There are lots of big game rifles out there for you to choose from but we’re going to recommend a somewhat military model – the McMillan TAC338.
Now, before you go and say the .338 Lapua is overkill for some species (which might be true, but we’re specifically talking about big game here), it offers a lot of advantages anyway.
Here are some of the best of them.
The .338 Lapua vs. Other Select Big Game Cartridges
The main reason the .338 Lapua is a great cartridge for big game is that other long-range rifle cartridges like .50 BMG and .408 CT just don’t offer the right attributes.
The .50 BMG is overkill for reasons that should be obvious. It’s designed for use as an anti-materiel cartridge. That should tell you enough. As for the .408 CT (and for what it’s worth, the .375 CT) it’s loaded with solid copper bullets that don’t deliver optimal ballistic performance on impact.
On the other end of the spectrum the story is the same. Consider cartridges like .308 and .223, which are also sometimes used for long-range shooting. At extreme ranges, say, beyond 500 yards, they just don’t retain the ballistic energy to take big game. One might even argue they don’t even at close and intermediate ranges.
Now, let’s look at a cartridge like 6.5 Creedmoor, which is often touted for its ability to retain ballistic energy at great ranges. With a 140 grain bullet, 6.5 Creedmoor is going to produce energy around 1000 ft-lbs at 500 yards. A .338 Lapua cartridge loaded with a 250 grain bullet will retain about 2700 ft-lbs of energy at the same range, nearly 3 times what the Creedmoor can offer.
This paints the majority of the picture. It also puts the .338 Lapua in a unique category, making it suitable for extreme long-range shooting but better for hunting at long ranges than other long-range rifles, and far better than those lighter and intermediate cartridges for the same.
Now, to be quite clear here, we’re talking about big game. For some hunters in the east, “big game” includes turkey and deer. Just ask the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife. That is not what we’re talking about.
For us, big game means elk, moose, muskox, bison, and perhaps even grizzly bears, arguably the toughest big game in North America. A McMillan TAC338 can take any of these species with proper shot placement even at fairly extreme ranges.
Some might tell you that .338 Lapua might be overkill for them, and for some species, it might be, but if you need to connect at very long ranges, it’s hard to argue with the performance of this cartridge.
On top of that, the TAC338 platform is exceptionally reliable and accurate, built to withstand the rigors of hard use in an unforgiving environment.
Where to Learn More About the McMillan TAC338
This post stands for basically one reason: to justify your purchase of a McMillan TAC338 for hunting if that’s your intended purpose. There are far worse rifles for the job especially if your target species truly is big.
If you’re interested in learning more about the rifle itself, visit B&B Firearms. They carry these and other extreme long-range rifles and some models are eligible for a payment plan that is entirely interest free. You put 20% down and pay off the balance over the next few months, with no interest charges. Visit their website for more information or get in touch with them directly.
