Though I want the AI, Mickey doesn't have that reamer. I"m not sure about spending 300 bucks on a new reamer and set of dies... vs 338-06 standard.

Couple of questions here, what twist? I normally shoot heavier bullets and will be leaning to 210 ttsx here, and maybe a berger of similar weight if there is one, or accubond for the longer range stuff, though thats only if I don't trust the expansion of the ttsx at 600 yards or so after I test fire.

Also what barrel length? Typically 24 has not bothered me and thats what I"m leaning towards. Rem 700 LA in 06 currently.

Anything else I need to know?

What brass? Though I have a passle of LC brass I was going to weight sort and work through, I can buy Lapua 06 etc...

As you can tell I have only researched the part of do I want 06, 35 whelen, or 9.3x62 vs the 338-06.

Thanks in advance, Jeff

Jeff,

I had mine done by one of the last guys to work and train under P.O. Ackley.. Bob West up here in Eugene ( who sadly is no longer with us).. I just got a real good price on a brand new Model 70 after hunting season at a Walmart in Bozemen Montana...

it Was a 270, but Bob just reamed out the barrel.. he put a 1 in 10 twist on it.. and it came with a 24 inch barrel.

Got it home and put some rings and a 2 x 7 Leupold Shot Gun scope on it and it pretty much performs like it things it is supposed to be a varmint rifle.

The nice thing with a 338 bore, is one can get by with regular old Hornady soft point bullets, as their weight and the velocity out of the 338/06 is more than plenty for the lower 48 states...

The velocity in mine is not very far behind my 338 Mag which has been quite the dust collector since getting the 338/06....

Premium bullets just add more to the effectiveness of an already pretty effective round...

don't think you'll be disappointed in yours whatsoever...

hope you enjoy yours half as much at least as I have enjoyed mine...

I have an AI version...just to be different. Mine's built on a Sako m75 Greywolf rifle with new PacNor supermatch grade stainless barrel. 1-10twist, 24" barrel built to shoot 225gr bullets. The 225gr AB's and TTSX shoot great.

I use Norma 338-06AS headstamped brass (I have some in Weatherby and Norma as Norma makes the Weatherby brass). Fireform the new brass with medium/hot load.

I seen Nosler makes 338-06 brass now.

Shooting the 210gr would be a sweet round. You will love your 338-06

Yeah. Go load it up with 210 gr Partitions, push them fairly quick (mine definitely showed a preference for loads approaching top end), and kill anything you'll ever come across.

Great cartridge!

Wellllll, I done bin to THIS rodayo before......

I have shot both .338-06 and .338-06AI rifles, built especially light for guys working in the BC wilderness and dealing with the odd obstreperous Grizzly and I see little or no REAL benefit over a .30-06-220NP loaded "max" in rifles of the same weight.

But, I AM an ornery, opinionated and stubborn, old, sorta squareheaded geezer and I "may" be wrong.....

Too much hassle for what you get and I have six fine, custom .338WM rifles and four, fine,custom 9,3x62 rifles, both are "better" than the .338 "light". IMO!

Other than cost of dies and reamer, there is no hassle that I"m aware of.

But I hear ya on ornery.

of course if I"m tossing 200 plus out the tube, I lean the otehr way and prefer more diameter along with it. Just a shame the larger diameters over 338 ain't as aerodynamic, as I always like to keep my long range ( in this case mid range actually ) options open just in case a shot presents itself.

Dunno why as I 'm still not sure how to judge a 50 inch moose at 20 yards much less 600 for sure....

BTW looks like 10 twist, 24 inch tube. Still may push the AI part somehow possibly.

Looks like way more brass around than I had thought. Seems like a couple hundred rounds woudl be sufficient.

200gr Ballistic Tips at 2,850fps hit hard on deer/hogs. No 338-06, but a 22" 338WinMag that I don't load hot. These are the Combined Technology bullets and are supposedly sleeker than their advertised .420-ish BC. Can't see the AB version being much different. Good blood trails are a given.

Mine is an improved version built on a Model 70 Stainless Classic with a 1:12 #3 Lilja barrel cut at 23". Dan Lilja recommended that twist rate because I specified that I will be shooting bullets in the 200 - 210 range.

200 grain Ballistic tips are the most accurate bullet I have tried. Pushed by Varget I am getting right at 2900 fps. 210 Partitions are also extremely accurate and Varget moves them out at 2825. Both bullets are consistently sub-moa with enough sub 1/2" groups to keep it interesting.

If I were to shoot heavier bullets I would go with a 1:10. Groups start to open up a bit with longer / heavier bullets, still I am getting sub 1-1/4" groups using 250 Partition Golds ... good enough for large, heavy animals which would justify the bullet.

If your rifle will feed the improved case, and my model 70 does, I can see no downside to going that direction but an additional 25 fps or so really buys you nothing other than a cool looking fired case. Done again, I think I would just stick with the standard version.

My "best" buddy used to post here, but, has not recently for several reasons and he is one of the FINEST, consistent shots I have ever known, builds most of his own very functional and practical rifles and has quite a lot of serious "bush" experience, all over northern Canada and BC, especially the Yukon.

So, some 20 years ago, after meeting me at the club we used to shoot at, since closed by "leftist-liberal" urban pukes and feminazis, he decided to build THE light packing rifle for use in Grizzly country and it was soon a reality.

He had a HVA steel BM action, got a bargain Brown stock from Brownell's a good sts bbl in .338" bore and mounts and with some help, put it all together. It was LIGHT, balanced superbly and I REALLY liked it and was still working the 5.5 month solo stints in the Alberta wilderness at that time, so, thot of building one just like it.

He wanted the maximum power he could get in this and also highest mag. capacity,so, went with a .338/06AI and was happy with it, BUT, it never REALLY fed perfectly and THAT is crucial in any rifle for use in Grizzly country, even we ornery old geezers know that.

So, he eventually sold it and went on to build dozens more neat rifles, some of the best of which have somehow ended up in MY gunsafes.....I told him then and still think that a .338WM, with 250NPs at 2750 from a 2-23" tube is a better rig and he now has a few .338s, some P-64s and a nice Dakota 76.

For an "aerodynamic" thumper I would choose a .300 Bee, or, my actual preference, a .308NM, loaded with 200NPs, but, for MY current uses, I have gone to the 9,3x62, 286NPs and am totally in love with these old CRF rifles and that load.

But, I must admit, if I were younger and had my former working income, I would have built the matched pair of .25/06 and .338/06 on the pair of Brno 21H actions I have stashed and the latter at 7,5 lbs, all up, with 225 NPs or SAFs at around 2700 would be a pretty neat piece for BC hunting and something that would be fun to play with.

BTW, the "hassle" here is that I have NEVER seen ONE box of .338/06 ammo or brass on a gunstore shelf here and the .338WM is everywhere. This, tho', is probably a Canadian thing and while it takes some time to convert .30-06 cases, most of us have so many of those around that ammo is not really a biggie.

Curious, what is THE highest velocity from a premium 225 bullet that anyone has obtained with decent grouping?

A 250 grain .338" partition has a BC of .473. A 250 Gr Accubond 9,3mm has a BC of .494.

A 250 gr .338" accubond does have a better BC but cannot be driven as fast from a .338-06 as a 250 out of a 9,3x62.

Regardless, the .338-06 shoots plenty flat enough to easily make 300 yd shots. For longer, just know you holdover and how to range.

Yes but the 225 grain AB has a higher BC as well and can be pushed at least as fast out of the .338-06 as a 250 out of the 9.3X62. A 225 is really all a guy would ever need in North America anyway. Hell I can't see much of anything needing more than a 210 grain Partition anyway.

BTW 56.5 grains or RL15 and a 200 grain Hornady SP gets me 2880 fps and no pressure signs. I'm not hunting big bears or anything dangerous, so I'd imagine that bullet would lay the smack down on anything around 300 yards anyway. At that range BC doesn't matter anyway!

The .338-06 AI doesn't gain enough over the standard to bother with, because there isn't much shoulder to blow out. It's a little better than the .35 Whelen AI, which doesn't gain anything over the standard, but still not much.

A 1-10 twist will stabilize any .338 bullet made, including 300-grain Bergers.

250 gr. Hornady BTHP have a .675BC, for schits and giggles. 2500 MV w/100 yard zero is about 12 MOA at 500, 16" drift, 1900FPS, and 2000FPE for even more giggles. Woof........

I have a standard .338-06 built years ago by Lester Womack on a Mauser action. It seems that the standard version and the 210 Nosler Partition bullet are a marriage made in heaven. It is the most lethal rifle I own - every bit as hard on critters as my 9.3x74R. The Nosler opens at any velocity and slams everything down.

John

Yeah, but a 200 gr 30 cal AB in an '06 can be driven just as fast and has a much higher BC than that 200 gr .338. And a 200 gr .30 cal is really all a guy would ever need in North America anyway.

It is a lot of fun to argue about theoretical differences between cartridges which would not be obvious to any animal whose vitals the bullets in question were passing through

Yeah, too bad it NEVER happens on this site.......

I put my 338-06 together in 1995 via a Cliff LaBounty rebore of a M700 270 I bedded in a McM KS takeoff. I have hunted the 210 gr Partition at 2800 fps, the 185 gr TSX at 2900 fps and the 225 gr AB at 2650 fps taking a number of bull elk, black bear, a grizzly, nilgai and some smaller stuff. Likely my one go to rifle if I ever had to do so. Light, accurate and effective delivered on a relatively small budget. Happy camper here.

Mine's an improved, more for snizzle than bland....

21 1/2" 10 twist Rock #3, s/s 700, McM Classic stock, 3.5-10 Loophole. It ran 200 BT's to 2950 with R-17, but the accuracy loads with the BT's or 210 Partitions are right at 2800 in Lapua brass, 210's, and H-4350.

Never had a feeding issue either.....

I have a 338-06AI with 1-10 twist. Glad I had the gun made. Wouldn't hesitate to do it again too. It's built on a 700 action also. The gun shoots 200, 210, and 225 just fine. I have settled on 210 Swift Scirocco's which are leaving the muzzle at 2865 fps.
Again, for the life of me, I can't figure out why this caliber isn't more mainstream. Have it built and don't look back. I have about 150 brass fire formed and that's lots. Easy to accumulate while you are load searching.
Good luck.

Thanks for all the additional input. Doesn't make the decision any better.

A myriad of bullets being used out there, while I"ll probably almost exclusively use barnes, being its the best one can buy for performance...(threw that one down the middle over the plate didn't I ...)

Its nice to know that others are having luck with the other bullets too.

I"m not much of a partition guy, BTDT and don't much care for how they work. If I want partition results I"ll shoot a berger more than likely. But I digress.

Seems like 25-50 fps is the only advantage to the AI and over the years my motto was 100 or more FPS was worth the hassle. Or a BC gain of at least .050 was worth the hassle.

Now I need a 338-06 case with a 210 TTSX seated above the shoulder slightly so I can see what I"m dealing with Re mag length issues. Any volunteers? I think I just sent my last box of 210 ttsx to AK a month ago and have none on the shelf....

Finally some 210 TTSX love. Been meaning to try them in my Winny, but can't wean myself from the 250 NPT and NPT Gold. Just went thru the trouble of removing moly from some Golds (carb cleaner + steel wool) for my fall hunting rounds. If anyone has some nekkid 250's they want to get rid of, please let me know.

I would load one up for you if you can get the bullet to me.

I'll see what I can do. I don't have 338-06 dies, but I can probably seat bullets with a .338 WM die. You want one at max COAL too? Like 3.34 or 3.35"?

Between the 9.3, 35 Whelen and 338-06 a fella could work himself in a circle, say screw it and roll a vanilla '06........

Negative. I'm running an oh-six, but when that get's bland it will be a Whelen.

Didn't see much difference between 180's in 3006 and 225's in a Whelen, on paper anyway.....

I think that once you reach the level of a .366"-286 NPT at 2500 fps-mv, you HAVE more than ANY .30-06 load can give you, but, I do have a bit of a "medium bore" bias, always have had.

My .338WM rifles, all six of them, will drive the 250 NPT at about 2800 fps. and with excellent accuracy. Given the relative ease of modding the rifle to hold the 4+1 that most .338-06, .35Whelen or 9.3x62 rifles will, I consider this the best option and the best over-all hunting round for large North American game.

But, I DO understand that the REAL "best" option is to just own good rifles in ALL of these fine chamberings.......

Dang, 286gr at 2500 looks nasty....

kutenay I don't know what you and z1r load to, but I don't want to shoot your loads. I've never even seen a 26" barreled 9.3X62 or .30-06 get the kind of speeds you guys are talking about.

Nosler .30-06 200 gr data: http://static.squarespace.com/stati...4840/30-06-Spfld-200gr-version%207-0.pdf
Nosler 338-06 200 gr data

http://static.squarespace.com/stati...164/338-06-ASq-200-210gr-Version-7-0.pdf

Their data shows both cartridges launching 200 gr pills at just under 2700 fps. My experience with both cartridges mirrors this. I do not try to magnumize cartridges.

As for the 9,3x62, I believe what I stated is true. I can drive a 250 out of my 62 at 2550 fps. That is faster than I can drive a 250 out of my .338-06. Where are my astronomical speeds? If I need more speed, I put down the 62 and grab my 9,x64 which will net me an additional 200 fps.

Not gonna argue about it, but at 65K PSI there are several powders that should get you to 2950+ with a 200gr speer.

I thought you were getting 2800 out of the NAB since you replied to my post. I've never hit 2800 out of the NAB in the .338-06 either. However, the data I posted is straight from the Hornady manual and I'm actually a .5 grain under max load with RL-15, which puts the 200 at or just over 2900 fps.

Re-reading my post I can see how you thought I was saying I got 2800+ fps with a 200 in my '06. Not the case. I'm not that crazy.

So, you ask about a 338-06, and you get lots of advise on a 30-06. Whatever.. Nothing wrong with a plain 30-06. The 338 is for damn sure not going to put a smaller hole in critters. Nor is anybody building a 338-06 and worried about ammo availability. It is different cartridge that has more character in my opinion. Can't imagine a much finer combination in the big game woods than a 210 Partition coming out of the 338-06. For longer stuff, the 225 AB is a slick bullet. I got good speed and accuracy with H4350 and RL17.

My regular load for my 9,3x74R drillinge is the 286NP, chrono'd at 2400, my 9,3x62 rifles run that bullet at 2475 and CAN do a bit more with RE-17, but, I am using Big Game and HAVE seen data that is 2500+ with it and my buddy's 9,3x64B gives 2600+ with H-4350 and the same bullet.

So, as I posted, a .366" NPT runs at 2500 fps and this hits harder than anything in the .30-06 or, IMO, at most hunting ranges, the .338/06. I realize that this is somewhat "hairsplitting", but, much of this type of discussion is just that.

I have had seven 9,3x62 rifles since May, 2006 and they will all push the 286 NPT at close to 2500 with NO issues, but, so far, only Big Game for me and RE-17 for a couple of guys I know has done this, RE-15 and IMR-4064 will not.

Hope that clarifies my earlier post.

If you have a 200 gn 30 cal. Bullet and a 200 gn 338 cal. Bullet and the pressure is the same for each the 338 cal bullet will be faster because there are more square inches to push on.

Pic of my reloads with 225gr Accubonds and a 225gr TTSX. Reloads were for fireforming the new 338-06 brass.


A Pic of my rifle...Sako m75 Greywolf 338-06AI.

Ay yi yi. That is indeed true but the SD on that lighter larger caliber bullet will pale as will the BC. I never really saw the desire of shooting light for caliber bullets in larger bore rifles the same weight in a smaller caliber will most often perform better.

Hair splitting I suppose.

Don't over analyze. Build a 22" or so barreled 338-06 and work up to the maximum/accurate balance you require with the 210 gr Partition and go kill schit.

Pretty much where I've stopped. 338-06, probably 24 inch tube, can cut it off if its a PITA later. Don't use partitions, but there are plenty of 200ish grain bullets out there and the 210 ttsx will be top of the list.

Thanks for all the input.

And to be honest, all the side OT chatter I kinda enjoy at times, sometimes it wakes me up to see more than just what I'm after, and sometimes while I agree, I still wanna do what I wanna do.

Jeff

Well, you won't be in the cool club and your gun won't shoot and people will make fun of you. It's more important to live up to the standards of people you don't know and will never meet.

An [bleep] with a fancy rig is still an [bleep].......

Yep, ain't never been much to go with the crowds really.

I was lectured how much of a waste my 7x300 wtby was going to be vs a good STW...

I have no STW though... grins.

But I'd like to meet a few more folks on the fire!

Jeff

Best reason ever for doing something!

The .338-06 is a great round. My next will have a light 24" barrel maybe even 23" just to confound people.

Yes, and I'm a moron for ditching my 223AI to build a 6x45. And my 270 sucks because everyone knows that a 280 is lightyears ahead. And myTikka has bad ergonomics, looks ugly, and has a poor ejection port. Not to mention that its a 30-06 and a 100+ cartridge just won't cut it......

Maybe this isn't the place to jump in this post but I do have a tech question I have a new to me 338-06 on its way has a 22in I'm wanting to shoot 180's do you with exsperience have some good powder selections what works what don't also have a set of redding type s dies and need to order a bushing any direction on that

180 Accu-bombs shoot great in my .338-06 with either RL-15 or H-4350.

Thanks Kevin,
I have some 4350 that was gonna be my go to powder I load some other callibers with it like the stuff ill have find some accubonds

Mine has a 22 in barrel also.

[img:left][/img]

That's a dam fine looking rifle! Mine is on a 700 action with a PAC-Nor #4 flutted in a McMillan hunter I was concerned about the 22 over the 24 but from what I have read now granted this is pearsonall research that the 22 still achieves some impressive velocity with the 180 I'm wanting to use it for a 300-400 yard mule deer elk hammer any advice is helpful it is a new round to me and quit diff from my old 7 mag

Thanks, it's a 700 with a PacNor modified #3 in a TI stock.

I run 185gr TTSX's from my .338-06 at 2950fps...took 8 head of game in Africa with that load from Mt Reedbuck to Eland shots ranged from 179 yds to 400yds Eland was shot at 359 yds and the 185 TTSX just flat works







[img]http://s6.postimage.org/3ppe6625t/DSC00523.jpg[/img]
[img]http://s6.postimage.org/nh5ibhsoh/DSC00569.jpg[/img]
[img]http://s6.postimage.org/sx179635d/trio_barnes.jpg[/img]

dvd,
That's awesome just what I wanted to hear 185 at 2950 I figure is magic good for anything I'm going after what barrel length are you running and powder?

24" works for me as well.



The rifle weighs 8lbs 9oz all up with 6 rounds of my 200 grain reloads. Balances around the front action screw and settles in nicely when holding offhand.

Tay,
That's a nice looking stick as well I'm new to the round but pretty excited about it

24" Cooper using R15 powder she shoots!

Ya I would say so nice shooting I only hope mine groups like that I have some -06 brass but no loaded rounds or 338-06 have a real nice fellow on here send me some type S dies I need to order a bushing and they say measure neck deduct .001-.002 off but how do I do this with no reference

I think iirc its measure the LOADED neck... but its been so many years since I have had to order a bushing die I may be wrong.

Yes, loaded round, and I'd go three thou on a hunting gun.

Personally, I wouldn't, and don't, do a bushing die for it.

And on barrel length.....

Mine was originally a 23" tube, and I did all the load work at that length, then had the threads cut off and re-chambered with the same reamer and a half inch off the noisy end, 1 1/2 shorter overall, and the accuracy loads stayed the same, as did the velocity.

I think 22" is plenty.....

Good to know and from someone I trust... 22 works then.

22" works just fine in a 30-06, a 338-06 with the larger bore will work just as good at 22" or a bit shorter.

When I had my 338-06 built I went with a 23" my smith said I could go with a shorter bbl. I went with a 23" #3 it works great for me.

Each to their own.

Sow's ear rifle! Mickey Mtn Rifle, Leupold, Talley's, ER Shaw barrel and a Steven's 200.

22"

Mike

The lousy old 210 gr Partiton from my simple old rebore...

I have had two. One was a beautiful custom on a 1903 Springfield wearing a 24" barrel. The other one was a BAR rebore by cliff LaBounty. The bore was less than perfect near the gas port, but it shot most everything I loaded for it quite well. I tried several brands of bullets ranging from 200 to 250. As another poster stated, the 200 Hornaday (or Speer) would kill as well or even better than most heavier stronger bullets. I hunted this one for 5-6 years before moving on to something else. Really, I wish I had kept it. The metal taken from the bore made for a pretty nice rifle and the gas made it a joy to shoot.

(That having been said, I am considering having a BAR imported from Europe where the 9.3x62 is a standard offering.)

Back to the .338-06, I can tell you that the 250 Woodleigh just punches holes in coyote. Once while hunting hogs in south Texas, I shot a coyote from a box stand at about eighty yards. I thought him dead. After about an hour, I saw him stagger to his feet and fall, but he started to crawl off. I chased him down and finished the job with a .22 pistol.

Like I said, I finally figured out that 210NP and other premium bullets were a waste on coyote, javilina, hogs, and deer. It really is more gun than is needed for those quarrys. Jack

Mine is on a FN action with a 24" Douglas barrel 1 in10 twist.Stocked in a B/C Carbelite syn stock with a Timney trigger. A frt sight that looks to be salvage from a Rem 700 the rear is a flip up peep on the back of the rear Redfield base.200 gr Hornady SP's and SST's shot so well I've not bothered with any others. WW 30-06 brass formed in 1 stroke just like full length sizing any other cartridge with Redding dies (they have a tapered expander ball that makes the whole thing a totally painless operation).Shoots deer and coyotes as good as anything you have ever used not magic just works. best of luck, Jeff. Magnum Man

it's a modern 318 westley richards. what's not to like? i think one of you should go with a 250 grain rn at 2400 fps and report your results as these were typical of the 318 and tell us what you get.

Was hoping berger offered a good bullet, they don't for this round.

Looked at the SST the other day, it may well answer the problem RE longer ranges, though I"m not offended yet with Barnes results way on out there.

Gimme a year or so for the gun, and then have to have the right moose show up eventually and we'll have a report.

Won't be typically using it for anything other than that for most of its life likely.

Here are some of my load info.

200 grain Nosler Accubond
57 grains of IMR-4064
Norma brass
Fed. 210-M primer
2900 fps.
This load is very accurate in my gun. It will make one of those 1 hole groups at 100 yards. about 1/2 in size.

210 Partition
54.5 grains RL-15
Fed. 210-M Primer
Norma brass
2695 fps.
This load will also do 1/2 inch group

225 Partition
61 grains IMR-4350
Fed. 210-M Primer
Norma brass
2700 fps
This load is good too. It will do 3/4 inch at 100 yards.

I tested the 225 P. load with 61 grains H-4350. on avg. about 1 inch group and 50 fps less than the IMR load.

Hope this helps you.

These loads were safe in my gun. You should always work up a new load in your gun.

I did not see any pressure signs in my load...

Who can argue with success? RE: the 180gr Barnes cited on the last page???

Actually, I own a .338-06 and think it a bit on the small side. The .338 bore really shines in the high Ballistic Coefficiency dept. Something the bullets below 250gr really lack. So what?

Those African critters have been taken with .257 bores by other hunters, maybe even a 6mm or two... Sure, Karamojo Bell would've loved the .338-06. But, he was shooting elephant with 7mm Mauser and heavy fmj roundnose bullets. Thinking sectional density was the big factor. Seems like anything under 225 in a .338 is really just a backwards step into .30-06 country.

The .35 Whelen shines in comparison due to the shorter length of heavyweight bullets. That it can be used with .357mag pistol bullets as well is a factor the .338s cannot compete with. Got a .357mag handgun or maybe a Marlin 1894? You are missing a real treat...

My .338 of choice is the .338/300win with 250gr and heavier boattail bullets it is right there with the .340wby and Lapua but allows a bit more room for bullet seating out from the neck and will handle reduced loads or the 220gr Lee cast bullet and 290gr long rn bullet I also cast. No, it won't share bullets with my .357s but they are too small-bored for field use where I live anyway.

As far as light bullets go, that is why God made the .30-06 AI... Get the better sectional density and ballistic coefficiency plus the great variety of 200 & even 220gr bullets.

Think the real hot ticket in .338 bore for a non-magnum ctg is the .338/284... You get the exact .338-06 performance & load data but in shorter case of .500 diameter; able to load those long high-BC bullets w/o intrusion into the case body in a long action receiver.... But then there is the .338/300win, or even a .338 saum or wsm, not to mention the same loading flexibilities in the .338win mag. Just be sure to have your belted magnum setup to headspace on the shoulder not the rim...

I had a 338-06 built about 12 years ago and ran it for a while before I sold it here on the fire. I think Bruzer bought it. I took a nice steyr build 1940 Mauser to this old smith in Boise when I was finishing my bachelors degree. He said that's too nice of Mauser to drill and tap so I bought a ruger ss mkII. He put a #3 shilen 10 twist on it and cut it a 24". It shot well with h4350 for 225's and up and h4895 for anything lighter. The plain old 200g hotcor at 2800 shot cloverleafs. I just bought whelen brass and necked it down.

In one of my thinning the herd moments I sold it and everything with it too cheap. IMO 22" barrel is enough, #3 contour or less is enough, don't bother with the AI because you don't gain much and the standard feeds so well.

My only 338 these days is my RCM. I get about the same speeds from its 20" tube that I did from my 338-06's 24". I've been running 225g interbonds from it at around 2650. They fly well with a .515 BC. I hope to use them on game this fall. It's a pretty handy little rifle and accurate enough to pop milk jugs full of water consistently at 500 yards. I usually carry it on the island park spike elk hunt because of all the bears but have yet to see a spike.

Bb

The 30)06 is taylor made for a 165 grain bullet and the 338/06 is taylor made for a 210 in my opinion. Sure you can step the 30/06 up to a 220 grain bullet but then again you can step the 338/06 up to a 300 gr bullet. If you like lighter bullets then get a 30/06...... but if you like shooting the heavier bullets the 338/06 will stomp the lungs out of the 30/06.

Shod

Hogan,

Good post, but simply must make one historical note: Karamojo Bell didn't kill all of his elephants with the 7x57. He also used the .303 British, 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer and even the .416 Rigby. He also shot quite a few with the .318 Westley-Richards, which is very close to being a .338-06, especially when he wanted just a little more penetration than the smaller bores.

For what it's worth, the ogive on the 185 and 210 versions of the Barnes ttsx look identical to my eyes. The difference seems to be simply a longer shank and one more groove for the 210. The 130 and 150 grain .308" versions are the same way. And since Barnes designs these things to quit expanding basically where the ogive turns to shank, I don't see a lot of advantage in the 210 over the 185 for a 338-06.

Also, the 200 grain ballistic tip appears, to my eyes and seating die, very close to the 225 accubond. The 250 accubond is noticeably more sleek in the ogive than the 225, though.

I take most published B.C.'s with a large grain of salt.

I think a 338-06 would be great with either the 185 ttsx or 200 ab/bt.

You don't have to convince me

Though I have not run the numbers, has to be some difference, may be a wash though and if a wash, I err to heavier...

RE BC of the 185 vs 210 vs what MV you can get out of them...

Looking at my JBM charts again and assuming MV from the 2 bullets, the 210 is not behind the 185 basically and starts to edge it as you get further out. In wind and energy. The drop between the 2 is so close I can deal with it. couple inches difference out around 400 only.

Question, anyone run the 210 ttsx vs the 185 on moose like game and can tell me a difference?

I'm always leaning to heavy bullets generally, but concede that one bullet lighter in barnes is usually no big deal, other than loss of BC.

Thanks, Jeff

I seem that there is a listing for a 165 grain ttsx at 3015 FPS anybody have any dealings with these in the 338-06

Inherited a 338-06AI built on a Zastava (Mauser) action with a 24" 1:10 Shaw 2 1/2 contour barrel. I bedded it in a B&C Carbelite and it shoots pretty good. I originally tried to install with a rear ferrule and that was a mess. Finally tapped it out and just bedded the rear tang real well and groups tightened.

It's a chunk with that heavy sporter barrel.

Seems to like 215 NPTs and Re-15, although I still have a pile of 230 Fail Safes that I'd like to get it to shoot. Think the last time I tried I was using W760.

John,

The mention of K. Bell was primarily to bring the long bullet, sectional density issue to the table. I have a .338 NEI mold that produces a 290gr rn when cast from wheelweight alloy. These are the real deal for penetration and don't require the high-velocity departure speeds.

No longer have any .300 magnum chamberings in the stable. .30-06 AI I have kept because it is so close to a win mag and I have lots of Sierra 200gr mk & gk. Not like they are well-matched from a .308win...

Lightweight bullets in any .338 bore will get the job done on plains game and large deer. I am skeptical of light, magic bullets on Brown Bear or large Moose which inhabit my world so own nothing lighter than a 225 Partition. My standard .338-06 bullet is the 230gr FailSafe. It is the walk-about rifle the girls take hiking. I have kept a .340wby Sako TRG-s and shoot that with the cast bullet mentioned above. About half the powder of most jacketed loads, very accurate and great penetration. 250gr jacketed otherwise for any serious hunting.

Had a 23" Hart 10T, shot everything in 1/2 moa

200 BT at 2910
215 at 2790
225 at 2670

4320 was my go to under 225PT for an Elk load, 200BT for deer.

WW brass, partial sized. Std. primer

Just as a point of reference.. had a friend that was going to rebarrel his 338/06 AI, and for simplicity, the gunsmith recommended using a 280 case this time, and not doing the AI...

guess it matched the 338/06 AI for case capacity....

claims it is getting more velocity with the 280 case and his one bullet choice of 225 grain Partitions...

Do you mean the 160 TTSX? I would think the 338-06 would push them faster than 3015. My 338 FED runs the 160 TTSX at 3020-3040. Also, the 160 is shaped identically to the 185 TTSX, just without the boattail.

280 case as the one to form brass from or what are you saying?