I've had three 338 Win Mags... two of which had the barrel shortened to 22". Each of these two rifles had nearly identical velocities with the same loads (within 5 fps!).

The 338-06 I had also had a 22" barrel.

After loading for these rifles and chronographing them all extensively I've observed some interesting patterns.

With the 22" bbl'd 338's these are my max loads (with round no's):

210's: 2,970 fps
225's: 2,860 fps
250's: 2,660 fps

With the 22" bbl'd 338-06 these are my max loads (with round no's):

210's: 2,750 fps
225's: 2,700 fps
250's: 2,550 fps

Interestingly, the 338 Win Mag really only begins to "pull away" from the 338-06 with 225's. The 250's (in my rifles) are within 110 fps. The 225's are within 160 fps and the 210's are 220 (+) fps apart (I have driven the 210's even faster in the 338 Mag).

Seems to me the 338-06 is very "efficient" with the 250's. Also, the numbers indicate to me that 225's are ideally suited (SD, BC, Weight, fps) to the 338 Win Mag and 338-06... of course that's my prejudice!

Bob338 (BobT) reports 2,800 fps with his 338 WSM semi-wildcat with 225's from a 21" bbl... obviously a very efficient cartridge! I may "have" to get a 338 WSM when it hits the street...

Thought all you .338 bore junkies would be interested.

Brad Amundson

I have a 338WinMag with a 26" barrel. I am going to load up some heavy loads with 250s and chrono them. Nosler manual #4 publishes 2780 with 71.5gr of H4831 under a 250gr partition from a 24" bbl. I will use RL-19 and RL-22 from my 26" bbl.

The 338-06 is quite a cartridge. I'm surprised it has not been standardized by the big gun makers. In the last few years the .338 bore has been getting more attention though. I think Weatherby and A-Square do sell a 338-06s.

I doubt I would have bought a 338WinMag if the 338-06 had been a standardized cartridge. Most American shooters look at velocity first nowadays and if it is below 3000fps the mainstream gunbuyers do not seem impressed. Too bad. In my mind the 338-06 makes a more useful and friendly round than a 338 UltraMag. MM

Brad,

Thanks for the comparison. I'm really enjoying playing with the 338-06 that I built. I need to get out when it warms up and shoot some more loads over the chronograph. What powder did you use for the 338-06 loads?

Shawn

Take a look at the figures for the .338Hawk
which is sort of a supa 338-06AI...they close the gap even closer on the .338win mag.

Ringneck or anyone else, I have a spread sheet of 338-06 loads I can E-mail it to you if you want it.I find that with light bullets 180-200 RL15 is the best. I have not worked up a heavy load as of yet but have alot of data.

Rob,

You sent me your spreadsheet a couple of months ago. I really appreciate it. Lots of good data. Thanks again.

Shawn

Shawn, all my loads in both the 338 Win Mag and 338-06 were with H-4350. I'm in the process right now of trying to decide on another 338 Win Mag, or a lighter, short bbl'd 338-06 (20-21" bbl.). I'm leaning toward the 338-06.

Brad

Brad,

My 338-06 has a 22 inch barrel and weighs 8 pounds on the dot with a Leupold 4x scope in weaver bases and burris Z rings. I had my barrel turned to the Remington BDL taper and am real pleased with it. I have only been able to get 2600 out of my 225 loads with IMR 4320 and Rel 15 was slower. I am trying IMR 4350 now and will clock it when I get the time.

Shawn

Have you tried a faster powder than the one you are using for the .338? My .338WM has a 24" barrel, and 73 grains of RL-19 produces over 2,830 fps with a 230-grain FS. It is slightly slower if I use RL-22 and the same bullet.

When I use 250-grain NOS bullets, before I get to the maximum powder drop listed in Hodgdon's #26, it produces over 2,717 fps.

Federal HE (factory ammo) with 250-grain NOS produce 2,770, pretty close to the advert iced 2,800 fps.

[This message has been edited by Ray, Alaska (edited 01-06-2002).]

Shawn, skip the IMR4350 and go for the H4350... it has a slightly slower burn rate (similar to RL19) and will probably give you better velocities than IMR4350 as well as being temperature insensitive (extreme line of powders). Didn't you have ER Shaw do your barrel? If so, truning it down from their heavy #2.5 was a good move... wish I'd done that as I opted to flute which removed almost no weight.

Brad

Ray, I used RL19 in my 338 Win Mag and got better velocities with H4350 in all bullet weights... give it a try!

Brad

Brad, thanks for the tip. I'll pick a pound of it up. I had a Douglas barrel put on my 700 by Dave at I.T. & D gunshop. I think the BDL taper is just about perfect for the .338 bore. If I remember correctly the Shaw contours were pretty heavy and they would only do the 8mm and up in the heavier contours. The price was almost the same so I went with the Douglas.

Shawn

Try 76 grains of Rl 19 behind the nosler 210, seated out as far as your magazine will allow. this gives me 2990 fps and sub-moa in my ruger 77 with a 24" barrel. - Dan

Hi all,

My 338-06 AI absolutely loves 4064. I get 2650fps with 250 RN and 2900fps with 200 SP out of a 23" barrel.

Plus 5 rounds fit in the magazine of my Argentine mauser. 338 Win Mag, look out!

-Catter

brad...do me a favor and email me b_seibert@hotmail.com

------------------
God Bless and Shoot Straight

444... wasn't aware my e-mail wasn't showing in my profile...

here it is:

bradamundson@hotmail.com

My .338-06 is a 24" Lilja barrel and with 250's I get about 2500, with 225's 2650 and with 210's 2800 or a bit more. VERY limited testing with 210 I might add. (ALL are partitions)
I have found the Hodgon Extreme powders to be very consistent and use the H4350 for my 225 and 250 grain loads. The old Keith load with a 250 grain bullet and H4831 is a slow one, 60 grains gives only 2290-2300 fps in my rifle, BUT it is the absolute most accurate load I have found so far. The H4831 is too slow but yields a nice "control" load to test accuracy.

The .338-06 has a real cult following in Montana and Idaho it seems. I have only shot one elk and a few plains game species with mine but I don't feel limited or feel the need for any .338" magnum. I SO wish that Winchester would chamber a production M70 in .338-06 as that would realy help with its acceptance. WW or RP ammo would be nice too.

Frank N.