Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles ? on handloading .338-06

Since my wonderful wife got me a Cooper M52 in .338-06 I have come up with a few dilemmas on loading for it.

1. Cases are not easy to find so I figure I need to make use of plentiful 30-06 cases.

2. What dies to use. I have pretty much decided on Redding, but which ones. Standard are bushing dies?

3. Can a person go straight from .30 to .338 just by using the .338-06 sizing die on the 30-06 cases or should there be a step in between?

4. Is there something I am not thinking of that would be helpful? I have never had to size cases to a different caliber before.

Thanks for you help/

Back when I built a 338-06 I used standard RCBS dies and ran 30-06 brass through in one cycle. Worked fine. Some days I wish I hadn't sold that one.

This is an option:
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/20180

But honestly, I’d recommend using 30-06 brass. I think I just used a regular RCBS FL die to resize the brass. One pass, easy.

Just run 30-06 cases thru a RCBS FL 338-06 die and then neck size after that.

Thanks Guys

Apply Imperial sizing wax with a Q-tip on the insides of the necks before the expansion.

I’ve used Redding dies for over 30 years for my M7600 and with a bit of Imperial Sizing Wax they open the ‘06 necks up easily. You will probably have to trim the necks slightly to square them up perfectly. Be careful not to set the shoulder back with the FL die.


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I've necked down 35 Whelen cases for my AI version.

yes to question #3 easy peasy

Congratulations on a great gift, you married well!

I full length sized -06 brass with standard dies. New brass is easy, fired - 06 brass works if you anneal he neck.
Another vote for a tiny amount of Imperial sizing wax.

A tapered expander will also help with 30-06 cases, which I've always used. I've had a few of them. Still have one. Great shooters and work well on elk.

Huntington's has Norma 338-06 brass in stock. I believe Norma has discontinued it.

With that being said, it is very easy to form as stated above. I have never had any issues forming it in one pass from 30-06 brass.

lots of lube.. it is the same thing you hear all the time in prison! but yea the die will make easy work out of 30-06 cases. I like to resize with the 30-06 die first, then trim them to the same length. I bet new 3006 case would be the easiest to work with. I often use once fired so i add an extra step to try and make them as the same as i can, but it might not be necessary. M8x57

I am thinking some Lapua 30-06 brass would be very nice to resize. If I ever have supply issues, that would probably be my goto.

I ordered the imperial Sizing wax and Redding dies . The guy my wife bought the gun from is selling me 100 unused Norma .338-06 cases. So once I get it all with weather cooperating I should be set to get some shooting in.

I think you will really like the 338-06. I am a fan.

Do not know what your bullet choice is going to be. But I have had very good luck with Varget and 180-210gr projectiles.

Since the rifle is a Cooper, you know it is going to shoot lights out.

That's the weight bullets I want to try. How have the 180s been for you. I tried 180g NBT in my .338 Winchester, but they were not accurate in it. The only bullet it didn't like so far.

I have more experience with the 200-210's. I have used 200 gr Hornady Interlock, and Nosler ballistic silvertip on deer/antelope. The Nosler seemed softer with more meat damage. I recovered the separated jacket of the Nosler in a mature SD mule deer from this past fall on the offside next to the skin. I have some 200gr Hornady SST's that shoot fantastic, but have not used them on game yet.

I have also used the 210gr NPT and TSX on deer and elk. The TSX penetrates like crazy and the partition was, simply put, a partition performance wise.

The 180 NAB shoots very good in a friends rifle and worked as expected on a mature Black Hills whitetail.
I know another gentleman and his daughter who used the old 180gr Nosler BT on two bison here in SD with no issues.
I am working with the 185 TTSX and GMX right now, but have not found a load yet.

There is a guy on the "elk killing rifle" thread in the elk forum that really likes the 160gr Barnes and has used it with much success on a variety of animals in Africa and NA. His preference is that bullet and the 210gr NPT.

H4895 is a solid powder for the round but velocities are a touch slower than Varget. It is an easy round to load for and hope you really enjoy it.

I like 35 Whelen brass because it is easy to neck down to get zero headspace for that first shot. For decades I have used the RCBS competition seater dies, easy and fast.

i am curious as to why one would want to use bullets lighter than 200 gr in a 338-06.