.308 vs. 338 win. magnun

Truth is it is really a small step between the 2. There isn't anything I'd hunt with a 338 I would refuse to hunt with a 308 with good bullets.

Your post is a bit vague, but with little to go on I'd pick 308 any day. If I needed more punch than that I'd skip right over everything else and go straight to a 375 mag.
 
Well, you're comparing a Peterbuilt to a pickup. If you aren't going after big bear or maybe moose, the .308 is great. Actually, I want something that begins with a 4 when you're talking big bears. I have both the .308 and .338 and the .308 gets much more use.
 
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IMO a .308 performs a lot better, both on my shoulder & in my wallet, than any .338 I've ever owned......... :p




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Ah...no, it's not a small step between a .308 and a .338 Win Mag. Think a 250 grain bullet just a touch faster than a 150. Think 2,000 ft. lb. at 500 yards. However, the only thing walking the Americas that calls for the thumper are the "great bears". Everything, and I mean everything else, the .308 is fine. I should note that it's not a small step in recoil, either. I shoot a fairly light weight .338 regularly. If you are motivated, you can certainly master the round. "Motivated" is the key word. If you don't have a goal, like "kill a big brownie", you will be asking yourself why you're loosening your fillings. Get the .308.
 
Which do you think perform better over all?
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Without a doubt the 308 Winchester is the best performer "overall" in my opinion. It's more popular, easier on the shoulder and on the wallet. As stated above unless you plan on hunting the big bears up north or Africa, the 338 Winchester Magnum is just way more than is needed.
 
Thanks for the info. Was debating on selling my 308 because I inherited the 338 but i believe ill keep it since it is more practical to use for the type of hunting I do and what not. I have no idea what ill do with the 338 w.m.
 
Good call on keeping the .308. It can handle just about all North American game without beating your shoulder and wallet up.

As far as the .338, keep it and shoot it for fun now and again.
 
"Truth is it is really a small step between the 2"
You're kidding right? I've shot both and I can feel a big difference. There's also a tremendous difference in performance on game. While the .308 will kill most North American game fairly effectively, the .338 will HAMMER really big game.
I seldom shoot the big guns anymore with the .308 or 30/06 being all I need(and more) for deer. I use a target prepped .308 for coyotes when it's windy simply because it less affected by wind drift. No way would I recommend a .338 unless elk/moose/bear are normally in your hunting agenda.
 
The .338 will shoot a 225 grain bullet at about the same velocity as a 150 grain in .308. It has about 1000ft/lbs more energy at the muzzle than the .308 and has about the same energy @ 200 yards, as the 30-06 has at the muzzle.

I'd hardly call that a "small step."
 
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