Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 2nd thoughts now on the 338/06

I have had a 338/06 for about 3-4 years that I bought from a member here and have been thrilled with it.
Not until this year have I used it as a woods gun and it is devastating at close range
I shoot 225 SPs at 2650fps Shot 2 last week at 30-40 yards and you would have thought I shot them w/ my 7/300 with ballistictips at the same range .
Hole in the hide probably 1 1/2 but under the hide was a hole 7-8 inches of nothing but space --front shoulders of both were blood shot
I just hunt whitetails and bought it for the cool factor-- Unemployed now but it may get a rebirth to something else like a .280 or maybe a switchbarrel in the future

Steve-
Am I reading that you think it's overkill on whitetail at ranges under 50 yards?

If so and at that range, why not simply drill the neck or send one through the lungs?

I'm pretty certain a 280 Rem. with a 140 gr. pill that's impacting at 2950 fps into a deer's shoulder will blood shot both shoulders and leave burger in it wake of destruction.

Also, have you considered a TSX in your 338-06? Just a thought. A bit less explosive and all the penetration you could ever want. Might not get the 7-8 inches of void as you mentioned.

Just thinking here...

D2D
I guess Im just rambling

Any thing I got would most likely be over kill at 40 yards
I never have ran barnes at all
Accubonds out of my 7/300 and .260
Hornadys out of the 338/06 because of the price and accuracy
Thinking a lightweight .280 to double on componants for use in the woods or big feilds

The tsx may be a thought -----I just hate tearing one up . I know dead is dead but thats just me

Barnes

I've shot some critters with the 250 Noz @ just under 2500 at woods ranges and never thought it to be overly tough on the meat.

Good blood trails for sure...grin

Dober

Don't blame the cartridge.....

Steve, it is easy to make your rifle a switch barrel into anything with that size case head.

Not trying to nitpick, but what is his rifle? I didn't see any description.

Without that information, I don't think you can make that statement.

I'd probably run either a Barnes or a heavy-ish bonded bullet if I were you. Might give you less bloodshot meat, though punching lungs would do that as well.

Stealhead is correct....

Barnes fixes that.. I shot a mully at 60-70 yards with my 35 Gibbs, using barnes bullets little over one inch hole went straight through, no mess, no gapping cavity on the other side... Just dead........

At those ranges a 250gr roundnose at 2200 fps or so might work well too. Kinda like a plussed-up 30-30.

Hornady used to sell a 200gr flat point for the 33 Win, I guess that's no longer offered.

I would like to put my 2 cents in! I have a Sako L61r action 338/06 AI! I love it! I shoot 62 gr. IMR 4350 with the Nosler 210 Part! Not into alphabet bullets! It is devastating at close range, but I don't eat the head! Shoot a heavier bullet with a tougher jacket it wont explode, if ever hunt big bears you will find out just how much gun you have! Bloodshot is better than not finding it!

thanks for the replies
I may try barnes in it
May also try them in my 260 just hard to train an old dog as they say
I shoot the shoulder most of the time by instinct-- my bad knees dont like the chase any more ( I'm usually against a thicket)
If I could train my self for the neck that would work thats for sure

Far be it for me to tell anyone what rifle to use, but if your hunting whitetails at 40 yards and don't like the meat damage, I would recommend that you consider a 30-30 or better yet, a 35 Rem. using factory ammo. Either will kill just as well and you can eat right up to the hole. No muss, no fuss. Keep the 338-06 for bigger critters at longer range. I imagine it works just peachy with Elk on up.

Hawkeye
Your right
But my hunting land will offer me deer sightings from 5 feet to over 5000 ft--Yes beleive it or not we have 1 field that is 1.1 miles long. I dont know where i'll end up most mornings when I leave camp

Under the conditions you describe you need to use a bullet that is constructed for Cape buffalo etc. It will not expand as violently and you won't have that problem...Try the 300 gr. Woodleighs or I suspect the 250 gr. Noslers might work..

Under the conditions you describe you need to use a bullet that is constructed for Cape buffalo etc. It will not expand as violently and you won't have that problem...Try the 300 gr. Woodleighs or I suspect the 250 gr. Noslers might work..

I have owned and used a .338-06 since 1989. It seems to me that this caliber and the 210 Nosler Part. were made for each other! The Nosler does not need velocity to open but will not come apart if you shoot something up close. It shoots flat enough to use out of the woods as well. Great combination....you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

John

I thought the same thing: this guy needs a 30-30. myself I have had a growing fascination with the 338-06 for about a year. I"m even considering getting a SS Ruger MK II to use as the basis and dump the whole business into a Mickey.

My real fantasy, though, would be to find a nice M70 Classic and send it along to Mark Penrod for his magic.

That's about as solid a piece of advice you'll find on the net.

+1...