Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting What bullet in 338-06?

Hi all,
If I were hunting Elk with a 338-06 and couldn’t find any Nosler 210gr Partitions, what bullet would you recommend?
I have a few hundred 225gr Accubonds I use in my 338WM, but prefer not to use them in anything else.
Would a 200gr Accubond @ 2750fps fill the bill?
I have been invited to hunt Wapiti (Elk) in New Zealand and would like some opinions. Not interested in Hornady bullets, can’t get Speer bullets either, which I would choose next to a Partition. The Hot Cor is a good bullet too.
Any advice welcomed.

Cheers.

I've always leaned toward a Hornady 225 SP.... not sure if they make those anymore... I got a big stash for a cheap price years ago, so I've still been going thru those....

if not, I'd switch over to a Nosler 225 gr Partition...

210 TTSX would be my choice for sure

Several good choices here especially the Hornady 225 interlock. The last loads I carried in the 338-06 for elk were the scirocco IIs.
Les

I noticed some 210 grain partitions for sale in the classifieds just this past week.

I’d use the 200 grain Accubonds all day long myself. It’s worked well on elk here in my 338.

I’m sure a 200 AB would be great as would a 180 AB. A 185 mono would also work well, however I’ve only seen 185 GMX available at the moment and you stated you weren’t interested Hornady. I’d also suggest either the 180 or 200 Woodleigh.

The 200 grain .338 Nosler Ballistic Silvertip is one with the heavier jackets, which per Mule Deer, maintains around 2/3s of its weight. I believe his testing with bullets recovered have verified that. This is supposed to make it perform very similar to a Partition. It should be at least on par with the 200 AB.

Look harder for 210 grain NPT's visit SPS 2 times a week until they have them. You asked

this

I had a .338-06 years ago and shot my first bull elk with it in 1991. When doing load development, the first and only bullet I tried was the 225 grain Hornady. It shot so accurately, I saw no need to use anything else. I loaded to around 2600 fps with IMR4320. Shortly after, this powder became impossible to find for a long time. I switched to IMR4064 and results were the same, in fact the powder charge was very close. I realize you don't like Hornady bullets, but they may be worth trying.

Too many to choose from.

160 TTSX would be Da bomb.

PM sent

185 gr TTSX killed springbok to Eland for me

I’ve had good results from the 185 TTSX and 210 Swift Scirocco. Plenty of others I’d trust to do the job but these I’ve personally used.

Hornady 200 grain Interlock does awesome on elk, always seemed to shoot a little flatter than what it should have also. If I recall Steve Timm also said the 200 Speer Hot Cor worked really well too.

185 TTSX

160 TTSX - elk hate them!

Ive used 200 and 225 Hornady thru the 338RCM. They will smash elk sized animals fine. I wouldnt overthink it. Just get a bullet 200+ gr in the 338-06 and shoot an elk. I purchased lotsnof 225gr Hornady SST and Speer hot cores and they work. Nosler works fine. Your moving a bit more diameter, weight, and mass than the smallbore 6.5 and 270 guys and velocity is more moderate. This works in your favor to allow forgiving performance over a wide range of bullets. You dont need premiums to kill an elk with a good 338-06.

The 2 I had the very best results with are the one you chose first, the 210 Partition and the other one was clear on the other end of the scale the old (now discontinued ) 275 grain Speer.
Because the 210 Partition is still available that's what I would recommend now or a bounded bullet of about the same weight. I used them with perfect results from my 2 338-06s and I have made about 20 rifle in that caliber and all those I have made guns for that used the 210 Nosler also said it was great.

The old Speer was slow, like 30-30 slow.........but man oh man did it work well on elk!

Im old enough to remember the 275gr Speers.

Another vote for the TTSX. 210 is my favorite but I wouldn’t hesitate to use 185s either.

185 GMX worked fine for me.

I'll be using with the 185 ttsx the next time I go for elk or moose.

I don't know what is best. I have killed exactly 1 deer and 1 elk with the 338-06. The deer was killed with a 225gr Hornady Spire Point handload and the elk was killed with a Barnes 210gr TSX, also a handload. Both worked perfectly so I would think any good bullet from 200gr to 225gr would work just fine on elk.

Mine shoots 185 TTSX well with a max load of RL15, I would not feel under gunned with that load. If a larger bullet shoots equally well, I would move up in weight as long as I could keep the velocity high.

I have a box of the old 275's, I may have to give them a try

Check out the 210gr Swift Scirrocco II.

I had perfect results with the 210 Partition, and 200 gr is as light as I have ever played with in a 338-06. If I was going to drop down to bullets in the 180 gr range, why not just use a 30-06 and take advantage of better BC and SD?

Unless, of course, you don't own a .30-06.

Pretty much any 338 bullet at 338/06 velocities. I would pick whatever shot the best. Elk are not bullet proof.

I've taken elk with the 210 gr Partition and the 185 gr TSX, grizzly and black bear with the 225 gr AB and, hopefully, will be taking the 185 gr TSX to NE BC for goat, elk and moose this fall. They are all accurate and work.

I'm pulling together my 338-06 build with a LH M70 Classic. Going to duplicate my factory 06 barrel and planning on the 210 NP.

A 200gr NAB will work just fine.

In the past, I have used the 210 NP and 210gr TSX on elk with much success. I really liked the 200gr Hornady Interlock on deer, but alas, no longer available.

A friend has used the 180gr NAB on a couple of deer and plans to use it when he draws a South Dakota elk tag.

In my current 338-06's I have 200gr Ballistic Silvertip Tip, NAB, and 210gr TTSX loads worked up. Neither rifle liked the 185gr GMX or T/TSX. Never tried 160gr bullets as that is not the reason I have 338-06's.

Have used the Ballistic Silvertip Tip on a couple of deer and a SE Alaska black bear and my son used the NAB on his SE Alaska black bear.

The 210gr TTSX will get used the next time I go elk hunting or after something that weighs more than 500#.

A couple of bullets that I have not tested is the 225gr TSX and Hornady Interlock, on the agenda just to see how they work.

I have also used the 200gr Hornady FTX at the range with subsonic loads. Lots of fun, but you can sure hear the bullets thwack the plywood.

I have stated before that I would not hesitate to use the 210gr TSX on pretty much anything that walks the earth short of Elephant, Rhino, and buffalo. Even then I think it it would work in a pinch.

In summary, I think it is harder to find a bullet that doesn't work in a 338-06 than one that will.

Finding a bullet to BUY these days is the hard part! Happy Trails

338/06 is made for 210’s... flavor is up to you, but I’d start with swift siroccos

I personally agree that 200-210gr is the sweet spot, but lighter and heavier work too! I would not have serious issues using most of the bullets listed above.




No kidding......glad I stocked up over the last 5 years.

You're there already. They have a great BC for longer work, and at 2,700 give you all you need and more.

if you shoot a lesser weight just shoot an '06.

Ok guys, I have loaded up my 338-06 with the 225gr Accubonds. Velocity on these is a little low & 2680fps but it will have to do. I looked at Barnes, not impressed with the velocities achievable so gave them a miss. I guess I am a snob when it comes to bullet brand.
There are no Partitions, other than 30 cal, to be had in Australia anywhere. No 200gr Accubonds or 180’s.
I, too, remember the 275gr Speer, that’s what I used 30 years ago on Kodiak bears in my 338WM.

I have until July to hope to find some 210gr Partitions, but I’m not holding my breath.

Cheers.
P. S.
I do have many other capable rifles and cartridges to use, 270 Bee, 264WM, 300WM, 338WM, 338-416 Rigby Improves or 375Bee, but my 338-06 is a custom Mauser ‘98 with exhibition Grade stock and the very first rifle I built myself. Taking it for nostalgia reasons.

I don't understand why you'd go to a 338-06 and then shoot the same weight bullet you could get in 30-06? I think I'd be on the road to a 250gr bullet. I say that but when I was shooting a 338 mag, 225gr bullet's gave me a bit more recoil than I cared for!

If all else fails in these time of empty ammo shelves, 180 Nosler Hunting Ballistic Tips or Accubonds.

^^^^^This^^^^
Two shots, two elk for me in my .338-06 AI. Both a touch over 400 yrds.

Haven't used it, but my JES pre-64 rebore in 338-06 runs 210gr NPT's at 2800 fps over H-380, wouldn't hesitate any elk to 400 yards.

Gunner, I was at the store yesterday and saw some 185gr TTSX. How do you feel about those. I was thinking of this thread when I saw those bullets, and I don't even have a 338-06. I like the idea of it, as I love the .338 cal. Hard to get away from my trusted 338wm though. I'm like you, I'd run 210 partitions in a 338-06, or that TTSX. Seems like both would be ideal... Also, one thing I've noticed around here is those Barnes TTSX pills are everywhere for the 338. I get excited when I see some barnes bullets on the shelves, run over and damn if they are 6mm and 338 cal. About the only thing left on the shelves these days...

Based on a sample of 1, I wouldn't use the 180 AB for elk with my .338-06. I shot a decent whitetail buck a few years ago with one loaded to around .338 federal velocities. Shot was about 35 yards and slightly quartering away from me. Buck ran about 75 yards without a single drop of blood on the snow. No exit on a shot that I know my 7mm-08 would have exited with 145 Grandslams. I've done that enough to know. Bullet was expanded pretty wide and looked exactly like the one I shot into milk jugs, which was the shallowest penetrating of any bullet I've shot into milk jugs, btw.

I wouldn’t be scared using that 185 in about any 338 myself. I tend to shoot heavier lead cored stuff but I’d imagine a measly ol elk wouldn’t be much of a challenge for one of them.

If you saw some 185 TTSX on the shelf I’d grab them! Then get a 338-06! Even at 338 Fed speeds that is a great bullet. At -06 speeds it would be darn near perfect. Then 210 would be slower than desired for a mono IMO.

Why would anybody build or have JES rebore a 30 caliber to 33 caliber then shoot 30 caliber weight bullets in it!

Sure makes a lot of sense and the logic overwhelms me. lol

I have no experience with that bullet Buddy, but katy bar the damn doors, don't see how in hell it couldn't work, if you wanted, you could send it on it's way over 3000 fps, a deadly buzzsaw in anyone's book, I'd use it, also with the scamdemic, I'd buy all those bullets I found provided the prices were fair, they aint gonna spoil ; ]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^That too^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That’s a fact. They won’t rot!

No Sir, BTW, if I saw a pile of 6MM Barnes bullets priced right, it may be enough for me to buy a 6MM Remington hunting rifle ; ] never tried that one, gotta be an even hotter little number with todays powders.

My cheap little 6 Creed is a nasty little demon Gunner. It’s a lot of fun and quite a cinch to load for.

Sweet! Unc has an old near flawless BDL 6MM he's dangled in my face a couple times, if I found 500 Barnes TSX/TTSX bullets fairly priced, I may have to give him 500 for the rifle.

Everyone has their own druthers and reasons, and I respect their choices, but I guess I feel the same as the quote above. But I like heavy-for-caliber bullets, so that explains my agreement. To each their own!

Those all copper lightweight .338 bullets will retain as much or more than the heavy for caliber lead bullets in same caliber.

+1

One of my fav 338-06 bullets. Not sure my first choice for elk, but would probably not bounce off.

Very accurate in my gun.

DF

Depends upon range. If thick cover I'd look for a 250 at 2400 or so. If longer ranges are expected I might think 225.

I think the 185 TTSX would be a good choice on the lighter end and you could get the speed up pretty good.

The 160 TTSX does quite a number on elk. ...and Kudu, and Gemsbok, and Waterbuck. etc. If you want a very really big wound channel from a 338 bullet, the 160 is a great choice.

I would prefer the 210 Partitions as well and would hunt hi and low for them. However I agree with the others that mentioned them....160 or 185 TTSX. Great bullets. Good luck and have fun!
Tom

Surprised the 215 grn Sierra didn't get more mention. Always had good luck with it in 2 - 338WM, and a friend loads it exclusively for his 338-378. Has taken antelope through elk with it and never a problem.

I'm currently running the 225 ttsx for elk because I ran into a good deal and bought a pile. They're accurate and good performers.

Found a LGS with a box of each yesterday. ON my bench now

For me this is the little engine that could...BC lacking but shoots way flatter than I thought it would..

What velocities you getting? And, how have they worked for you on animals? I never did try them with my -06.

So far I've only used the Barnes data for the 185 gr TSX in this AI version bumped up a half grain which launches the 160gr a tad over 3K with both H4895 {56.grs} & IMR4064 {58.5grs} both are dead nutts accurate..Only dispatched a late season WT doe and a couple of song dogs but most impressive results. I shoot shoulders only the doe was 167 yds lazed and dropped like a rock at the shot..Saw the bullet impact some 60 ft or so behind her just glad there weren't others in the way !