338 win mag or 7mm rem mag

[devster55]

Ok so I am looking at getting a new rifle. We may be doing a elk hunt next yeah and I need a new rifle as my wife is getting my 7mm rem mag cause we gave my old winchester m70 243 to my boy. I was thinking of getting another 7mm rem mag but have been thinking about going up to a 338 win mag as well.. I was looking at the numbers and the muzzle energy is a lot more components are a little more but those are not huge factors. I want to hear from people about their experiences with it. Or 338 ultra mag? I'm looking to take it out to about 800 with ease.

[ar15barrels]

338 Winchester Magnum is the quintessential elk cartridge.

[DannyInSoCal]

Yep - .338WM is my big game caliber choice also...

[devster55]

Well my mind is made. I think I want the vanguard v2.

[devster55]

How's the recoil. I shoot my 7mag at 65.5 gr of RL 19 with a 140 gr pill at about 3300 fps.

[ar15barrels]

How's the recoil. I shoot my 7mag at 65.5 gr of RL 19 with a 140 gr pill at about 3300 fps.

338 will be a good step up, but I doubt you will shoot it enough to matter.

[TMB 1]

How's the recoil. I shoot my 7mag at 65.5 gr of RL 19 with a 140 gr pill at about 3300 fps.

Recoil with the 200gr 338 bullets will be a little more than the 7mag with 175gr bullets.

[SloChicken]

338 Winchester Magnum is the quintessential elk cartridge.

um, 30-06 ???

[plumbum]

um, 30-06 ???

Oh no, no, NO - the .30-06 just doesn't cut it on today's modern elk...



I'd vote for 7mm if you don't want to add a new cartridge to the stable - but I'm never one to discourage expanding your options. In all honestly I doubt an elk would know the difference between the two, and real world performance doesn't seem to favor one either way.



Now if you say you may take the same rifle out for bear or moose - well then the .338 would certainly be more comforting!

[Divernhunter]

Did you chrono the 7mag with that load? I got 3280FPS using 70.5Grs of RL19 with a 140gr Nosler PAR or BT bullet in my Ruger M77.

Yes there is more recoil with the 338win mag and quite a bit more with the 338ultra. I like my 338win mag but 800yards is stretching it with one. I took a Kudu at 480 lazered yards last year with mine. I probably could have gone farther but 800 is a bit much.

[devster55]

Did you chrono the 7mag with that load? I got 3280FPS using 70.5Grs of RL19 with a 140gr Nosler PAR or BT bullet in my Ruger M77.

Yes there is more recoil with the 338win mag and quite a bit more with the 338ultra. I like my 338win mag but 800yards is stretching it with one. I took a Kudu at 480 lazered yards last year with mine. I probably could have gone farther but 800 is a bit much.

No just going off of the nosler book. I don't have access to a chrono.

[devster55]

Oh no, no, NO - the .30-06 just doesn't cut it on today's modern elk...



I'd vote for 7mm if you don't want to add a new cartridge to the stable - but I'm never one to discourage expanding your options. In all honestly I doubt an elk would know the difference between the two, and real world performance doesn't seem to favor one either way.



Now if you say you may take the same rifle out for bear or moose - well then the .338 would certainly be more comforting!

I also have a 30-06 as well. It's a old rem 742 so I really only shoot garand loads out of it I don't want to beat up the action on it.

[Anthracis]

I have 7rem mag as well. I love it. Did u consider the 300WM? Pretty decent.

[Thorax]

Hehe..

I've killed elk with a 7mm, a 30-06, a 300 mag and a 338-378 mag.

You guys will probably find the results on impact and penetration very interesting.
Too bad that all the elk died before I could ask them which cartridge worked best :sad:

[toby]

340 Weatherby