338-06: Why is it not popular?

c-fbmi said:
The short answer to the OPs question is there is just no justifiable need for this cartridge. It's ballistics are duplicated and improved upon by so many other cartridges that the is no reason for this cartridge to exist. It certainly won't do one thing more than the 35 Whelen or 350 RM it's just a tad better than the 338 Federal, 358 Win, 8X57 and doesn't hold a candle to the 325 WSM, 338 WM, 358 NM, 9.3X62 and on up.
Another factor which hasn't been addressed is that the 338 bore is barely hanging on in sales of all the commercial cartridges available now. It has a fan club for sure, but it is a small club in the big picture of rifle cartridges available. This fan club is also almost totally made up of the big 33s from the 338WM on up to the 338X50 BMG for looooong range shooting.
The Federal is the latest 33 to hit the market and it may survive (but I doubt it) solely because it is based on the 308 case and short action.
My question back to you OP, why SHOULD the 338-06 be more popular?
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Your opinions are quite valid. I will admit that I am not terribly knowledged in rifles and shooting compared to many on this site. I do not have the knowledge or experience of many of the cartridges you alone have listed. I do enjoy learning about all of them and shooting what I can, when I can. I have come to respect many of those that have contributed to answering my question, including yourself, so thank you to all for your time and effort.

To answer your question... because I thought it was a cool idea :D.


And now I will read up on some of the cartridges you have mentioned.

Thanks again
 
I read a well written article on this cartridge nearly 25 years ago. It seemed like such a well balanced cartridge to me for the largest deer in timber. Perhaps in my Remington 7400 in carbine form, would be a real winner on timber moose hunting.
The higher energy and larger initial frontal area always seemed like a plus in the shorter range engagements. What does it deliver in actual killing/downing power on a Bull Moose at 75yds with it's slightly higher energy is debatable, but I would still feel it is a slightly up gun from the '06 at this distance till we hit the 150yd mark and beyond. It will never establish itself in the near future due to all the niches having already been filled above and below. Just like the .338 Federal is a more efficient use of a .308 case at the shorter ranges I usually shoot a carbine, the slightly more efficient .338 will not replace the .30-06 anytime soon.

I can show you a handgun comparison.

Not really many calibers being argued over here;).

The 9mmPara and the .45ACP have been established over the past one hundred + years. Along comes the .40S&W,... 85 years later, one of my fav's, and most say who needs it? They may be right, however had this middle of the road in diameter, high pressure, totally balanced round came first,....the other two riding on the peripheral of it's strengths, would themselves be on the fringes today, and not get many licks.


Something has to be really revolutionary in the laws of physics or have the best marketing in the world to displace proven favorites.
A cartridge that kicks like a .243Win, shoots laser beam flat like a .257Wby, and clobbers Big Bears like a .375 H&H would be one, and I'd say that would be revolutionary.

I'll take it chambered in a new Winchester Model70 FWT compact please.:D
 
Mike Webb said:
Really there is no "logical" reason for a whole lot of cartridges to be loaded. There is so much performance overlap and excellent bullets available that "logically" more than half of present day chamberings could be discontinued let alone wildcats. But logic has little to do with why any of us gets his or her heart set on a less common round. Almost everyone likes to have something a little different. Then you can sit back at the camp with a few cold ones and try to convince your buddies that they have made the wrong cartridge choice and why won't they listen to reason?
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I absolutely agree with all you say, but my discertation was exclusively in response to the OPs question re the 338-06.
 
Something has to be really revolutionary in the laws of physics or have the best marketing in the world to displace proven favorites.
A cartridge that kicks like a .243Win, shoots laser beam flat like a .257Wby, and clobbers Big Bears like a .375 H&H would be one, and I'd say that would be revolutionary.
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An 7 mm STW with a muzzle brake. See, that wasn't very hard.:p You could swap "Ultra mag" in for STW if you want.
 
suprcoolr said:
Your opinions are quite valid. I will admit that I am not terribly knowledged in rifles and shooting compared to many on this site. I do not have the knowledge or experience of many of the cartridges you alone have listed. I do enjoy learning about all of them and shooting what I can, when I can. I have come to respect many of those that have contributed to answering my question, including yourself, so thank you to all for your time and effort.

To answer your question... because I thought it was a cool idea :D.


And now I will read up on some of the cartridges you have mentioned.

Thanks again
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Do not get me wrong, every person should have what ever caliber/cartridge their hearts desire. I have designed and had reamers made for more than a dozen wildcats over the years, all of which seemed like a good idea at the time. Some worked well and others not so good but it has always been a learning experience in internal and external ballistics.
I have offerings in every centerfire bore size from 20 to 50 cal and multiples in many, there is absolutely no need for this, but for my quest for knowlege and experience.
I am also an avid and quite accomplished hunter and when push comes to shove and it's time to put a rifle in a case and go hunting seriously for expensive animals/hunts, there are only 3 rifles that I choose from, 300 Wby...375 H+H...470 NE double. Are they the best of the best? Only in my opinion, in the rifles they are in and for the reliability they have shown.
 
blargon said:
If Winchester loaded grey box Powerpoints, and one or two premium loads, they would sell well. Do up a run of M70 sporters and watch them go...

Would be easy for them to do as they already have .338 barrels, just need a reamer...
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why not a ruger hawkeye?

we need only to be 250 to make a special run .....
 
Well, I would venture that the .338 RCM, 338-06, 35 Whelen and .350 Rem Mag are all peas in a pod. 200grs at 2900ish, 225grs somewhere between 2650 and 2800 and 250's in the 2400-2550 range.
Pick one and use the crap out of it, and understand that AIing one is like popping the collar on a tee shirt.
 
I have a CZ 550 FS carbine in 9.3x62mm and love it. Always wanted a 338-06, my cousin had a 338-06 reamer. Picked up a Parker Hale receiver and bolt a couple of yrs ago and had Rob at RDP Gunsmith put on a barrel and re- chamber last year. Added a Boyds laminated wood stock and voila. Brass easily reformed with 30-06 cases, loaded up 200 gr Hornadys SPs (avg 2800 fps) and 250 gr Sierra SPs (avg 2550 fps). Both sub MOA and low recoil. Easy to load for, fun to shoot, lots of application a variety of critters. I gave Rob the reamer - he's building 338-06 for folks. If you have a nice 30-06 sitting around and you re- load; it's not all that expensive to gave a barrel rechambered and put on .....
 
After using a .338-06 in South Africa this year, a new rifle in that caliber is my next project. Here is my Blesbuck shot at over 200M, a one shot one kill. It dropped like a stone. The PH was mighty impressed!

IMG_2396w.jpg
 
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