The 338 ARC has 1.5 times as much energy as the 175-grain HP bullet loaded in the "Black" line of Hornady ammo. (Photo by Tony Jenniges)
March 11, 2025
By Tony Jenniges
If you are a 300 AAC Blackout fan, then you have likely heard of Hornady 's new 338 ARC. Hornady developed the round to be a harder-hitting version of the ever-popular 300 BLK, and they succeeded. The 338 ARC has 1.5 times as much energy with the 175-grain HP bullet loaded in the "Black" line of Hornady ammo. They have also loaded a 307-grain Sub-X bullet to create an extremely heavy, hard-hitting, subsonic ammo, rightfully named "Subsonic." I recently had the opportunity to see exactly how this round would fare on some big Texas wild hogs .
CRANK UP THE HEAT We left the frigid Midwest excited about the forecasted 70-degree temps and sunshine in the Texas hill country. After a not-so-short 10-hour drive, we were greeted with just that. After soaking up the sun into our Vitamin D starved skins, we shook hands with Colton Beam and his guides at the Lowrance Ranch. They ensured us that finding hogs would not be issue, but finding time to sleep might be trouble—so it is with thermal hunting.
We stepped 15 yards from the front door of the ranch headquarters to the rifle range and got our first chance to send the 338 ARC downrange. Seth Swerczek from Hornady brought rifles from various manufacturers to shoot, along with some custom builds. After a few first impression conversations and "oohing and ahhing" over the round, we had all the rifles zeroed, the Burris thermals dialed in and everything ready for the first night's hunt.
Hornady's 338 ARC round is available in either 175-grain HP bullet or the subsonic 307-grain Sub-X bullet. (Photo by Tony Jenniges) HOGS DOWN Three minutes into the hunt and the first pig was on the ground. A quick initial scan with the handheld thermal uncovered a lone pig rooting through a hayfield not 40 yards from the 500-yard berm of the range we just finished shooting at mere moments earlier. A quick pull of the trigger and the first pig hit with a 338 ARC Subsonic fell to the ground. There was no tracking or trailing blood. The pig didn't take a step after a perfect hit to the vitals with the 307-grain Sub-X bullet.
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Three minutes into the hunt and the first pig was on the ground. (Photo by Tony Jenniges) The rest of the night wasn't as easy, as the pigs seemed to be skittish—likely due to the lack of wind, which was a welcome feeling for the Midwesterners. The extremely still conditions meant we had to spot the pigs from at least 600 yards out and put a sneak on them. We were unsuccessful more often than not, but as the night went on, we were able to put multiple nice pigs on the ground with the Subsonic round.
GOING SUPERSONIC Earlier on the second day of the trip, we re-zeroed the rifles for the supersonic round. Right away, the difference was noticeable with the first ringing of the steel—this was a much different round. The 175-grain 338 ARC round has the feel of a "normal" heavy-weight hunting round. Personally, I felt much more confident heading into night two with the Supersonic round in the chamber. Our effective range on skittish pigs was greatly increased, and we had a steady breeze to make working the wind and hiding noise much easier.
This time we set out to the western half of the 43,000-acre Lowrance Ranch and were treated with many sounders to pick from. The first sounder set up perfectly and after a quick sneak, we were able to get 3 pigs on the ground with the supersonic 338 ARC. The bullet's devastating energy ensured quick, ethical kills on the thick-skinned Texas hogs.
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As the night carried on, the spent brass piled up and the 338's kill count rose. We had ample opportunity at multiple sounders throughout the night and we were also able to test the effectiveness on some hill country coyotes. The 338 ARC proved to be a more than capable option for both the tough pigs and the quick and nimble coyotes.
338 ARC APPLICATIONS After a few hours of range time with the 338 in both the subsonic and supersonic rounds and a few nights of pursuing and taking both hogs and dogs under the west Texas moon, I can confidently say that the 338 will make a fine addition to any hunter's arsenal. I would fully expect this round to perform outstandingly on any mid-size, big-game species as well. It isn't meant for the long-range shooter wanting to stretch the distance as far as they can, although we did walk it out to 500 yards with ease, it is a great option for the hunter wanting a hard-hitting, heavy bullet for the close-range encounters you get when predator calling or hunting big game in dense areas.
Hornady's 338 ARC subsonic rounds are a great option for the hunter wanting a hard-hitting, heavy bullet for the close-range encounters you get when predator calling or hunting big game in dense areas. (Photo by Tony Jenniges) The 338 ARC is a great option for the hunter who also has a home defense set up and wants to minimize the various ammo they would need to stock. This round should trump the classic 300 BLK in nearly every aspect of home defense. Ultimately, after some hands-on experience, there will soon be a charge on the bank statement for a 338 ARC-ready rifle. When the predators come out, you need gear that works fast, without the hassle. Thermal optics should be simple, fast, and powerful—because in the dark of night, there’s no time for complex controls. Burris delivers exactly that, giving predator hunters the edge to focus on the hunt, not their equipment.
GET THE GEAR Own the night without breaking your budget. Photo courtesy of Burris Optics The Burris BTS35 Version 3 is a new thermal riflescope designed for effortless use. Built with Burris Cybercore technology, this 640x480 resolution scope enhances night vision clarity, making target acquisition seamless. Picture-in-picture mode, hot spot tracking and 10 customizable reticles provide hunters with the flexibility and precision needed for any scenario. Advanced features like video recording and remote control via the BurrisConnect app put powerful technology at your fingertips. Plus, with battery hot swapping and USB-C charging, you won’t have to worry about running out of power in the field. The user-friendly rotary control, inspired by gaming interfaces, makes navigation quick and natural—even in total darkness.
For those who need thermal capabilities beyond a riflescope, the Burris BTH35 Version 3 Handheld Thermal is an equally impressive tool. Whether scouting before a hunt or scanning the terrain, this handheld thermal device provides unmatched clarity and ease of use. With high-resolution imaging and with an easy interface, it ensures that identifying heat signatures is quick and efficient.
Both the BTS35 v3 and BTH35 v3 are built to perform—fast, simple, and powerful—so you can focus on the experience, not complicated controls.
