Thinking of another hog/black bear rifle. I haven't seen or heard much about the 8mm-06. The 338-06 almost seems better in availability and it launches a slightly bigger bullet. Not sure of ballistics for either. Furthest shot would be 300 yards but more likely to be 200 yards and under.

Seems like a 338/06 would be the cats meow, especially in a components shortage. The other would work just fine, but why place limitations on yourself?

Main reason for the 8mm-06 was to convert military Mauser's easily when 8x57 ammo was not generally available. Both good small medium bores and cover about the same range 150-250gr. bullets for the 8mm and 160-300 for the .338.

If you wanted to get really nostalgic build a .318 Westly Richards or a .333 Jeffrey.

Never heard of an 8mm-06 cartridge, although I have no doubt there is one. 338-06 is a great cartridge, have one of those. For what you described, the 338 Fed sounds perfect. Could run a 160 TTSX at >3000fps or a 210 Partition at ~2600. 8x57 would work too.

Tejano, if I'm going Jeffrey than it will be a 404 (grin)!

I'm thinking the 338-06, possibly an AI will work well for my needs? I guess I would stick with the 210 grainers for everything?

You could split the difference and get the best of both worlds with a 318 Westley Richards.

When I shot out the barrel on my Husqvarna.30-06 I wanted to get it rebored to 8mm-06 because I'm fond of .32's. Alas, the reborer said he wouldn't do a Husky again because the steel is too hard and they don't cut nice.

I'd go straight 338-06 over ackley. Not going to notice any difference. Id even look into a 35 whelen. Never owned the whelen but I'd think it would be a hog stomper

Do you have a supply of 8mm bullets on hand? If so, then perhaps an 8mm-'06 makes sense, otherwise, I think the general availability of .338 bullets wins out. 8mm bullets aren't something you find in just every gun store.

.338-'06 with 210 grain partitions should thump hogs and black bears pretty well.

Tom

I built mine in the AI version mostly to be different. Reloads of either the 225gr Accubonds or TTSX are what I shoot. A 210gr TTSX or Swift Scirroco's would be breat as well.

vs. 9.3x62...

DF

Flip a coin. No significant difference in .323 vs .338. 338 has better bullet selection tho...

That would be the significant difference.

Mule Deer
What bullet would it take in the 338/06 to pentrate deeper than a 200 grain Nosler Partition in a 30/06?

I just like .323's because I'm a WWII buff and I had at least one rifle from every major country involved. I really liked my 8X57's and that is why I'd like to have an 8mm-06. Otherwise it makes little sense.

I've got an 8mm-06 AI. It's as much a novelty as anything, but pretty potent. Got it for use as a backup/loaner rifle. Just a rechambered Mauser 98 8x57. So, if you're building from the ground up, .338-06 is probably the way to go due to bullet selection. However, a 200 grain Partition from an 8-06 (AI or not) is more than enough for literally anything in North America and it's easy to do on a Mauser. But if going for a more expensive build, go with the .338-06. Whole gun cost me $225 FWIW.

Always been intrigued with the 8mm after seeing a .325wsm thump a critter.

Already did the 9.3x62 route.

Always looking to add a few more to the stable but something different? I may have to get the 338-06. Thanks.

+1

I have had a couple of .338-06's and both have been super easy to work loads up for, and there honestly isn't as much difference between it and a .338 WM as you might think. I have a nice VZ24 that I purchased way cheap, with a new Shaw barrel. I've never bought a Shaw barrel, but this one shoots MOA and doesn't foul, so works for me. I have less than $300 in it with a typical Buehler style safety, Boyds laminate stock, and scope ready. There isn't much that you can't do with a 210 TTSX at 2800, or a 225 at 2700 fps, or a 250 at 2500.

Fred,

To be honest, I dunno, since I never ran a direct comparison with the 200 Partition in the .30-06 with any of the three .338-06's I've fooled with. But suspect it might match the 200/.30-06with the 225 TSX, and maybe the 250 Partition. Though in my experience the 200 penetrates VERY well, both from the .30-06 and various .300 magnums.

Also had an 8mm-06 for a while, and found out it was basically a .30-06. The problem is bullets. Basically, any bullet available in 8mm can be matched or exceeded by a .30 caliber. But .338 is a different story.

Yea, I am looking for a rifle/cartridge combination that is powerful and accurate enough to make up for my flinching and lack of practice, light enough for my girlfriend to carry all day with the spotting scope, lunch, binocular, GPS, Spot and extra ammo but that will be simple and easy for her to clean-

The flinch can easily be solved by having her do the shooting.

Now, that was COLD...

DF

Personally, I prefer the 8mm-06, primarly because the average shooter can not afford to build a gun from the ground up, which you pretty well would do for a .338-06.
Any individual, that has a fair bit of firearms knowledge can take a old 98 Mauser, and ream the chanber to eather a 8mm-06, or AI. There is no problem with brass, because there is a lot of -06 brass available, and I have no problem with bullets. For loads that I wish to shoot at velocitys over 2400fps, there are plenty of good jacketed bullets available. For the loads, with much heavier bullets, that I shoot at velocitys under 2400fps., I cast my own, gas checked lead bullets!
To me, just the average Fire Arms Enthusiast, the 8mm-06, because of the simplicity of the re-chambering, was a no brainer!

No doubt it's less trouble just to create an 8mm-06--if all the other work involved in turning "an old 98 Mauser" into a sporter isn't included. Personally, if I find a nice old SPORTER in 8x57, I'm not going to rechamber it. But if somebody's happy with rechambering a K98 military rifle to 8mm-06, why then yes, it is simple and cheap.

On the other hand, it doesn't take a lot of money to rebarrel or (cheaper yet) rebore a .30-06 sporter to .338-06. If you figure the expenses both ways, instead of just rechambering, I'd bet the .338-06 comes out about the same.

I have owned an 8mm-06 98 Mauser sporter. It was converted pretty nicely after WWII and I bought it for $225 at a local store. It shot pretty well, too, but damned if I could find any advantage over the .30-06.

DF,

I hope Royce knows me well enough to also know my tongue was firmly in my cheek!

Figured as much, just couldn't resist calling you on that one...

DF

If we start judging cartridges by what they offer above and beyond the .30-06 we are going to run out of options quick. Most hunters on the planet could get by with nothing more than a .30-06.

They could but what fun would that be?

+1

Wrong forum to be telling a bunch of loonies that an '06 would probably fill most of their hunting needs...

Even if it's true...

Especially if it's true...

Hey, it IS true, he's right...

DF

That's right!, but then I have to find a new hobby to spend money on. Nah I will stick to this.

Yeah, we can't let logic and reason interfere with our Loony condition...

DF

No because, I would need to find a new hobby to spend money on!

I've known two gunsmiths that could hunt w/anything they wanted to and they both chose the eight mm ought six improved. powdr

I think it's a neat cartridge and would do as well as most for N.A. hunting.

8mm-06?
Who cares?

Cost a lot of $$ to convert a war-era mauser into a sporter. Got your own reamer and barrel vise? DIY is pretty easy. Paying a gunsmith to pull barrel, improve the chamber etc is several hours of work. Setup in lathe does take a while... Okay, so you spent $125 or closer to $250 for that, then there's bolt handle bending and drill tap scope mount holes, plus cut down and crown the barrel. Maybe you got the old 8mm dimension which is iirc .317 rather than .323.... Kinda screwed then...

Where ya find a "cheap" Mauser these days? Is $300 cheap? For a decent one? Are they worth more in the longrun in orig configuration?

Can buy a Weatherby in .338-06.

Can also buy a .338win and load it on the mild side and be ahead of the game.

Better bullet selection with the .338 bore. Factory loads too, and correct headstamp brass for when it matters, like on your African trip...

.30-06 seems to be just fine; in fact lots more workable unless you need bullets heavier than 220gr.

60gr of xmr 4350 in the .338-06 with a 230gr bullet, or same load in a .338win with a 250gr bullet.... What gives more flexibility? Can shoot cast in a magnum also.

Think I would go .338-06 AI were I going to choose one, but I do have a die set, reamer and a rifle I just haven't improved yet... The .30-06 AI I also own seems to do everything I could ask without going to a magnum.

I'm more and more enamored with 35 cal every day, so if I was in your shoes, I'd get a Whelen. It is on my short list of guns to get next. Just think: light loads with handgun bullets, and then some serious mojo when you want it with heavy rifle bullets. Seems ideal to me today. Hell, maybe the 35 Whelen is at the top of the short list.