I've been reading a little about this cartridge. It seems like it's a pretty good idea to me and I'm wondering why it isn't more popular ie)why are rifles not offered by manufacturers in this chambering? It looks like most guys have custom builds. I'm assuming that because there are not a lot of rifles around that factory ammunition is limited. Any thoughts?
338-06: Why is it not popular?
- Thread starter suprcoolr
- Start date
there are some other fine calibers that the 338-06 has to compete with such as the 35 Whelan and the 9.3x62, both of which are factory offerings from various manufacturers. I have a rifle in .340 Gibbs (a 30-06 case with the shoulder pushed forward and virtually no taper) which is just slightly more hairy chested than the 338-06. I love it and wouldn't part with it. IMO the 338 win mag is another reason why the 338-06 hasn't gotten really popular. The win mag handles the heavy bullets better than my Gibbs. More case capacity.
The 338-06 , like the 35 Whelen which is equally as good, lacks the magic words "magnum" or "improved" in it's title. The 338-06 make no impressive velocity claims or has magazine writers making glowing testimonials about it so there is little interest in marketing it by the major makers.
Most of us who do use it however are very happy with our choice and appreciate the performance a heavy bullet at moderate velocities delivers.
Most of us who do use it however are very happy with our choice and appreciate the performance a heavy bullet at moderate velocities delivers.
I've been saving for a new rifle for a little while now and I'm still trying to decide what cartridge for an elk rifle. I have a 300 Savage now and I would like a second rifle with more kapow as the area I'm hunting now is fairly open. I have been thinking of a 300 win mag lately but I'm not really sold on the magnum. I had thought of a 30-06 but I keep thinking that I want a considerable step up in power from my Savage without knocking myself out from under my hat when I shoot it. The non-magnum 338 cartridges caught my eye.
Speed sells, if a manufacturer can come up with a cartridge that is 75 fps faster than a competitor's then they will sell more rifles than the competition. The 338-06 and 35 Whelen offer great performance but not the speed that most people want.
Don't even need speed. Look at the WSM/SAUM's. Slower then their standard counterparts, but good marketing created a demand, and they work, so lots sold. 338-06 is a very under rated cartridge in my opinion, and deserves better then it gets. - dan
The market for moderate speed, moderate range, medium bores is actually quite small. 90% of the worlds game is deer sized and smaller and don't really require a lot of killing. Those looking for some extra bullet diameter and weight can satisfy that urge with the medium bore magnums, and perhaps retain a bit of velocity and versatility while doing it. Those concerned with getting gnawed or stepped on are liable to skip over it to something bigger.
I don't have a .338-06 but have had my .35 Whelen for about 25 years now. It seldom gets to go hunting because it never feels like its the best choice for anything I do. Apparently others feel the same way because the moderate range thumpers are dismal sellers. A few enthusiasts won't keep a cartridge alive at a commercial level, but do keep gunsmiths alive and fed.
I don't have a .338-06 but have had my .35 Whelen for about 25 years now. It seldom gets to go hunting because it never feels like its the best choice for anything I do. Apparently others feel the same way because the moderate range thumpers are dismal sellers. A few enthusiasts won't keep a cartridge alive at a commercial level, but do keep gunsmiths alive and fed.
tylerjwitty
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Ontario
just get a 30-06 or a 300 win mag and be happy
The talk of the wsms is truth that marketing does wonders, the only one with substantial improvement over the origional is the 270 wsm
338-06 is very popular in my house. Factory chambered too. I guess after the 35 Whelen was factory chambered and not much interest, could be why nobody will commit to the 338-06. I bought a Rem 35 Whelen and wished I had a 338-06. It was a good gun but i like my 338 more. My 338-06 is such a nice gun my wife has taken it from me and wont take her 7mm out anymore.
the whole point of going to a 338 is to be a "step up" from the 30 calibers- for some reason , the shooter feels that 220 grains moving at 23-2600 isn't "enough"- hence, the 338 and it's family of bullet weights- remember, the 338 was designed around the 458, and that's really all it is,- a necked down 458 to use lighter bullets- if you get a 338 and then handicap it by using a lesser capacity case and light bullets,( ie under 250 grain) you might as well be using your 06/308/whatever- essentialy, that's what you've got
i've got a 338 win mag in a bar, and when that thing lets go , you KNOW that ain't no '06- in all three areas- noise, recoil, smoke-
not to mention your bullets, while better constructed than the average 30 , also DOUBLE in price-
i've got a 338 win mag in a bar, and when that thing lets go , you KNOW that ain't no '06- in all three areas- noise, recoil, smoke-
not to mention your bullets, while better constructed than the average 30 , also DOUBLE in price-
I agree, since the introduction of 270 Win in 1925, hunters want a great bullet at 2800-3000 fps!
Note: 223 Rem, 308 Win and 30-06 are a very special case since they are millitary cartridges (dirt cheap surplus ammo and brass is/was available for decades).
Classics such as 243 Win, 270 Win, 7 Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag and 338 Win Mag will live forever while "slow poke" cartridges such as 358 Win, 338 Fed and even 338-06 will sell low volume.
Make no mistake: 358 Win, 338 Fed and 338-06 are fantastic cartriges but they're not long range flat shooting cartridges.
Alex
Mighty Peace
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Land of the Mighty Peace
I think Weatherby was the only manufacturer (I could be wrong) to offer factory 338-06 rifles cahmbered in this caliber and factory ammo.
I built my 338-06 Ackley Improved on a Sako m75 Greywolf back in 2008...was a dream project into reality then. Any different than my 300WM....no, BUT I wanted a 338-06 to be different.
I built my 338-06 Ackley Improved on a Sako m75 Greywolf back in 2008...was a dream project into reality then. Any different than my 300WM....no, BUT I wanted a 338-06 to be different.
marketing is everything and the standard medium bores don't have much ### appeal.
I have owned and used 2 factory and 2 custom 35 whelens--my current is a re-bored 30-06 pre-64 win M-70 (no collector value--was well used)--and I use it for moose and elk in heavy cover or mixed bush/farm country--250 grain bullet at 2550 fps. Not spectacular but works very well.
I also use a 300 H+H magnum for open country hunting. Both have their place and you can't really go too far wrong with .300 mag, .338-06 or 35 whelen. I also have used a .358 win but didn't really care for it.
YMMV.
I have owned and used 2 factory and 2 custom 35 whelens--my current is a re-bored 30-06 pre-64 win M-70 (no collector value--was well used)--and I use it for moose and elk in heavy cover or mixed bush/farm country--250 grain bullet at 2550 fps. Not spectacular but works very well.
I also use a 300 H+H magnum for open country hunting. Both have their place and you can't really go too far wrong with .300 mag, .338-06 or 35 whelen. I also have used a .358 win but didn't really care for it.
YMMV.
.338-06 is fairly popular, but lack of factory rifles is why you don't see more. If Winchester or Remington would chamber it in a bolt rifle, they would sell.
Weatherby chambered it, but in overpriced platforms. If they did one in the Vanguard S2, it would sell too.
Weatherby chambered it, but in overpriced platforms. If they did one in the Vanguard S2, it would sell too.
