Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 338 06: I have ten thousand questions...

I agree with the 200NP suggestion. And actually hunting bear on Kodiak I'd go with a .375, but as resident hunters we sometimes end up hunting alone (not a great idea) I feel better with a bigger hole in the end of the barrel.Two years ago my A/C partner killed a Grizzly with my Mod 7 7mm-08 that was trying to get his sheep meat (off his back)this was with 140NPs. The OP most likely will not be hunting Grizzly or BB on his own, and unless his friend up here is a guide he'll have to hire one. and the guide will have a suitable backup rifle.
My 338-06 barrel is a Douglas #2 contour and I've shot several 1/2" groups and lots of them less then MOA with bullet weights from 200 to 250. I haven't tried 180's yet. Re-boring is a good alternative, Danny Pedersen does a great job. --- Mel

I think there's an old adage that rings true here as it always has.....If you can't do it with a .30-06 then you need to move up to the .375 H&H....anything in between is not significantly larger enough to make a vivid difference.

A prudently loaded .30-06 with 200 grain premium bullets is still an awesome round but if more rifle is needed then move up enough to make a difference.....and that's a .375!

OLBLUE ISN'T TELLING YOU STRAIT !! HE SHOOTS THE 250S BECAUSE HIS BUDDY IN IOWA FOUND HIM A BARGAIN ON THEM AND HE STOCKED UP ON THEM, ha !! HI, MEL !! RAY

If you are contemplating an AI, one option is the 8.5x63 Reb. This is a .338-.280 improved that has been standardised by ze germans, and is availble in Europe in factory rifles (Blaser, Mauser, Sauer) and ammunition. RCBS does dies, and i am aware of folks in the US using it. It is the one improved case that does really get close to the magnum - it is not too far off the .338 Win mag.

Send you rifle to JES and have it rebored/rethroated to 338-06 for $225 and shoot Nosler 210 gr Partitions or 225 gr AB's (what I now do) and go hunt with your "new" rifle.

You're right Ray, I've got several hundred 250's but also lots of 225's, Are going to stop by when you get up here this spring? --- Mel

I have had two, both in standard configuration. I LIKE! I used mostly 200 grain cup and core bullets and 210 Nosler Partitions. I once went on a big hog eradication hunt and loaded some 250 Wodleighs. Too much bullet as I ended up shooting javilinas and coyotes. It just punched holes with no expansion so loaded.

As much as I like the caliber (still have the dies), unless I find a nice doner to have re bored, I think I will just go with the 9.3x62. Several factory options being the reason. I also have a frugal streak.

As others have said, a 200 Nosler Partition or Accubond (30-06) will do the job. Best wishes, jack

Metplat
Phil Shoemaker wrote a chapter in my book on Alaska. He said, and I quote,"Anyone who thinks a 30-06 isnt adequate for bear is unwittingly commenting on their markmanship". I think Phil knows what he is talking about.
Charlie

If it were me, I'd step up to a 9.3 or a .375 of whatever form before a .338-06. A 200 gr. .30 will do whatever a .338-06 will do.

YMMV

Phil Shoemaker is a regular contributor here and a bear hunting guide in AK and an authority on bear rifles. I was looking for him to reply to this question but haven't seen it. You should ask him what he thinks about using the 30-06 for bears.

HEY OLBLUE !!
WILL JUST HAVE TO TRY. Things look a little tight for time But sure would be good to see you guys again and you could drool on my 280 AI, HA !!

Meplat,

The answer to your "338-06: I have ten thousand questions..." can be answered with....

...one 35 Whelen twisted 1 in 12.


Pac Nor of course.

Yea I'm good at drooling, especially as I get older. --- Mel

Look up the 318 WR as it is the progenitor of the 338-06. all those rounds with heavy for caliber bullets at moderate velocity were highly regarded. with today's excellent bullets such a formula would be even more successful. Americans seem to have a positive mania for velocity even in locales such as the I am from where velocity is not needed.

I think any heavy for caliber bullet in that 2400 fps-ish range with a good quality bullet is a winning combination.

I think you would be better served by working up a solid 200gr 30-06 load. Taking a rifle you familar with, and have at it.

If you want something bigger, I think a 9.3x62 would serve you well.

With that being said, I am big 338-06 fan and currently own three of them. I do not own any 30-06's. If I was to ever get rid of my 338-06's, I would replace them with 30-06's.

I have a 338-06, my go-to round is 210gr partition. 338-06 is very versatile, I can use it while hunting deer and elk at the same time. It's a little overkill for deer, but not as bad as the 338 win mag.

A inexpensive option is to pickup a mauser on the cheap and put a AB barrel on it. You can probably do the work yourself and just rent a finish reamer.

358wsm - That's what I did and never looked back!

Personally, I would take my Ruger Whelen. The Whelen would serve just as well as a 9.3x62, one being just as good as the other.

You all know this is like counting the number of spirits on the head of a pin. I bet they all work reallllly well on the game most of us hunt. Afterall, the 30 caliber on one end and the 37 caliber on the other end are generally the medium calibers unless we include the lower 40s as large mediums which seems to be of a conversation for the sake of African hunting.

Thinking my new fantasy pair of pairs would be M70s in 30 06 and 375 with SS and Legend stocks and Mausers in 9.3 and 404J in blue and walnut.

35 Whelen. If you want an AI there is the 35 Whelen AI. Edit: 12 twist and 225/250 grain bullets,