Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 338-06 elk bullets

Seriously thinking of getting my 30-06 rebored to 338-06. My goal is to shoot 225 gr bullets at elk in the timber. Looking at the 210 Swift Scirrocco, 225 Partition, 225 Accubond.

How have these bullets, and others you've guys have used, worked on elk size critters?

Thanks.

I have only used the 210gr NPT and TSX on elk with no issues at all. I also used the 225gr Bearclaw on two elk in the late 90's out of a 338Win Mag.

With that being said, I do not see the need for a 225gr in a 338-06 on elk. Unless you want to, just because.

When my next 338-06 project is finished, My bullet choices will be as follows:
210gr TTSX
210gr TSX
210gr NPT
In that order.

If none of those work I will move on to the 200gr Nosler ballistic silvertip. I met a gentleman and his daughter that used the 180gr NBT on two bison with no issues. I am thinking a 200gr will work just fine.

The Nosler 210 NP shot well for me and always performed wonderfully.

Thanks guys. I considered the 210 - but what advantage does it have over a 30-06, 200 gr Partition at 2700?

I never had a .338-06, but I have shot elk and deer with 210 Part. and 225 Accubonds out of my .340 Wea. Excellent..

Diameter, velocity, and it's not a 30-06.

IMO a 30-06 does not need a 200gr bullet.

Didn't you get a Kimber 280ai? If you want to go bigger, wouldn't a 9.3x62 be your huckleberry?

BWinters, if you decide to go with 225 Partitions I have a bunch I likely won’t use and will make you a good deal on. They shoot well with RL17 or H4350 in my 338-06.

Yes I did buy a 280 AI - I'm looking for a bigger hammer without going to a mag of some type. I find myself hunting elk in the timber. The last 3-4 I've killed have been in the timber and 50 yards or less. I'd do a 9.3 all day except I don't have enough meat in my 30-06 barrel to do a re-bore.................

I think a 280 AI shooting 160 NAB at 2950 and a 338-06 shooting 225 NPT or equivalent would make a good pair of rifles for about anything on earth except the really big bitey/stompem/gore 'em to death types. I could call the pair "Near" and "Far". <G>

I’ve taken 1 bull with the 210 Swift, a couple Elk with the 210 Partitions. The 225 Partitions and Accubonds have been used by some buddies I’ve hunted with and work well.

I hear what you’re saying about the 210 not being much different than a 200 in a 30-06. I used them cause they were accurate and carried just fine out to 500. The Swift is an excellent Bullet as is that Partition.

This was the 210 Swift from this years little bull. Shot was 150 yards, crushed the near side leg bone, found it dug into the hide on the far side.



Decent BC on it as well. Very accurate in my 338 Win at 2950.

I agree, great combo. My choice is a 270/338-06.

I have never recovered a 338 caliber 210 or 225gr in any elk I have shot. With the exception of a 210gr NPT that was stopped on the off side by the lower leg bone of a bedded elk.

I have played with 180-275gr out of 338-06's and have settled on the 200-210gr weight class. Real world velocities with the 200gr class have been from 2725 to 2850.

I have owned them in Remington, Winchester, Kimber, Springfield, VZ24, Montana variations. My current and last build is on a Model 70 classic, Mickey edge, Shilen #3 1:9 twist at 23", threaded for a suppressor. This one will not be sold!

I have been hoping for a friend of mine to sell another model 70 back to me that I sold in a moment of weakness. This one has a fwt contour barrel and factory fwt wood stock. Never should have sold it.

bwinters===== I had a Ruger 30-06 ultralight rebored to 9.3 . the original muzzle O.D. diameter was .500, and still is. The rifle is a pleasure to carry all day elk hunting and the bull elk I've taken with the 325gr Norma oryx bullet reacted as though they we hit by a train. I don't believe there is a production gun with a slimmer contour barrel than the Ruger RL . Send your rifle to JES reboring in Oregon 4 lands, 1in 12 twist, you won't be disappointed in the accuracy or results on critters for a non belted cartridge.
Good Hunting
Lj

HB - I had one of them - they have a really thin barrel contour. I'm surprised he did it. I talked to him yesterday about my Kimber. I have enough meat for a 338 but doubt enough to do a 358 or 9.3.

Like the mushroom on that bullet. Is that the Scirrocco or Aframe? 338 WM or 338-06?

Thanks for the info.

338 Win started at 2950. It’s the Scirocco as well.

Thanks!

Good stuff beretzs, I run the 210 gr Partitions to 2800 in my 338-06, have read here they should be fine for the OP's elk hunting concerns, that 210 SS-II at 2800 fps would be the nuts too!

I have used only 200-grain AccuBonds for elk in my .338-06s for the last ten years or so. Early on, I did kill one with a 225 A-Frame. Will be shooting a 185 TTSX this year just to try something different.

Thanks guys. An interweb search indicates alot of guys use the 210 NPT and 210 Swift SC II on elk in both the 338-06 and its big brother.

It also looks like 2775 is possible with 210s and 2675 with 225s. With the high BC possible in both those weights, they shoot flat out to 400 yards which is farther than I plan to use this rig - but you never know when one will show up across the meadow.

If anyone wants to share their favorite 338-06 with 210 or 225 recipes, that'd be ok <G>

Some years back I made up a dummy round with a 210 Nosler in it and asked a 'smith to build a rifle around it. Only 210 Noslers have ever been fired in it. Seven Elk down, five one shot kills. It was made for my often deployed Grandson who can't hunt with it every year.

At the ranges I use them, the 225 Accubonds work really well with both my .338-06 and .35 Whelen Ai for Moose & Elk . Inside 300 yds the Accubond, with the tip cut off, is a different bullet. Accuracy isn't affected, they open faster and still provide more than adequate penetration plus, cutting the tip off allows an additional .020 in the magazine to get optimal seating depth in my rifles.
Another good bullet is the Woodleigh 225 PPSN and of course, the 210 NP. All seem to do an excellent job at decent terminal velocities. It's always good to have options and I think the .338-06 is a good one.