I know what they say about liars figuring, but I took the fastest loads for each cartridge to compare the two. Check out these numbers:
338 WM, 200 gr SPR SP, 74 gr IMR 4350, 2979 fps
338-06 A-Square, 200 gr Interlock, 59.5 gr BLC-(2), 2856
That is a difference of 123 fps and 14.5 gr of powder, or 4% increase in velocity from the '06 to the WM for a 24% increase in powder charge.
Remember that when calculating recoil that powder charge is second most important factor behind bullet weight.
Lest one think that the difference is larger between the two with the 250s, check this:
338 WM, 250 gr. Interlock, 67.5 gr H 4350, 2657 fps
338-06 A-Square, 250 gr. Interlock, 59.8 gr H 4350, 2540 fps
Thats 117 fps for 7.7 gr or 5% increase in velocity for 13% increase in charge weight.
The distance between these two cartridges power-wise is miniscule, and the AI version is going to narrow that margin to next to nothing.
Now don't get me wrong, if I were planning a once in a lifetime trip to Alaska and had to choose between the two there are advantages to the WM like ammo availability that offset these numbers to some extent, but even so, they're pretty hard to argue with. At least for me.
I'd figured that I'd someday "need" a WM after building an '06 as a winter project this year, but after running these numbers thought better of it. That having been said, I love the challenge a wildcat offers from a handloading perspective.
If I were going for the "practical," I'd stick w/ my 30'06 Springfield.
