Author Topic: BARREL LENGTH FOR A 338-06? (Read 4162 times)

bigswede · « **on:** February 05, 2010, 12:16:18 PM »

I have decided to build a 338-06 off of a rem 700 30-06 I have. I shoot anywhere from 50-400 yds. I will probably shoot either a 200 or 225 grain bullet. A 22" barrel would give me better velocity, but a 20" barrel would be a lot handier and look better to boot. I absolutely do not like long barrels. Even 24" rub me wrong. Any suggestions or firsthand experience out there, come on guys let me have it.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2010, 12:39:48 PM »

Not that I'm likely to ever have one but iffen I did I'd want 22".

bigswede · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2010, 12:45:34 PM »

Hey Greybeard, is velocity your reasoning for the 22" or is there a different deciding factor?

mauser98us · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2010, 03:13:53 PM »

Be really different. Go with 21 inches. Youl'l be the talk and envy of your rifle friends

bigswede · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2010, 05:14:20 PM »

Quote from: mauser98us on February 05, 2010, 03:13:53 PM

Be really different. Go with 21 inches. Youl'l be the talk and envy of your rifle friends

But I might be shunned from the village

bigswede · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2010, 05:15:09 PM »

Mauser98us, what length is the barrel on your 35 AI?

mauser98us · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2010, 05:43:51 PM »

Twenty one inch medium heavy and it's perfect

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2010, 03:55:44 AM »

Nope. My reasoning is that for me 24" and 26" barrels which maximize velocity are just too long and unweildy for the wooded areas I hunt. They might be OK for wide open spaces but are longer than I care for in the thick woods.

Short barrels of 18" to 20" have a bit more muzzle blast than I'd want from the round and so for me the 22" barrel just seems the best fit. it will get you practically all the velocity the longer barrels will with less blast than will the shorter barrels.

Then too when looking at rounds like the .338-06 and Whelen recoil begins to factor in for me with my shoulder that really needs surgery so I'd go for a 22" rather heavy tho not bull barrel contour to help tame recoil and use a really super thick soft recoil pad on such a rifle. That's just me I'm not saying it's right for anyone else.

drdougrx · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2010, 04:15:45 AM »

Hi...GL with your build Swede! For me, it's about barrel contour more than barrel length. I'm with GB and think the 22" is about perfect, though 20" is handy to be sure...21" why not??? I try to build rifles with a certain overall weight in mind and that's under 8lbs...even my 375HH is just 8lbs scoped. However.....I've begun to notice that a barrel that's a bit stiffer than the the nice, whippy skinny barrels that I favor are more accurate though worse to carry all day, so it's a compromise. If it were me...I'd do a med weight sporter barrel, with flutes (fancy me) and 22".

bigswede · « **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2010, 06:18:45 AM »

Thanks for all the information fellas, I like your reasoning. I still havn't decided for sure but think I am leaning towards the 22". Now I need to figure out what will work for me, I also like short, stiff barrels. And rifles under 8lbs. Great minds must think alike

skyhigh_seller · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2010, 11:03:41 AM »

22" no question!
Don't like it - cut and re-crown.
Can't have it the other way around.

yooper77 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2010, 11:45:38 AM »

I have a used 22" and 24" barrels in very heavy cover and I couldn’t tell a difference from either. I have a Weatherby Mark V in 338-06 A-Square with a 24” barrel. I think you are making a great choice choosing this cartridge. I understand your desire for a short handy rifle, I am sure 18” to 22” in that cartridge will function perfectly.

yooper77

Sweetwater · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2010, 09:16:43 PM »

My 8x57mm is 18", my Dad's 30-06 is 20". He said if he did it again, he'd have it done at 19". I'm planning 19" for my 35Whelen, it's at 22" now. If I were doing a 338-06, why not, it would be 19" like the others.

Regards,
Sweetwater

Swampman · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2010, 12:58:42 AM »

If I were planing on taking it on a float plane, horse back, or as a back up rifle for other hunters, I'd go with a 20" barrel. I only use my boltgun in open areas so 24" is ok for me. The 22" is a good choice.

yooper77 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2010, 08:11:01 AM »

Have you considered having your Remington model 700 in 30-06 Springfield re-bored/re-chambered for the 338-06 A-Square instead of re-barreling? The nice thing about re-boring/re-chambering is you keep the same barrel contour and stock and is much cheaper than a re-barrel job. Someone could possibly re-bore/re-chamber two rifles for the price of one re-barrel job.

I have talked to this guy and he re-bores to 338-06 A-square and 35 Whelen. http://www.redmansrifling.com/reboring_prices.htm

yooper77

bigswede · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2010, 12:25:06 PM »

yooper77,
Thanks for the reboring information and link. I checked his prices and he is about double what it will cost me for a rebarrel job. My gunsmith estimated it will cost about $175, for a rebarrel. Which includes an Adams and Bennett barrel, fitting the barrel, reaming, crowning, and bluing. He has been a gunsmith for about 40 years and does an excellent job. Some of you are probably wondering about the Adams and Bennett barrel, I have personally had excellent luck with them. They shoot plenty accurate for hunting purposes. I have one on my 358 Norma and it shoots 3/4" three shot groups, more than minute of elk or deer.

yooper77 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2010, 04:12:49 PM »

bigswede,

You have found a great deal., that’s an unusual low price for the barrel and labor together.

I was going to have my Ruger M77 MKII 270 Winchester re-bored/re-chambered to 338-06 A-Square, but at the time redmansrifling.com wasn’t taking re-barrel order, so I looked for re-barrel job. Everyone wanted $500 to $800 dollars for a re-barrel. While thinking it over I found a Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 338-06 A-Square of an auction site with RCBS dies, once fired Weatherby brass and factory Weatherby ammo with 210 grain Nosler Partitions. This rifle and cartridge are stellar together topped with a Leupold VX-III 3.5 – 10 X 40mm scope

Yooper77

Mac11700 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2010, 01:45:55 AM »

I have had only 1 338-06 A-Square..and it was a re-bore of a 26" 25-06 Handi rifle. I love the rifle and the round. Excellent velocity awesome accuracy. Wayne York of Oregunsmithing did mine.To me if your going to go with a very short barrel,I would swap what you have now for a 308 size action and go with the 338 Federal..Velocity wise this is what you doing any way,and the factory ammo would be a lot cheaper to shoot.That's just me though..

Mac

drdougrx · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2010, 05:18:04 AM »

Sweeeede!!!!! $175 for a rebarrel!!! HOLY CRAP!!!

My last rebarrel from Shaw, even without the flutes was $500!!!!

bigswede · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2010, 06:56:24 PM »

drdougdx,
Yeh my gunsmith is pretty inexpensive. He does a very high quality job though as evidence by the daily UPS in and out going. He is around 70 now so I don't know how much longer he will be going. He's a pretty neat fella though, he always tells me that he wakes up at 4:00 am every morning and can't wait to get to work because he loves what he does so much.

drdougrx · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2010, 03:02:37 AM »

Swede....that guys a gem!!

nomosendero · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2010, 03:27:22 AM »

Quote from: bigswede on February 09, 2010, 06:56:24 PM

drdougdx,
Yeh my gunsmith is pretty inexpensive. He does a very high quality job though as evidence by the daily UPS in and out going. He is around 70 now so I don't know how much longer he will be going. He's a pretty neat fella though, he always tells me that he wakes up at 4:00 am every morning and can't wait to get to work because he loves what he does so much.

A dying breed, much like the rancher friend I know in WY. He lets us hunt the ranch exclusely while we are there at a very good price which he has held for years. I hope they both prosper for years to come.

Concerning the barrel length issue, I would go with the 22" in that round. With the '06 cased rounds over 30cal., the vel. loss over a 22" is quite minimal anyway. I have hunted with 22" tubed rifles alot in AR. &
assuming you are a big guy as your user name indicates, getting yourself through thick stuff is harder than getting a 22" rifle through thick stuff. You see upland game hunters using 26" barreled shotguns with long receivers & swinging them to shoot just fine & then the same guys think they need a short rifle, haven't figured that one out yet. Now with a 308 cased round of 308 cal. or larger especially, then I like a 20" because like the 22" in the bigger case, the longer barrel won't give you much.

bigswede · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2010, 11:11:51 AM »

I dropped my rifle off wednesday. It will cost a little more, to the tune of $250 total. He said hes having trouble getting adams and bennett barrels, so he is going to put a Shaw on it. I'm am also going to have it Parkerized instead of blued. Also, his reamer is pre A-square 338-06, will this make a difference if I use 338-06 A-square dies? Or should I wait and have custom dies made?

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2010, 11:19:41 AM »

I would go with 24" if you are going to try to shoot 400 yards. I have a Whelen in 22", but wish it was a 24". I think you get a couple of hundred extra fps with the 2 extra inches.

mauser98us · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2010, 05:32:32 PM »

Youl'l like the Shaw tube. I've got two of them.They are great for what they cost. Unless your a bench quality shooter,it isn't worth the extra for a Shilen or a Krieger. I'm not so the Shaw is just perfect.

bigswede · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2010, 07:53:56 PM »

Yup, the only time my rifles get shot off the bench is when I'm working up new loads, or for a pre hunting season sight in.

Bullshop Junior · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2010, 08:02:20 PM »

For me, a rifle has to have a 24" barrel or longer. Unless it is a NEF. I like 22" and shorter on the NEFs.