Thoughts on the 338-06?

[Three44s]

I don't recall the actual finished length when I expanded my '06 cases to .338" but they did lose some length but I did not think they lost too much.

Good caliber ........ great with jacketed rounds and though they are overshadowed by the .35 Whelen with regards to cast ........ the .338-06 is just about at home with either style of bullet!

VIVA the .338-06!!!

Three 44s

 

[saunaking]

Late to the party here, but I have to chime in and comment on mine as well. The rifle starte life as a Sako in 7X64 Brenekke before the rechambering in 1992. The reason I went with the .338-06 vs the Whelen was down-range ballistics and better/more bullets made for the 338 caliber back than. Nosler had 30-06 brass that I used to neck up and fire form. I am still using the original box of 50, although I did get a box of 25 correctly stamped brass from Santa for Christmas ;D.

I have shot several deer and an Ontario moose in 2007 (210 partition) that were all one shot and drop shots. The moose was a neck shot since that was all he offered me to shoot at. I don't like recoil, and this caliber is very manageable for me with an 8.5 lb rifle.

 

[Valar]

I dont have a 338-06 But I did build a 35 wheelen on a mauser 98 action I had last winter. I am very happy with result. I call here thumper! I hope to moose hunt on retirement with her. I had no trouble running 30-06 brass thru a full length sizing die to make brass. Much cheaper than 35 wheelen brass! I put ten consecutive rounds of 200 G Hornady down the pipe on scope zero and barrel break in. Needless to say my shoulder didnt want any more! Not as bad as allot of magnums but still a hard hit on my aging shoulder.
Groups were very decent for a cheapo adams and bennet barrel. This was my first chamber job so didnt want to go overboard cost wise! Good luck let me know how it goes. Wife bought me a beutifull new Rem 700 bdl in 30-06 for Christmas this year. I cant wait to get her out and shoot. What a woman!

 

[Three44s]

nonliberal,

Very nice buck!!! I like that stock as well ........ !

I forgot to mention that my .338-06 is also built on a Savage but I have not sprung for a nice stock like above. I am slumming it with the plastic "tuppeware" stock.

Even if I did not like the Savage platform, which I have not always ........ I'd want one around for a test bed to try different calibers ....... when I found a cartridge I could not live without ...... I'd get it built in an action I prefered by a gunsmith.

But after some fooling with them ..... I like the Savages quite well.

Three 44s

 

[nonliberal]

nonliberal,

Very nice buck!!! I like that stock as well ........ !

I forgot to mention that my .338-06 is also built on a Savage but I have not sprung for a nice stock like above. I am slumming it with the plastic "tuppeware" stock.

Even if I did not like the Savage platform, which I have not always ........ I'd want one around for a test bed to try different calibers ....... when I found a cartridge I could not live without ...... I'd get it built in an action I prefered by a gunsmith.

But after some fooling with them ..... I like the Savages quite well.

Three 44s

Thanks. The Stock was $99 brand new from Boyds, finished and already inletted. Its a hard stock to beat for the price. I agree with you, the Savages sure aren't the prettiest or smoothest guns out there, but they are functional.

 

[Tozguy]

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.

Wapiti,
Was your Enfield manufactured in 1917 or do you mean it is a P17 Enfield? Do you know what year it was manufactured in and were you concerned about the strength of the steel in that gun? The reason I ask is my friend is having a P17 made by BSA converted from 30-06 to 338-06 but is wondering how hot he should run the ammo.

 

[Tozguy]

I dont have a 338-06 But I did build a 35 wheelen on a mauser 98 action I had last winter. I am very happy with result. I call here thumper! I hope to moose hunt on retirement with her. I had no trouble running 30-06 brass thru a full length sizing die to make brass. Much cheaper than 35 wheelen brass! I put ten consecutive rounds of 200 G Hornady down the pipe on scope zero and barrel break in. Needless to say my shoulder didnt want any more! Not as bad as allot of magnums but still a hard hit on my aging shoulder.
Groups were very decent for a cheapo adams and bennet barrel. This was my first chamber job so didnt want to go overboard cost wise! Good luck let me know how it goes. Wife bought me a beutifull new Rem 700 bdl in 30-06 for Christmas this year. I cant wait to get her out and shoot. What a woman!

Do you plan on converting the 30-06 to 338?

 

[Tozguy]

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.

Interesting, it would seem that other than for reviving a shot out 30-06 barrel, there is not much advantage to converting a 30-06 to 338-06.

 

[Lazydays]

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?

I plan on rebarreling a Weatherby MK. V. light weight in .338-06 someday. I might also do another rifle as well
gary

 

[Lazydays]

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.)

how much more velocity do you see out of the .338-06AI over the standard version? 200 fps would be worth the trouble!
gary

 

[Cold Bore]

Late to join in here, but I love my 338-06. It's just a great cartridge.

Built mine on a M700 action with a Shilen barrel.

Load up some Nosler 210 gr Partitions, and I can hunt anything I'll ever find myself chasing.

 

[alf]

how much more velocity do you see out of the .338-06AI over the standard version? 200 fps would be worth the trouble!

I run my Ackley at 2800 as well, with either the 200 BT or 210 Partitions.

That's where the accuracy is at. I have had them both up to 2950, but things fell apart. Ain't much you can't handle with either bullet at 2800, plus they don't beat you up and barrel life should be phenomenal.

This is my "big" gun now......

 

[Lazydays]

how much more velocity do you see out of the .338-06AI over the standard version? 200 fps would be worth the trouble!

I run my Ackley at 2800 as well, with either the 200 BT or 210 Partitions.

That's where the accuracy is at. I have had them both up to 2950, but things fell apart. Ain't much you can't handle with either bullet at 2800, plus they don't beat you up and barrel life should be phenomenal.

This is my "big" gun now......

did you by chance try the 225 grain Speer or the Hornaday 225 grain SST? They say it will do 2700 fps with the standard case.
gary

 

[alf]

did you by chance try the 225 grain Speer or the Hornaday 225 grain SST? They say it will do 2700 fps with the standard case.

I fireformed some with the 225 Hornady spire points, but I have a butt load of 200 grain BT's, my CDS turret is calibrated for those at 2800, and have confirmed to 600.

 

[mattri]

Well it took 2 years but I finally have a 338-06 barrel on its way and just ordered brass, bullets, dies etc. Thanks to all for the great replies.

 

[LoganDon]

Little off the 338-06, but I purchased a Remington 700 Classic in 1987 in 35 Whelen and have never been more satisfied. Still using the old Redfield 4x widefield. It is my timber gun and it has accounted for 17 elk for me and others for my son. Deer seem to go up to 50 yd with a lung shot. Still shooting the 250gr at 2550 fps. Only elk that went 10' was a cow that somehow made it 50'. Either the 35 or 338-06 will do a superb job on stinky old bulls. If I had it to do over again, I'd stick with the 35 but a buddy has the 338-06 and it kills equally well. Kick is virtually the same as 30-06. I keep mine sighted in at 3" high at 100 yd and did kill one bull at near 500yd using Kentucky windage.

Good luck, either will do fine.