Thoughts on the 338-06?

[mattri]

Kicking around the idea of a 338-06 as a general use hunter.

Would be used mostly for deer, occasional elk and hopefully some other med-big game down the road. Most shots will be under 300 but want to be able to stretch to 400-500 if needed.

Thought about a 30-06, a 280, a 7mm mag, 300 win mag etc etc.

Don't have my heart set on the 338-06 but like the #s and that it's a little different.

Thoughts?

 

[JFMorgan]

mattri,

I recently had the same itch to have a .338/06. Pulled the old barrel off a 1909 Argentinian Mauser and ordered the barrel. Had my smith run a Ackley Imp. reamer in it for a little extra umph. Had multiple brands 30/06 brass to use. Also tried 35 Whelen brass, necked it down to 338 until bolt would close with a little drag. Fire formed with Hornady 200 gr. flat based bullets and medium load IMR 4320. Perfect AI cases. The Nosler or Hornady 200 gr. bonded core bullets get good velocity but am leaning toward 210 nosler Part. and 225 bonded core bullets. The muzzle energy is remarkable out of that case. Haven't completed my testing but I would probably use it on deer/elk/moose and bear. There are a good selection of bullets on the market for it. There are websites where you can rent reamers and head space guages. Also got dies from MidWay at a reasonable price.

Jim

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the great reply- sounds like your 338 is really working out. What would you compare the recoil to?

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I built my .338-06 Ackley on my pre-'64 M70 with a 24" Donnelley barrel back in 1988. To say it met all my expectations would be an understatement. So far elk hunting with it, I've never lost a bull shot with it. Most are DRT or found close by. My bullet of choice has been the Nosler 210 Partition; one bull was hit near the poop chute quartering away at 65 yards......the bullet broke the large hip joint, travelled through 4' of elk, and broke the opposing shoulder and exited, for a total "elk travel distance" of almost five feet, and breaking two major bone joints doing so.

I've got more elk-killin' stories from my .338-06 Ackley, but you get the idea. Recoil is not bad, I'm using a Pachmayr Decilerator pad, and I'd opine the recoil is just like shooting my '06 with a heavy 180gr load. But the real joy is knowing I've got over 3,600 ft/lbs of energy ready for "Mr. Big Bull" with my 210 grainer at 2,800 fps.

Most of my elk hunting is in black timber, so I'm using a Leupold VX3 1.5-5X scope, and would not change a thing. One bull was taken at just over 275 yards with it, so more power/bulk/weight is not needed in a scope intended for elk hunting when you're huffin' those steep elk mountains.

I don't care for magnum rifle cartridges, feeling anything I've ever hunted here and in Canada can and has been killed with standard calibers. I just don't feel any more power is needed or wanted....THIS caliber just gets it done, and done every time. Elmer Keith felt the same way with his 333 OKH, basically the same cartridge. He said if he had to have only one rifle caliber to last him the rest of his life to hunt everything here, Alaska and Africa, this would be the one. Pretty high praise indeed.

(Rifle and Handloader Magazine has published at least four articles over the years dedicated to this caliber with Pet Loads and much research/chrono data included.)

 

[stapher1]

I built my .338-06 Ackley on my pre-'64 M70 with a 24" Donnelley barrel back in 1988. To say it met all my expectations would be an understatement. So far elk hunting with it, I've never lost a bull shot with it. Most are DRT or found close by. My bullet of choice has been the Nosler 210 Partition; one bull was hit near the poop chute quartering away at 65 yards......the bullet broke the large hip joint, travelled through 4' of elk, and broke the opposing shoulder and exited, for a total "elk travel distance" of almost five feet, and breaking two major bone joints doing so.

Congrats on your successful texas heart shot and easily being my favorite post of the week on any forum!!!

 

[Glenn Powell]

If I were to build an all around rifle it would be in the 338/06, 22" barrel, good synthetic stock, and 1.5×5×20 Leupold. Actually had one for a time, could not get it to shoot so it went by by(bought it used). Still got the dies if your interested, PM me.

 

[watercam]

I always thought the Barnes .338 185 gr. TSX would be just the ticket for the 336/06. Better velocity than the 180 '06 and a bullet that holds together big time. I shoot a 325 WSM w/ 180 gr. TSX. 150 fps more than the 300 WSM and trajectory nearly the same. Definitely puts an elk down right now...

 

[wapiti25]

My first wildcat was a 1917 Enfield in 338-06. I still have it but I think the barrel is about shot out. I used a Douglas barrel and love that rifle, it is a little heavy. I have killed mule deer, elk, and moose with it. I found that this gun which has a "fast barrel" will shoot 200's at 29xx ft/sec, 225"s at 2780 (favorite load) and 250's at 26xx ft/sec. The recoil is a long push compared to the 338 win mag's sharper hit not too much harder than a hot 180 gr 30-06 load. I like the cartridge. I would use a 24" barrel unless hunting in real thick timber most of the time.

 

[areaone]

Had 338 06 custom built on Sako action, Douglas air guage barrel, custom Bastogne Walnut stock in 1985, used in a British Columbia Elk hunt that year. One 6x7 Bull elk, one 6'2' Black bear, 210 Nosler, one shot and down. Love that caliber, load it lite for deer or heavier for anything else, a real all around and better choice than a 300 win mag or a 338 Mag IMO. Brass is very easy from 30 06 and mine shoots very well for that caliber, less than 1/2 in three shot groups, 4064 was my best for accuracy.

 

[mattri]

Great replies, thanks. Probably won't really start on this project until early spring but getting information together to start sourcing parts.

For those who are shooting this round, how far out have you stretched it, either on paper or game?

 

[areaone]

I have shot it too 300 yds on paper, not exactly your Prairie dog gun, But I can hit the KillZone without any problem on any big game with ease, about three inch+ groups with a 9xscope at 300yds in three shots.Sight it in for 3" high at 100 and you are good to go to 350 yds on hair.

 

[mattri]

An MOA shooter is nothing to sneeze at for a big game hunting rifle. Realistically if it would hold 6" at 500 that would be adequate for what I have in mind.

 

[mattri]

Looking at how to form cases. Is necking up 30-06 or necking down 35W brass better? Just a a quick run through a fl sizer and trim?

 

[Glenn Powell]

Not sure about Wheelen but the 06 will be on the short side, and easier(for me anyway) to come by. I haven't priced brass for that round in a while, so I am a little rusty, but 06 might be less expensive.

 

[mattri]

The only specs I've found list the 30-06, 338-06 and 35 Whelen cases all being the same 2.494, is that not accurate?

 

[areaone]

Neck up 30-06, Should not have to trim and as case stretches you are still within specs. do not try to get the last 10fps out of this cartridge, it will shoot better a little on the under side of MAX pressure. If you need that extra go to a 338 win mag(and hold on). Have no idea how the "new" bullets shoot, but I had good luck with the Nosler 210 partitions, and 225 Hornady Spire Point.,,The 200 gr Speer was just OK, probabley a good deer bullet, When I shot my Black Bear, He was hit square in the chest head on, went right thru, never found the bullet at 100 yds, he dropped, rolled downhill for fifty yds. 210 Nosler.

 

[Glenn Powell]

Here is what I done just for you
30-06 Remington new unfired brass 2.481 after running over the tapered expanded to .338 2.467. They shrink. Trim length for 30-06 and 338-06 is 2.484. You will probably never have to trim brass for this round, unless you have your own reamer ground. My 358 Norma brass is necked up 338 Winchester brass, after two firings it is now 2.486, trim length is 2.510, I don't have any new brass for it so I can't give you a comparison on that one. You can see it will be a while before you will have to worry about trimming cases, mine are usually lost in the field or trashed before they are even close to trimming. 5 loadings and I am done with "hunting" brass, but that is just me.

 

[mattri]

Took another look at some posted numbers- interesting results.

30-06 shooting a 180gr bullet @ 2800fps, 300 yard 0 10mph cross wind:

400 yards- drop 11.3" drift 9.8" 1949ft/lbs energy.
500 yards- drop 29.8" drift 15.9" 1689ft/lbs energy.

338-06 200gr bullet @ 2850fps same 300 yard 0 and 10 mph cross wind.

400 yards- drop 11.4" drift 11.4" 2043ft/lbs energy.
500 yards- drop 30.4" drift 18.5" 1752ft/lbs energy.

Not quite as far apart as I had figured.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

mattri: Steve Timm, Ken Waters, Bob Corson and Finn Agaard wrote articles detailing everything about the 338-06 in Handloader Magazine.

I'm sure if you do a search, you'll find the articles. Ken Waters piece has extensive load data, as well as Steve Timm's. If needed, I've got them all and can give you publication dates/names of actual articles.

 

[65BR]

Loved the one I had, 23" Hart,

200 BTs @2910
215s 2790
225 2670

Flat, deadly, tolerable recoil, and EVERY group was 1/2" when doing my part, using either 6x42 or 2.5-8x.

WW Brass, 4320 (4064 also for lighter 200s). AI not needed, wanted, nor would do if built another.

EASY to load, easy to shoot. They kill very well considering recoil.