338-06: Why is it not popular?

Mighty Peace said:
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.
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A-Square built rifles in that caliber as well, and i believe Kimber and Cooper as well. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
A-Square built rifles in that caliber as well, and i believe Kimber and Cooper as well. - dan
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I don't believe Kimber ever chambered it. Most of their calibers are pretty run of the mill except for the 280 AI they've just started producing rifles in. They do chamber 338 Federal and 338 WM, so I suspect a 338-06 would cut into sales too much.
 
one other point- all the winmags are made on '06 length actions- regardless of bolt , semi, etc- if the name of the game is performance on a standard length action, most folks would give up the extra 2 rounds for the performance of the winmag
 
bearkilr said:
I don't believe Kimber ever chambered it. Most of their calibers are pretty run of the mill except for the 280 AI they've just started producing rifles in. They do chamber 338 Federal and 338 WM, so I suspect a 338-06 would cut into sales too much.
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I meant the original Kimber of Oregon, but I still may be mistaken. Memory isn't always perfect, sadly. - dan
 
I was in your situation a few years ago. I was debating between a 35 Whelan and the .30 cal mags.

I hunt deer in thick swaps and woods with a 35 Remington, so I can appreciate the heavy bullet, big bore choice.

Since I was keeping my Marlin for C.Q. hunting, I wanted something powerfull enough and that could reach out far enough for anything I might want to try in the future. Except for dangerous game, that is. So it all came down to versatility and big and slow was not it.

I ended up buying a 300 WSM because I found a great rifle at a decent price that was chambered for it. Advertisements and gun writers had nothing to do with what I bought. If you reload, you'll be glad to have the .30 cal bullet selection too.
 
8mmpeter said:
What about a 338 federal. Formerly known as 338-08.
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Not sure about Southern Ontario but I dont' think its done much better....At least around where I live and farther up north....most people wont' mail order Ammunition and not many reload. The few stores we have sell the main staples without much variety at that.

When talking to 95% of hunters If I say 338 eveyone will assume 338 winchester magnum..If I get another 338 that's what it will be. The 06 version seems decent and performs well but Im not enough of a fan to buy a barrel for it.
 
suprcoolr said:
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?
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For the average Joe Shooter, it doesn't offer much over the 30/06 and thus the ammo and gun makers won't bother much with it. It splits the diff between the '06 and Whelen, so any advantages over those two already established rounds is small.

Anyone who get a rifle custom built is probably already a handloader, so his interest and choices are not affected by factory ammo availability. He wants something different than his pards at the deercamp.

.
 
As well

blargon said:
.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.
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I've always thought a Rem model 7 would be a perfect platform for the .250 Savage........Harold
 
Gibbs505 said:
Basically because it is a wildcat round that the ammo companies do not see any reason to load.
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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...
 
Pretty much. With RL15 2800fps isnt hard with the 200-210gr bullets in a 24" tube. The 180-185 break 2900 and look "magnum".
If Winchester did some Sporters and EW's and Remington did some SS BDL's and CDL's they'd sell.
 
In an old guns+ammo annual they had a article on the .338-06 and the best powder in that gun was IMR 4320 ...............Harold
 
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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Go, talk to Winchester, see how far you get. Let us know please.
 
Another thing is that some guys go looking for something in .338 cal because of the high BC of many bullets in that caliber, but that by necessity means the heavier bullets, and with enough juice on them for it to matter. The 338-06 comes up short in both those areas.

I think it's a good cartridge mind you, but I'm not sure what animal is going to know the difference between being shot with a properly handloaded 30-06, or being shot with a properly handloaded 338-06.
 
What about the .338-06 Ackley Improved? I've been thinking about this one for at least 10 years. Should make for an ideal Moose rifle.
 
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