Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 338-06 and Elk

Send him a PM and ask real nice. He may just send you a copy!

Teeder, that's a SWEET little rifle and is what the LVSF should have been from day one.

But Remington has a history of getting things half right...

Ok, I'll chime in too as I have become a fan as well. Mine is a 338-06AI running 7.5 lbs. here is a pic with it's little twin in 7mm-08AI. Both are Remington 700 actions, one short one long with Lilja match barrels. The 338-06 is 24" #3 contour. Bansner Sheephunter stocks, Talley aluminum mounts and a Kahles 3-9x42 TDS. All put together by Kevin Weaver in Colorado Springs. The 7-08 is a 22" #2 with a Swarovski 3-9X36 TDS

The 338-06AI is running 225 Accubonds over H414 right about 2750 fps and groups beautifully. It's a pleasure to carry, although its little brother is even nicer in that department. Killed one Bull with it last season shortly after it was built. Knocked him right off his feet and down the hill never to take a step. Hoping for a repeat performance in about 10 days.

Needless to say I'm glad I built this one.

We seem to share a common battery.(almost0
338-08 AI top
338-06 bottom (Not AI)
I'm getting real fond of the little bro.

I can't speak to the question directly, but here is the rifle I purpose-built for elk and bear:





Its a Savage 110 I bought in the classifieds as a winter project. I pulled the 270 WCF barrel and replaced with an ER Shaw "factory magnum" taper barrel chambered to 338-06 A-Square.

The trigger has had major work done, the barrel cut to 22" w/ target crown, coated w/ brushed stainless steel Gun Kote, the factory laminate stock stripped w/ dents raised and 20+ coats of Tru Oil and bedded to the action/recoil lug w/ marine tex, Warne Maxima perm attach low mounted rings, and a 2-7x32mm Bushnell Elite 3200 w/ firefly reticle.

Here are the results of a couple particularly good loads tested after running the Tubb Final Finish System down the tube:


200 gr. Speer Hot Cor, 53 gr. of RL-15, unchrono'd


215 gr Sierra Game King, 57.5 gr. BLC-(2), 2683 fps ave of 2 shots

I've got 225 gr SSTs next up. That Speer load is a winner for sure; likely not high on the velocity list, but w/ accuracy like that I'm content.

I'll likely take the 215 gr SGK after elk if I'm ever fortunate enough to go. That seems to me to make a great all around bullet for mule deer and elk... probably a bit soft for big bears, but great for black bears too.

With only about 200 rounds down the tube including 50 for the Tubb System, I'm in love with this cartridge. I'm earning preference points for Wyoming elk and for black hills mule deer, and can't wait to take her West!

How does the 338-06 perform out of a shorter barrel? I have a Ruger#1RSI with a 20" barrel and was thinking of having the 30-06 barrel replaced with a 338-06 or a 35 whelen AI

Mine is 22" and I get about 2700 fps from 215 SGKs and have chrono'd up to 2900 fps w/ 200 grain Interlocks and Ballistic Silver Tips.

I know you didn't ask, but I wouldn't do an AI on a shorter barrel than 22". The gains you make w/ an AI are with slower powders typically.

I would think that if you're looking for a relatively short barrel the 338-06 AI in a 22" barrel would be worthwhile?

Mine is AI M98 action Krieger 24" barrel in a Borden stock. All the metal coated in Birdsong Black T. Roger Ferrel built it and did a fantastic job as always. I use Varget an 210 grain partitions at just over 2800 fps. It's killed a couple of average bulls and a few whitetails. Performance has been excellent on all. That being said I have a few times wondered why I spent all the the time and money getting a gun that will come close to a 338 Win mag instead of just building a win mag from the start. I think it was about 98 degrees and I was out fireforming cases at the time. All in all great rifle but thinking of getting it rechambered to a win mag.

Jeff

F15beeper,

That is an awesome rig w/ a proven track record. Cool factor has GOT to put a few points in the "pro-06AI" column, eh?

I built my straight-up A-Square out of boredom over the winter with every intention of eventually getting a Win Mag sometime in the future. While working up loads I compared them statistically and was dumbfounded. I don't remember the exact numbers, but figuring the fastest loads for each cartridge in each bullet weight I think I found that you get something like a 4% velocity increase for a 20% increase in charge weight from A-Square to Win Mag.

Personally, I'm thinking that a 338 RUM or Edge may be in my future w/ a 26 or 28" tube for serious LR shooting, particularly now that Berger is introducing 250 and 300 gr VLDs!

Neat post! My Dad's been shooting a 338-06 AI for quite a few years now. For those of you who expressed interest in acquiring a 338-06, his is for sale. See here: 338-06 AI For Sale

35WN