Best Scope for 338 Win Mag

All those numbers and stats about the scopes carry little meaning if you do not know how to select the right scope for your 338 Winchester Magnum. This portion of the article is dedicated to telling you how to select the right scope for your rifle. 

Qualities of a Great 338 Win Mag Scope

Good scope for a 338 Winchester Magnum (338WM) should have a magnification range that is versatile enough to be used from very short distances out to distances of several hundred yards. But the most important features of this kind of scope are its durability and resistance to the magnum’s recoil because these rifles can produce violent recoil when shooting heavy bullets at high velocity.

You need to go for a scope that can endure the enormous jerk of the rifle no matter how many shots are fired through it. A good scope will have an adjustable objective (AO) that can be used for parallax adjustment, which is important for extreme long-range shooting. It should also have a positive and repeatable target focus wheel with clear markings and easy-to-use adjustments.

What is the Correct Magnification for a 338 Win Mag Scope?

The question of what magnification a 338 win mag scope should have is one that many hunters and gun enthusiasts are asking themselves. There are a variety of factors to consider like the distance you shoot at, how much bullet drop there is in your area, and what type of animal you’re shooting at.  So before making any decisions about purchasing new scopes for your rifle it’s best to consider these factors. The decision of the magnification range you need also depends on the type of activity you want to do: target shooting or hunting. For example, if you’re using your scope for a 300-yard distance range and only need it to Magnification Range in one time (4x), then that’s perfect.

However, some hunters prefer lower magnification settings so they can shoot more quickly when their targets are closer. If you are going to aim for 500-yards or lower than that, then magnification of not more than 10x is already enough and can deliver satisfying performance; be that as it may, if you plan to aim for over 500 yards in distance, then it is advised to opt for a magnification setting that is larger than 10x. Please be guided that more than 10x magnification would be great to keep an eye on your rifle.

Important Features to Consider 

Scopes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and technical features to best suit each shooter’s needs. When looking for a scope there are several factors you should consider before making your final purchase. This article will primarily focus on the 338 win mag cartridge, however many of these tips can be applied to any firearm caliber that one would use with the scope.

Price

When purchasing a scope one should consider their price range. There is usually very little reason to spend more than $1000 on a rifle scope, and most of the features that are included in scopes over this price are mostly frivolous, and not much benefit to the shooter. When you start spending upwards of $1500 you are usually just paying for the name of the scope – not necessarily better features.

Material

Scope material is directly related to weight, strength, and durability. There are three major materials used in scopes today; aluminum, steel alloy, and magnesium alloy. Aluminum is by far the most common material as it is the lightest weight and strongest (it does not corrode). The downsides to aluminum are that it is easily marred and does not hold up in extreme weather conditions. Steel alloy is a much stronger material than aluminum, however, it is also heavier and less durable. In addition, the steel alloy scopes tend to be more expensive (they are not usually marketed as being such, because the aluminum scopes cost more to make).

Magnesium alloy is by far the most durable material of which a scope can be made, and it has very little weight. The downside with magnesium alloys is that they are extremely expensive, and also very fragile they cannot handle heavy recoil without being damaged (such as in a .338 win mag). The fact that scope is made from one material or another is often not advertised, so you will need to do research and ask questions to find out what your scope is actually made with.

Lens Coating

Many people think that the more expensive scopes have a better glass – this assumption comes from the coatings applied to many lenses. If you have a scope with coatings, they are most likely going to be Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). This is probably the best coating on lenses available – it is scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, offers protection from UV exposure, and makes up for poor light transmission through the lens.

Waterproofing

Many scopes now advertise themselves as being waterproof. If you are using your scope regularly this is probably a good feature to have, however it should be noted that even the best scopes will need to be sent in for repairs once every few years. Most warranties for scopes do not cover damage caused by water leakage – so making sure your scope is 100% waterproof may not be the best idea.  The reason for this is that even though your scope may have watertight seals at every opening, it will not protect the internal lenses from damage if they happen to become detached or loose within the scope (as can easily happen with recoil).

Capped Turrets

Many high-end scopes offer capped turrets – these are little caps that cover the turrets on the scope so you don’t accidentally change your elevation or windage. Capped turrets can be a good feature to have, but they should not be confused with lockable turrets.  If your scope has lockable turrets, it allows you to adjust the settings for long-range shooting and then lock them in place, so they do not change. To sum it all up, the good scope for 338 Win Mag should have: 

(1) Large eye relief.

(2) Lightweight but sturdy construction. 

(3) Have high-density lenses that cause no light dispersion.

(4) A reticle that is sharp and crisp. 

(5) A good field of view at all magnification levels. 

(6) Easy windage and vertical angle adjustment. 

Obviously, if you go for the top features, you’ll have to spare the top dollar for the scope too. You need to ask yourself which features are the most crucial for you and select a scope that delivers the correct balance of features and price.