I am looking for a timber rifle for elk and moose, the shots can go upwards of 300 yards but 100 yards is the norm. I was wondering what would be a better choice for a reloader , i know both will do great but i am considering the 8x57 for nostalgic reasoning but the 338-06 just seems like brass would be easier to find and a better choice ballistically.
338-06 or 8x57mm
- Thread starter vin007
- Start date
- Location
- calgary alberta
Ballistically I doubt any animal could really tell the difference. The advantages the 338/06 would have is far greater bullet choices and cheap to buy, easy to get brass. The 8x57 however would have far less costly dies , brass is still readily available , but certainly not as plentiful as 06. You would incur far less dickin around to reload the 8x57. So basically it boils down to whether you enjoy and want to play the wildcat game or are just wanting another rifle that is a no brainer for ammo?
Lee makes nice 338.06 dies,and you can use the 338WM factory crimp die as well as the 338WM trim guage.
The 200gr 8x57 and the 225gr 338.06 have about the same drops.
While both have good factory ammo,they are basically handloading cartridges,for the 8x57 use European data
The 200gr 8x57 and the 225gr 338.06 have about the same drops.
While both have good factory ammo,they are basically handloading cartridges,for the 8x57 use European data
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vin007 said:
Since you are a handloader the choice is simple 338-06, much better choice of components. The other argument that can be made is that you can load much heavier bullets for true timber rifle performance, nothing like a 275gr thumper out of your 338-06!
bigbull
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
What type of action? Full meal deal custom or just a rebarrel?
The 8 Mauser can be had in a sporterized Mauser for dirt cheap. Will do whatever you want. Nothing fancy, but could be.
The 338-06 is a very well developed wildcat now that might just get its factory tags someday.
If building up a rifle with a standard long action, I would go with the 338-06. Why not, you are spending the money anyways and have the room in the action.
Jerry
The 8 Mauser can be had in a sporterized Mauser for dirt cheap. Will do whatever you want. Nothing fancy, but could be.
The 338-06 is a very well developed wildcat now that might just get its factory tags someday.
If building up a rifle with a standard long action, I would go with the 338-06. Why not, you are spending the money anyways and have the room in the action.
Jerry
alberta tactical rifle said:
Isn't the .338-06 a simple neck-up from .30-06? Like in, .30-06 goes in the die, .338-06 comes out. That's how it is with my .35 Whelen.(which, by the way, is a far better performer that the other two also-rans)
It also depends on another thing as well. I suspect that you have a milsurp or maybe even a sporter mauser in 8x57. If I'm wrong ignore this. The 8x57 is a great cartridge in its own right and doesn't need to prove itself any more than it already has. The 338-06, treads the same path. It is quite difficult to find a barrel maker that will make up an 8mm barrel in north america. That usually leaves you with a milsurp barrel. If you can find an 8mm barrel blank, it will cost around $400, not that price is a consideration. If your existing 8x57 has a nice bore and more importantly is repeatably acurate, it will do the job just fine on elk out to the same ranges as the 338-06, as will the 30-06 loaded with 200 grn bullets to 2500fps, just make sure the action is in good shape and handload your 8x57 to the 47000psi range it was designed for with any given bullet weight and it will perform in an exemplary manner on anything in north america. I've shot moose, elk, bear, deer and even coyotes and wolves with the 8x57 right out to 400yds, and they didn't seem to know the difference. Just learn to shoot whichever cartridge you choose under different circumstances so that there won't be to many surprises in the field and you'll do fine. That being said, go whichever way you want and find the most convenient, if you do your part tailoring the rifle and load properly, you won't have any problems with either cartridge. Your only other worry will be decent bullets, and Speer, Hornady and Nosler make some very decent bullets that hold up very well at both short and long ranges in either bullet diameter. Bearhunter
- Location
- calgary alberta
I am building an 8x57 for a client right now, no problem to get a decent barrel.
The dickin around I was referring to is more my own reloading analness. I weigh my brass and so on, so when making up a wildcat such as 338/06 I would also turn the necks after sizing them up. Mauser is right with a tapered expander ball you could just open the necks and stuff the cases, I prefer to shoot extreme accurate ammo, hence the loading analness.
The dickin around I was referring to is more my own reloading analness. I weigh my brass and so on, so when making up a wildcat such as 338/06 I would also turn the necks after sizing them up. Mauser is right with a tapered expander ball you could just open the necks and stuff the cases, I prefer to shoot extreme accurate ammo, hence the loading analness.
alberta tactical rifle said:
I do neck turn all my 338-06 brass after the initial forming. It does not seem to make a difference if I am taking 30-06 brass up or 35 Whelen brass down. In either case the neck usually ends up being .002" - .003" thicker on one side than the other.
I use necked-up Win 30-06 brass for my 35 Whelen and the only prep to the brass is deburring the flash hole.
My 35 Whelen(Rem 7600, Leupold 1.5-5 VXIII) likes the Hornady 250 gr SP with an appropriate charge of RL15 and measured velocity is 2600 to 2650 fps.
The first 3 shots measure about .75" center to center.
Hope to have a load for my 338-06 figured out soon.
Good Luck
John
My 35 Whelen(Rem 7600, Leupold 1.5-5 VXIII) likes the Hornady 250 gr SP with an appropriate charge of RL15 and measured velocity is 2600 to 2650 fps.
The first 3 shots measure about .75" center to center.
Hope to have a load for my 338-06 figured out soon.
Good Luck
John
OK so the vote goes for a 338-06 for obvious reasons. I always had a crush on this caliber and now that i have some input from you guys i think i'll start my new project with a Savage stevens in 30-06 which gives me a reason to buy another rifle and try a new caliber
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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The 8x57 is a great cartridge, when loaded to proper (European) levels. But finding good bullets is tough. This may change with the introduction of the .325 WSM. You should be able to get a 200gr Partition going around 2675fps, which is nothing to sneeze at. A 180gr Barnes X should be near 2800fps, which is pretty deadly too. But, like the folks have said, .338 bullets are for easier to get, and there is a better selection.
I own a M700 Classic in 8x57, and there are no flies on this old chambering!! I can easily reach 2800 with the 180 and 2650+ with the 200 Accubond. I shot a decent Black Bear and a Moose with mine last fall, and they were both bang-flops. The moose was 275 yards, the bear somewhat closer. I also own a 35 Whelen in a 700 CDL, so don't see a 338-06 in my future, but I'm sure that this is a great performer as well. If nostalgia has any influence, then the 8x57 is the only choice. But I would not feel undergunned with either of these in my hands. Regards, Eagleye.
