338-06 build questions

Reflex_84

Reflex_84

Regular
Rating - 100%
92   0   0
Location
Alliston, ON
Recently I have been looking at the 338-06 and have come to really like what it has to offer. I think it would really suit my needs/wants. This will probably take a year or two to build or buy, but i like having a plan.

I am in the dark, however, as to what would be the best route to follow to either build or buy used.

From what i have seen on the EE a used 338-06 will go for + $1000. Would it be cheaper to buy a used Weatherby, Savage or Remington in 270, 25-06, or 30-06 and just rebarrel it? Or for that matter, could i rebarrel my Browning A-Bolt?

For those who have rebarreled rifles, what have you found to produce the best results, without breaking the bank?

Any insight is greatly appreciated.
 
Cheaper to buy a used one, as long as its built the way you want. A barrel job will cost $800 for a good barrel and gunsmithing, unless you go savage pre-fit.

Not to talk you out of it, but the 338-06 won't kill anything that a .30-06 won't. ;)
 
Years ago I built a .338-06 on a rem700 BDL. It was a beautiful rifle and disturbingly accurate. Sadly it became to heavy and pretty for me when I got the mountain hunting bug. I really wanted another one, but ended up grabbing a M70 EW in 325wsm, simmilar balistics and less cost overall. The cost of a custom rifle these days is bordering on rediculous, but I still miss the 338-06, still my favorite cartridge :).
 
For the standard 338-06 i would look for a used one.Weatherby has an ultralight rifle that this caliber would be great in. If you go to the 338-06 imp, I would get a gunsmith to make one up.
 
My a-bolt is a .270. But after I posted last night I read elsewhere that you can't rebarrel an a-bolt. Don't know if its true or not.
Hello again amphibious. Do you find feeding your 325 wsm cheaper as well? Is recoil similar?
 
I built mine in a couple years ago on a Sako m75 Greywolf that was a new 25-06....needed the right action size (25-06/270/30-06). Built with a new barrel into the 338-06 Ackley Improved version.

apfg1x.jpg


LOVE IT !!! Built it to shoot the heavier 225gr bullets (Accubonds / TTSX's). Personally if I wanted to shoot lighter bullets than this, I would either load up 200gr AB's in my 300WM BUT I will stick to my 180gr Accubond reloads for my 300WM.


Another fellow CGN...I think its "Double Gun" had 1-2 new 338-06 barrels that are factory Weatherby barrels for sale recently....might be an option to look into.
 
blargon said:
Not to talk you out of it, but the 338-06 won't kill anything that a .30-06 won't. ;)
Click to expand...

This is, unfortunately, the truth.

It's fun messing with different/new rifles and chamberings, but with similarly constructed bullets and shot placement, the 270/30-06/338-06 and lots of other middle of the road cartridges, all kill about the same...

A few years back, I had all the parts gathered up for a 338-06 build. Ended up, I bought a .308 cal barrel and had a 30-06 built. We will see if it works in a few weeks here...:)
 
if you build a 338 06 don't make it too heavy. its a nice rifle if you keep the weight under 7lbs. it you build it too heavy you might as well buy a 338.
 
You still have my old 338-06 chappy?

Reflex: I find the .338-06 and 325 to be simmilar. The wsm has slightly more recoil, and is balistically superior, but the game will never know the difference. A 200gr @ 2950fps or a 225 at 2675fps. If winchester made an M70 EW in 338-06 I'd buy one in a heartbeat, but for now the 325 will do ;)
 
chappy said:
if you build a 338 06 don't make it too heavy. its a nice rifle if you keep the weight under 7lbs. it you build it too heavy you might as well buy a 338.
Click to expand...

X100
My weatherby ultralight 338-06 is right around 6 1/4lbs bare.... I wouldnt want it any heavier.
 
chappy said:
if you build a 338 06 don't make it too heavy. its a nice rifle if you keep the weight under 7lbs. it you build it too heavy you might as well buy a 338.
Click to expand...

X101:D

For a long time I spyed this Parker Hale in my local shop but it was a 270 which I did not need. When the 338-06 bug hit me I jumped at that gun and promptly headed out to Ron Smith with a couple sample cartridges.

He talked me into a much heavier taper than I wanted and in the end it was the reason I got rid of it. It wore NECG irons, and QR Leupold mounts holding the VXIII 2.5-8.
It was to be a moose/bear gun designed around the now extinct 275gr Speer.

All that steel made it almost ten pounds. Might as have been a 375. It would punch the 250gr Hornady RN into nice cloverleafs and took a bear and moose before it got sold on the EE here a few years ago. We might even be able to track it down if you want.
250grRoundnose.jpg
 
blargon said:
Not to talk you out of it, but the 338-06 won't kill anything that a .30-06 won't. ;)
Click to expand...

I have shot a lot of moose over the years with everything from an old 30-30 to a 340 WBY. All have died.

With that said what I have found was that a big hole in and out lets the blood out faster and results in the moose dropping a bit sooner - or so it seems to me at least. My 338-06 was built with the sole purpose of being a moose rifle, a task it performs well. I have also shot a few moose with the 220 RN out of a 30-06 which also performs well but in truth has the trajectory of a thrown rock. That doesn't matter in the thick bush but may be less than wonderful when Mr. Moose shows up 300 yards across a clear-cut.


chappy said:
if you build a 338 06 don't make it too heavy. its a nice rifle if you keep the weight under 7lbs. it you build it too heavy you might as well buy a 338.
Click to expand...

X4


watermark.php



watermark.php
 
amphib had to sell off your old 338 06. too heavy for me but i miss it all the same. my new one is much lighter, douglas ### ss barrel put together by guntec.
 
Amphibious said:
'boo, that is one of the worst, and funniest trophy shots i've ever see :)
Click to expand...

I was by myself, a quarter mile from the nearest skid trail, a half hour before dark and had just done a quick return trip to the pickup to get some rope.

After I got the bugger flipped on his back and tied out so I could skin & gut him I decide to take another picture with my old BSA in it. I can't explain why but in retrospect it did make for a quirky photo. LoL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom