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

I loaded up some 230 grain ELD-X bullets and tried them this week. I've always shot the 185 TTSX but just wanting to try something new. A generic load with H414 produced excellent accuracy. Shot 4 groups today and all under an inch...one 5 shot group all holes touching. I plan to play with these a bit more but would be happy with this first load if it never got any better. BC of .616 so these bullets should really hang in there.

As I read it, the OP left it open for people to share their experiences with what they have used be it 225 or something else...

The 210 or 225 grain Barnes TSX or TTSX bullets are good timber bullets for a .338-06 and will plant any elk if you put it in the right place. I am about done with the grandsons 338-06 based on an old Springfield 1903A3 that had a rusted out barrel. I am going to load 210 grain TSX bullets over H4895 and WLR primers and expect good results

I would not be a bit afraid to us it for the dreaded "Texas Heart Shot" to stop a wounded moose, as that load will have plenty of the "right stuff" to stop any moose or big bear. So it should be able to handle an elk.

I've intentionally not weighed in on this thread while discussion was occurring because I liked the discourse - civil, passionate, very good discussion.

I did opine on timber hunting and was thinking similar to what Andy was conveying. Sounds like he and I find elk in the same places and hunt the same way. 100 yards and hour is not an exaggeration, at least for me. I've smelled elk before I saw them.

That said Starman is also correct because I did leave it wide open because I have zero experience with any 338 caliber cartridges on elk. I've shot a few deer with 338 WM and 250 Partitions - just because. Pretty sure I wasn't undergunned.

I'm also not inclined to do the Texas heartshot thing. I've passed up more than a few on some nice bulls. If you fail to center a bullet between the hams and hit one of the hams, you basically ruined 75 lbs of meat. I've shot a couple of previously wounded deer that way and it crumples them but wastes alot of meat. Plus I've been able to avoid that shot and still manage to find an elk about every year that cooperates with a nice broadside or quartering away shot. <G>

I really appreciate the discussion and the views posted. I've learned more about 338 caliber bullets in this thread than I would have learned in 20 years of trial and error. On my list of bullets to try are Swift SC II 210, Nosler 210 NPT, Nosler 225 NPT, 225 NAB, and likely the Sierra PH 225. I'll do some water jug, wet newspaper, clay bank testing and see what holds together and my rifle prefers.

The 225 Sierra wasn't mentioned by alot but they have the same velocity window as the 30 cal, 180 PH (1900-3100). I run the 180 in my 308 at 2575-2600. I've shot a few deer with that combo and its tough to catch a bullet. I did catch one last year from a frontal shot. Found the bullet in the ham - expanded well, retained 78% of its weight. My Kimber 308 lobs them into 0.5-0.75 inch groups. A 338-06 likely run the 225 a 100 ft/sec faster but doubt that will turn it into a grenade. I suspect my rifle will like the flat base Sierra - haven't found too many rifles that didn't shoot a flat base sierra fairly well.

Anyone have a 338-06 dummy round with the bullets I mentioned? I'd like to figure out the geometry between the longest OAL to fit in my magazine (3.400), bullet ogive, and chamber accordingly. I suspect the Swift 210 SCII or the 225 NAB have the longest bullet and associated ogive. I'll put a WTB in the classifieds and see if I get any interest.

Any other thoughts/ideas - throw 'em on the table!

Have only killed 3 critters with my 338-06, none were elk. Caribou at 250 yards, Moose at 300 yards, grizzly bear at 35-40 yards. All shot with the 210 Scricco at 2830 fps out of my 21" rebore 338-06 Kimber Montana. Also loaded 225 NABs to 2695 fps and 230 ELDX to 2650 fps.

I am using 250 A Frames this next month in it for another Kodiak spring bear hunt where I will play back up but those are only lumbering along at 2500 fps. If you choose to keep your Kimber at 24" I see no reason why you couldn't best my velocities listed by 50-75 fps.

Please post your results using the 250 Aframes. And good luck! Pics are required.

If you send me the bullets, I'll make the dummy rounds up for you.

Hey bwinters these Sciroccos were pulled from an enormous bull elk. Shots were in the 75 yd range. One broadside through ribs and the other two in the neck. All were imbedded on the far side hide. The last two were not necessary but with no snow I wasn't taking any chances. Muzzle velocity was 2865fps from the AI version so impact was probably somewhere around 2725. All bullets weighed around 195gr.
Hope this helps.

338 bullets are kind of like 270 bullets in the fact that it is harder to find hunting bullets that do not work, vs one that do.

Bwinters,

Here is the only 210 Sciroccos I have recovered. The one on the caribou went right through. The 2 on the grizz went through. The broadside shot at 300 on the moose went through. This bullet we went I walked up to the moose and it stood up at less than 10 yards from me. Between the eye, both sides of skull and deep into the neck issue, lights out.

Estimated impact velocity was 2800 fps or so.

I will if I actually get to get in on some follow up action this time if needed.

Last time I took my 338-06 to Kodiak in 2016 and had it stoked with 250 A Frames, my wife didn't need my help in the least and dumped this little fella in one shot with her 20" barrel 308 win.

I can like that alot. I'll probably start with that bullet. I can get a sample size from submoashooting.com. He's a local guy and campfire member (claybreaker). Plus he's just a plain good dude. He started the sample bullet site a couple months back and is a really good deal.

Thanks.

I recall that thread. Nice bear! I'm surprised the 308 didn't bounce off that beast 😎

What bullet did she use in her 308?

I have been using 210 TTSXs with RL17 and getting great accuracy, low spreads and 2790 fps out of a 23" barrel.

Ramshot Big Game and H4350 work, too, but RL17 seems to give the best velocity.

Seems thats about the speed I get with 210 ttsx and varget too! Don't think mine is a 23 though, think its a 22 or even a smidge less. Alas it stays in AK where it belongs so I can't measure.

BWinters, I have 338-06 brass and a variety of bullets. 210 PT, Scirocco II and 225 Partitions. I can seat some dummy rounds to the OAL of your choice and send them. Don’t have any A-Frames though.

I wonder if there's a lesson hidden way down deep in this sentence?

Na, couldn't be. OK back to talking about 300grn bullets from a .375 for elk!

There are damn few .338 bullets sold that will not work in a 338-06 for elk. Elk are not bullet proof. You do not need so called premium bullets for the 338-06. Pick one that shoots well out of your gun and go hunting. Most guys reloading have too much time or money. Or both.

I agree but you can never have "too much money."