Author Topic: Another 338-06 question (Read 1787 times)

handirifle · « **on:** July 21, 2006, 02:17:45 PM »

I have an '06 Savage and am VERY strongly considering adding a 338-06 barrel to it. It seems like it would be ideal for medium to heavy animals.

What I'm wondering about, is would it be worth it to get the barrel and ream it to the "improved" version, putting it that much closer, in potential, to the 338 Win Mag. I know it will not ever catch the Win mag, but If the Improvement brought the top end another 100-150fps, the gap would be a small one indeed. More like 100-250fps diff max. maybe a bit more on the very heavy bullets, like 300gr. The 225-250 should be fairly close.

I'd like a one caliber-do-all (yea right) for deer (mostly), elk, maybe someday moose, and as an emergency bear gun. I know the '06 is capable of all these BUT the heavier bullets of the 338 are more appealing to me.

Can the 338 Win Mag be loaded down to the 338-06 levels? Would I be better off getting that barrel and loading it down most of the time?

Mac11700 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:20:58 PM »

Handi...

I cannot speak of the 338 AI...or the 338 Win Mag...but I can tell you again about my 26" 338-06 A-Square NEF Ultra....if you want

Go with a standard 338-06 ASquare..and a 26" barrel.....You won't be giving up much at all...My 3050fps 180 gr. Accubond loads are exceedingly accurate..and make a fine whitetail load...Brass is easy to make..cheaper than the mags...brass life is longer...it doesn't kick as bad and uses less powder..and you will be able to have an additional round in the magazine And...factory ammo is available for it too...not so with the wildcat.....Only in the heaviest bullet weights will the Mag version out run it by a larger margin...and then it's still not really by that much..

handirifle · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:48:20 PM »

Mac
I thought about you when I posted this. The barrel that's on Midway is 24" and the price is right, $129 for a 24" Adams and Bennet barrel. Remember this IS a bolt gun and I'm a little afraid the 26" barrel might be a bit much, especially if I ever get to go to Alaska with it. This might be a possibility, as one of my supervisors, who will retire about the same time I do, lived in AK for about 30 years, and is only down here for a couple more years, before he'll return there when he retires. Just a little leary of toting too long of rifle through the brush. It'll be almost 45" long with the 24" barrel, as opposed to your 42" long singleshot.

I wonder how much I'll lose over your loads, with the 2" shorter barrel? Have you tried heavier bullets in yours, like the 225's or 250's?

Dave in WV · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:59:13 AM »

handi, have you hunted in brush with a shotgun? I ask because I have with an 870 pump that has a 28" barrel. I don't see a problem using a long barrel in brush unless you're shooting at running game. A proper length of pull and the scope mounted at the correct height for the shooter seems more important for quick mounting to me. Dave

handirifle · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2006, 06:26:53 AM »

Good point dave, Yes I have and I never thought to compare the two.

crabyx78 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:17:13 PM »

handirifle,i have a 338-06ai with a 21 inch barrel
love the rifle and chambering but am thinking
of rebarreling with out the ai.For the little
advandage of the ai with the 338 i don't think
it's worth the effort.

handirifle · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:31:40 PM »

Craby
Thanks, that's what I was begenning to feel also, based on feedback from others.

longwalker · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2006, 06:10:49 AM »

In my opinion the whole point of the 338-06 is that it is not a 338 Win Mag. Loaded with 200 grain bullets you have a moderate speed projectile that will put a would of hurting on any thing you care to hunt. With the added advantge of using 250 grain bullets on even bigger stuff. Mine likes 225 grain SPBT bullets the best.

It's cool to have something a little different.

longwalker

handirifle · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2006, 02:30:51 PM »

Longwalker,
True, was thinking it would be nice to get close to the big boy IF DESIRED, but not all the time.

I'm still torn between the 35 Whelen and 338-06, have been for some time. I know ammo around here is non existant for both, so it would be handload only.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2006, 12:21:17 PM »

I've owned them both ways, and if i was building one today, i would NOT go with the imp. round.

I keep hearing how much better the imp. brass last, but i've never had a problem with the std. brass to begin with. "If" your brass is stretching too much, your either loading to too high of pressures, or you don't have your sizeing die ajusted correctly.. (asumeing you don't have a batch of soft brass)

Bottom line is, the imp. brass is a pain to make, and in the few i've owned, (i still own two) i just didn't gain that much.

Drilling Man

handirifle · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2006, 07:27:05 PM »

OK, so improved is out, now I'm just trying to convince myself to either go 338-06 or 35 Whelen.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:20:00 PM »

Quote from: handirifle on July 26, 2006, 07:27:05 PM

OK, so improved is out, now I'm just trying to convince myself to either go 338-06 or 35 Whelen.

Handi...

6 to 1 and a 1/2 dozen to the other...for some anyways

You shouldn't be loosing to much from mine..No...I haven't done any work up with the the heavy weights...I'm still working with the 200 grainers...and as soon as my reloading room is done...I will be back on the bench...Mike at Northfork Bullet co.sent me some of his fantastic 200 grainers to compare...and I'm just dying to get all of this work done so I can start developing some more loads...Quickdtoo hasn't made it to the range either for awhile...and I know he has some 225-250 grain loads to shoot...so drop him a PM...I'll keep you posted as to how the NF bullets do...they should fill a nitch between the Accubonds and the Partitions quite nicely...

Mac

handirifle · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2006, 05:31:55 AM »

OK Mac
Thanks, Am saving funds now for the barrel and accessories, nut, wrench etc. Will most likely go with the 338 since it's the sbest of both. Any trouble getting loding dies for it? Can't locate them.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2006, 06:20:11 AM »

We got our Redding dies from Midsouth and Midway.

Midsouth 338-06 Dies

Midway 338-06 Dies

I'm using Weatherby brass, but they don't always have it in stock and may be discontinuing it, but it's available at Midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=185261

I'm shooting 230gr Failsafes and 250gr Sierra GK, no chrono data yet, tho.

Tim

handirifle · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2006, 11:32:17 AM »

Can you just run the '06 brass through the dies, or do you need the 338 brass? Seems there is a slight difference in shoulder position, that's not there on the whelen.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2006, 11:58:23 AM »

Mac resized his brass from '06 or .270 IIRC, I tried to resize some new nickel brass and it split the necks and that was with the optional Redding tapered neck expander button. I just decided that I want the headstamp to match the rifle since I have 2 other .30-06 rifles to avoid any problems, the weatherby brass was far less expensive than A-Square brass which was $44 for 20!!

One thing you might need to check out depending on what brass you use is the chamber dimensions for the .338-06 A-Square are different than those for the widlcat .338-06, the neck diameter is larger and a bit longer, when Wayne originally cut my chamber, I couldn't chamber a round, he had to cut the neck bigger and longer to allow a loaded cartridge to chamber fully. Wayne cut my chamber just as he always had for the countless .338-06 rifles that he had made in the past, but found out the A-Square is slightly different.

Tim

handirifle · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2006, 12:56:41 PM »

Thhanks Quick

Mac11700 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 28, 2006, 06:05:44 AM »

Handi:

I have used regular and nickle plated 30-06 brass with no problems..but some of the easiest to reform is the 35 Whelan brass..it takes less effort. All 3 types have given good results for me..and Waynes work is exceptional...Go with having it cut to the A-Square dimensions as Quick has said..it will allow the usage of A-Squares,Weatherby,and now Noslers ammo...so you will be able to have factory brass to reload..and do pick up some of the Weatherby brass available for it...to have on hand..this is by far the easiest to use... The heavy weights do have a-lot of potintial and I look forward to working up some good loads with them......but so do the 200 & 180 grainers for everyday hunting...no need to let it be a closet queen now.. With my handloads using the 26" tube it will go neck and neck with factory 338 mag ammo...with a whole lot less fuss...so it is a flat shooting rifle with the lighter weights...and since Wildcat bullets has some 160 grainers available...I might be giving them a whirl as well...it might even make it a long range coyote gun...This is just one of the beauties of this caliber...even though it has never recieved much press or recognition...and that was due to Weatherby utilizing their propietary free bores with it,when it wasn't needed..and a-lot of the Mark 5"s weren't exceedingly accute....I think now that Federal has come out with the 338 Federal using the 308 case...it will get noticed more..since this is really the closest cartridge to compare it to...time will tell...

Mac

handirifle · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2006, 01:06:17 PM »

Mac
Thanks, I'll most likely try to get some factory brass and go with that. The barrels I've looked at are marked for A-Square chamber, so I should be OK on that one.

Any hunting results form anyone with this setup as yet?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2006, 01:15:49 PM »

No hunting results, but I did chrono my .338-06 230gr Failsafe load today at 2610fps with 57.5grs of H414.

Tim

handirifle · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2006, 04:05:51 PM »

Impressive for a 230gr bullet.

Seems like 57gr was about top load with 4350 and a 165gr bullet in the '06. How close is that to top load? How was accuracy?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2006, 04:49:58 PM »

60gr is max according to the Nosler 5th, they got 2595 in a 24" barrel for that load, they have both the 225gr partition and 230 CT Failsafe under one listing. Accuracy is excellent, .5gr sure makes a big difference!! 58gr is max for IMR4350 in the Nosler book.

Tim

Les Staley · « **Reply #22 on:** July 28, 2006, 05:10:14 PM »

I have found that re-formed GI brass works great, and comes out a few thousandths under length.. no case trimming. I took a nice 4X4 Mule deer buck two falls ago, with a Nosler balistic tip 200 gr running something over 2650fps.. don't have the data in front of me right now.. A few weeks ago a rancher who lives near me ask me to come over to a pasture and put down two old draft horses.. used the 338-06 and 225 gr Hornady interlocks.. they never knew what hit 'em.. off the hood of his pickup ..too far out for head shots..one shot each where you would shoot an elk.. neither lasted more than 3 to 4 seconds.. If I had to build another one, (mine is on a 03 Springfield) I'd use a stainless steel barrel. mine is a chrome-moly E.R.Shaw.. would be all the rifle you need in Alaska.. Les

handirifle · « **Reply #23 on:** July 28, 2006, 07:25:08 PM »

Wow, that .5 gr made a HUGE difference. I found similar, but not as drastic a difference with 4350. Nice group with the 57.5gr load.

Les
Why would you go stainless? Just for the rust prevention?

Mac11700 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2006, 09:03:09 AM »

Handi:

I took a nice little doe last fall with the 180 grain Accubond at 3050fps...she was headed straight uphill and about 150yards give or take 5..1 shot quatering up and away..and she dropped at the shot and slid about 40 feet back down to the valley I was hunting in...as expected complete penatration..and everything was mush inside...no-bloodshot meat to throw away either...Excellent eating by the way..Yes...one could say it was a bit of overkill..but..I didn't get a shot at the 250 FD buck that was taken off the property then..

Quick....let me know when you get a max load of BLC-2 under them...As it is...figuring you were 15ft from the muzzle...add about 30-45fps to that velocity...Again...we aren't really giving up using this over the 338 Mag as far as I care for...excepting a whole lot less powder and less recoil & muzzle blast....

Mac

nomosendero · « **Reply #25 on:** July 29, 2006, 09:21:51 AM »

Tim, that is a good way of illustrating that we need to try one more load!!

With that bullet you can wipe their nose & wipe their butt with one shot.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2006, 10:34:53 AM »

Ain't that the truth Rod!!

Those little steps can make a difference!!

Tim

quickdtoo · « **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2006, 10:37:56 AM »

Mac, I'll be trying the BL-C2 in the .338-06 for sure, I ended up with an extra bottle after Hodgdon replaced one for me, and with the results I got with it in the Whelen, gotta try it!!

Tim

Mac11700 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 29, 2006, 05:50:37 PM »

That's great Tim...I'll be wringing it out on the 200 grain NorthForks...and the 200 grain Silver BT's...real soon too...Can't wait to see your max loads with the 230 gr. Fail Safes..and 250grain Partitions...

Mac

AkRvrrat · « **Reply #29 on:** July 29, 2006, 08:53:08 PM »

Mac, your NorthFork 200grnrs-please post your results as I will be watchin. I am about done with my .338-06,about anyways. Some barrel bedding and a NECG rear to get drilled and tapped and I am ready. Got to break in the super match barrel
I will be loading up some NorthFork 225grnrs. with RL15 and hoping to clear 2700fps-if that is possible. Now with its ribbed design that should help. Some tough bullets that require some speed to work. According to Mike Brady these should do. I'll be moose and bear hunting soon and expect these to be the creme-de-la-creme of em all.