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

I have a blue collar budget as many here do so I have to be thorough in my research before I spend the money and cause all the uproar with my precious wife! LOL

I have three 30-06's I have collected over the years and first off: If I load 220 partitions in the 30-06 do I really need a 338-06? I live east of the Mississippi but I have a friend in Alaska that I will be hunting with and of course I want to hunt grizzly. From what very little I know from reading it seems that the 338-06 is the "sweet spot" for power and minimal recoil.

Secondly: I am thinking of going with an AI for the simple reason of safety, so that in a moment of stupid distraction I don't chamber the 338 in a regular 06. am I thinking clearly here?

Beyond that: Pacnor or ER Shaw for the rebarrel job?

Twist rate?

Best bullet? I am not an expert on bullets and have only loaded Noslers and Sierra's.

I have never sized up or sized down 06 brass or any other for that matter. What is the process for sizing up the 06 for the 338?

I will probably rebarrel the Remington 700.

Thanks for any help

I really like the 225 Partition in my 338-06. If you want longer range ballistics the 225 Accubond is tough to beat. Sizing 30-06 brass is easy, one pass through the die.

You aren't going to be able to chamber a .338-06 round in a .30-06, even without the AI shoulder.

I've had real good luck with bith Pac-Nor and E.R. Shaw barrels. One difference, however, is that Shaw .338 barrels are pretty stout in contour.

"...do I really need a .338-06...?"

Of course you do. Maybe a 9.3x62, as well. That's good use for two of your '06 donors. Keep the best shooting '06 as is, just for the sake of "diversity"...

I don't think you can chamber a .338-06 in an '06 chamber, although I've never tried it. I don't see how going AI will change that. As far as bullets, try a variety and let the gun decide what it likes.

My .338-06 is actually a .338-284, which is pretty close. It looks good in my gun safe, next to my recently built Mauser 9.3x62. My .338-284 likes the lighter weight Barnes TTSX bullets and the 200 gr. Combined Technologies, which is just a black and silver Nosler Ballistic Tip. It shot those so well, I never tried heavier bullets.

DF

Do folks have various problems getting AI's to feed? It just looks like it would. Have never owned one.

Not looking for a super light rifle so maybe I would go with Shaw if the turn around is quicker and price is better. Just get a remington sporter contour. I guess that is what it is called.

Metplat
If a 220 grain 30 caliber wont do the job, another .030 of an inch wont either. But that's not an excuse to not buy another rifle.
Charlie

No you don't need a 338/06 and considering your budget concerns I'd spend the money on a hunting trip to AK with your 30/06.
You'll not chamber a 338/06 loaded round into a 30/06 rifle.
On a budget it's tough to beat ER Shaw. Considering you cartridge of choice you'll be satisfied with the ER Shaw.
No reason to depart from a 1:10.
I'll not say what's "best" but standard cup and core bullets work well in the 338/06 for any size game. I've never been unsatisfied with bullet performance in the 338/06 and I've rarely used anything but 225 and 250 grain Hornady Interlocks regardless of the game I'm pursuing.
My die set is a standard RCBS set and it includes a tapered expander. I've resized new brass and once-fired brass, always 30/06, and never lost a case during the process.

I'll standby my first comment that your money is better spent in a hunting trip than a new rifle, but if you must buy/build another one the 338/06 is certainly a good one.

Maybe you are right. I just don't want to tempt fate. Is it "responsible" to purposely go afield in thick forrest for grizzly with a 30:06? Seems like everybody I talk to about it takes a 338 winmag, but the punishment does not appeal to me.

The 06 with 220 NP will do the job just fine. with that said I hunt with a Mod 70 Classic FW .338-06 and 250 NP because my gun likes them. --- Mel

BTW Welcome to the fire.

Need? No. But I really do like the 338-06 round, and feel that it's got enough of an edge on the 30-06 to make it a worthwhile consideration.



Don't bother. No appreciable gain, dies are more expensive, and you're going to be hard pressed to stuff a .338" bullet in to a .308" bore, no matter how distracted you get.



Neither. www.itdcustomgun.com , for quality work at very reasonable prices.



Easy. 210 gr Partitions. They are a perfect fit for the 338-06.



Very easy process, and only one step. Put some Imperial Sizing Wax on/in the neck, and run them through your 338-06 dies.

220's in an 06 will do just fine? Really truly written in stone? LOL.

Do you have any friends that tote an 06 with 220's with bears in mind? Not saying I don't believe you... LOL

But really; how many folks in AK go afield with 06's with bears in mind?

Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the reply.

I like the 338/06, as much as I like AI rounds I wouldn't AI this one. 210 Noz Pts along with H4350 or the 200 NBT with H4350 and it'd be all done for me.

I do dig this round, a Lot!

Dober

Had a 700/Hart and loading was EASY.

If doing again, it would be a '98 Mauser, M70 Winchester, or better yet - a Pre-Garcia Sako L61R action.

And, I am more than likely going to do a 9.3x62 next.

For a bear hunt, I'd grab an off the shelf Sako Black Bear model, or the new CZ or Ruger in 9.3 and go hunting, that's just me.

IIRC my cuz in Alaska has had to put down a few 'nuisance' bears, '06 and 300WM did the trick everytime. He has confidence and is a 'cool headed' shooter. I am VERY sure a 180 is all he uses in the 06 on the heavy side.

Shot placement.......

That said, if I am running a long action in bear country, odds are it will be a 338, 9.3, or on the LARGEST end for me - a 375.

All proven.

And yes, a great balance of tolerable recoil (i.e. no flinching and faster repeat shots if needed), and you get the bonus of more rounds in the magazine.

Sounds like you have made up your mind, good excuse for a new barrel. And yes I know folks who use an 06 for all their hunting. You might want to ask Phil Shoemaker(.458Win.) what works. Maybe you really need a .375 H&H.

Metplat,

Don't be so quick to write-off the '06 as a serious Alaskan bear gun. Do some searches for 458Win and pay particular attention to his signature line.

Regards,

Tony

No indeed! LOL I have not made up my mind... Frugality is my first and middle name. And I like simplicity. If an O6 will do the job I am very open to staying with what I got.

I think a 338-06 will be my next build. I know a 30-06 will do the exact same things I would be asking from either but I like to be different. And plus that 225 nosler accubond is a sweet looking pill

Have you thought about having the 06 rebored to the 338? I have a CZ 550 that has been rebored to 338-06 and shoots really well.

Granted, I have no idea what a rebore costs vs. new barrel.

I'd run a 200 Partition as I think it's better all around in a 06....and just as powerful with the velcity edge over the 220. That said I have a 338-06 as my goto rifle in Alaska and would use this if going after grizzlies. A 308 is my sheep rifle and I would shoot a grizzly if the opportunity presented itself.

I have both a .30-06 loaded with 200gr. NP's and a .375HH loaded with 270gr. TSX's. The '06 is SS and weighs @ 7#s all up. The HH is wood and blue, and weighs somewhere north of 10#s. Both are great rifles, but guess which one only gets used on Sunday?

Regarding the .338-06, it's a fine round, and if you want one, get it. But myself, if I was going to step up from the '06, I would probably look at the 9.3 first.