Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .338-06 Questions

I use Federal brass for the same reason,with all the 30-06s in the family, the only rifle that uses Federal 30-06 (198-200)is the 338-06.But that was a mistake,I should have used the lighter Winchester.For the 225 Hornady and the standard length box of the FN,two or three grainss added capacity would allow me to use a 4350 class powder.

I'll add a little bit more that I use for flexibility, since 4064 was listed above...

if you check out Sierra's manual you'll notice that a 50 grain Charge of 4064 gives right at 2500 fps...

I have found chronographing it, that a 50 grain charge of 4064 will also yield pretty much right at the same 2500 fps, with a 200, 210, 215, 225, and 230 grain bullet also! the pressure of course is less with the lighter bullets....

but if you use different bullet weights for say 200 grains for deer and 250 for elk, your 100 yd point of impact doesn't vary much if at all...

this will allow you to have to do minimal scope adjustments, if at all ( again), as bullet weights change...

for a lighter recoil load, that is close to the old 33 Winchester lever action load.. 35 grains of SR 4759 will also give you an MV of 2400 fps with a 200 grain bullet...

this makes a dandy load for sitting in a deer stand, waiting for a whitetail at 250 yds or less...

it also makes a darn good practice load, without wearing out the barrel or your shoulder too much...

the 338-06 is the ticket,theory is simple,it runs 100 FPS behind the 338 win mag. with far less powder consumption and far less recoil,mine just rips ragged one holes at 100 yds with H-380 and 250 grainers and Im sure out to reasonable hunting ranges it will bring down anything the 338 WM will............

Mine runs about 150 less than my 338WM.These are not long range
calibers,as in plus 400,so both drop and long range expansion don't come into play.In fact, the slower bullet might even work better in close.

I see that Cooper offers the 338/06 in their line of rifles. This is the only company that I know of that is marketing the 338/06.