Barnes X Bullet Comments for 338 Win Mag.

x-bullets are copper so they are less dense than lead jacketed bullets.  They must be seated lower to get them to feed properly in you magazine.  No problems if you single shot.  Because they must be seated deeper they also cut into the powder capacity of most cartridges. IIRC Barnes also says they are 'slippery' so they need more powder to equal the velocity of harder jacketed bullets.

They are a mono construction, and they are deep penetrating. they act as FMJ, although they can have some slits cut into them to promote expansion. 

For game like deer and other small thin skinned game, they  are not the best.  For large bears and moose, big elk, and cape buffalo, they are satisfactory.

I've used them and found them generally non-satisfactory for hunting the lower 48.  But Barnes advertises  tremendously, so the gun writers keep giving great reviews, and many people have bought into them.  Because they are solid, they are cheap to make, but sold at a large premium.  that is where the money comes from for all the ads and gun writer trips.

Remember not only are they expensive per box, but you are only getting 50 of them!!

Last thoughts, they are pure copper (not like jacketed bullets harder materials) so you will get a build up of copper in your barrel, so be sure to clean often and you might need to get a heavy copper cutting bore cleaner.

ON the bright side, they are legal in California and other places that have outlawed regular bullets that have lead.

I have that video.  Interesting.  But these are not really myths.  they are just some of the 'downsides' or negatives about a product.

There are positives also, but each person must ask if the negatives are offset by the positives.

The deep penetrating bullets that I use for Africa and brown/grizzly bears are jacket bullet with a internal stainless steel jacket then a center core of lead.  these have the weight of lead and are totally non-distorting in flesh.

BUT if I wanted a deep penetrating bullet with some expansion, the x bullet would be a fair consideration.  The copper bore fouling will always be a stumbling point on X-bullets for me.

While it is never talked about, the Barnes company did not invent pure copper bullets.  the French used them many years ago, but stopped for all the negative reasons  mentioned earlier.  They reentered the market because of the fear of future "banning" of lead for hunting.  Sort of thinking ahead to a Federal issue like the ban on lead shot in shotgunning.

As you mentioned earlier the copper bullets are longer for weight; so it you shoot 250 grain bullets, expect the powder capacity to be cut even further than with the 225 grain bullets.

The 338 is certainly a great medium bore rifle, and the most popular with good reason.  While the 225 grain bullet is probably the best all-round choice; I mainly shoot the 200 grainer.  Maybe because i use it al lot on deer and black bears hunting, and because I have heavier rifles.  But I must say I have great confidence in the 200 grainer and would not think twice on shooting a mountain grizzly with it.  If I waas going specifically for mountain grizzlies with the 338 then I'd probably pick the 250 grain bullet.

Shooting/hunting grizzly/browns is for most folks a once in a lifetime thing, so I like to use enough gun/bullet.  But if butchering an elk and a griz comes in, the 338 with 200-250 would not find me wanting. 

Coastal grizzlies are bigger, often called Brown bears, but are still just grizzlies that have fed on fish and got bigger.  Interior grizzlies can be lighter in weight than large black bears.  What bears are you hunting?  are they your game target?

A lot of people think that the 300 win mag and the 7 mm mag (and even the 30-06) are good bear guns, and I'd certainly not say they were 'bad' bear guns.  But these same weapons don't shoot a bullet over 200 grains.  Yes the section density is greater in a 200 grain 30-06 than in a 200 grain 338 win mag. 

again, there are two considerations: are you hunting griz/browns?  Or are you hunting other game and are concerned about a nuisance grizzly coming up when you are butchering an elk?

If you are hunting grizzly/browns, then I'd reload for that animal...and a bigger bullet is always better.  And if you can handle the recoil, I'd opt for a 250 grainer in the 338 mag (there is a 300 grainer available).  But if I was hunting elk/deer, I'd pick the best bullet for that game.

Bigger isn't better if the individual doesn't shoot it as well as a lighter bullet.  The most important element in the effective kill is bullet placement...not the size or type of bullet.    So if you shoot the 200 grain bullet better than a 250 grainer then I'd opt for the lighter bullet. 

Personally, I think the 338 is a little light for hunting coastal griz/brown bears...especially as often these bears are in thicker cover.  Interior bears can be in some thick berry cover also.  Bears look like they move slow when you watch them grazing  or walking around...but they are very fast animals when they are running mad. 

 IMO the 458 is not overkill in a brown bear rifle...which takes the heavier weight bullet best.

Your criteria of 1-1.5 inch groups is very reasonable, and can be achieved with 200-225- 250 grain bullets.

Are you hunting grizzlies or just concerned about incidental contact situation?

Well, that 225 x-bullet might be just the ticket for a dedicated bear hunt; especially if your are shooting open hillsides.  Certainly you could go to a 250 gr...if the additional recoil doesn't bother you.

Accuracy means everything, heart shots put grizzlies down immediately.  they will thrash around on the ground,   but usually will not get up.  I guess when you are at the top of the food chain you can be a sissy!!

If I was hunting thickets, the heavier bullet the better, and never go into a berry thicket ALONE.  Bears generally run away when spooked.   But they are dumb.... so away usually means, anyway they want to go; including right across YOU.

Remember your backup, if he has to shoot to get a bear off you should immediately go to the kneeling position so there is less likelihood of shooting thru the bear and hitting you.  This is the same technique used for shooting lion, leopard, and other dangerous game off a mauled victim.  My 416 shoots thru most things, so I've had to learn how to protect my partner.

I assume you are only allowed to shoot males?  While they maybe only have a 350-500# body weight, their claws are the same size as a 900# coastal bear.