Originally Posted by
Ithaca Gunner
Here's what I would do, (not suggesting you follow suit, just predicting myself from previous situations if I were currently wanting a .338 Win Mag). We all know the ammo situation, it sucks! It sucks worse for some more than others, a lot of great established cartridges are suffering from just plain not being available right now. Though popular, the .338 Win Mag isn't a cartridge in the lime light nor is it a contender in the ELR game. What it is, is what many consider the most effective killing caliber on animals found in the western hemisphere available in a normal weight sporting rifle with tolerable recoil. While not common, and even rare in some regions, it's still popular enough in about half the country that there's a steady demand for it. It's gonna be back. Knowing this, I would shop for the rifle I wanted and scope to go with it. Pick up what I can now, (dies, bullets, cases, powder, magnum primers) I know, a lot of that's hard to find right now, I'd start a WTB thread in the Swappi'n and Selli'n forum and if I got some offers, I'd take em, even if I didn't have the rifle yet. Last I checked on Guns International, there was no shortage of .338 Win Mag rifles.
I got lucky, I got the rifle I wanted anyway and the entire package of ammo, brass, scope, bullets, and dies. I wasn't looking for a .338 Win Mag, didn't think I would stumble into one. I was looking for a receiver to make a .338/06 on, but I'm very pleased I found and bought the Hawkeye in the magnum, (with the laminate stock-I hate plastic).
That's what I would do. All I'm gonna advise you to do is, get a Decellerator pad for what ever magnum you decide on, you'll thank me for that.