Barrel length for 338 win mag

B

Boogershooter

New member
Does the 338 win mag need a 26 inch barrel to get full performance! My m70 super grade has a 26 in barrel but I've seen other rifles with 24 inch barrels! I will b shooting 225 gr bullets if that matters! May even try the 200 gr'rs for a bit more speed if they shoot accurate enuf!
 
When I have these kinds of questions, I calculate the case capacity divided by the groove diameter squared and compare that result with other cartridges. By comparison the .338 Win mag is very close to the .30-06 sprg and the 7x57mm mauser, and slightly less overbore than the 6.5x55mm and the 270 win. Most people think that the .30-06 is OK with a shorter 22 inch barrel, and so the .338 should work fine with a 24 inch barrel.

One of the members her (craigwy, bartb, can't remember exactly) uses a similar formula. He uses the case capacity divided by the barrel cross sectional area in mm, and considers a value of 1.000 as an ideal.
 
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My 338 with a 24 inch barrel works just fine, but I would not recommend cutting down your barrel to that length. I doubt you would notice much difference in carrying it, unless you are packing it around in heavy brush, in which case even 24 inches may be too long.Shorter than 24 inches, there are other cartridges that would work better.
 
I think 26" is the optimum compromise for that cartidge! It could probably gain a little performance by going 28" or even 30", but not enough to make a huge difference to the average Hunter! Cutting it back to 24" will make for less speed, but not by much! Could increase muzzle blast due to an incomplete powder burn! Why all the "!"?!
 
24 or 26, couldn't make a whole lot of difference. My Ruger #1 is 26 but I'll bet 24 inches wouldn't make more than 50 to 75 fps difference.
 
A 32" or 34" barrel may get the most muzzle velocity.

A 33 caliber bore capacity is 55 grains. Maximum charge weights over that are overbore capacity. By my decades old formula: bore cross sectional area in square millimeters equals bore capacity.
 
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The reason for all the !!!'s is because it's easier and faster to hit than the . for me. Sorry for the inconvienance! I'm not going to cut this rifle down but I was looking at getting another! Some are 24 and some 26. Just wondering if it really needed the extra inches and how bad the muzzle blast was on the 24. Really have no use for another one but sometimes when u get a itch bad enough you just have to scratch it.
 
My 8 year old son came in while I was wiping my fathers super grade 338 down! He asked if that was pawpaws gun and I told him yes! He then asked if he could shoot it tomorrow if it isn't raining! When I told him he would have to wait a few years to shoot that one he got upset and left! I waited a few minutes then grabbed a box of his 300bo and a box of the 338! The look in his eyes was priceless! He understood and came back to help me in the gun room!
 
I didn't join this site for grammar or punctuation lessons!!! Lol yea I understand but I boxed alot in my youth and my hands don't bend in ways others do. I will try to do better. I hav'nt heard any criticism on the light bullets yet. I'm only shooting white tails at ranges less than 200 yards. My father believed in the 250 grn bullets but most of those I've found tend to b elk moose loads! I'm looking hard at the 200-225 loads! Any opinions?
 
Boogershooter, at least all the !'s make you seem enthusatic... About everything lol.

Anyways 24in is the standard length for most magnum rifles, while some need more like the 7mm mag and some could probably get by with less like the 338 win mag. It's a good compromise length for most hunting rifles. I've always liked to have a longer barrel than a shorter barrel myself, so when I look for a magnum I usually look for 26in barrel. In all honestly it doesn't really make enough difference to even matter, maybe 40-60 fps. Definitely not enough of a difference to warrant a new rifle for, but it can be a good excuse if the wife asks.;)

When I had my .338 WM I used the 225 grain Nosler partition with great accuracy. I wouldn't hesitate to use that bullet on any game in North America.
 
Any opinions?
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Yea, for whitetails at less than 200 yards you're way over gunned!!:D

I've reloaded and shot 200 grain, 225 grain, and 250 grain bullets for the .338WM and all gave acceptable performance in the rifle I was using. My preference was for the 225 grain bullets though as they shot well and still gave good velocity.
 
Booger shooter, The only reason I mentioned the !!! was because you mentioned it. It was a joke. I had not noticed it until you pointed it out.:D
 
Precision shooter asked! Well I went ahead and ordered another model 70 super grade in 338. Foolish but I believe I'm going to retire my dads rifle except for special occasions! I will shoot the new one! I've been trying to get my kids excited about a trip to yellow stone this summer! Hoping the wife will get to see a good bull elk and moose! Then maybe it will b easier to talk her into letting me spend the coins to go hunt them! She wants to build a house soon so this may not happen for a couple more years! I did mention to her if we built a new house I would have a elk on one side and a red stag on the other of the fire place! She gave me a weird look then smiled and asked which one of the two would she be shooting!
 
A little off topic but a word of advice....dont put taxidermy over a fire place all the excessive heat will really dry it out and it will end up kinda "smiling" at you. Ive seen it, very creepy. Basically the quality of the mount wont last nearly as long.
 
Thanks 81, I've already dealt with above the fireplace with a bobcat I had mounted years back! If and when I build a house and get those trophy's they will b out to the side around 7 feet! That's the advice I was giving when I tried to have the cat fixed.
 
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