Questions on the 338-06

[ourabmen]

Hello and thanks in advance for the  info.  I was readuy to  jump on Tikka WH in 30-06, but after  lurking here a while the 338-06 has gotten my attention as a candidate for my first elk/moose gun.  

What real world advantages are there between the 30-06 and 338-06?

Lastly, what is involved in having one built up?  Any paritcular actions/guns that would be a good core to build one on, etc?  Thanks for your help, time, and wisdom.

Sincerely,

OUrabmen

.

[kutenay]

In the other thread on this cartridge, I mentioned that I think that this is about as good an "all-around" cartridge as can be had. The real advantages to it are several, IMO.

The first is that it gives you the option of using a 250 gr. N.P. at a reasonable velocity, this whacks big animals hard, which is a good thing.

The second is that you still have a 5 round rifle capacity, which I prefer and the performance of this round is about 90% of the .338 Win Mag. which is a fabulous Elk-Moose-Grizzly cartridge, but, kicks pretty hard.

You can fit this round into a light CRF action, the Husqvarna 4100, steel bottom metal is still available used for a resaonable price. This will make up into a light, mountain rifle with some real punch.

If, you are willing to use a push-feed rifle, you can re-barrel a Rem. Ti and have a very powerful rifle in terms of power-weight ratio. In steep country, this is a real benefit.

Brass, bullets and so forth are everywhere and you will get excellent barrel life out of this round, as well.

I cannot think of a more genuinely useful cartridge for the HUNTER, it will do everything and still not beat you up with recoil. I can't wait for mine to be built, actually, I will probably have two made up on smallring CRF actions as I find, at 58, a light rifle somehow feels better......

[gunnut69]

The only draw back is that most 338 diameter bullets are made for the more powerful 338 Win Mag.  Sometimes expansion characteristics aren't so good.  The Nosler Partitions are an exception of course and the there bonded core bullet in a lighter weight may have some promise also...

[patm41]

My custom 338-06  based on a large ring Mauser, great shooter, only draw back is ammo cost. as i do not reload.. Im using Weatherby
Box ammo that comes with A-Square bullets..

[bea175]

The 338-06 or the 338-06 Ack are hard to beat for the all around rifle. I just took a Elk with mine and it destroyed both lungs at 177 yards. The bull when about 50 yards at most. I was useing Rel. 15 and 210 Swift Scirocco. This load vel over my Pact  Chrono. is 2880. This load shoots around 1/2 inch at 100 yards. If you are looking for a light weight Elk  or Moose Rifle, the 338-06 Ack. Inp. is the way to go. I had Pac-Nor barrel this rifle with one of their match grade SS barrels with 1&10 Twist. :grin:

[Les Staley]

I built mine on a Springfield (Remington A3)  action..  the magazine box is longer than on a Mauser 98, and helps when useing the longer 225, and 250 gr bullets...  also will take 6 rounds if you carefully insert one into the extractor as you start the bolt forward...  I intend to go down shootin'   Les

[shotgunner]

I am always looking for an afordable way to do things. I bought a JC Higgins 30-06 with a dark bore. It is, of course, a FN action and a very good one to start with. I sent it to Shaw for a medium wieght 24" barrel in .338-06. It shoots 200 Nosler bilistic tips and .210 partitions very well. I don't think I need more that the 210 on anything in North America. It kicks less that a .338 Winchester and has almost as much energy. I will replace the factory stock at some point, I have a FN barreled action in 7x57 that I will have stocked to match it. Shotgunner

[kutenay]

I consider your choice to be about as good as it gets and the 7x57 is a very neat round as well; I have a Husqvarna 4100-steel bottom metal, Wisner 3-pos. safety and Brown Kevlar stock as well as a minty Brno-21-H in that cartridge and have owned several others. It kills deer just as well as any of my larger cartridges and is scary accurate with 140 NPs.

I might make one suggestion which is to consider the use of the 250 NP if you come hunting in B.C., the Yukon, NWT or western Alberta. I find the 250 Partition Gold Moly Free to be an even more accurate and better performing bullet in my five .338 Win. Mags. than any of the others and I prefer the heavier slug in our heavily forested terrain where Grizzly attacks on hunters happen several times a year.

Overall, although I prefer a small ring Mauser such as the 21-H for the .338-06, these are very hard to find and your option is much better than anything else I can think of.......at a price we normal people can afford too! Good luck with it.

[longwalker]

The reason to have one is bigger bullets. The 338-06 has a very reasonable and manageable recoil and yields significant knock down power. I use Speer 200 and 225 grain bullets with excellent results.

If cost is a factor on building a custom. Look for a used savage in 30-06 or 270. Midway offers Adams & Bennet barrels that are a breeze to change out. You need head space gages, the special Savage barrel nut wrench and a way to clamp the receiver without damaging it.

While the gun is apart strip and refinish the stock. Savage has a very easy trigger to adjust so adjust the trigger while you are at it. Presto custom gun.

Now just work up some loads and you have a complete package.


Best of luck,

Longwalker