.338 Win Mag for Whitetails

[outdoorlife]

What size whitetail are we talking about? If I hunted 250-300 lb trophy bucks only in northern sask I might shoot a magnum as well.

The Ontario hunts I’ve taken part Over the years are typically an all age/sex meat hunt. In these hunts the majority of deer taken are .5 - 1.5 years old meaning most deer harvested aren’t even full grown. The average weight of an Ontario harvested deer is probably less than 120lb on the hoof. Lots wouldn’t make 90.

[udderbrudder]

I have 300 win mag. Plenty of gun for moose and bear. But I primarily hunt deer. It's still my go to deer rifle and works great. What more needs to be said

[Gilroy]

I have 300 win mag. Plenty of gun for moose and bear. But I primarily hunt deer. It's still my go to deer rifle and works great. What more needs to be said

How is the hunt doing in the hill.

[werner.reiche]

What size whitetail are we talking about? If I hunted 250-300 lb trophy bucks only in northern sask I might shoot a magnum as well.

The Ontario hunts I’ve taken part Over the years are typically an all age/sex meat hunt. In these hunts the majority of deer taken are .5 - 1.5 years old meaning most deer harvested aren’t even full grown. The average weight of an Ontario harvested deer is probably less than 120lb on the hoof. Lots wouldn’t make 90.

They are a bit bigger than that. Very few wouldn't make 90 live weight (on the hoof).
If it's a buck with an eight point rack, its probably pretty close to 180 minimum field dressed.

That aside - if a guy can shoot a .338 accurately, he should be able to put it through the ribs and not waste too much meat.
If he can't shoot accurately - well - more gun always helps.

I agree with KC with the heavier bullet weights. With more powerful rifles ...and by that I mean a .308 and up... heavier bullets are generally constructed more solidly, blow up less and damage less meat.
In the .444, there's a huge difference between a hole left by a 240 grain and a 265 grain. The 240 grain is designed for the much slower .44 mag. The 265 grain is designed for the .444 and is meant to provide complete penetration on big game (moose/elk/bear).