Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Can you tell me about the 338-06 for elk and mule deer?

If you want an inexpensive ballistic twin of the .338-06, get one of the leftover new .338 rcm's at CDNN.

I had a 338-06 for several years. My 30-06 shot 200's to the same speed as 225's from the 338-06. At the muzzle the 338-06 wins. At 150 yards the better BC's of the 30's make it a tie and at any range greater than 150 yards the 30-06 has more energy and drops less. Once I figured this out I sold the 338-06 and bought 200 gr .308 bullets.

I guess it depends on the loads.

I get 2775 fps from my 21" barrel 338-06 with 210 Sciroccos.

My brother gets 2875 fps with his 24" barrel 30-06 and a 180 grain Scirocco.

Even with a 3" less barrel the slower started but heavier 210 Scirocco still have over 1700 FPE at 500 yards if that means anything.

My brothers 30-06 at 500 yards is just over 1600 FPE.

Granted the 210 drops roughly 3.5" more, but the 338-06 is also 3" shorter overall and handier. Had it had a 24" barrel and picked up another 50 fps or so from it 210 would have even that much more energy than the 30-06 with a 180 grain and the difference in drop would be that much less as well.

If it enough than any animal could ever feel a difference....not really IMO, but its not like the 30-06 just walks away from the 338-06 when shooting bullets of similar BCs.

Well generally you can get 4+1 or even 5+1 when non magnum actions compared to generally 3+1 of magnum actions.

That and non magnum actions in the rifles I prefer are usually a half pound lighter than the WSM magnum actions. Those are the main two criteria that drove me away from WSMs and towards the 338-06 in the first place.

With equal pressure if you have if bullits of equal weight the larger diameter bullitt will be faster because there are more square inches to push on. Or you can get a heavier bullitt to go as fast.