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

I use the Redding std die set the re sizer has the tapered expander ball. Ditto on Imperial die sizing wax in and out. I Nothing fancy just used 1 fired WW cases, totally painless. MB

What Bob said except I use new Lapua brass. Probably a waste of $ in the grand scheme.
I like the performance of the 210 grain Swift Scirocco from mine. Beanland built it so it shoots most everything well.
Best of luck to you.

I started out years ago mostly resizing and fire-forming either W-W or Remington .30-06 brass in Redding dies. When I acquired my most recent .338-06, a very nice custom rifle that did not appear to have been shot, I had my gunsmith check it out. When I picked it up, he gave me some Weatherby .338-06 brass that he had bought, but not used. I liked not having to mess with opening up '06 cases, and I ordered 100 Norma cases, and later ordered another 100.

I shot 200-grain Accu-Bonds exclusively for several years, but loaded up some 185 TTSXs last year that shoot both fast and accurately. Didn't get a chance to poke an elk with them last year, but I hope to give them the acid test when fall rolls around again.

Velocity is the simple and easy answer.

That has never been my mentality. That is up until my last rifle, I just played with 160-275gr bullets, but always hunted the 200-210gr weight.
If I can get the 185 monos to shoot, that is what my son and I will use on Alaska spring black bear this year.

The friend that I loaded the 180gr NAB's for is mainly a deer hunter. So no real need for heavier bullets there. The guy/daughter that used the old 180gr NBT had zero issues with bison.

Because the 180 NAB is very accurate, as is the 160 TTSX at 3K fps.

My fav two loads are with the 210 NPT and 160 TTSX.

DF

I really liked 210 partitions with H4350 and RL17 around 2700 seemed to be the sweet spot.

Ever try H-380 with that bullet?

DF

Mine as well. 160’s for whitetail size and 210’s for Africa and 250’s for big bears, etc. Gotta luv the versatility of 160’a to 250’s!

Yes, I have the win mag but it stays n the safe now!

I'm sorta new to the 338-06, having picked up this one on the Classifieds. I redid the bedding, painted it. 24" custom barrel, maker unknown, came with Timney trigger. Bore looks new thru the Hawkeye borescope and it shoots some loads sub MOA. It likes what it likes, not so much what it doesn't like. But, I've about got that figured out.

I mounted a 3-9x40 Conquest that I had sent back for elevation turret. Now, this isn't a LR target rifle, but I think it would be fun to dial up 400-500 yd targets just for the heck of it. Some of the loads are accurate enough for that. Big bullet whacking a far away target gotta be fun.

DF

No, but it might be worth a try. I think it's going to be a bit fast for 210gr+ .

Seafire and Gunner500 put me on it. I’ve found it to be very accurate. From what I gather, it’s their powder of choice for this round. It’s slower than Varget, which is another really good performer.

61 gr H-380 with a 200 gr CT (black NBT) grouped .65” at a hundred. My sub MOA groups with 160 TTSX and 210 NPT were both with Varget. Will try H-380 with those.

My can of H-380 was just sitting there, not being used. I use Varget in other rounds. If H-380 does what I think it will do, I’ll dedicate that can to this round, save my Varget for the others.

DF

I have tried to avoid the variable loads for different game in mine. I need to keep everything simple.

My experience with a 210gr TSX @ 2800+ fps leads me to believe that I would not be undergunned on just about anything around the world.

I can only think of a couple of animals that I would not be comfortable using this combination on. I feel that with proper bullets and shot placement, buffalo or elephant would be in serious trouble.

CRS, what’s your go to load for the 210 TSX?

If you noted it earlier, guess I missed it.

DF

i understand the desire for velocity but my understanding is that you can get around 3k with a 165 gr bullet in the '06 with better bc.
i always thought the advantage of going to 338 is availability of the heavier bullets in that caliber.

DF,
Varget 57.5gr in a Rem 338-06 that I no longer own, because someone else wanted it more.

I have not run any 210gr T/TSX loads through my latest 338-06 as I have been messing around with 185gr mono's and softer 200gr bullets in the Hornady SST and Nosler Ballistic Silvertip.

I have two more rifles coming so chambered.

First is a Model 70 Classic Supergrade that a previous owner had neglected. The bore, was in bad shape and I could not get it to shoot in the original 270 chambering. Getting a 1:9 twist with Dakota Arms open sights. Load development will start, and hopefully end with the Barnes 210gr T/TSX. Hopefully around 2800fps. If it will not shoot those, I will go up in weight. After I find a load and get the open sights filed in, that will be the load. Plenty of good heavies to pick from and I hope I do not have to go all the way to 300gr.

Second is another Model 70 Classic getting the same 1:9 twist barrel but heavier contour threaded for a suppressor. Going to try and find a subsonic load using softer heavies like an ELDM and a hunting load in the 185-210gr range. It would be really nice if it would shoot the same load as my current 338-06.

Yes heavier bullets, but bigger diameter is also an advantage. Two 160gr bullets traveling at 3k fps, the bigger diameter hits harder IMO.

On elk I have seen them shot with 243-30 caliber and act like they are not hit. I have not seen that with 338, 35, or 375.

You can easily, and with plenty of room in the case get 2800+ fps with H-380 in a 338-06 and 210gr Partitions, I don't have my load book handy, but I'd start at 60 grains and go up with a chrono, damn stuff burns clean pressured up a bit too, and accuracy is ridiculously good.

Thanks, gunner. I’ve been amazed by the accuracy I’m seeing with H-380 in the 338-06. You and Seafire were onto something. Most writers have historically been 4320 advocates. It works OK, don’t think it’ll push’em as fast as H-380 and not more accurate, IME. Back when some of those articles were written, there wasn’t the powder selection we now have. So, 4320 may have been the best choice. It’s still good, maybe not the last word in this round.

DF

You guys are talking me into trying H380, as if I do not have enough powder on my shelf already....

I feel yo pain...

DF