Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles New 338-06

Here is my new 338-06.

I picked it up Tuesday night after work. Since I still had a rifle deer tag left, I wasted no time mounting a Leupold 2.5-8 in Talley lightweights.

Wednesday was a no go, and after a quick hunt Thanksgiving morning, made a quick trip to the rifle range before the festivities began.

All I had on hand was some Hornady 200gr SST's on top of 48.5gr H4895. I did not chronograph the load, and the Hornady manual says it should be right around 2600fps give or take. It should be plenty for deer and if it shot half decent I would hunt it the rest of the weekend.

After a quick bore sight, the first shot was on paper, an adjustment for shot #2, then another adjustment for shots 3,4,5. See the attached picture of the target. I got 0.65 for the final three shots. Certainly good enough for deer. The load was extremely pleasant to shoot.

No opportunities on Friday, and nothing presented on Saturday. This morning found me bowhunting as the wind was perfect for one of my blinds. Long story short, filled my final rifle tag with my longbow. I did not get to break it in proper, next year for sure.

Rifle is a model 70 SS classic action, barrel is a Shilen #3, 1:9 twist, cut at 23". Stock is McMillan edge, 13 5/8 LOP, olive with black/tan specks. Cerakote is coyote brown I think. Told the smith to pick a brown he thought would look nice.

Weight of rifle, rings and scope is 7.5# on the nose. With 5 in the magazine and sling it is just a shade under 8#. Right where I wanted it to be.

338-06 pics


I will certainly work up a load specifically for this rifle. Barnes 210gr TTSX, then on to a TSX if needed. I would like to get into the 2800fps range as I have had such great performance there with the Barnes TSX and another 338-06 I used to own. If I cannot get the 210's to shoot, I will go to 180-185gr monometal weight range.

That is NICE!!!

Great looking rifle. I’m sure you could hunt the world with that!

Very nice rifle and spec'd out for a well balanced setup.

Great looking rig Pard, I'm happy for you! Now...send it "back" and have it reamed out tot he Ackley Improved or the 338 Sherman....please, for me? lol

I hunted with a std version for about 5-6 years. I think the std feeds slicker. 200 Speers for deer and under, 210 Nosler for medium size stuff, and 250 Woodleigh for big south Texas boars. I think you could hint the continent with these three.

Try 59.0grs of Big Game,60.0gr Win,760,59.0grs CFE223, with the 200gr bullets,for 2800fps.54.0grs Varget for the 210's 2700fps.Mag primer for all.

That dog will hunt...

Very nice. That rifle turned out great!

Not a chance! That cartridge is going to stay svelte, not fat and squatty.

Big Game is on the list to try. Varget has always been my go to powder with previous 338-06's. Can't wait to get out and seriously play with this rifle.

Nice looking rifle!

Took my longest shot ever with a 225g AB/2742fps at 487 yards with a .338WM, dead cow. A .338-06 will lose 100fps but will still be a very effective load.

Might not even lose that much depending on barrel length. My 21” barrel standard 338-06 is pushing 225 accubonds at 2690 fps.

RL15 has been my go to powder with the 200 & 210 grain bullets.

I ran WW cases, partial sized, standard primers, 23" Hart.....IMR4320 powder.

200 - 2910
215 - 2790
225 - 2670

Everything did 1/2 MOA. I ran 3 scopes, a 1.5-6x36 4200, 2.5-8x36m and a 6x42. Rifle dumped everything hit with ease!

If I were running one again, I would likely run 225 for Larger game, and perhaps the 200 BT/NAB on deer/hogs. OR simply the 225 on all - and that would be the Partition and perhaps Barnes.

Enjoy that nice rifle, and take a minute to run the #'s - and see how close the 225s hit vs 210s....and the energy difference....with good BC/SD. Maybe 2" more drop at 400 yds w/a 200 zero.

I have used Rel 15 in my past 338-06 chambered rifles, but I like Varget better, and think Big Game will be solid performer.

Very nice,

That is a nice rifle and I mean nice ! I like the aftermarket bottom metal too.
Is that stock the same as the compact edge? I have a compact edge on a 270 pre 64 Fwt, it looks pretty close to the one you have.

Yes, compact edge with aluminum PTG bottom metal.