Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr – Powerful Moose Ammo

Description

The 338 Winchester Magnum has always been the answer for hunters who want more than a 30 caliber magnum without stepping into the recoil and expense of the big Africa cartridges. The Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr loads that case with a bonded 210 grain Scirocco II at 2829 feet per second, which puts 3733 foot pounds at the muzzle behind a bullet that holds together on the biggest animals on this continent.

• Why 210 grains works so well in 338
• Full specifications
• Moose, big bear and the biggest elk
• Honest notes before you buy
• Managing the recoil honestly
• The bottom line

Why 210 grains works so well in 338

The 338 bore runs bullets from about 185 to 300 grains, and the heavy end has traditionally owned the reputation. The trouble is that a 250 or 300 grain 338 bullet is slow and drops fast. At 210 grains the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr keeps enough weight for deep penetration while shooting flat enough to be practical past 300 yards, which is a combination the heavier bullets simply cannot offer.

Bonded construction is what makes the lighter weight viable. Without it, a 210 grain bullet at 2829 fps risks coming apart on a moose shoulder. With the core chemically bonded to the jacket, the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr expands in a controlled way and retains most of its mass, so it penetrates like a heavier bullet while flying like a lighter one.

Full specifications

• Caliber: 338 Winchester Magnum
• Bullet weight: 210 grain
• Bullet: Scirocco II bonded polymer tip boat tail
• Muzzle velocity: 2829 fps
• Muzzle energy: 3733 ft-lbs
• Ballistic coefficient (G1): 0.507
• Case: reloadable boxer primed brass
• Quantity: 20 rounds per box
• Part number: SB10050

A 0.507 ballistic coefficient in a 338 caliber hunting bullet is genuinely good. It is what allows the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr to still be carrying meaningful energy at 400 yards, and it means your ballistic solution behaves predictably rather than falling apart the moment the range opens up.

Moose, big bear and the biggest elk

This is the cartridge Alaskan guides have recommended for decades, and the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr is a modern expression of why. Moose are large, heavily built animals and they do not always cooperate. Brown bear demands penetration and a bullet that will not fail on the near shoulder. The bonded core and the high retained weight are exactly what those hunts ask for.

On big elk the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr is comfortable margin rather than overkill, particularly when the shot might be quartering or the animal might be standing in timber. Zero at 200 yards and you are still within a few inches of point of aim at 300, which covers nearly every shot that presents itself on that kind of hunt.

Honest notes before you buy

Cost is real. This is premium bonded ammunition in a magnum case and the price reflects both. A sensible pattern is a cheaper 225 grain soft point for position practice and load confirmation, then the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr in the magazine when you are actually hunting.

It is also far more cartridge than deer hunting requires. If your season is whitetails in a field, the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr will work and you will be paying a premium and taking a beating for performance you never needed. This load makes sense when the animal is genuinely large or the country is genuinely rough.

Managing the recoil honestly

A 338 Winchester Magnum kicks hard, and pretending otherwise helps nobody. In a nine pound rifle the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr produces roughly twice the free recoil energy of a 30-06. A good pad, a muzzle brake or a suppressor, and a rifle stock that actually fits you are not luxuries at this level. Neither is shooting from positions that let the rifle move rather than driving it into your shoulder.

Practice in short strings. Three rounds of the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr, then set the rifle down. Ten rounds in a row from a bench will teach you to flinch faster than it will teach you to shoot. Most hunters are better served by dry fire and by a few confirming rounds than by trying to shoot a magnum into submission.

The bottom line

For moose, big bear and the heaviest elk, the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr is a load that gives you both reach and the confidence that the bullet will hold together. You can read more about the bullet design at swiftbullets.com, or browse the rest of our stock on the MAG5 Firearms ammunition page.

MAG5 Firearms keeps the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr in stock and moving, and we are glad to talk through bullet choice before you order. If you are working up a load for a new rifle, a single box of the Swift Scirocco II 338 Win Mag 210gr is a sensible place to start.