The .338 will reach out quite a bit further than 300 yrds, That particular rifle has a 19" barrel, so I suffer some velocity lost, but it's built for quicker handling. Plus it's sub-MOA with 210 gr. partitions.
The only thing with a big magnum case is that to take advantage of it requires a longer barrel than 20-22" . I don't know if Mfg's even off anything longer now days. That said I do have a 7mm mag- 24" barrel for long stuff, most of my area is adequately covered with a 308 Savage Striker pistol or the the same in 243.
I appreciate your distance honesty and ethics. Going Magnum with some range time you might find more yardage a bit more comfortable and ethical. A 30-06 can take browns, but being out of range or in a dangerous situation sucks. A .300 will take browns in a 300 yard shot. Bigger is better when talking big game though. Savage makes a great rifle! They have a good gun finder on their page to check out! I don't have experience with the .338wm but if you are looking at grizzlies that's the direction I would lean, Or 338 Lapua The savage 16/116 bear Hunter has an adjustable break in 338wm. I know savages standard breaks work very well. So I assume the adjustable does too but can't say from experience. I wouldn't hesitate to save money to go with a savage and get (spend more on glass than the rifle)really good glass to go with it. Every savage I've had the pleasure to shoot is usually atleast 1/2inch moa. My brothers cheap .223 axis has shot clover leafs with brown bear 55gr (steel case cheap) ammo I was worried when savage was bought out but it seems they are doing just as well or better in some regards. The only issues I don't like with some savage models are the safety can rub the bolt if pulling down on the bolt wrong, and people seem to have problems with gloves and the acu- trigger. In my mind if you have a glove thick enough to not make the trigger function you are not pulling it correctly. I love the adjustable Accu trigger.
Boomstick you're right about the Savage. I have the 116 Bearhunter in .338WM. It's a hell of a gun! A 30 caliber bullet will definitely kill a brown or grizzly bear. It's how you go about killing them that becomes the problem. A big bear needs to be immobilized on the first shot. You shoot for the shoulder to break the animal down and anchor him in that spot. Then you keep shooting until he stops moving. Then you shoot him again! If you shoot him in the typical aiming spot, behind the front leg, he runs for the alders. Once inside you have to go in and get him. Is he alive or dead? You don't know but you have to go in either way. So the guides want you shooting as big a gun as you can handle to keep him from reaching the alders. Even the venerable .300WM doesn't have enough oomph to consistently anchor a big bear.
No. Nope. Never. Bet they don't have any video of anyone shooting a .585 Nyati. Everyone that tried, died. Not really but just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
I had a buddy in college from alaska. His family invited us up every year to go caribou shopping. It wasn't really hunting as much as going to the zoo and plugging Skippy the gazelle. I'll never forget the first year I went, we'd shot a few and dragged them near the truck to gut. His dad was reasonably impressed with how I handled my 375 H&H. So he handed me his bear stomper, told me to hop up on to the roof of the truck and shoot the bear when it shows up. He warned that his stomper 'tickled a mite' so be sure to hold on. Buddy looked at me seriously and said dont frick this up, he never lets a gteen horn be bear guard, he hates when his rifle gets dropped. It was a 1917 eddystone rebarreled to .458 lott. Sure enough, about 45 minutes after the blood starts flowing here comes a big bear. The 1st shot rattled the snot out of me, the 2nd knocked me off the top of the truck. Killed the bear though...
I luv reading stories like this. Real world experience stuff. Can I guess? 1st shot standing, 2nd was kneeling?
1st shot was nice solid, left foot forward stance. 2nd was a weak isosceles teetering on the edge of the roof... Good thing I didn't need a third. I was busy laying on the ground staring at thr sky contemplating the poor life choices that got me there...
#9 looks kinda powerful. For when the bear is hiding on the other side of a big tree....with a big rock in front of it....wearing body armor. It could happen.
I liked the 300wsm best of the easy to buy ammo for. A 300 Norma would be awesome with 220 grains but that's custom rifle and reloading. 338 lapua in a savage will shoot good and the rifle won't break the bank. Ammo on the other hand is a bit high.
