Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Killin power: ‘06 versus .338 Federal

This. The 200gr Partition in the 30-06 penetrates very well. I have twin M70 classic stainless rifles, one in 30-06 and one in 338 Win Mag. After seeing what the 200gr bullet will do, the 338 doesn’t get much time in the field.

A 200-220 gr 30 caliber bullet will out penetrate a 200-225 gr 33 caliber bullet. It doesn't matter if you're comparing 308 vs 338 Fed, 30-06 vs 338-06 or 300 WM vs 338 WM.

A 33 caliber bullet is about 1/2 the thickness of a dime greater in diameter than a 30 caliber bullet. No animal will notice the bigger hole.

The 33 caliber bullet may well be slightly faster at the muzzle, but the 30 will catch up and impact faster at some point after 100 yards.

The 33 will recoil more.

Given the option I'd choose 30-06, but dead is dead. Either will work, and if you have a 338 Fed that you like use it. I just don't see the point in having anything in 33 caliber, it offers no real advantages over comparable 30's until you start shooting bullets heavier than you can shoot in a 30 caliber rifle. And I had a 338-06 for a few years.

Great post. This is something that a lot of guys just don't get.

Either one. Dead is dead.

I love 30 cal cartridges……but, I love larger diameter bullets more! 😉 Given your parameters, I’d certainly lean toward the Federal 338.

Either bullet would be good….But I really like the Barnes (I would look at the 185) for their ability to maintain their weight and offering a much wider frontal area on high velocity impact. I’ve seen several close range, high velocity impacts on game with Partitions, where the jacket completely “folded back” over the bullet base (partition back) seriously reducing frontal area and losing a lot of bullet weight…. Only retaining about 65% to 68% or it’s original weight.

At longer ranges, where some velocity is lost…..either will work quite well! JMO memtb

Given that we have a professional Brown Bear Guide on the forum with a reference to the .30-06 in his signature line, speaks volumes...

Yes, but what's his opinion on the .338 Federal? I've never been around any bears other than black bears, so I don't have an opinion to the viability of either. They're both better than nothing at all, but the guide referenced killed a Brown Bear in a DLP situation with a 9mm and hardcast bullets. Both rifle choices have to be better than that option.

I don’t see why the 06 with 165gr interlocks wouldn’t kill a bear I’ve killed them with a 270 not that hard to do

Our own JJHACK believes .30 cal min dia. bear due to fat and hide. Better tracking. -06 and a 150gr TTSX, .338 160gr TTSX in Fed. Always push the TTSX light for cal. Speed baby. 300wsm 168gr ttsx.

I've been a fan of the 150 ttsx ever since I dropped a moose with one at 547. However I've since learned the 168g has a lower opening velocity so I may try those. I've always had a fondness for the 200g not over h4831sc at about 2700 from a 30-06 but these days I've been more interested in high bc longer range stuff.

I used to carry a 338 rcm in a 20" ss ruger with 225g interbonds at 2675fps when I hiked a lot in island park. There are lots of grizzlies there and they aren't afraid of anyone. I've since switched to a marlin 45-70 guide gun or a 444p marlin. I replaced the 338 rcm with a 30-06 m77 guide with the 20" barrel but someone offered me too much money for it. My plan for the 30-06 was 200g partitions so now I have several hundred of those on hand but keep hunting with berger 215g hybrids.

Bb

Having lived in Eskimo communities for a cumulative of about 14 years, I'd hazard the opinion that more polar bears have been killed by Eskimos using .22cf, than any other caliber. It's what they have, and what they carry, tho that is starting to change. In the past, at least, they considered the 243 o be "large caliber".

I've never used anything heavier than 180 gr in the '06, and have never found the need for such. The 180 is my favorite, tho the 165 may be a better all-round choice per JJHack's experiences. If I were to go looking for trouble with a brownie, I might consider a 200, but I don't, so won't.

You asked , 30-06 been killing game for 117 years the 338 federal a splash in the pan . Probably a good enough cartridge but a commercial failure with small renewals of interest. Pick the right bullet both will do the job. Buy 30-06 anywhere can't remember last time I saw 338 federal in stock anywhere.in a light rifle they both will have more recoil than you want. Go buy a 30-06 with iron sights a box of 200/220 loads and be confident you will handle it...mb

I could load 338 WM down to 338 fed levels. I don't. The '06 with 180/200/220 NPT's is a better option all day, twice on Sundays.

I think a couple of things that need stated on this thread.

First, a 338 Fed can approximate or even exceed the same velocity as the 30-06 with like weight bullets. I've never been able to get 3000 ft/sec with a 165 in an 06, I have with a 160 in the Fed. I've not reached 2800 with a mono in an 06. I haven't in the Fed either - 2725 for the Fed, 2750 for the 06 - with a mono. This is due to the larger diameter of the bullet in the Fed. It is true that the 30 cal will have a higher BC - which brings me to #2.

Second, the OP asked "killing power" for bears. Two things contained in that statement - efficacy of killing and range. I'm pretty sure Ursus doesn't care if he gets whacked with a 185 TTSX or a 180/200 TTSX moving the same speed.To me, bear bullets start with Partitions, Aframes, most monos, Fed Trophy and similar. They won't have giant BCs. And don't need giant BCs, they need bullet integrity. Even Ursus Americanus can get downright grumpy with a poor shot. I've tracked enough bears in cover where 15 feet was about all you can see to know it ain't about bullet BC. In my mind we are taking a sub 200 yard game with a bullet that can drive 2-3-4 feet of bear when needed.

Third, ballistics and physics are interesting. A 200 gr Partition driven by a 30-06 at 2700 (which is tough to do) drops 21.2 inches at 400. A 185 TTSX driven to 2725 in the Fed (I have several loads with that velocity with accuracy) drops 21.7 inches at 400. At 200, the difference is fractions of an inch. The Frame, Partition gain 1-2" at 400 yards, the 175 LRX about 3.5 inches over the Fed. At 400....

So this boils down to which rifle do you want to carry? I opined way back that I'd rather carry - and do - my Kimber MT 338 Fed with my 185 TTSX load. Why? It is 42 inch long, weighs 6.7lbs, is quick, and I've been carrying Kimbers as my main hunting rifles for 20+ years.

If you want to throw in cartridge availability, long range shooting, or special circumstances - fair, but the OP didn't ask that.

I had a Ruger in 338 Federal. While if cannot achieve 30-06 ballistics, I found it easy to achieve good accuracy with moderate recoil.
But I expected that based on the famy tree.. 308 Win and 358 Win
I think.it is an under rated cartridge.

It's not really germane to the discussion of .338vs'06, but as a greenhorn in Alaska, in the '60's before the oil boom, I was amazed at the number of Lee Enfields floating around, they were everywhere. Asking around, it was explained to me that you could order a SMLE or #4 for under 20 bucks, or off the rack for 25. In those days, Northern Commercial was THE store for bush Alaska, they sold them like hotcakes and of course sold tons of ammo. The old Canadian Dominion brand was everywhere, and then there were 'bargain' ammo deals, I think 20 or 25 round boxes, probably FMJ's, in stripper clips for like maybe 2.50 a box?

Betcha if you shoot the same animal in the same place with either one they run about the same distance before they keel over, on average.

Can kinda see the attraction of the very heavy for caliber 30-06 partition loads if hunting anywhere a grizz might be present, intentional or otherwise though. Not that 99.9999% of owners purposely hunt grizz with their 30-06, despite it coming up all the time lol

I am with Mr Winters on this subject. Specifically "which rifle do you want to carry?" Having either one will work with the right bullet. Having a rifle in your hand is what is going to matter.

Of the two listed, the 06'. To many people underestimate the 30-06 still to this day.

Nothing against the 338 fed, but even in hand loads in both it all leans to the ol 06'.

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