338-06

cycbb486

cycbb486

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Okay fellas I know there are a few guys here who have several of them.

Tell me more about what I can expect in comparison to a 338 Win Mag? I no it is still lacking behind but very close and not quite as punishing.

I ahve been shooting my fathers old Parker Hale 30-06 with 200 gr bullets. Not sure how much life left in the barrel but I figured if I were to rebarrel it why not go with the 338-06 or AI version. I know I would gain a bit of velocity shooting the same weight of bullet out of the larger hole.

What is the go to powders?

I am thinking basing it off of a 200 gr bullet or very close to it. I figure more than enough bullet for good killing power if needed out to 400.

Your thoughts fellas????

CYCBB486
 
I get 2740 fps with 225 grain Hornady soft points out of mine with a 24" barrel.

With 180 to 225 grain bullets the 338-06 is running only 75-100 fps slower than the 338 WM. (with equal barrel lengths) With 250 grain and heavier bullets the magnum comes into it's own and opens the gap between the two cartridges to a noticeable level.

My hunting load is a 210 Barnes TTSX at 2800+ fps. :)
 
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'Boo and Guntech.... what is your powder of choice, you don't need to state the amount if you don't want to.
I have had good results with the same bullet and 4350 powder so far.
 
Quick question for Gary and Dennis , any discernable difference between the 338-06 and the original gov't running 200s or something similar, on moose and deer?
 
Pat Brennan said:
any discernable difference between the 338-06 and the original gov't running 200s or something similar, on moose and deer?
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The performance inside 150 yards or so probably would not be noticeable. Where the 338 calibre version really shines is at ranges where the velocity - and bullet momentum -has dropped off with the 30 calibre bullet. At ranges from 200 - 300 yards the 338-06 with 200 - 225 grain bullets will still have enough momentum to pass through a moose from most angles.

Kevan said:
.... what is your powder of choice..
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My rifle is not too picky. Most medium-slow powders like IMR 4350, H4350, IMR 4064, and W760 show similar performance.
 
My thinking is that the only reason to go to a .338-06 over the parent .30 is to use heavier bullets. A 200 grain bullet from a .30-06 will penetrate better than a 200 grain bullet from a .338-06. There is no advantage to the larger caliber unless you use heavier bullets. If it doesn't need heavier bullets than you can effectively use in the .30-06, it doesn't need a .338 of any type.

If I was to build a .338-06 I would shoot nothing less than 225 grain bullets, and would have some 250 grain bullets around for really big game.
 
If I was to build a .338-06 I would shoot nothing less than 225 grain bullets, and would have some 250 grain bullets around for really big game.[/QUOTE]

That was my purpose for one.... :)
 
RL-15 is what I have tried... I had it up to 2800 f/s but the pressure looked a little high. I settled on 2700 with no pressure signs.

I like the 225 and am not concerned at all about using any other bullet. It has good weight and is pretty streamlined..
 
If I was to build a .338-06 I would shoot nothing less than 225 grain bullets, and would have some 250 grain bullets around for really big game.
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That was my purpose for one....
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Excellent. Wise purpose!

I was making my point because of this line in your OP, however:

I am thinking basing it off of a 200 gr bullet or very close to it. I figure more than enough bullet for good killing power if needed out to 400.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks guys. I was thinking just shooting around a 200 gr bullet if I were to go that route.

I did have a 30-06 and sold it as I was not hunting a whole lot. I still am not but I kind of miss having my 30-06 when I want to go out.

I think I may just have to get another. I wish I had a donor action and I could have Dennis do up a custom barrelled 06 of some sort.

CYCBB
 
From what I've read the "standard" cup and core type bullets for the .338 tend to be built a bit stouter ie. thicker jackets than their smaller bore counterparts. So, theoretically anyway, unless dangerous game is in the plan you can use cheaper bullets with good results. That pearl could have been dropped out of the south end of a north bound bovine, but it sounds good to me and it's part of the rationalization for a .338/06 of my own...
 
I have both a 338-06 and a 338WM. Guns and Ammo,I think it was,did an article on the 338-06 with a strain gauge. Their max was 2650 with a 225. That's where I stopped. My 338WM load is 2775,so my drops are roughly the same.

Bullets,a while back, Steve and I tested some SSTs,30 and 33 calibers.Even though the 225 .338 was stouter built,it came apart,where as the 165 308 worked well.A 33 caliber opens more reliablely than a 30 caliber was my conclusion.

Powder,"four grains slower than IMR-4064 and two grains faster than IMR-4350". When I had my 338-06 built,the only powder that fit the bill was N-47,but now we have a slew of powders in that between range,IMR-4007,N-550,RL-17,Big Game, and maybe the new lots of H-4350. This is case filled with a 3.4 mag and 225. Big Game worked great for me.
 
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