338/06

[cosh33806]

I was sold on the 338-06 by some others who use it for elk in Colorado. Mine has been out a couple times, nothing harvested yet. Seeing your success, Hntnhrd, encourages me even more. A plus as stated is the available brass and it is easy to handload for it.

 

[FNSafari]

And you

Thought I would bring this round up for a new discussion. I was at an auction a few summers ago and there was a large amount of reloading equipment. I left with a truck load of things as they were sold off in lots. Over 100 sets of dies . Boxes of brass, beer boxes of reloading manuals,etc… anyway there were a couple of sets of dies for 338/06. I was showing a friend of mine all the “crap” ( lol that’s what my wife called it.). And we started talking about the caliber. I had actually never heard of it. He builds rifles so he decided he would build one so I gave have him one of the sets of dies. Fast forward a few months and he has the rifle done. He has it out at the ranch and tells me it’s a pretty good shooter and I should try it. (greasy used car salesman trick!!)
After a few rounds I look at him and say” ok what’s this going to cost me”. He rubs his chin and hymns and Hahs a bit and finally gives me a price. Now I own a 338/06. He thinks he got one over on my but I actually always wanted a rifle built by my friend so any price would have been fair. Actually the price he gave me was a great deal to me.
Details it’s a Remington 700 action that has been trued, Wilson stainless Barrel, pillar and glass bedded in a ( unknown) synthetic stock. For glass it has a leupold 2.5x8 scope.
He has worked up a load for the gun using 225 grain Hornady Sst, but after shooting a cow elk with those I decided I didn’t like their performance, so I came up with a load using 225 grain Nosler Partitions and Reloader 15. They group really well!
View attachment 1356346
Not sure on speed as I haven’t run them over a chrono but 2 inches high at a hundred they are about 13 to 14 inches low at 300. I have taken 4 animals so far with 4 shots. ( cow elk, bull Bison, bull elk and a small black bear. ) this bull was at 307 yards
View attachment 1356347
And this bear was at 197 yards, the 225 grain nosler went in at the base of the bears neck, broke that shoulder destroyed the lungs and exit the offside rear leg. Dropped and tumbled all the way down to the beach.View attachment 1356349
I really am liking this caliber. No it isn’t as fast as 338wm. But it is close. It throws a big heavy bullet, with moderate recoil. Brass is cheap and readily available.

certainly picked the right bullet! There are others that work as well but none better IMO.

 

[okie]

I always wanted one for a hawg whacker....I might have to get one for my birthday!! lol

 

[David Milisock]

Thought I would bring this round up for a new discussion. I was at an auction a few summers ago and there was a large amount of reloading equipment. I left with a truck load of things as they were sold off in lots. Over 100 sets of dies . Boxes of brass, beer boxes of reloading manuals,etc… anyway there were a couple of sets of dies for 338/06. I was showing a friend of mine all the “crap” ( lol that’s what my wife called it.). And we started talking about the caliber. I had actually never heard of it. He builds rifles so he decided he would build one so I gave have him one of the sets of dies. Fast forward a few months and he has the rifle done. He has it out at the ranch and tells me it’s a pretty good shooter and I should try it. (greasy used car salesman trick!!)
After a few rounds I look at him and say” ok what’s this going to cost me”. He rubs his chin and hymns and Hahs a bit and finally gives me a price. Now I own a 338/06. He thinks he got one over on my but I actually always wanted a rifle built by my friend so any price would have been fair. Actually the price he gave me was a great deal to me.
Details it’s a Remington 700 action that has been trued, Wilson stainless Barrel, pillar and glass bedded in a ( unknown) synthetic stock. For glass it has a leupold 2.5x8 scope.
He has worked up a load for the gun using 225 grain Hornady Sst, but after shooting a cow elk with those I decided I didn’t like their performance, so I came up with a load using 225 grain Nosler Partitions and Reloader 15. They group really well!
View attachment 1356346
Not sure on speed as I haven’t run them over a chrono but 2 inches high at a hundred they are about 13 to 14 inches low at 300. I have taken 4 animals so far with 4 shots. ( cow elk, bull Bison, bull elk and a small black bear. ) this bull was at 307 yards
View attachment 1356347
And this bear was at 197 yards, the 225 grain nosler went in at the base of the bears neck, broke that shoulder destroyed the lungs and exit the offside rear leg. Dropped and tumbled all the way down to the beach.View attachment 1356349
I really am liking this caliber. No it isn’t as fast as 338wm. But it is close. It throws a big heavy bullet, with moderate recoil. Brass is cheap and readily available.

A great cartridge that does what you need done at the ranges that you're goingbto be doing it.

 

[XTR]

I seem to recall that when I gave this a look when I was pondering another rifle I don’t have time to shoot that the 338/06 and the 35 Whelen that the two were quite similar, one plus for the 338 was bullet choices.

I like the idea of this cartridge

 

[hunter67]

Reviving old thread. 338/06 has been outstanding with 210ttsx at 2741fps. You will have a hard time stopping this bullet in an elk stem to stern.
Gunsmith has killed over 30 head of game with this caliber, mainly in Africa, and has only recovered four bullets, which all were picture-perfect mushrooms.

 

[FNSafari]

Thought I would bring this round up for a new discussion. I was at an auction a few summers ago and there was a large amount of reloading equipment. I left with a truck load of things as they were sold off in lots. Over 100 sets of dies . Boxes of brass, beer boxes of reloading manuals,etc… anyway there were a couple of sets of dies for 338/06. I was showing a friend of mine all the “crap” ( lol that’s what my wife called it.). And we started talking about the caliber. I had actually never heard of it. He builds rifles so he decided he would build one so I gave have him one of the sets of dies. Fast forward a few months and he has the rifle done. He has it out at the ranch and tells me it’s a pretty good shooter and I should try it. (greasy used car salesman trick!!)
After a few rounds I look at him and say” ok what’s this going to cost me”. He rubs his chin and hymns and Hahs a bit and finally gives me a price. Now I own a 338/06. He thinks he got one over on my but I actually always wanted a rifle built by my friend so any price would have been fair. Actually the price he gave me was a great deal to me.
Details it’s a Remington 700 action that has been trued, Wilson stainless Barrel, pillar and glass bedded in a ( unknown) synthetic stock. For glass it has a leupold 2.5x8 scope.
He has worked up a load for the gun using 225 grain Hornady Sst, but after shooting a cow elk with those I decided I didn’t like their performance, so I came up with a load using 225 grain Nosler Partitions and Reloader 15. They group really well!
View attachment 1356346
Not sure on speed as I haven’t run them over a chrono but 2 inches high at a hundred they are about 13 to 14 inches low at 300. I have taken 4 animals so far with 4 shots. ( cow elk, bull Bison, bull elk and a small black bear. ) this bull was at 307 yards
View attachment 1356347
And this bear was at 197 yards, the 225 grain nosler went in at the base of the bears neck, broke that shoulder destroyed the lungs and exit the offside rear leg. Dropped and tumbled all the way down to the beach.View attachment 1356349
I really am liking this caliber. No it isn’t as fast as 338wm. But it is close. It throws a big heavy bullet, with moderate recoil. Brass is cheap and readily available.

I think once you get a good, big bullet like the Nosler partition moving 2500 fps or so at the muzzle, and depending on distance and shot placement, the results are going to be good. I have shot some moose with a 30-06 and Nosler partition 200 grain bullets and the results were really good. Furthest was 135 yards. jmo.

 

[swed6.5]

I have enjoyed the 338/06 i haven't found anything as accurate as yours yet, i was jumping around with the 338 federal, very close in performance with lighter bullets, love the availability of making my brass from a very popular parent case, 210 swift scorocoes at high 2700 with aa4064 was giving me a very accurate load at 600yds. Since i moved north and realized these big game animals like to drop with big fat 338s, is a great cartridge. i want to switch to 180 ab. once i use up the swifts?

 

[Hntnhrd]

Just my opinion and based on no facts what so ever, I think going lighter then a 200 grain bullet on this caliber is not a good move. I feel like a 180 grain 30 caliber bullet in a straight 30/06 would be a better performer then a 338 180 grain bullet on the same case. I may be wrong it won’t be the first time or the last!!!