Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Any favorite 338-06 loads?

I have a Winchester SS classic model 70 at JES Reboring right now being rebored to 338-06. Will come home with a 23 inch barrel and already bedded into a McMillan compact hunter stock.
Anyone have a favorite hunting load? Will be taking it to Idaho in October for elk, deer, bear and wolves.
Loaded some forming loads this morning with some once fired 06 federal brass.
What do you have?

Nosler 210 Partition on top of 58.0 grains of W748 for 2701 fps in my 22” barrel. Alaskan moose, caribou and deer were no match for it.



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I haven't had one in many years, but I took my first bull elk in Colorado with a .338-06. The Hornady 225 SP shot so accurately in my rifle I never tried another bullet. Favorite loads were 53 grs. IMR4320 and 52 grains IMR4064. Muzzle velocity of each was just under 2,600 fps.

you might want to consider Re 15

The 210 partition shot great but I settled on 185gr Hornady GMX and 4064 in mine for accuracy, trajectory and performance on elk.
I've since swapped that 338-06 away but I still wonder about a Nosler E-tip in it for elk.

Thanks guys for your help. I have always liked and had great success with Hornady Interlocks and I have some Barnes triple shocks and tipped triple shocks to try.
I have been playing with a 338 Federal lately and have owned several 338 Win Mags but have not killed anything with either.
This is my first 338-06 and hoping for a “Lucky” game killing rifle. Will likely be taking the Federale as backup this fall.
Take care, Les

The Nosler 210gr Partition over a Nosler book max of 4320 has worked well for me. It was recommended tome many years ago by the late Chub Eastman. Tried it, it worked well and stuck with it. I'm sure some of the newer powders would be even better. Maybe JB will chime in.

Have only owned two .338-06's, one before many of today's newer powders and bullets appeared. That rifle liked 62.0 H4350 with 210 Partitions, for a little over 2700 fps, 60.0 H4350 with 225 Hornady's for about 2650, and 56.5 IMR4350 for around 2450 fps with the 250 Partition.

The second one shot 200-grain Ballistic Silvertips well at around 2760 fps, with 57.0 Big Game. 59.0 H4350 worked very well 225 Hornadys at 2700 fps, and 58.5 H4350 worked nicely with 250 Partitions, for around 2500 fps. Both Big Game and H4350 are more temperature-resistant than many older powders.

53 grs Reloader 15 behind a 210 Nosler partiton. Not hot but very accurate in the three rifles I load for.
Takes Elk in a very positive manner

Thanks big joe, mule deer {john} and tracks.
John, because of your input from past postings i almost decided against the 338-06 and went to another 9.3. I already have one 9.3x62 and have had a couple of others so decided to scratch this itch thats been festering for several years. Will see how it goes. I’m thinking the 210 and 225 weights will take care of my needs for this one. I have the 250 and 286s for the 9.3
Take care, Les

Anyone have a good 180gr load? powdr

57.0 grains of IMR4064 worked pretty well in one of mine, getting close to 2900 fps from a 22" barrel. Accuracy with the 180 Ballistic Tip was OK, not spectacular, but plenty for "normal" hunting ranges.

This charge is a little over Hodgdon's listed max of 55.5 grains with the same bullet, but velocity was basically the same, considering their test barrel was 24". Plus mine was a custom rifle, which may have had a slightly different throat.

My best 338-06 load has been 60 gr of Win 760, Winchester Mag primer, Nosler 225 Partition, and Remington Cases. The rifle is a custom using a Springfield action with 24" barrel. The rifle was made in the mid 90's by Westwind Rifles in Erie CO. The rifle and load shoots a 1" to 1 1/2" group with regularity. I used Winchester and Sellier & Bellot standard primers and the groups opened up to 2".

215 Sierra 55.5 VV N-140. 225 Hornady 53.7 I 4064. 250 Horn and Sierra 58.5 I-4350 . 210 Nosler Part. 55.5 Varget. 200 Ballistic Tip 54.6 I-4064
Benchmark barrel, 24" All shot well under an inch for 3 rounds

23" Hart - Used Partial Sized WINCHESTER Brass, probably holds more powder than your Federal

200 BTs, 2910
215 Sierra - 2790
225 Partition - 2670

ALL used IMR4320. Load data put up....4064 works great with lighter bullets, but 4320 is one of THE best for this round for 225s, accuracy and speed.

Lastly, so many successfully use the 210, BUT for ME, the 225 adds MORE Energy downrange, Higher SD and BC, and ONLY about 2" more drop at 400 yds with a 200 zero. For me the 225 is a no brainer. YES the 210s work, but the 225 IMHO gives a bit more, just in case you need it...i.e. bad angle, longish shot.

SO, WW Brass partial sized, 225 PT, IMR4320. That load will take about anything in NA if you do your part.

Tankjock you may want to try some Rl17 with the 210gr Swift Scirocco. The bullet has a high BC and retains around 95%. I use the two in my 338-06AI. Accurate and great on game performance. RL17 has a gentle pressure curve as compared to most other powders. Good luck.

4064.... 50 grains... with the 200, 225 and 250 grain Hornadys.... each puts velocity at 2500 fps and pretty much the same point of impact at 100 yds....

for velocity H 380 is often overlooked by many....small tiny groups with any of the following in my rifle. Model 70 in 270 rebored to 338/06.

65 grains with 250 grainers..

62.5 with 225 grainers

60 with 50 grainers...

Something does not look right here

Thanks for all the reply’s. I picked up 500 of the seconds Midway is selling this past weekend. I am pretty sure they are the Hornady 230 grain ELDX. For the price, “22cents” a bullet, i thought they would make good fire-forming and practice loads. Anyone have experience with these on game?
I loaded up 50 of them with 50 grains of Varget. Will see how they shoot. Hoping the rebored rifle returns this week.
Les

Yeah those were not available when I was loading the 33/06 or I would have been all over them. Any of the 4350's is where I would start. Would also try RE17
Let us know how they shoot. I recently loaded a bunch for my buddy in a 338 win mag and they hammered..H4350