I just purchased a new Weatherby Vanguard in 338 Win Mag from a coworker in another state. He won the rifle in a lottery and wanted to sell it to buy a new AR15. Being a smart*** I offered him $300 for it. To my surprise he accepted the offer. I was not especially in the market for a new rifle but a good deal is hard to turn down. After shipping and FFL transfer fee it still cost me less than 4 bills. I had a spare Nikon 3 X 9 I put on it. I guess I will make an elk gun out of it. There has to be some 338 fans here with some good loads to pass along. I look to use the 210 Nolser partition as my basic bullet. This rifle fills in the spot between my 7mm Rem mag, 30-06 and my 444. Looking forward to shooting it.

That was a sweet deal! I don't have any advice on loading for it, but dang, I just had to give some congratulations to you for finding such a good deal.

That's the one chambering that just knocks the snot out of me on a benchrest! Have shot a lot of heavier cartridges from the bench without the sharp jab the .338 seems to deliver. Never could warm up to it.

Wish you the best with your new acquisition.

I hear that it is a real filling loosener. If I learn to hate it to bad, I guess I could always give it to my son in law as a Christmas present.

I would be happy to take that nasty gun off your hands and rid you of such a wickedly recoiling caliber!!!!

BigSky

Nice buy! I've got a Classic II in a 7 Rem. Mag and it is very accurate. The actions are made by Howa, but have been "slicked up" considerably. I assume you have a "deluxe" model. The Vanguard is a bit heavier than a comparable model 700 Remington, has a "hammer forged" 24" barrel (usually "sporter" weight"), and an adjustable trigger. However, I couldn't get my trigger down much below 4 pounds and replaced it with a "Timney". All "slung" and "scoped up" your rig should go about 9 pounds, which should "tame" the .338 Win. Mag some. The 210gr. Partition bullet has the been the favorite of the likes of Bob Hagel and Carmichel, both of whom wrote that it made the .338 as "flat shooting" as the "300's", while having more weight and penetration for really large game. (Still a matter of discussion among the "magnum writers".) I, like Kdub, find that most .338's are a bit punishing at the bench or "prone" unless loaded down. Also, loading 200gr., or lighter, bullets in a rifle in this caliber gives considerably less recoil than the 225 or 250gr bullets. I don't think it kicks all that much more than a "sporter weight" (8 pound) .300 Win Mag rifle; it is a "hunting round" with few peers. I've not found the perfect .338 to date, but yours might qualify with a good "limb-saver" or "Decelerator" pad attached. It appears, with the "array" of calibers you already own, your new "acquisition" is a perfect fit. Load, shoot, and enjoy!

I've been shooting Federal Premium 210gr. Nosler Partition loads in mine.... they are so accurate I can't improve by handloading.

Might be worth trying a box.

I have a Vanguard (with brake), I bought to match my Howa 3oo mag. I've taken at least a couple of elk with it, including one BIG (7x8) bull.
I also use the 210 Federal Premium load-shoots almost exactly the same as my 180gr 300 mag, Federal premiums--took a cow at 400+ (but only a little +) yards with that load.

You'll like it!

Recoil from a 338 Win Mag shouldn't be a problem in the Vanguard. If the stock fits, and held correctly, even at the bench it is only slightly more than a 300 Win. I've owned two plus a 340 Wby. The Weatherby is quite a bit more when each is handloaded with premium loads. Shot a nice bull moose in N. Ontario with the Weatherby--a 250-gr Nosler at 3000 fps.

I have none of them now as I've gone to REAL bigbores. 45-70s and a 458. (Oh yes, I bought another 300 Win a few days ago, my sixth--a Savage with syn. stock that weighs a scant 6.75 lbs) One 45-70 has been "improved" in a Ruger No.1 and is fully equal to a 458 Win with a 22" tube. It generates upwards of 80 ft-lbs of recoil. Now that one you need to really hold on to at the bench. But shot a nice black bear with that load--to see if it would kill a bear!!!;) Oh, by the way, I'm 72 years young and have over a-half century of hunting and shooting experience.

I hear that it is a real filling loosener. If I learn to hate it to bad, I guess I could always give it to my son in law as a Christmas present.

I've never thought of the .338 WinMag as that bad of a kicker personally, at least not so bad as to where I wouldnt want to shoot it. I guess my carbine in .45-70 warmed me up to recoil pretty well tho. I havent shot 300gr loads yet, but I have shot 225gr and 200gr, neither of which is bad at all from the prone. I have the Ruger Hawkeye in .338WinMag and absolutely love it.

I've been shooting Federal Premium 210gr. Nosler Partition loads in mine.... they are so accurate I can't improve by handloading.

Might be worth trying a box.

I think I might try those as well Mike;) Ive been looking for a real accurate factory load for my .338 since Im not able to venture into handloading right now. BTW, what kind of setup are you using?

I've got a tang-safety Ruger 77, factory rings, and a used Leupold 3x9 Vari-X II.

The chamber has a really long throat and you would not expect it to shoot so well with light bullets, but it does. Luck of the draw, I guess.

I finally got around to shooting the new Weatherby yesterday afternoon. I shot it about 10 times and recoil was not as bad as I had heard it was. It was considerably less than my 444 Marlin with maximum loads. My son in law will just have to wait for this rifle.

Jodum,
The 338 is a great caliber. I have been loading and shooting it for some 20 plus years or so. The three rifles have been two model 70's and a Browning auto.
As far as the loads, I use Federal 215 primers in all magnum loads. The bullets are usually 210-215 grains. I also have a good Sierra 250 gr load.
For the powder, I know there must be better, but I keep going back to IMR4350. Your load book, groups, shoulder and rifle, will tell you when you have too much. The bolt guns, shoot best a bit below max. The auto, never shot anything that well, but the cycle rate was fast and reliable.
Now an employee has a model 70 Supregrade and at 26, he shoots it like a champ. Soon enough, we will be in Colorado hunting and it will be his main gun.
Bestboss