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Posted: 8/19/2012 10:24:05 PM EDT
Guys, I currently live in interior AK.  Caribou and moose season is quicly approaching.  I'm thinking about buying a 338 win mag to hunt both critters.  I'm worried about the 338 win mag recoil.  I have a 50 Beowulf.  It posesses considerable recoil (in my estimation) when shooting 334 and 400 grain bullets.  How do you think the recoil associated w/ the Beowulf compares to the 338 win mag recoil?  Your thoughts are appreciated.
b
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 12:26:26 AM EDT
[#1]
Put a Limbsaver on the .338. Maybe compensate the barrel. My .338 kicks pretty damn good.
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 12:28:31 AM EDT
[#2]
The .50 doesn't even come close to the .338
 
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 2:59:45 AM EDT
[#3]
Anything that compares to .338 would blow apart an AR15.

So I guess the recoil wouldn't be so bad since it'd be transmitted to all the shrapnel?

EDIT: You said win mag, not lapua! My numbers were off. Still, the win mag has 1k more ft-lbs energy than a .50 Beowulf and would probably cause... deformation if an AR15 was made for it. You can get a .338 (federal) AR10, at least. A bolt gun will be killer (to your shoulder) in .338.
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 6:01:14 AM EDT
[#4]
Thanks guys.  I'm looking to buy a bolt gun in 338 win mag.  A 338 win mag AR would be pretty nice.  I'm just wondering what the recoil on such a beast would be like.  Thanks again.
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 6:50:35 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
The .50 doesn't even come close to the .338  


+1

Long time 338 shooter here.  For me, stock design has  a lot to do with felt recoil in big bore rifles.  My first 338 was a stainless Ruger 77 with the old "boat paddle" skeletonized synthetic stock.  That rifle beat me so badly that I almost gave up on the caliber.  Then I traded the Ruger for a Remington 700 stainless/synthetic mountain rifle in 338.  This is a lighter rifle, but the superior stock design makes it much more comfortable to shoot.

These days I use something between me and the rifle butt when shooting off the bench.  A PAST recoil shield, a sandbag, a rolled up towel, anything that will provide some cushioning.  If I don't do this, I quickly develop a flinch with the big bores.  I've shot the 338 many times in a t-shirt in a hunting situation, and if it kicked at all I don't remember it.  

My youngest son has a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight in 30-06. That thing is brutal at the bench, worse than my 338.  Just sighting it in is all I want with that thing.  But as he says, none of them kick at all with hair in the scope.
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 8:37:01 AM EDT
[#6]
Nemo Arms offers an AR-pattern rifle in .338 Win Mag (it's an option on their .300 Win Mag rifles).  Spendy, but in a great cartridge.

http://nemoarms.com/guns/

Best,
JBR
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 9:15:06 AM EDT
[#7]
Put a model 70 in an Echols Legend stock for good recoil control.
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 9:34:23 AM EDT
[#8]
If you find the B to be stiff recoil, you can pretty much forget about the .338 Winchester unless you plan on a break, top notch recoil pad, and possibly a weight gain program.  There is no AR or LR caliber I know of that is even in the same ball park as the large magnums.  Even my .470 Rhino (close twin to the .470 NE) does not generate near as much recoil as my .300 Weatherby, .375 H&H, .416 Rigbys or even 1895s with heavy loaded .45-70s for that matter.
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 11:29:45 AM EDT
[#9]
I'm going to shoot a friend's 338 to get a feel for the recoil before I go out and buy my own.  Thanks much for your feedback!
Link Posted: 8/20/2012 8:20:43 PM EDT
[#10]
Think about a 325 Winchester Short Magnum.  A lot of guys in AK are using them.  You can load a 200 gr. Barnes TSX bullet to 3000 fps which is just about identical to .338 Win. Mag. energy but for some reason the short mags seem to have a lot less recoil.  I have a Kimber Montana in 325 and it isn't at all unpleasant to shoot.
Link Posted: 8/21/2012 3:45:43 PM EDT
[#11]
Set up a 338-06 Savage and load 210-225 gr bullets over RL17.
I also load light loads 160 gr TTSX at about 2850.

I just bought another 338-06 savage barrel on the savage shooters forum for $100.

Last year I ran some 250 gr round nose bullets up to 2500 FPS out of a 24" bbl in 338-06, duramax stock etc
and that was plenty of recoil for me. Cant imagine anything walking away from that load.

Now I have a 21" bbl for a little handier.

If you need to dial it up a notch put a 375 ruger barrel on your savage action.
375 R Recoil is very manageable IMO. I had mine loaded up to max with 270 gr TSX bullet.
Link Posted: 8/21/2012 4:42:17 PM EDT
[#12]
IMO 338-06 and 9.3x62 are exceptional killers with light recoil. I favor the latter.
Link Posted: 8/21/2012 9:20:44 PM EDT
[#13]
Own a 338 wm in a ruger mkII.  When I got it the guy was selling it because of the punishing recoil,(he told me after he put the cash in the register).  I shot it and it was stout and after about 5 shots I was done.  I put a limbsaver pad and a brake on it.  Now it bucks less than my .308 bolt.  I can shoot it until the ammo runs out.  But then that's not too much with rem ammo at $30/box.  Reloads are a bit less though.  It has turned into a really nice rifle.  Just hope I get the chance to use it on something.
Link Posted: 8/21/2012 9:51:00 PM EDT
[#14]
So I said "screw it" and I bought a Ruger M77 all weather in 338 Win Mag today.  I had bought ammo the other day (to shoot in my friend's 338).....impatience got the better of me.  I mounted a Burris FF II scope on the rifle.  Ruger claims the rifle weighs in at 7.75 pounds.  I don't know how much the scope weighs, but I'm guessing everything together is at least nine pounds.  Anyway, the ammo I bought was Federal Fusion 225 grain soft points.  I took everything to the range this evening and sighted the rifle in using a lead sled.  I bore sighted at the house and was onthe money at 25 yards.  It took me a few rounds to settle down at 100 meters, but I got there.  As soon as I was on the money at 100 I put the rest away and assumed a sitting position and shot at a bucket or milk jug at the 300 meter berm.  Using the stadia in the ballistic plex reticle, I was able to make the jug jump from a sitting position.  I think I could do better using my pack as a rest or maybe a bibod and while shooting from the prone.  Overall I would say the rifle kicks pretty hard.  I think my 400 grain Beowulf reloads recoil just as stiff as this rifle (keep in mind the Beowulf weighs considerably less than the Ruger rifle).  So for what it is worth....and coming from a guy who thinks his 7mm Mag is a monster, I would say that the 338 Win Mag does have a stiff kick...but is very comparable to the 50 Beowulf shooting a 400 grain bullet.
b
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