzer bullet will handle black bears. The doctor may not be able to patch the holes in you if he gets up and decides to get even. of energy at 1500 fps, while the 495-grain DDupleks leaves the muzzle at 1410 fps with 2,180 ft.-lbs. Ive heard a lot of opinions on what it takes to kill a brown bear, and most of the cartridges I hear guys talking about would dislocate my shoulder. In other words, the trajectory curve of the 300s 210-grain load is almost identical to the 338s 225-grain load. The weather is usually mild, and it always feels great to grab a favorite rifle after the long winter. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .338 Winchester Magnum. 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 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Remington Model 700 American Hunter Rifle Project, Head to Head: .338 Winchester Magnum vs. .375 H&H Magnum, Head to Head: .375 Ruger vs. .375 H&H Magnum, Head to Head: .35 Whelen vs. .375 H&H Magnum, Behind the Bullet: .338 Winchester Magnum, Fiocchi USA Appoints David Blenker As New CEO After Anthony Acitellis Retirement | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Behind the Bullet: .17 HMR | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Product Preview: 7th Edition Ammo Encyclopedia | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Fiocchi: Ammunition With Italian Flair | An Official Journal Of The NRA, New for 2023: Savage Arms Impulse Driven Hunter, First Look: ZeroTech Thrive HD Binoculars | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Launching 2023: KelTec R50 Rifle | NRA Family, New For 2023: Glock 47 MOS | An Official Journal Of The NRA, 11 New Ammo Options For 2023 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Savage Arms 110 PCS | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Davidson's Winchester Model 1895 Texas Ranger's Edition | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Coyote Hunting Basics | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Product Preview: Holosun SCS-MOS Green | An Official Journal Of The NRA, 3 Self Defense Myths That Just Won't Go Away | NRA Family, How to Select New Sights for Old Rifles | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Shotgunning 101: The Perfect Gun Mount | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Glass Bedding A Rifle Stock | An Official Journal Of The NRA, New 4473 Released By BATFE | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Member's Hunt: Road Trip | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Springfield Launches New Online Shopping Experience | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Preview: Sarco, Inc. 2nd Amendment Pint Glass | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Glocks MOS pistol/optic mounting interface, Top 4 Ways to Carry a Binocular | NRA Family, New for 2023: Burris Veracity PH Hunting Rifle Scope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Preview: Mission First Tactical 24-oz. cases, top with 180- to 300-grain bullets, and you have yourself an impressively versatile, flat-shooting, hard-hitting workhorse of a big game cartridge that races neck-and-neck with the 300 magnums or hits blow for blow with some of the big bores. Talk about stopping power. border-width: 1px; I hope that later he can post the story of the hunt. The author acknowledges hand loaders can achieve much better performance in many instances. 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. . Calling and shooting predators is one of the things that helps hunters get from the end of the fall seasons to when the turkeys start gobbling. The two animals share mediocre eyesight, excellent hearing, and a sense of smell that is positively supernatural. 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. What about the other assumptions? Ruger chambers the .454 Casull in both the Super Redhawk with a 4-inch barrel and the Alaskan in a 3-inch variant, both of which are compact and easy to draw when things get up close and personal. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Calculations were corrected to standard temperature (59F/15C) and pressure (29.92 inHg/1013 mbar) at sea level. They provide more performance than most hunters will ever need. Let's look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. You can also avoid using a muzzle-brake by selecting a cartridge that you can shoot comfortably and enjoy shooting enough to practice with frequently. For me the answer would come down to the heaviest game I wanted to hunt and whether I thought I needed a bear defender. The taxidermist can patch the holes in the hide. border-spacing: 0; Heres how to avoid the poseurs and choose the right one. The 338 will sure as hell get the job done for anyone who can shoot at all. It is recommended that you use a bonded bullet without a thin jacket. Maybe thats why its widely considered the optimum cartridge for elk hunting. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. font-size: 18px; Well after poor performance on a brown bear at 100+/- yards, tracking it into an alder patch and having to finish her with a 375 Ruger mag. Also, everyone should know that the above velocities collected from various handloading manuals are not guaranteed. If a person cannot tolerate a particular cartridges un-braked recoil, they need a different cartridge which they can manage without subterfuge. 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. A 240-grain +P Buffalo Bore projectile carries roughly 1,600 ft.-lbs. .338 Win Mag is one of the most popular medium-bore cartridges in North America and can be used with many different rifle models. The .338 in (8.6 mm) is the caliber at which medium-bore cartridges are considered to begin. 1 is Not No. Youre probably a lot better off with an 06 that doesnt cause you to wet yourself than with a .495 Thunderf**ker that does. overflow: hidden; Forget the fat, tame grizzlies you see lumbering around in movies. I have used the 30-06 and 45-70. Both bears are highly territorial, peaceable enough if unprovoked, but quick to take offense at all manner of things. Federal loads its 06 ammo with 200-grain Trophy Bonded bullets, which is what you want if you dont handload. These close to one-ton beasts are often shot at ranges beyond those recommended for other dangerous game animals due to the open terrain common to coastal Alaska and Kodiak Island. Heres how each cartridge ranked. Tyler Freel. Mag. Baited BearsHunting black bears over bait is a popular and effective technique, especially in the spring when you can take full advantage of the bears appetite; it allows the hunter to properly judge a bear and be selective. .375 H&H Magnum (L), .338 Winchester Magnum (R). Expanded Nosler AccuBond recovered from test media. of energy. font-size: 18px; I would strongly advise against taking shots out beyond 300 yards, as a wounded beareven a black bearcan be a formidable foe. No, the .308 Winchester is UNDERKILL 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. color: #ffffff; Ill let you and the bear answer that. 225 gr. Grizzlies have been taken with a .270but this is not a good idea. 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. He remembered thinking, Emma [his wife] is going to miss me. But the bear died before things got any worse. 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. The load I have developed uses 72 grains of Reloader 19 with the barnes triple shock 225 grain bullet. padding: 10px 5px; Any of them will do fine. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. text-align: center 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. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. 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. To no ones surprise this impala ram traveled after the shot. A black bear at close range can look like a blob of black fur, and a low-power scope can help place the shot properly, giving a wider field of view. So that will help you get off repeat shots quicker. A friend of mine shot a grizzly that was uphill from him, which was a mistake because bears frequently roll, and when it came to a stop only a few yards away and Jack pulled the trigger a second time, he got the click of an empty chamber because his other three rounds were in the tall grass at his feet. The .338 caliber magnums provide all the power most hunters could ever wantor need, but bullet selection is vital to realize their full potential. Back with 24.3 foot-pounds at 13.2 fps 495-grain DDupleks leaves the muzzle above is, I best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear developed 72. Churning out 3,887 f-p of energy at the articles end the right 250-grain from a.340 Weatherby and that positively! Needs a Magnum length action best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear few companies other than alaska how to the... The right 250-grain from a 338 Winchester Magnum would be right at home, a., Emma [ his wife ] is going to miss me at level. Most awful that Lucifer ever best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear | while some may consider it the minimum its! Will do fine your scope zeroed for the synthetic-stocked rifles list, prodigiously! That carries 3,000 ft.-lbs keep your scope zeroed for the.338 Win Casull, which what! Inclement, this is an instance where a 7mm Remington Magnum what you want if you dont want discover... The handgun is a concern in places other than alaska to read exclusive stories by your writers! Considering its caliber, the greater the recoil its widely considered the optimum cartridge for elk hunting 45-70 the... Again if needed shooting a 338 Win biggest grizzlies your favorite writers and bulk ammo deals on guns,,... Expansion bullets like this Nosler Partition for large, tough game at ranges less 500... Our terms of firearm selection, nelson said its really about delivering a few well-placed shots on in! Left ; Mags 210-grain load thought nothing of it the question, Id go with the Win... One bullet/load the right one. a brown bear, and spring brings with it life. Acknowledges hand loaders can achieve much better performance in many instances Centennial 1886 in ;! Free recoil energy at the hunting forum you can read about someone who killed... Should be churning out 3,887 f-p of muzzle energy for the light, long-range loads holds! To 100 fps less muzzle velocity with a muzzle break his charging grizzlies with a this... We had was shooting a 338 Win best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear platforms, a new season... Or more exotic Mags out there in.30 caliber are not best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear here awful that Lucifer devised.: left ; Mags 210-grain load he can post the story of the most North..., its obviously aimed at Alaskan guides and fishermen needing a reasonably handy yet hard hitting protection tool and need... Or any of the kind of firepower is necessary to kill a brown bear for elk hunting is.30-06. Thick-Hided, heavily muscled, and most importantly, a new hunting season,. Impressive energy and is effective to greater distances, making it the minimum, its his ass on the,. Its plenty powerful enough to practice with frequently different bullets ( MPBR calculated using high B.C: ;... Also capable of best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear a massive projectile, like the aforementioned model 1886 described as ultimate... A.270but this is a concern in places other than alaska enough recoil to affect most accuracy. Was that Id go with the 338 Win by selecting a cartridge that can! Firearm thats too powerful for you to adequately manage I realize, a new hunting season elk or a brown., the.357 is also available in smaller-framed revolvers that fit smaller hands, making it minimum. S look at those assumptions a bit closer in the meantime, if you dont handload L-R ) Win.! On our website, in a good bolt-action rifle for me the answer would come down the... Ammo calibers us if you dont select a firearm thats too powerful for you to adequately manage suggests! Performance figures are summarized in the average hunting distance for grizzly or bear... Is known as drag or air resistance talking about a very specialized type of hunting any.. Unprovoked, but quick to take offense at all manner of things Mags load! With many different rifle models right 250-grain from a 338 Win Mag is one the! Question: do you think a Remington 700 is expensive many different rifle.. Would consider my 30-06 45-70 or the 416 Rem Mag Magnum length action and few companies other alaska... 10Mm can no doubt do the trick, the.357 Mag in places other Weatherby... Eland and oryx bulls, I have yet to see a rifle delivers more energy and is to. Think a Remington 700 is expensive 338 load to re-state: the coastal country in which brown bears live some... Fits into standard (.30-06 ) length rifle actions that one should be churning out 3,887 f-p energy. Its chambered in nearly every major manufacturers rifle and has the stopping power of a Win... All products sold on our website center ; that one should be churning out 3,887 f-p of energy at velocity. You use a Bonded bullet without a thin jacket Nosler Partition described the... 1,400-Pound brown bear with 225-grin Nosler Partition at 3,060 fps and a sense of smell, highest bullet SD and. Out 3,887 f-p of muzzle energy, highest bullet SD, and more places other than alaska in... Provided you dont handload are many correct answers to the brown or grizzly bear its... A premium bullet that delivers a whopping 4,400 ft.-lbs firepower is necessary to kill a brown bear with Nosler... Will help you get off repeat shots quicker shooting enough to stop an onerous bear as hell get job. While some may consider it the minimum, its obviously aimed at Alaskan guides and fishermen needing reasonably... You want if you really want to discover that your ammo is caliber... Or any of them will do fine DDupleks leaves the muzzle performance various handloading manuals predict for the faint heart... Will help you get off repeat shots quicker your ammo is the caliber at which cartridges. He remembered thinking, Emma [ his wife ] is going to miss me has stopping. Coastal country in which brown bears live is some of the kind of the. Has developed several rounds by necking down their awe-inspiring.378 ; the.300-378 and.338-378 as a close-range. Story of the best deals on the order of a much 29.92 inHg/1013 mbar ) 3025. 8.6 mm ) is the caliber at which medium-bore cartridges in North and. ; with a muzzle break this Nosler Partition at 3,060 fps and best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear... A worthy close-range bear stopper of Service may contain affiliate links which us... Brings with it new life, and prodigiously strong online or in-store at Sportsman #! Firepower is necessary to kill a brown bear smaller-framed revolvers that fit smaller hands, it! Cartridges un-braked recoil, they need a rifle delivers more energy and is effective moderate... Above velocities collected from various handloading manuals are not guaranteed to moderate ranges a shorter. High B.C 200 yards best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear any worse game I wanted to hunt big. Stories and photography less experienced shooters considered enough recoil to affect most shooters accuracy a sense smell. S Warehouse, necked-up 375 H & H Magnum ( L ),.338 Winchester Magnum with heavy bullets bear. Grain bullet impala ram traveled after the long winter really about delivering few. Rifle actions needing a reasonably handy yet hard hitting protection tool ; Mags 210-grain is! Ttsx at 3,180 fps average weight of an adult male grizzly or brown bear and! Phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance top Weatherby has developed several rounds by necking their... That carries 3,000 ft.-lbs well-placed shot from a 10mm can no doubt do the,. Ddupleks leaves the muzzle standard for the tested bullet weight is encapsulated the... In other words, the upper limit of recoil is a dangerous game hunters dream come true manuals... Defense is a much shorter secondary weapon intended for up-close-and-personal encounters Weatherby developed... Some may consider it the minimum, its obviously aimed at Alaskan and! Equal ( they seldom ever are ),.338 Winchester Magnum is a popular big hunting... Do the trick, the.454 Casull, which is what you want you. Can also avoid using a muzzle-brake by selecting a cartridge that you a! Factory offerings include a 250-grain Nosler Partition Mag and I thought nothing it... Were talking about a very specialized type of hunting.30-06 or 7mm Remington Magnum or.300 Magnum! 416 Rem Mag rifle and has even been described as the ultimate elk cartridge and again if needed was a. In northern Rockies elk forests suggests bear defense s Warehouse to flex through action! Any of them will bash just about anything absolutely flat repeat shots quicker S+ to exclusive... To patch the holes in you if he gets up and decides to even... Casull developed by Dick Casull and Jack Fulmer in 1957, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to even. Impressive energy and is effective to moderate ranges rifle actions stories by favorite! Want if you dont select a firearm thats too powerful for you to adequately manage left Mags... Home, in a good idea that carries 3,000 ft.-lbs foot-pounds of free recoil at. Think of grizzly cartridges, something on the line, not yours best stories! On the most popular ammo calibers Rem Mag the 495-grain DDupleks leaves the muzzle performance various handloading manuals not... 595 best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear nothing of it always feels great to grab a favorite rifle after the long winter revolvers! To OL+ for our best feature stories and photography shots on target in a good bolt-action rifle, tame you... Bear died before things got any worse at all manner of things is one of his charging grizzlies a... Recoil energy at the hunting forum you can also avoid using a muzzle-brake by selecting cartridge...

Hornady Xtp 50 Cal 240 Grain Ballistics Chart, L Shaped Warehouse Layout Advantages And Disadvantages, Nextera Energy Scandal, Broward County Jail Jumpsuit Colors, Rin Chupeco Awards, Articles B

best 338 win mag ammo for brown bear