Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 338-06

With the moderate speeds of the 338-06, what would be your top bullet choice for whitetail under 350 yards? Thanks for any feedback.

Why overthink it ?

The Speer 225 gr Boat Tail bullet will do just fine, and it's available ......

https://www.speer.com/bullets/rifle_bullets/boat-tail_rifle_bullet/19-2406.html

For whitetail...?

Probably the Speer (.338 Diameter) 200 Gr. Hot-Cor at ~ 2750 fps/24" Bbl.

Should blow a nice double-lung hole all the way through, and still be pleasant to shoot a lot.




GR

I'm a big fan of the 200grn Speer in the .338-06, but I usually load it to .338 federal speeds for a woods load.

Just took mine to Africa for PG safari. 225 Partition @ 2700 fps blew through kudu 700#, gemsbok 400#, zebra 600. So I think the Speer, Sierra or NAB at 2700 would be perfect for any whitetail.

"If" the border opens up, I'm hoping to take mine to Newfoundland for moose and plan to try the 225 PT.
Care to share your load data for that?

I settled on a 210 NPT for everything but big bears (250 NPT) and have been happy with it. If it was truly whitetail only, then maybe a 200 grainer would be better. You can't go wrong with anything from 200-225g.

Great info. I have an old 7600 I plan to send to JES to get made into a 338-06. I’m going to add some Skinners to it and have it be my walking around gun. I figure any of the 200 BTs or ABs might work great. Thanks for the info.

IME, the 210 grain Partition is a great universal choice for the 338-06 and 338 FED. It provides a nice balance of accuracy potential, penetration, and velocity/flat trajectory that I look for in a 0.338" diameter hunting bullet.

160g Barnes tipped tripple shock, easy to tune for accuracy, give them a .050 jump from the lands and you are done.

338 Cal
TypeTTSX FB
Weight160
Diameter.338
S.D.0.2
B.C.0.342
Length1.219
Box QTY50
Catalog #30424


Penetration on deer and hogs at any angle, with DRT effects.

Shoot these in a 338 WM also at 3200

What powder are you using for that Keith?

I use a 200 gr Hornady SST in my 338 06 AI. Pushed by 59.2 gr of Varget to 2870 FPS, it's devastating on white tailed critters.

I also shoot the 180g Nosler ballistic tips, which sail right through deer with DRT performance on deer and hogs in the 338 WM.& 338/06

I really like AU338Mag's choice on deer, never tried the 200g SST.

I've used the following:

200gr Ballistic Tip at 2850-2900
210gr TTSX at 2880
185gr TTSX at a bit over 2700

All were shot in 22-24" .338 Win Mags that were loaded down a bit with either RL15 or H4895. As you'd expect, all worked very well on deer and hogs. The 210TTSX was extra-overkill in my opinion, and unnecessary for the intended game. My father still prefers the Ballistic Tip while I shoot the 185 TTSX in my rifle for lower recoil. Both give full penetration and predictably large exits with great blood trails.

Yup, the 210 NPT has been a longtime favorite. Though I did happen upon 1000 Hornady 225's that worked just fine too. If I couldn;t find teh 210 Partition, I'd substitute an Accubond.

210gr Partitions at 2800 fps over H-380, start at 60gr and work up if you wish, my 338-06 came to be in the form of a rusted bore pre-64 270 out of Oregon, bought it for 425 bucks shipped, sent to JES for the re-bore, 'Smith coated all metal in black matte cerakote, including the Leupold DD rings and bases, he even threw in a stainless M-70 trigger, gave him the stock, which looked like chit with pad added, was offered and bought a Pacific Research stock for the rifle at 100 bucks, took it to 'Smith for a bed and float.

The little rifle is lightweight, points and shoots great, with it's BC rain cap on the front bell of a matte 2.5-8 Leupold and a couple wraps of camo duct tape around the scope tube, not real sure what the little banger is not ready to do, i really need to take it hunting.

I’ve got a slew of them and you’re right Gunner. That should go hunting.

Yessir Big B, i dont think even a big coastal brown bear or bull elk at 400 yards could buck those loads.

IMR 4350