.338/.284 in a Pre '64 M-88 .308

[longshotz]

Though having a soft spot for the short fat guy (.284 case) and the M-88 (mine is .308) I find that the cartridge, even reloaded, is somewhat lacking for the moose we typically have here in BC which start at 600 lbs. Throw in Elk at about the same weight (and up) and the .308 seems to come up short. This is my current deer rifle.
After some research the efficient .338 caliber, the efficient .284 case, and the lovely M-88 seem a match par excellence for a custom unit.
So the topic is open for someone who has done it, does it still, uses it, has used it, pitfalls (I'm sure there are a few), suppliers of dies and whatever else those of you who actually have had one can contribute to my project.
As an aside I have considered, and discarded, the .338 Federal as an alternative because hand-loading data seems to come up short of the published factory specs. I'm sure that some of you will dispute my claim here; fair enough.
Still a .338 cal. 210 gr. @2600 fps. bullet is a distant second against a same caliber .225 gr. bullet at 2700 fps.(this seems common for data that I have found for the .338/.284) Recoil doesn't bother me as my current moose go to caliber is a .375. H&H. Brno 602. A recent change of hunting territory dictates fast, quick and short, with some longer shots very possible across marshes; hence the M-88 in .338/.284.
So there it is. I await your wisdom.

[BigSky56]

Welcome longshot how far up in BC are you, I hunt elk and moose in NW MT with a 300 savage and it works just fine. For many years all I used was a 30-30, save your time and money and develop a accurate 308 load for your 88 and go whack a moose, elk or caribou. For dark timber a 180 or 200 gr and for distance a 165 gr. Moose are big animals but with a properly placed bullet they go down quick. danny

[harry]

Welcome longshot how far up in BC are you, I hunt elk and moose in NW MT with a 300 savage and it works just fine. For many years all I used was a 30-30, save your time and money and develop a accurate 308 load for your 88 and go whack a moose, elk or caribou. For dark timber a 180 or 200 gr and for distance a 165 gr. Moose are big animals but with a properly placed bullet they go down quick. danny

My uncle's (lived in Cut Bank) favorite moose, elk gun was a 6mm remington, head or neck shot. He used it from the early 70's until his death in 2000.

[6pt-sika]

As an aside I have considered, and discarded, the .338 Federal as an alternative because hand-loading data seems to come up short of the published factory specs. I'm sure that some of you will dispute my claim here; fair enough.
Still a .338 cal. 210 gr. @2600 fps. bullet is a distant second against a same caliber .225 gr. bullet at 2700 fps.(this seems common for data that I have found for the .338/.284) Recoil doesn't bother me as my current moose go to caliber is a .375. H&H. Brno 602. A recent change of hunting territory dictates fast, quick and short, with some longer shots very possible across marshes; hence the M-88 in .338/.284.
So there it is. I await your wisdom.

I've done the 338 Federal before in an Encore rifle . Gun was accurate and recoil was nothing .
Personally before I went to the trouble and expense of a custom 88 in 338/284 or 338 Federal I'd find a nice used Winchester Model 70 in 325 WSM or either get one of the Ruger Hawkeyes in 338 RCM .

But if I were inclined as you seem to be about converting a Model 88 , I'd just rebarrel the rifle in 338 Federal .

I've often thought if I had to make do with a pair of centerfire rifles for my big game needs I'd go with a 260 REM and a 338 Federal in short action rifles . But of course I've often said the same thing for the 6.5-06 and 338-06 in standard length actions as well as the 264 WIN MAG and 338 WIN MAG in the magnum cartridges !

[longshotz]

Welcome longshot how far up in BC are you, I hunt elk and moose in NW MT with a 300 savage and it works just fine. For many years all I used was a 30-30, save your time and money and develop a accurate 308 load for your 88 and go whack a moose, elk or caribou. For dark timber a 180 or 200 gr and for distance a 165 gr. Moose are big animals but with a properly placed bullet they go down quick. danny

Location about 12 hrs drive north of you.
The smallest moose I've got in 45 years of hunting was 460 lbs on the hooks. Smallest Elk was 337 on the hooks. Never needed more than one shot then they keel over where they stand; 270 gr. Hornady Spire Point @ 2771 FPS 5 shot av. Elk ditto. 95% of broadside shots through and through at ranges up to 356 yards (longest shot on moose) triangulated measure.
Have been in camps with .308 and equivalent. Mostly hand-loaded ammo with better bullets (Partition, TSX, Bear claw etc.) and few if any go down with one shot well placed or otherwise. Most shot this side of 200 yds. Hit... stagger, walk stumble, hit again, stagger fall down. Maybe dead when we get there maybe not. This is not a fitting outcome. Some end up in the water if shot on shoreline. Messy and pathetic if still alive. Has happened.
35 Whelen and 338/06 most effective non-magnums I've seen. Most consistent pattern is the bigger the bore, the more telling the shot, all other things being equal.

[Mainehunter]

I vaguely remember reading an article by Ken Waters on the 338-08 years ago but I can't remember what rifle he used, I may have to look it up but I do know he had good things to say about it.

Mainehunter

[BigSky56]

Harry, cutbank can be a cold sonofagun in the winter, shoot the blackfeet rez can be cold in the winter and the winds does blow there a freight train was knocked of the tracks this last winter coming down from east glacier. danny

[tman]

Though having a soft spot for the short fat guy (.284 case) and the M-88 (mine is .308) I find that the cartridge, even reloaded, is somewhat lacking for the moose we typically have here in BC which start at 600 lbs. Throw in Elk at about the same weight (and up) and the .308 seems to come up short. This is my current deer rifle.
After some research the efficient .338 caliber, the efficient .284 case, and the lovely M-88 seem a match par excellence for a custom unit.
So the topic is open for who has done it, does it still, uses it, has used it, pitfalls (I'm sure there are a few), suppliers of dies and whatever else those of you who actually have had one can contribute to my project.
As an aside I have considered, and discarded, the .338 Federal as an alternative because hand-loading data seems to come up short of the published factory specs. I'm sure that some of you will dispute my claim here; fair enough.
Still a .338 cal. 210 gr. @2600 fps. bullet is a distant second against a same caliber .225 gr. bullet at 2700 fps.(this seems common for data that I have found for the .338/.284) Recoil doesn't bother me as my current moose go to caliber is a .375. H&H. Brno 602. A recent change of hunting territory dictates fast, quick and short, with some longer shots very possible across marshes; hence the M-88 in .338/.284.
So there it is. I await your wisdom.

You should use what u feel most cofident with. But don't sell the .308 WCF. 180 grain short. It will and has stopped everything on earth, although, not the very best choice on elephants.

[6pt-sika]

I vaguely remember reading an article by Ken Waters on the 338-08 years ago but I can't remember what rifle he used, I may have to look it up but I do know he had good things to say about it.

Mainehunter

That article of which you speak was what caused me to get a 338 Federal barrel for the Encore frame I used to have

[Mainehunter]

I vaguely remember reading an article by Ken Waters on the 338-08 years ago but I can't remember what rifle he used, I may have to look it up but I do know he had good things to say about it.

Mainehunter

That article of which you speak was what caused me to get a 338 Federal barrel for the Encore frame I used to have

Hmmm very interesting. I take it you don't have the barrel any more?

Mainehunter

[6pt-sika]

I vaguely remember reading an article by Ken Waters on the 338-08 years ago but I can't remember what rifle he used, I may have to look it up but I do know he had good things to say about it.

Mainehunter

That article of which you speak was what caused me to get a 338 Federal barrel for the Encore frame I used to have

Hmmm very interesting. I take it you don't have the barrel any more?

Mainehunter

Nope don't have the barrel anylonger . But not because I wasn't satisfied with the cartridge , but rather I am not a big proponent of the Encore . I had a Pro Hunter with a 50 ML barrel , a 12 gauge rifled slug barrel and the 338 Federal barrel . The 338 barrel shot remarkably well , the 12 gauge barrel shot well but I couldn't keep the scope base fastened on the barrel because of recoil and the ML barrel just plain PO'd me ! With the Knights ML's I have you can take a fouled barrel and then shoot a 3 shot group at 100 yards usually inside 1 1/2" . With the Encore I had to clean between each shot to get anywhere close to a 2" group at 100 yards for 3 shots .

[JFE]

For the likely cost of the conversion plus extra for dies etc, you could probably pick up a BLR in 325 WSM that will have a bit more performance. That way you don't alter a collectable rifle either.

[longshotz]

For the likely cost of the conversion plus extra for dies etc, you could probably pick up a BLR in 325 WSM that will have a bit more performance. That way you don't alter a collectable rifle either.

That has crossed my mind.

[Thunder50]

You could always go with the 358 Winchester. Should be an easy re-bore and plenty of dies.

[Charles]

Les Bowman, the 50's gun writer, rancher and Wyoming hunting guide declared the Winchester 88 in 308 to be the best elk rifle for horseback hunting he had run across. I have known many folks to hunt elk with the .308 and think highly of the round. I should think it would be just dandy for moose as well.