Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Thinking of a .338-06

Or at least a couple dozen other cartridges for that matter.

I did the 338-06 as half of a matched pair of Husqvarnas, the other is chambered in 256 Newton. The 338 FED is part of a 3 rifle matched set of stainless Ruger Hawkeyes; a 223, a 6.5 Creedmoor, and the 338 FED.

But my 338-06 certainly recoils more than my 338 WM.

informative and nicely stated

It may be machining qualities rather than hardness per se.

As far as hammer forging goes, at least one reborer I corresponded with in the past said Remington barrels rebored and rerifled just fine, but he wouldn't recommend doing a Sako.

Have had 2 338-06’s and one AI version. Both are good; just like a 30/06.

A 30-06 shoots 200 gr and lighter bullets better than the 338-06 (look at ballistic coefficients). For heavier bullets the .35 Whelen and 9.3X62 make more sense, plus factory ammunition availability (not that I would use any except in a pinch).

Sorry, but it makes no sense when you say "look at ballistic coefficients" on the one hand for .30 caliber bullets, and then say that a .35 caliber cartridge makes more sense for heavier bullets. When you look at "heavier bullets" like the 250 or 300 grain .338 Scenars or the 230, 250, or 270 grain Hornady bullets the .338 wipes the floor with 35 caliber bullets.

And for my purposes, I just want a bigger bullet than .30 caliber, and not for long range so BC is not really a consideration for me. Less recoil than the .338 WM, great bullet selection, and the ability to use .30-06 cases if need be are just the icing on the cake.

Yes, the BC of the larger diameter bullet will be lower for same weight. But the larger bore will also shoot the same weight faster. Basically, get what intrigues you. You’ll have to look really hard for a case where one makes an animal dead and the other does not.

True but for all but dangerous game the same thing can and has been said about virtually any cartridges you can think of, starting with the .223.

Was at the gunsmith's today and got to check the progress on my current 338-06 build.

All that is left to do is to cut/crown the barrel at 23" and cerakote. Should be ready next week!

Big .338 Federal fan here. Recoil just right for my liking. For long action based on an '06 case, make mine a 25/06.

I'm a left hand person, or better said handicapped fella. I got ahold of an close out on a left handed Ruger Hawkeye Compact Magnum rifle in 338 RCM for $499. Had to try it and I'm glad I did. It's basically an facsimile of the 338-06 designed to be used in short actions and shorter barrels. I love it and love the form and size of the rifle.

The 30-06, 308, and 6.5 Creedmoore are all fine and dandy, but the 338-06/338RCM is really a performance sweet spot without punishing recoil. Packs a bit more diameter and one can up the bullet weight if wanted. Yeah, 338 is good stuff.

I don’t think recoil will be as big an issue as some might think. My Kimber 338 Federal with 185-200gr loads at 2600-2700 is very manageable. A 338-06 going a bit faster but weighing a bit more should be about the same. You likely aren’t going to do all day bench sessions with it anyway. Lots of good 338 bullets out there. Sounds like a fun project.

A little off topic, most will get it, I think.


I bought a pre-Garcia Sako 338, just because.
I had been using a 300 Win, and was contemplating
this 338.

I get geeky about this stuff, and after laying in bed reading loading manuals and ballistics tables,
a light came on.

The 338 produces more muzzle energy than the 300.
The 300, produces more than enough energy up close.

With normal hunting bullets, as range increases, the 300 closes the gap, and has better trajectory.

Many people shoot lighter bullets in the 338 today. Heavies were what I thought it's strength was.
Why not use a 200gr Partition in the 300. And basically beat the 338 at almost everything.


Ok, that 338 is still in the safe.
If grizzlies were ever to be considered, it goes hunting.
Otherwise, the 300 rules.

Pretty much how I see the same thing in either the '06, or the '08 case.
Not that any are bad, just why?

PS. The 300 sees little sunshine anymore, smaller lighter stuff kills whitetails fine, and elk at too much commitment anymore.

Thanks to all who read the question in my first post and answered it. Seemed fairly straightforward, but perhaps harder to grasp than I'd thought.




Why?? I think the best way to answer that is with my own questions. "Most will get it, I think."

Why don't you read the question in the OP and try to answer it, rather than answering some different question no one asked but you want to opine on?

And why would a guy with a .338 in the safe ask another guy why he wants a .338? Don't you find that.........let's just go with "ironic? " Why don't you sell yours and load 200's in your '06, and live happily ever after?

I have a .30-06, and I can load it with 200's or 220's if I want. I never have and I doubt you have either.

I like 30-06's, no questions. But I also like almost any cartridge based on the old '06, from 25 thru 375. I have molds for 338 bullets and if I had only one cartridge for big game a 338-06 would do nicely, I think.

I find the 375 Whelen AI to be a very mild kicker with 235 thru 270 grain bullets. A 338-06 is a piece of cake.

Me too. But a .375? Now that's ridiculous.

Campfire tradition.
Basically asking "Are you sure you want to do it"
I explained the acquisition, it's still there because I haven't needed to sell it. And my comparison was by case size, so, 300Win.
And your right. I probably wouldn't go 200 in a 30. If I need that much punch, that would be the time I would go 338 250gr.

But, that's the fun and frustration in our available choices, and the choices we make.
It can go round and round. In 1906, they had a fantastic cartridge.
See my sig line.
The rest is just our wants.

After this '06 talk I bet you think I'm one who starts every hunting conversation with "my '06"
Have two, neither is a favorite rifle.
Don't often use it..

Here is why I originally picked the 338-06 in the early 2000's.

30-06 was too boring and not a big enough step up in diameter from my 270.

I seriously looked at 8mm-06, 338-06, and Whelen as I did not wanted a belted magnum. Had previously owned a 338 Win Mag.

8mm-06 did not have enough bullet selection way back when. I am not much impressed with the 325WSM either. I had owned a big eight (Remington magnum) at one time.

Whelen just did not seem to have enough powder capacity for the big bullets to ballistically keep up with the 338-06. .


The 338-06 comes dang close to the 300 magnums.
Easy to load for. I have never found any of the rifles had to load for. I could not get the Barnes 210gr XLC bullets to shoot in couple of rifles, and gave up on them.
The loaded round looks good
It has performed so well for me that I see no reason to change.
It has now become personal preference.

I like your logic, thanks.