I have been reading with interest the thread about 338-06 or 35 whelen, because I am in a bit of the same situation. I have a 358 Win that I thought I could use, but due to it being built off a small ring Mauser, I want to keep pressures down. Because of that, I am looking at the possibilities for a bigger game rifle. Here are my parameters: game up to elk and moose size, also sufficient for big black bear. (here in Pa we have several 600+lb bear shot each year. Distance, I would say my max range at this point is 350 yards, maybe 400. I have an older Savage 110 rifle currently chambered in 30-06 that I have never shot. The gunsmith put a bore scope down the barrel, and said it looks like it as shot very little. So I have the option of A. Leaving it as an 06. Would probably put a better stock on than the cheap birch it came with. Or B. I can re-barrel to an 06 based cartridge. So I have been looking at primarily 338-06 or 35 whelen, or leaving it as an 06. I ran the numbers, and on paper there does not seem to be much difference between the 3 at 350 yards.
For the 06 using 180 grain accubonds and figuring 2850 fps muzzle velocity, 350 yard vel is 2252/2027 lbs energy.
For the 338-06 using 225 grain accubond figuring mv of 2685, 350 yard vel is 2144/2296 lbs energy
For the whelen using 225 accubond figuring mv of 2650, 350 yard vel is 1984/1966 lbs energy.
Do these numbers look like they are reasonable? I got them from Hodgdon's site. The nosler shows higher vel with the whelen, but that is a 26 inch barrel. Secondly am I missing the point entirely and should I be looking at something else? I would like to keep it to a simple barrel change if possible. For what I am seeing, I am tempted to see how the 06 currently shots, and if it is good just be done with it. My reasoning for that is easy to get brass, and a big bullet selection. I do reload for pretty much everything I have, so i don't see doing differently with an 06.
.................................Looks like you are trying to justify a new purchase?? LOL...Hey! We all do it in some manner.
Given your above parameters and location, the 30-06 is outstanding. That is of course unless you just have to have a 338 or a 35. I would not put too much emphasis on the down range velocity/energy #s given that your above comparisons for the three are close enough to one another and are more than sufficient for your use with nearly a ton of energy for one and more than a ton for the other two @ 350 yards. Splitting a few hairs here.... Instead, I would focus more on comparing down range bullet trajectories and windages at ranges beyond your rifle scope's zero. Chances are, just guessing, is that you may not have a long ranged (simply dial in your range) scope? Eliminate as much holdover guess work as possible prior to your shot by knowing your bullet trajectories or bullet flight paths via the use of a ballistics calculator.
30-06 is fine......Take that older Savage 110 out and see what she does. If it shoots well, then leave it as a 30-06....
