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Posted: 10/6/2009 8:28:01 PM EDT
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I am thinking of getting a Tikka T3 Hunter (wood stock) in 338 Win Mag. The rifle should be right at 7 pounds before adding the scope.
The guys in the gun store are telling me I will regret it due to excessive recoil.... I guess 2 customers have tried to trade in T3s in 338 already as it was too much for them. I have shot a friend's Remington XCR in .375 H&H with factory loads. The rifle is about 7.6 pounds, and only had iron sights. I didn't think the .375 was too bad. It looks to me like they throw the same weight bullet about the same speed.... with the edge perhaps going to the .375. Is the 338 really likely to be a harder kicker? Am I over looking something? Thanks. |
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If recoil isn't manageable consider adding weight to the gun, wearing a shoulder pad while sighting in, or downloading the round. It doesn't take much additional weight to make a big difference. As I'm learning to deal with increased hearing loss I am starting to hate muzzle breaks more and more. Recoil is temporary - hearing loss is forever. Opinions vary on breaks and hearing loss though of course.
You won't feel the recoil when hunting so it seems like managing the recoil during range sessions might be the goal? I shoot a heavy stocked Ruger 338 Win Mag. Good luck with the decision, Matt |
Friend has a Rem 700 in 338 win mag, rifle weighs 7-8 lbs, shot some Hornady 225 gr heavy mag and it was downright miserable..three rounds was enough for me.
375 H&H is very mild in comparison....... esp in a heavier Safari grade. Standard Rem 700 / Win 70 are fairly pleasant shooters also and the 375 H&H is a damn accurate shooting cartridge. |
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I actually would like a .375 H&H, but I am having a hard time finding it in a rifle I really like that is chambered for it... I want classic style wood stock, floated barrel, good trigger, and integral mounting for scope rings (no seperate bases). I am not particularly looking for iron sights, or to spend over a grand on the rifle.
Hence the T3 Hunter. But it isn't offered in 375. |
| It is just a 300 win mag necked up for a 338 bullet. In the heavier bullet weights they can rap you pretty good. I'd get a 375 before a 338 any day. You can zing 235 gr or lob 300 gr bullets out of the 375 and do just about any type of hunting you could imagine. |
| I have the T3 lite in 338 Win Mag and on he bench its brutal, but its also close to a pound lighter than your rifle. When hunting I dont notice the recoil, when shooting while standing at the range its managable, but not something I want to shoot 25-30 rounds with. |
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I've had and shot both .338 and .375,the .338 was a Ruger No.1 with a 26in barrel all of 7 1/2 lbs and with 250gr rounds it'd make you take a step back,off a bench? well it could mess you up let's just say-don't ask how I know Now my .375?  started out as an A-Bolt stainless with a BOSS break/barrel thing,which I hated with a flaming passion,so I took it to a local smith and had him chop off the threading and recrown it,I had thought the whole thing was gonna be 22-23in~wrong it was 24in with the brake and about 20in without....So I now have a 18 1/2 .375 H&H carbine but you know what? it's sweet as hell,about 7lbs all up and recoil with 270gr loads is akin to a .338 with 250's,300's are a trip though but you KNOW you have power in hand with it! What it boils down to is if you can shoot a 12ga you can shoot a .338,if you can shoot a .338 you can handle a .375 recoil is a tad sharper with a .338 but it can be done without any problems. The two things to keep in mind are this: Nether is a gun you'll want to shoot a lot,I can shoot about ten rounds of .375 and that's it,so if you want to sight it in I suggest you ether shoot a few over a day (four or five then rest an hour) or stretch it out over a few days and do it standing! Next I think both guns get their reputation of hard recoil from those who shoot from a bench,the .338 is a fucking MONSTER off a bench,I don't want to know what the .375 is like  but if you need to get a shooting pad AND a sandbag between you and the gun and just go for it. |
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Quoted:
I actually would like a .375 H&H, but I am having a hard time finding it in a rifle I really like that is chambered for it... I want classic style wood stock, floated barrel, good trigger, and integral mounting for scope rings (no seperate bases). I am not particularly looking for iron sights, or to spend over a grand on the rifle. Hence the T3 Hunter. But it isn't offered in 375. You might want to look at the Ruger Hawkeye African in 375 Ruger (same/better ballistics as the 375H&H, but in a standard long action) ..... has many of the specs you are looking for - I have a Hawkeye Alaskan in 375 Ruger: www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7129&return=Y 375 Ruger specs with a comparison to 375H&H: www.hornady.com/story.php?s=627 My 20" Alaskan with a Leupold 3-9x40 Vari-XII: 
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Well a local sporting good store was blowing these out for $1,350 so I went ahead and picked one up in .375 H&H:
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdSpecsView?model=7501 http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7501&return=Y 
No floated barrel, but the trigger is really good, particularly for a Ruger. As heavy as it is, it should be a real pussy cat to shoot. |
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Quoted:
Well a local sporting good store was blowing these out for $1,350 so I went ahead and picked one up in .375 H&H: http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdSpecsView?model=7501 http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7501&return=Y http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/images/Products/43L.jpg No floated barrel, but the trigger is really good, particularly for a Ruger. As heavy as it is, it should be a real pussy cat to shoot. Very nice, one of those in .458 is on my "someday" list. |
| A 338 has recoil? Say it aint so. I am a fairly small guy and I don't even notice them anymore. My boy started shooting the 50s and 408s at 7 years. He will sit down and shoot the lap mag and 408 until I tell him to stop spending money. Like I tell everybody that wants to shoot my guns. Recoil is how you manage it. God bless. |
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