Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .338-06

Have been doing a lot of playing around with loads in the 4 .338-06 rifles I have.
Curious to what anyone else has done with this caliber.

I have only used 200-250 grain bullets and have had good results with a number of powders and bullets. Hornady Interlocks shoot well whether they're 200's, 225's or 250's. I've had good results with H414 and H4350, but N550 gives the best accuracy and velocity. It's been a great rifle for moose and elk.

My top loads included:

180 NBTs w/ RL15

200 Interlocks w/ H380

215 SGKs w/ IMR-4350

250 SGKs & Barnes Os w/ RS-Hunter

I love that cartridge!

No .338-06, but a .338-284. Same powder capacity, so loads should be pretty close.

The following three shot groups were at a hundred yards. I didn't clock them, velocity is ball park, based on published data.

3/8" 180 gr. NAB, 53 gr. RL-15 @ 2,800 fps
5/8" 160 gr. TTSX, 57 gr. Varget @ 2,900 fps
3/4" 200 gr. Combined Technologies (NBT), 53 gr. Varget @ 2,700
7/8" 185 gr. TSX, 54 Varget @ 2,800 fps

Rifle is an Alpha Arms Alaskan made for several years in TX. I have a catalog from back when and the .338-284 was listed as a factory offering.

Middle rifle in photo.

DF

I own a 338-06AI. The load I have settled on uses 61.0gr RL-17 and a 210gr Swift Scirocco. It chrono's 2850fps consistently and groups under an inch if I do my part. Using that same powder and a 225gr Nosler Accubond also yields great results.

Been using VV N-550 exclusively since 1995 in my 338-06. Latest favorite throws the 225 gr AB pretty well. Accurate and effective.

Nice groups, nice results.

DF

Damn right, the 338/06 is on my hit list to try some day, maybe even an AI'd version.

Gunner

Gunner,

You gonna thin the stable to make room, stuff your safe, or add another safe...?

DF

I predominantly use 3 powders in mine...

IMR 4895 and 4064 give close to the same performance.. what I like about 4064 is a 50 grain charge gives pretty much 2500 fps with a 200,225 and 250 grain Hornadys... and pretty much the same POI at 100 yds.. there is a lot of versatility in that.

the other one I use, I got from some very old data long ago.. and that is H 380. I especially use it with 225 Hornadys and 250 grain RN Hornadys...my charges are a little stiff it seems according to others, but my rifle doesn't seem to really notice...

LOL, added another 45 gun safe last year, I got room.

Gunner

Just got back from the KZN province of South Africa where the 338-06 was my primary rifle. I used 250 grain Partitions and H414 with CCI-250 primers. The load I choose pushed this bullets to 2450fps and flattened everything. I had loads to 2550fps but felt this was too much of a good thing and dropped it back. Easy to shoot and with the thick bush we encountered a shot of over 200 yards would have been nearly impossible. I like this load for hunting the medium heavy to heavy plains game I intended to shoot. I'll post the hunt pictures when I get a chance to get them uploaded.

Looking forward to a hunt report BB, bet ya didnt recover any of those bullets either.

Gunner

CFE-223 has a burn rate pretty close to RL-15, Varget, 4064 and 4895. It would be interesting to see how it would work in the .338-06 or .338-284.

DF

Well, thanks all. I now have 3 rifles in .338-06, and 1 improved version.
I've discovered that I like a wide veriaty of rifles, but few calibers.

It does work well on critters
185 TTSX from .338-06 R15 powder at 2950 fps 176yds-400yds






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just ran some CFE223 through my 23" Pacnor brl 338-06 tonight with 210gr Barnes TTSX. 57.5 grains 2740 fps @ 20' and very good accuracy

62gr of H4350 and a 210 Partition gives me 2650 fps with a VZ24 and a 24" AB barrel.

George,

you must be a high roller!!!




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