Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Help me decide between 338-06 and .257 Roberts

I built this Fajen stock for the Remington 700 .270 I bought when I was in HS in 1966, hunted it that way for a few years back in the early 90s then decided to put my old rifle back together for sentimental purposes.




Here's my old 1966 Rem 700 .270...


But I have another .270 that I hunt with 90% of the time...


So this nice old Fajen stock has been sitting in my closet for over a decade. As you can see it has a Neidner steel butt plate that took me forever to fit, so I don't want to swap it out for a recoil pad. My 7mm RM has a Neidner steel but plate and the recoil from it deosn't bother me. Anyway I'm thinking of two ways to go with this rifle,

1) Build a long action .257 Bob for Antelope and Mule Deer in Eastern Montana.

2) Build a 338-06 for Elk in Western Montana. Right now I use either my .270 or 7mm RM for both purposes plus my open sighted Savage 99 for woods Whitetail hunting.

My only reservation about the 338-06 is the steel butt plate, but like I said it my 7mm RM doesn't bother me. What do you guys think?

You gotta neck the '06 down,to get rid of the suck.

280 or better yet,280AI..............

I think you get more pleasure and use from the Bob...

Bob

With me already owning two .270s and a 7mm Rem Mag wouldn't a .280 be a bit redundant?

I was fully commited to building the Bob until I read a thread in the Elk section on how great the 338-06 was. Another reason for the Bob as opposed to say a 25-06 was my Dad had one when I was growing up, he just died this past April but was always trying to talk me into the Bob as it was his favorite.

John, that'd seal the deal for me on the Bob.

+1

And the recoil from the steel butt plate won't hurt as much either

I would build a 25-06 or a Bob. You are going into rougher country with the 338-06 and may beat the stock up more. If you want to build a 338-06 use a synthetic stock.


ddj

I think you're right Scott. What was I thinking...

I was going to suggest 7x57, but the sentimental reasons alone win it for the .257 Roberts. Well, that plus the steel butt plate you don't want to swap out favours the 'lighter' cartridge.

Only if you deem shooting it more than the other two combined,as being "redundant".

I'd term it "liberation"..............

Really the recoil from a 338-06 isn't that diffrent from the 30-06. But don't let us talk you into any thing you will be sorry for.

I would say your reservation of the steel but pad is valid. I screwed up fairly well building a lite weight 338-06. None of my buddies will shoot it more than once. I do not find it terrible, but it does not get the trigger time it deserves.

Faux Ti 280AI...keeping the eye candy handle on the shelf,where it belongs.

Thank me later..................

257 Roberts for sure! Beautiful stock BTW.

Hands down I'd prefer the -06 to the 257. However, based on family considerations, and the steel pad, I'd go with the 257 in your case. You'll really enjoy those outings for Deer and antelope carrying that. Could always build a -06 later. Regarding recoil, with lighter bullets the 338-06 isn't bad at all, but with 225s it starts to get your attention.

I'm not that freaked out about recoil with the steel pad. This is my go-to elk rifle in 7mm Rem Mag, notice the steel butt. I've never noticed recoil with it, but that is with 160 gr. bullets not 225s.


John

As well as the above reason,which is overwhelming in itself, the rifle, stock and chambering would all be classis. Never forget the roberts was a favourite of your Dad's for very good reason.

Enjoy the rifle whatever your choices.

Yep.

Nice rifles!