.338 for sheep too big ????

[peterb]

I am planning a sheep hunt for Northern BC is a .338 to much of a caliber for sheep. I have a concern shooting at 300-400 yards anyone used this caliber for sheep.
Pete

[daycort]

Pete what ever you fell comfy with. The only thing I would be worried about is the weight.

[416]

What daycort said! If you can group well with it at those distances, use it. It is more then what is necessary but that shouldn't be a deterrent at all...

[youngfellla]

Well, you can't kill 'em past dead, so I'd have to say no :lol: .

I'll be taking my Ruger MK II S/L 338 Win Mag this year loaded with 185 TSX's @ 3200. Pretty flat shooting load. Weight is not an issue, the rifle only weighs 7 5/16 lbs.

[ursus]

My Stone fell from a well placed shot from my 338 at 15 yards.:lol:
It will do the trick! However I now use a 7-08 for Mountain Game.

[Mattimoose]

I am planning a sheep hunt for Northern BC is a .338 to much of a caliber for sheep. I have a concern shooting at 300-400 yards anyone used this caliber for sheep.
Pete

I had a friend who brought a .280 to B.C. for sheep and killed a nice Elk at like 720 Yards, but when it came to the sheep portion of the hunt, he felt more comfortable with his .338 and regailed at how confident he was at the shot.

[Whisky Creek]

720 yards for an elk shot? Hopefully, something smells like the pooh from one of my bulls.....
CLINT

[SHAKER]

Old Elmer Keith would be proud of such a statment. .338 is a nice killer, it nocks the wind out of the sails of just about anything you hit with it (with good bullet placement). Might make your hunt a little more relaxing when o'l Grizz comes snooping around too. Sorry you small bullet guys!

[Orangethunder]

The bear argument is a good one. If you own one and can shoot it why buy another gun? Yes owning numerous guns is cool! I think you are further ahead than someone with a small bore wanting to hunting brown bear. From my own experience it isn't the gun that is the limiting factor its something legal to shoot at.

[Elkhound]

720 yards for an elk shot? Hopefully, something smells like the pooh from one of my bulls.....
CLINT

I have a hunting buddy who is a retired SAS Sniper. He also managed wildlife herds on private estates in europe before he moved here. Has log books of every kill. Location of every kill and where the animal was shot. This was his job. Over 3000 deer recorded by him alone. Almost every kill was a head shot and most deer were Roe deer. Very small to begin with. They could not afford the time to track animals if they ran. Longest deer kill was confirmed with a range finder at 861yrds. Anything is possible. Just because I would never dream of a shot like that does not mean it cannot be done. And for some people on a regular basis.

[416]

Anything is possible. Just because I would never dream of a shot like that does not mean it cannot be done. And for some people on a regular basis.

Well said!! There certainly are marksmen out there who can and do make what most of us would consider incredible shots, but its always amusing to hear the comments of those that doubt... :)

[Whisky Creek]

Perhaps, you've mistaken my statement as one expressing doubt. I don't doubt that this shot was attempted, and perhaps the range estimate was accurate and perhaps the bullet did hit and kill and elk. My statement was meant more as a question of ethics. Maybe I should have stated, "720 yard elk shot, with a .280 Rem"........ The following info is from one of my manuals, the 165 grain out of a .280 Rem at 2820 fps has an energy of 2913 ft lbs of energy out of the muzzle. Plenty for elk. However, this deteriorates to only 801 ft lbs at 500 yards. Provided it gets that far, at 720 yards it carries less than 350 ft lbs of energy. Also zero'd at 300 yards that bullet's point of impact is over 100 inches low. Perhaps an ethical practice if shooting at coyotes, gophers or even members of the Taliban, but not for elk. Hope I've cleared up my statement.
CLINT

[Whisky Creek]

To answer the original question, my opinion is that a .338 would do just dandy on sheep, if that is what you choose to use.
CLINT

[mapguy]

how's your group at 300 to 400 yrds
if your in the black it's dead

[Nimrod]

Even if you don't have a cannon I would recommend, practicing 300yards 45 to 50 degrees up and down hill, with the target plum line. You'll be surprised how much the trajectory is effected.