Seriously considering a .338-06....

[grumpyvette]

Seriously considering a .338-06....
for elk and deer hunting. Anybody have experience with this round? Pro's or con's?

EVERY CHOICE YOU MAKE IS A COMPROMISE IN SOME AREA,
now I tend to like a 30 plus caliber rifle, others may not!,and you may want to consider the 338 WIN MAG as its more common, and loaded to its potential throws the same weight bullets about 120 fps faster than a 338/06, at the expense of a bit more recoil.
theres also the 35 whelen, a very similar cartridge.
Ive built two custom 338/06 rifles, over the last 30 years,they are really effective and quite useful elk rifles. the first was on a old Mauser action, the second on a rem model 30 bolt action,both older 30/06 rifles that were re-barreled.
I also had a 1917 enfield re-barreled in 338/06 but I was talked into selling it within days of it coming back re-barreled,
the 338/06 and 35 whelen fall into a very useful and very effective compromise in power and trajectory that will allow the average hunter to build a rifle of fairly low weight with high impact power that can easily reach 300-400 yards and effectively kill elk without recoil levels becoming overly harsh or to the point your reluctant to shoot the rifle which I see occasionally with anything much larger in the power range yet still have noticeably more effect on game that the common deer/elk rifle calibers like the 270 win,308 win and 30/06 or even the -7mm mag which has a large following and this allows the average guy to have magnum like results without carrying a rifle thats a pound or so heavier that tends to require a slightly longer barrel and one that kicks harder. the difference may be fairly small, but at the end of a weeks hunt that slightly lighter weight and shorter rifle,
that hits like THORS HAMMER at the average ranges most elk are shot at WHICH DESPITE THE MAGAZINE ARTICLES
, BEING CONSTANTLY PRINTED TO THE CONTRARY REMAINS WELL UNDER 300 YARDS)
I sold both eventually to friends who still use and really love both rifles,
but I will point out that I never saw a dimes worth of difference in the results I had from the 35 whelen I still use,
occasionally, now that does not in any way suggest they were not good elk rifles, just that the 35 whelen and the 338/06 loaded with the 225 or occasionally, 250 grain bullets I, used in both calibers performed really well,
and I saw little advantage between the two so when I was offered several hundred dollars more than I paid to build a rifle from a friend who was lusting after it,
it went down the road and I felt it went to a good home.
both those 338/06 rifles have seen a good deal of use as they are the primary elk hunting rifles , one likes a hornady 225 grain the other guy likes the 250 grain hornady, these two members of our club use those 338/06 rifles with total confidence.
I still use my 35 whelen 7600 pump action,and 450 marlin blr

and feel its a great choice for a dark timber elk rifle, where shots over 250 yards are VERY unlikely.
if you look at the charts below the 1/2 of an inch difference in trajectory at 300 yards , when both are sited at 200 yards,is not worth even thinking about in my opinion
The 338/06 is and has been very well respected and in constant use, as has the 35 whelen in out hunt club, these are a sweet combo with plenty of power and a reasonably flat trajectory, all the guys simply sight in at 3"-3.5" high at 100 yards

35 Whelen

BRAND: NoslerCustom Hand loaded Ammunition | BULLET STYLE: Partition
PART #: 30020 | COUNT: 20 | MSRP: $69.90
BULLET WEIGHT: 250 | BBL TWIST RQMT: 1-16"
FOR USE: Deer/Elk/Moose Sized Game | LEAD-FREE: N
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yards / Muzzle Velocity(FPS) Energy(FT-LBS) Drop In Inches(100YD) Zero Drop In Inches(200YD) Zero
MUZ: 2,550 3609 -1.5 -1.5
100: 2356 3083 0 2.4
200: 2172 2618 -4.8 0
300: 1995 2210 -16.9 -9.8
400: 1828 1855 -37.8 -28.3
500: 1671 1550 -69.2 -57.2

338-06 A-Square

BRAND: NoslerCustom Hand loaded Ammunition | BULLET STYLE: Partition
PART #: 26050 | COUNT: 20 | MSRP: $79.30
BULLET WEIGHT: 250 | BBL TWIST RQMT: 1-10"
FOR USE: Deer/Elk/Moose Sized Game | LEAD-FREE: N
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yards / Muzzle Velocity(FPS) Energy(FT-LBS) Drop In Inches(100YD) Zero Drop In Inches(200YD) Zero
MUZ: 2,475 3399 -1.5 -1.5
100: 2295 2925 0 2.6
200: 2123 2503 -5.1 0
300: 1959 2131 -17.9 -10.3
400: 1803 1805 -39.8 -29.6
500: 1656 1523 -72.5 -59.7

338 Winchester Magnum


BRAND: NoslerCustom Hand loaded Ammunition | BULLET STYLE: Partition
PART #: 25040 | COUNT: 20 | MSRP: $85.90
BULLET WEIGHT: 250 | BBL TWIST RQMT: 1-10"
FOR USE: Deer/Elk/Moose Sized Game | LEAD-FREE: N
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yards / Muzzle Velocity(FPS) Energy(FT-LBS) Drop In Inches(100YD) Zero Drop In Inches(200YD) Zero
MUZ: 2,600 3751 -1.5 -1.5
100: 2415 3238 0 2.2
200: 2238 2781 -4.5 0
300: 2069 2376 -15.9 -9.2
400: 1907 2019 -35.4 -26.5
500: 1754 1708 -64.6 -53.4
600: 1610 1440 -105 -91.6
700: 1478 1212 -158.9 -143.3
800: 1358 1023 -228.7 -210.8


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[grumpyvette]

.... I'll admit that the .338-06 doesn't do anything that the 06 can't do, .......

I think your missing the main potential advantage of using a 338/06 or 35 whelen over the 30/06, if your not at least trying the 225-250 grain projectile weights, I know from personal experience that the speer 250 grain in the 35 whelen and hornady 250 grain make the rifles very effective

decades ago (late 1960s) I re-barreled and sporterized a 1917 enfield to caliber 338/06
at the time those rifles sold for about $75 and the local gun-shop would re-barrel them in any common caliber with a 30/06 case , or rim size for about $225
the rifle turned out to be exceptionally accurate and I rather foolishly let a buddy talk me into selling it to him, hes used it ever since.
Ive loaded that 225 grain hornady bullets over a stiff load of W760 and a 215 fed primer, since about 1975 , and its pushing them to 2540 fps and under 1"...3 shot 100 yard bench rest groups
its consistently dropped elk and mule deer , and I've given up trying to re-purchase that rifle,
as its almost become his personal well cherished, and almost religious faith, that its his "lucky rifle "
I certainly would have saved a truck load of cash if ID stuck to owning that rifle , rather than constantly trying new rifles and I would not have needed anything else.
and I can,t see where its ever left him wanting more power, or a flatter trajectory , hes certainly got his fair share of mule deer and several elk over the following decades
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