would like to build a 338-06

Out of Nosler's online data, which I assume is their most recent, I am seeing the following.
338-06 200 grain 2690, 35 whelen 2918
225 grain 2595, 35 whelen 2805
250 grain 2424, 35 whelen 2637
Again, the 338-06 has a 24" barrel, the 35 whelen a 26" barrel. (which is a bit "odd" in itself)

What one can do in the game fields, the other can also.
I cannot (off the top of my head) think of another cartridge case where the larger caliber of the same bullet weight, at the same pressure, has less velocity.
All interesting points and either would make a heck of a moose rifle!
 
I cannot (off the top of my head) think of another cartridge case where the larger caliber of the same bullet weight, at the same pressure, has less velocity.

That is why it is an anomaly... It doesn't work that way in the rest of the calibers... in this one instance the bullet diameter and the case size and volume match up better than anything else.
 
It's a very easily explained anomaly though. The reason the 35 Whelan gives better velocities is that there is less bearing surface on the bullet sidewalls producing friction.

I personally love both cartridges. I prefer the 338-06 only because it has more available bullets in any given gun shop available for it.

The 35 Whelan also reacts better with faster powders than the 338-06 because of its larger bore diameter.

Sadly, as I age I am finding the felt recoil on a rifle wearing a 26in bbl, weighing over 12 pounds, scoped and loaded is just getting to be to much for me. It's fine in the field on game so I still use it but it is a bruiser off the bench. Luckily the Model 70 push feed, which has never failed to feed, retains its accuracy from year to year.

The 35 Whelan I have is built on a Mauser 98 action. It is also exceptionally accurate with the right bullets. They have to be flat based.

This is off topic but about 30 years ago I had a spare 98 action and a take off 338-06 AI bbl doing nothing. Luckily I also had a set of dies for the AI. The barrel was set back to accept a 308Win case as was the sizing die. I still have that rifle and it is fantastic little rifle. It gives very good velocities with 200-225 grain bullets and will knock down anything shot with it as long as I do my part. I can see it becoming my next go to favorite along with my 6.5x55. The wildcat 338-08 is basically the 338 Federal with a sharper shoulder and very slightly less body taper. No, I wasn't doing any cutting edge work. There were a lot of people in those days doing similar things as it was relatively cheap and more important fun. We also relearned the lesson of how impressive the performance of a small case cartridge can be. I certainly wasn't nearly as impressed with the 7.62x39 Russian case necked up to 338. Even with very light bullets it was less than impressive. Just not enough case capacity, even with very fast powders. The bbl I used was a cheap but very good take off. It was 22in long. I cut it back in one in increments to see how much velocity would be effected. I stopped at 18 in because the velocity on the 185 grain bullets started to fall off. Still, it would be a fine cartridge with hardly any felt recoil on or off the bench out to 200 yards on Deer and Bears.

Lots of possibilities on the 338 or 35 bores. It certainly doesn't include Rocket Science. Just some good common sense. You can guarantee that anything that has been thought of on just about any existing case has already been done.

The nice thing about the Savage receiver you have is that it is amazingly easy to rebarrel. I have seen several home made barrel nuts made up for use on Remingtons and Winchester rifles so this lock up system can be used on them as well. Marlin is already using the system and it is a good one. Certainly makes life a lot easier and for those interested in such things they can have several different cartridges on one receiver and even expand that by having a spare fitted bolt.

Great system, to bad Savage bolt action rifles are so Fugly. That is IMHO only, other than that they are very impressive.

Quit beating this to death and go for it. Just make sure you can handle the extra recoil. Don't think you will be wimping out if you find it to be to much. Pain is pain and not conducive to accuracy.
 
I am struggling with the concept of a 338-06 being a lot faster than a 35 whelen, in spite of a couple pretty experienced supporters. Nosler's site does not back up the claim, it gives the whelen more speed with 200, 225 and 250 grain bullets (the 06 has a 24" bbl, the whelen a 26", but that two inches does not account for the difference). I will give the 338-06 it's dues, with the higher coefficients it will retain velocity better as the range stretches out there.

Nosler has the only published data I am aware of that shows such low velocities for the .338-06. I personally feel this is due to their original data which included loads using the Fail-Safe bullets which I know from my own experience can generate excessive over-pressure without warning. Hornady and Speer both show velocities similar with what I have found in the real world.

Speer in their Manual 13 did an excellent write up regarding the .338-06

Speer 13 said:
the 338-06 is a very flexible cartridge. With lighter bullets, it is an excellent deer cartridge which kills cleanly and damages much less meat than any of the 300 Magnums. Loaded with the 250 grain Speer Grand Slam, the cartridge is ready for elk and moose. Although at the "light" end for the great bears, a .338-06 with the 250 grain Grand Slam would be a better choice than a 300 Magnum if a grizzly were sniffing around your camp.

Ballistically, the .338-06 is somewhat superior to the 35 Whelen. In the Whelen, 250 grain bullets failed to reach 2400 fps. In the .338-06, the same weight bullets approached 2500 fps and exceeded this mark with one propellant. Velocities with the 200 grain spitzer were in excess of 2700 fps, only about 200 fps behind the same bullet in the .338 Win. Mag.

The fact that .338 bullets have higher ballistic coefficients than .358 bullets of the same weight, and that heavier and tougher bullets are available for the 338 combine to make the 338-06 superior to the Whelen for the rifleman who commonly hunts large game like moose, elk and bear.

The .338-06 is one of the nicest medium caliber rifle cartridges on the scene, and is better suited for most North American hunting than the 8mm Remington Magnum or the .338 Win. Mag
 
Last edited:
9.3x62 ? The .338-06 would be very close to the old .318 WR ...........Harold

I really don't think there is a great deal of practical difference between any of the moderate velocity medium-bore cartridges. While I love "splitting hairs" as much as anyone the truth is that most animals will not be able to distinguish which cartridge led to their demise. ;)

I personally like the .338-06 because I am an Elmer Kieth fan. Kieth was part of the group that developed the .333 OKH which was the 30-06 case necked up to take bullets used in the .333 Jeffery. Kieth later necked the case up a smidge more to create the .338 OKH using bullets from the .33 Winchester. This was the cartridge we know as the .338-06 today.

Keith was also responsible for sticking the .338 diameter bullets into shortened .300 H&H case which he christened as the .334 OKH which we know today as the .338 Winchester Magnum.
 
Last edited:
Just like the oldies for nostalgia purposes.Any of the above has merit.I like the history.......Harold [I believe IMR 4320 was "the powder" for the .338-06]
 
Suspect a standard action will not stand up to a magnum cartridge. Needs to be a magnum action. The mag most certainly will matter, but the two cartridges are the same OA length with the bullet. Not an issue.
Ain't nothing a wild cat .338-06 will do a standard .30-06 will not.

WOW you really are a NUTTER ! :rolleyes: lol RJ
 
Reviving an old thread but has so much great info!

For those of you who had a 30-06 and re-barreled it to 338-06 can you give any insight into the additional felt recoil? Does it push it towards the 300WIN range? What is there a "normal" caliber you could relate it to?

I have a Finnlight in 30-06 that I'm slightly bored with and thinking this may help.
 
There's no free lunch. When you can launch a 225 grain bullet at nearly the same velocity as a 180 in a 30-06 recoil does increase. That said the 338-06 recoil is not as "sharp" as a 300 mag. It is more a heavy push like a 12 guage slug.
 
I suppose I should update this thread since it has been resurrected. I sold the savage 30-06 rather than invest in rebarreling it. It shot very well and was quick for an 06 too but I just couldn't love it. I recently bought a m77 mk2 in 300 win Mag and that will be my "thumper" for now relegated to moose duty. The 338-06 is still on my radar but I decided a savage wasn't a worthy donor. Someday I will find a 700, 70 or maybe m77 left hand action and it will get the 338 tube and be thrown in a McMillan or brown stock and that will be the moose rifle but for now, the 300 wm is the answer.
 
I agree.338-06 is slightly better than 35 whelen.and also find it,s more acurrate.ihave 2 of each and the 338 is a one hole gun with just about any bullet.the 210 grain scirocco at 2750 is deadly way out there.
 
Back
Top Bottom