Author Topic: 338/06 loads and opinions? (Read 5497 times)

blamethewind · « **on:** October 24, 2003, 03:22:14 AM »

I am about to build a 338/06 on a model 70. I would be interested in hearing opinions on this round and also some pet loads with velocity info. I plan to hunt elk with this gun.

Blamethewind

peartree · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2003, 02:05:31 PM »

According to several other forums out there, it appears that this is a well thought of caliber that I was thinking about myself. But there is an alwful lot of chatter about how great the 9.3x62 is. They claim it is btter than the 338-06. so now I am rethinking my concepts till I can garner all the available information on this super metric round.
Just a thought!!

peartree

BruceP · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2003, 04:19:20 PM »

I thought about the 338-06 for my rifle but even though I have never had a gun chambered for either, I have this soft spot for the 35 caliber, so I am having my new rifle built in 35 Whelen Imp. I dont think you would be wrong in choosing any similar cartridge.
I hope to find out before the end of this deer season but it is starting to look like mine may not be finished in time.
BruceP

JJFly · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2003, 12:49:48 PM »

None better than this caliber. I have had numerous calibers above and below her. The 338-06 give excellent velocity, and very manageable recoil. I shoot, dare I say... factory Weatherby 338-06 210gr Nosler Partitions to .6 @ 100yds 10shot groups, and 1.3" @ 200yds. I can't see reloading when factory shoots like that. To many other calibers to reload for. I have been playing with some reloads on premium bullets. 225gr Kodiak, 225gr Accubond, and some older bulk 217gr Swift-A-Frame. Man I wish I could get my hands on some more of the bulk A-Frame bullets! I can dig up some data if you need it. Weatherby 210gr Partition is 2770fps from the muzzle (Chrono'd), standard deviation 7.6fps!

She's also accounted for one nice whitetail deer(buck) in MN. Dressed out 190lbs. One shot, gunned him down cause he was lookin' at me!

338-06shooter · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2003, 08:09:15 AM »

Blamethewind,
The 338-06 will not disappoint you, what an excellent round!

I have several loads that shoot extremely well in my rifle...If I had to choose just one bullet it would be the Barnes 210 XLC BT over Hodgdon Varget powder (winchester 30-06 brass & Federal 210 primer).
I have loads for numerous other bullets - Nosler 210 & 225 partitions, Combined Technology 200 grain Ballistic Silvertip (which will shoot to same point of impact as the 210 grain nosler partition-55grains Varget, winchester brass, Federal 210 primer) Hornady 225 grain Interlock and SSTs, Barnes X in 185 grain, 200, 210 & 225.
E-mail me for more information if you are interested.
338-06shooter

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2003, 09:06:49 AM »

180 gr. Nosler Ballistics tips were "made" for this caliber. The slower velocities make these bullets expand and not explode as they do in Magnums.

Here is a cut and paste from my database:

Quote

8/29/99 Three rounds fired to check extraction and expansion qualities and group size . Test firing needed. 8/30/99 5 three shot groups fired Good groups, average .775. sight 2.5 inches high 100 yards. 11/09/1999 WT doe, 435 yds, LRF, DW&JO. broadside,held top of back. through and through, chest, clipped arteries from top of heart. Minimal meat damage 10/22/00 WT buck, 80 yds,DW&JO. running 1/4 away, held center front shoulder,through and through, hit behind left shoulder, exit between neck and Rtf shoulder, minimal damage. 10/23/00 WT doe 385, LRF, DW, broadside, hold top of back, through and through front shoulder. rt shoulder minimal, left, exit shoulder destroyed

LRF=Laser range finder
DW&JO=my hunting partners.

I didn't have my Chronograph when I built this load but it is a good one. Here's the load:

338/06 Ackley Improved
180 gr. Nosler Ballistic tip
Winchester Large rifle primer
56 grains of IMR 4895
Winchester Case
Colombian Mauser, Donnelly Barrel
Leupold 3.5x10 Vari-x II

Reduce this load 10% and work up

blamethewind · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2003, 12:02:40 PM »

Thanks to all who put in their two cents worth. Ron Lambert is building the 338/06 now. I changed my mind slightly, however, and decided to build it on a Browning Safari action. I sold the Model 70 I had planned to use. The Browning was a good candidate for rebarelling and restocking as it was one that had been cured with salt and the barrel got pitted, and the stock was weak in places. I picked up dies and 3 boxes of 180 Noslers, and ordered a stock, so when Ron gets it done, I'll be at the bench despite the snow and cold of NW Minnesota. I am putting on a #3 Douglas SS. Blamethewind.

Mike in Texas · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2004, 04:28:10 AM »

I shoot a 338-06 built on a 23.5 inch shilen barrel and CZ24 action in scout configuration. Took a year of planning and research to get myself convinced of this caliber, and I haven't regretted the choice.

I use 250 grain Hornady round nose at 2500fps almost exclusively, and have found that it takes game from whitetail to elk with amazing efficiency.

WyoHunter · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2004, 06:46:52 PM »

I've had my .338-06 for 20 years now and still love it after all these years. I've shot elk and moose with it using 210 gr Nosler Partitions which I feel is the best bullet for this cartridge. My load of 56 grs IMR 4064, Win cases and CCI 200 primers gives me 2800 fps out of my pre-64 Win M70. Three shots in 3/4'' at 100 yards.
This rifle is a pre-64 Win M70 barreled action with the barrel rebored to .338 caliber. The stock is 'A' grade French walnut with ebony tip and Niedner steel grip cap and a Pachmayr pad. It's oil finished and checkered 22 lpi in a fleur-de-lis pattern that wraps around the forearm and over the pistol grip. A Leupold 2x-7x is mounted in Buehler rings on a Buehler one piece base. Best elk gun there is in my opinion!

RaySendero · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2004, 11:05:27 AM »

I like your choice of .338/06.
Of the three 8mm/06, .338/06 and .35 Whelen the .338 is probably the better.
Can't say about the .35 Whelen/Ackley Improved. I haven't seen good balistics on numbers for it. But would be will to listen (read) if someone has info.

shotgunner · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2004, 01:54:13 PM »

I have a FN mauser with a Shaw .338-06 barrel. I have had good luck with IMR 4320 and H 380. I like the 210 Partition and have shot a lot of the cheaper 200 BT Noslers. The load does produce a lot of energy without too much recoil. I can shoot it much better than the Ruger #1 .338 mag. I had, at about 150 fps less velosity. I would not hesitate to shoot anything with it. I now have a FN 7x57 that will shoot any bullet I try in it. With these two I am ready for anything, Shot

Fla Brian · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2004, 08:57:36 PM »

Quote from: RaySendero

I like your choice of .338/06.
Of the three 8mm/06, .338/06 and .35 Whelen the .338 is probably the better.
Can't say about the .35 Whelen/Ackley Improved. I haven't seen good balistics on numbers for it. But would be will to listen (read) if someone has info.

How're ya doin,' Ray? Nice ta "see" ya again.

I can't agree with you, if the 8mm-06 is the Improved version. One can get the same sectional density of given .33 cal bullets with lighter bullets and less recoil in the 8mm-06 Imp wildcat.

Besides, I just like the cartridge. And if a super intelligent, extraordinarily talented individual like moi prefers it, it must be the best. How can you fail to yield to such impeccable logic, hmmmm? :wink:

grendel · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2004, 10:03:37 AM »

Quote from: RaySendero

I like your choice of .338/06.
Of the three 8mm/06, .338/06 and .35 Whelen the .338 is probably the better.
Can't say about the .35 Whelen/Ackley Improved. I haven't seen good balistics on numbers for it. But would be will to listen (read) if someone has info.

I built up a 35 Brown Whelen about 20 years ago on a Mark X action with a 20.5" barrel. Over my old chronograph I got 2600 + FPS with Speer 250g spitzers. I don't remember the load, I would have to look it up. I recken it was warm. As I recall brass only lasted 6 or 7 reloads then the primers got loose.

Grendel

RaySendero · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2004, 05:50:02 PM »

Quote from: Fla Brian

How're ya doin,' Ray? Nice ta "see" ya again.

I can't agree with you, if the 8mm-06 is the Improved version. One can get the same sectional density of given .33 cal bullets with lighter bullets and less recoil in the 8mm-06 Imp wildcat.

Hey Brian,

I'm settling in here after that MT fiasco. Been putting in a lot of time working on my mil-surp 8x57 Mauser project rifle.

Don't understand what loads your thinking of?! I did some calculations on sectional densities and still seems the .338(w/250grains) comes out on top.

Bore / Bullet Wt. / S.D.
.323 / 220 / .301
.338 / 250 / .313
.358 / 275 / .307

Probably trying to split hairs here but the 220gr.323 and the 275gr.358 are real heavy for caliber bullets and neither have as much S.D. as 250gr.338?

Fla Brian · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2004, 09:26:50 AM »

Next time I'll engage my brain before I activate my typing fingers. :oops: What I ought to have said is that, in a given bullet weight, the 8mm will have a better sectional density than a .338, eg. from Speer, 200 grain .323 has a .274 sectional density and the .338 in 200 grains is .254. I figured that one would have to go with a heavier bullet in the .338 to equal .323 sectional density. That's true, but, apparently, the difference is not as great as I figured it would be - not enough to really matter recoil-wise, and I doubt any game animal could tell the difference.

So, I will have to fall back on my other comment:

Quote

Besides, I just like the cartridge. And if a super intelligent, extraordinarily talented individual like moi prefers it, it must be the best. How can you fail to yield to such impeccable logic, hmmmm?"

So there!

RaySendero · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2004, 02:45:26 PM »

Brian,

I like the 8mm too!
I'm planning on keeping the original 8x57 barrel on my project rifle if it will perform. My goal is to have a "scout" rifle ready by next fall for hunting deer and hogs.

The Bonz · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2004, 11:53:51 AM »

I have .35 Whelen Improved on a Mauser 98 with a 26" Shilen bbl, Timney trigger and Buehler safety. Norm Thompson out of Colorado Springs put it together. It shoots less than an inch with anything I put through it from 180x bullets to 250 gr. Hornady spire points or 250 x bullets. I don't know how I can say anything else is better or worse, however I don't care to find out. When it shoots this good all talk is just differences on paper. A 225 gr. Barnes Xbullet shoots out at @2750 fps+ or -, and the 225 gr Barnes XLC coated X bullet approaches 2900!!!!. It recoils rather severly at that level of steam so I back it off to about 2800 (with the XLC, a regular Xbullet at that speed will have you droppin' primers.) and know I am running milder pressure. I shot some 180X's just to see, and they were rollin' along at just over 3000 fps. I get the 250's to 2650 fps and that's all I can get which is fine since recoil gets tiring shooting groups. I like to use Varget with the 225 grain loads, whether they are noslers, X's, or sierra's, and IMR 4320 with the 250's. I have used IMR 4064 and H322 with the 180's and 200's.
Looking forward to hearing from others.
This is getting long, but I would like to hear others and their opinions.

patm41 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 29, 2004, 01:54:29 PM »

Here is mine a Mauser 98 ,, in 338-06 ,, Richards Microfit Laminate stock
older Bushnell 4-12 AO scope.. a heavy hitter... this is my elk rifle...
I use factory Weatherby ammo in it...

Rogue Ram · « **Reply #18 on:** May 29, 2004, 03:20:43 PM »

Very nice Pat!

I was curious what you used to finish that laminated stock with??? I was debating one myself and had heard that they can be difficult to finish...?

Thanks,
RR

patm41 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 29, 2004, 03:37:58 PM »

I have 2 rifles with those Microfit stock the other is a dualgrip thumbhole
.. when they are shipped they are rough.. you will have to finish the inletting and the barrel channel .. I spent a week sanding the tooling marks out of the stocks.. starting with a medium grit paper and working up to a 500 grit paper... when the stock is ready for finishing i used
TruOil ... rub on 1 coat at a time let it sit a day them buff with 0000 grade steel wool... i did this 3 times.. and the finish is beautiful...

Richards Microfit Stock are highly recomended by me ... take some time
finishing it at you will have a keepsake firearm... They offer lots of different colors and options ... Prices range from a little over 100 to 300
depending on the options..

these last 2 photos or of my Marlin .22mag with a Microfit stock..
its a left handed stock

Sorry for the sorry images all i had is a web cam to take the pics with...

Get one of these stock you wont be sorry

Bob C · « **Reply #20 on:** May 31, 2004, 01:39:03 AM »

I've tried four loads in my new .338-06 Encore, using the 225 Hornady Spire Point and the Sierra 250 BTSP, loading each with both RL-19 and IMR 4350.

Each combination shot reasonably well.

My barrel is a 22" bull, and at 9.5 pounds recoil is comparable to an 8 lb. .308 Winchester I was firing the same day.

JC · « **Reply #21 on:** October 22, 2004, 06:54:53 AM »

I have a 26" shaw barrel on a 98 action. It has an older stock that will eventually be replaced by a bell and carlson. I absolutely love that rifle. It loves 180's but it's favorite is sierra 215 over a good load of 4350. It will shoot half inch if I can hold em. Although this is true with a lot of rifles. Taking this into the field is like taking a 57 chevy to your prom. It just stands out.

:sniper:

kutenay · « **Reply #22 on:** October 28, 2004, 08:02:30 AM »

This is my first post on this forum and I consider this to be a most appropriate topic. I have been shooting the .338 Win. Mag. for almost 37 yrs. and have owned and loaded for 12 rifles so chambered, I currently have four Pre-64 Mod. 70 Alaskans and a Dakota Mod. 76 Classic so chambered. It is my all-time favourite round and I have tried about everything, I currently own and shoot 27 c.f. rifles and have 5 actions ready for new projects.

My feeling is that the .338-06 is as close to the perfect "all-around" rifle as one can obtain. Here, in B.C. and in Alberta, we seem to be experiencing a real increase in Grizzly attacks on hunters, so, a bigger bore with a 250 gr. N.P. is a very sound choice. I have had a confrontation with a Grizzly when using a 7mm Rem. Mag., it felt like the proverbial popgun!

The one caveat that I have concerning the .338-06 is the size and weight of the rifle. In a standard size action suchh as a Mod. 70, Mauser or F.N., I prefer the mag. case as the rifles built in .338-06 and .338 Win. weigh about the same when based on these actions.

I think that it is a better choice to use a lighter action for the .338-06 and to that end, I am having a Husqvarna 4100, with Wisner safety and Brown Kevlar stock rebarreled to this round. I also found a junker Brno 21-H and stripped the minty action out of it, this will be a second .338-06; this is a smallring '98 pattern with various other features and is, IMO, the finest production bolt action sporter ever made.

Thes rifles should weigh about 7.5 lbs, all up and will recoil less than my Mags which are heavier, even with their synthetic stocks. The effective use on heavy game will be so close, up to 300 yds., that I doubt I will ever see a difference.

I also stripped a Brno-ZG-47 for a donnor action and this will become a 9.3x62, a round I have wanted for years to go with my Merkel drilling in 12-12-9.3x74r; these medium bores really work here in the B.C. mountains, especially loaded with 286 gr. N.P. bullets. I guess ol' Elmer knew what he was talking about, afterall!

JC · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2004, 08:12:48 AM »

kutenay, when you say that a 7mm Mag felt like a popgun against a Grizzly. I drove a tank in the military and it is the only thing I would go after Grizz with. It is hard having a 338 win mag and 338/06 they are so close. Deer get the 06 and hogs fet the 338 win mag. Welcome the board by the way.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2004, 09:22:17 AM »

I built my first 338-06 in the 70's, and it was used to shoot a few moose, a brown bear + i think a caribou or two??? A couple years later i had a "new" one built on a 700 Rem action, (i still have it) and in the 3 years following i personally shot 13 big game animials with it, includeing deer, moose, caribou, brown bear, and others...

After liveing 25 years in Alaska, and hunting most of the state, i NEVER felt undergunned with a 7 mag, AS LONG as it was loaded with 175 grain Nosler Partitions!!! It dumps big bears just fine!!

Back to the 338-06: I found that they like heavier bullets better, i don't mean for accuracy, it's just so much more efficient with 250 grain and heavier bullets.

I've also always had a chronograph around too, and i never could get some of the V's i see guys bragging about either! I never figured out how those guys can do that?

?? I always figured they needed to buy a chronograph and check again!!

I remember shooting one brown bear with a 275 grain speer @ 2,350 fps (MV), it worked quite good, with plenty of penetration. You have to break those bears down, not rib shoot them like a deer, and then go fine them!!!

I shot the moose in the pict. with 250 Gran Slams, i hit it twice at about 150 yards when it was running. Both bullets broke up, so i wasn't too impressed with them. Maybe GS's are better these days?

?? I had a heck of a time finding that moose after it ran into that TALL grass!!

Drilling Man

JC · « **Reply #25 on:** October 28, 2004, 09:38:03 AM »

drilling,
it doesn't matter what you shot him with that is a fine speciman. I haven't ever had GS bullets shoot accurate. Sierras and hornady's for me. Or as my brother cals them Horn Daddies

kutenay · « **Reply #26 on:** October 28, 2004, 09:59:36 AM »

This is now my 40th hunting season and for many years I worked in the wilderness, solo, for periods of 3-5.5 months throughout B.C., most of northern Alberta, some of the NWT and I have been in Alaska. I have had about 60 situations with Grizzlies and have been within 10 yds. of them, both armed and unarmed.

The situation I refered to was mid. Oct. 1979, on the WhiteSwan Forest Rd. in the East Kootenays of B.C. and I was loaded with 175 gr. PowerPoints in my pair of Ruger M-77 Mags. I was only using these because my .338 had feeding problems, another story.

I have seen Grizzlies shot with the 7 Mag., the .270 Win., the .338, the .300 mags., the .30-06 and so on. The person I know who has shot the most Grizzlies is a head guide for Big Nine Outfitters in north-eastern B.C., he had shot 51 Grizzlies when I met him in Sept. 03-this is NOT B.S., he has photos of ALL of them.

This chap uses a Mauser based custom .35 WAI and he was quite dismissive of my comments about seeing bears killed with the '06. He is 10 yrs. younger than I and although I have a great deal of wilderness experience, he has more than I do. So, I tend to take his opinions as a pretty fair basis on which to compare cartridges.

I very much prefer to us a larger bore, although the 7mm Mag. will certainly kill Grizzlies and I prefer heavy, controlled-expansion bullets, as well. I usually hunt solo and frequently in very remote fly-in areas, where, if I am injured the possiblity of air medevac is chancey. So, I feel safer with my .338 Win. or my .375H&H than I would with a smaller bore. I guess everyone has to determine what works best for him and years of experience hopefully help one to do so.

I have noticed, though, that more and more B.C. hunters are going to the larger bores and I suspect that the Grizzly problem has something to do with that. If attacked, you will be lucky to get ONE shot into an oncoming Grizzly, I just think that a .338-250 gr. is more likely to shut him down than a .284-175 gr., but, maybe I'm wrong, I try to avoid bears when hunting as they always swipe a person's meat......they are sorta like politicians, they just take!

JC · « **Reply #27 on:** October 28, 2004, 10:11:18 AM »

Beware of the man who has one gun and knows how to use it. My brother in laws dad, killed a 450 lbs Russian Boar that was charging with a worn out 30 carbine. Someone had wounded it and he charged. When it dropped it slide within 5 yards of him. He was waling on liquid and I assure you it was not water. 35wai would be good for anything in its given range. I have a 338 Lapua that should stop ole MR Bear dead if that won't my my 458 will. If you give them a good hit with that and he keps coming squirt mustard all over yourself cause that bear has earned his meal, lol

bea175 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 04, 2004, 06:21:34 AM »

Here is me with a elk taken in Colorado a couple of week ago. I was useing Rel 15 and the Swift Scirrocco 210 gr. Chornograph at 2880 over my Pact. The rifle is 338-06 Ack. Imp with Pac-Nor SS barrel with 1&10 twist . :grin:

JC · « **Reply #29 on:** November 04, 2004, 06:34:45 AM »

I want one too. It isn't fair, lol
Congrats that is a nice animal and the rifle is nice looking too. I might have to get my 06 ackley'd or I could just have a standard and an AI, what ya think guys. Should you have a standard and AI of all calibers?

:sniper: