Best .338 Winchester Magnum Ammo

The .338 Winchester Magnum has stood as the gold standard for heavy North American game since Winchester introduced it in 1958. Developed as a shortened version of the .375 H&H Magnum to fit standard-length bolt actions, the .338 Win Mag filled a critical niche between .30 caliber magnums and dangerous game cartridges. The belted magnum case delivers exceptional power from a package that works in popular rifle platforms like the Winchester Model 70 and Remington 700, making serious stopping power accessible to the average hunter without requiring a custom long-action rifle.

This cartridge has earned its legendary reputation on the largest and most dangerous game in North America. Firing bullets from 200 to 250 grains at velocities between 2,650 and 2,950 fps, the .338 Win Mag generates 4,000+ ft-lbs of muzzle energy that anchors elk, moose, and brown bear decisively. The .338 caliber bullets offer excellent sectional density and controlled expansion, enabling deep penetration through heavy muscle and bone while creating devastating wound channels. Guides in Alaska and the Canadian Rockies have relied on this cartridge for decades when their clients' lives depend on putting down dangerous game quickly.

Shooters choose the .338 Winchester Magnum when they need absolute confidence against large, tough, or potentially dangerous animals. While modern long-range cartridges may offer superior ballistics at extreme distances, the .338 Win Mag delivers unmatched authority inside 400 yards where most big game is actually taken. The cartridge's 65+ year track record includes countless successful harvests of the world's largest game animals, backed by the widest selection of factory ammunition in its class. For the serious big game hunter who needs one rifle to handle everything from elk to grizzly, the .338 Winchester Magnum remains the benchmark by which all other hard-hitting hunting cartridges are measured.