The 338-06 came out first as the 338OKH, WELL in advance of the 338 WM...as a way to get larger caliber, heavier bullets moving fast enough to take large game...for the "larger is better crowd" basically...and to make a standard large rifle conversion easty...just a barrel change.

That fundamental reasoning still works today...and no need for a magnum bolt face.

The 338 WM is without a doubt a more powerful cartridge but at a higher cost in powder and recoil(recoil above the comfort lever of the averace shooter) and there are other, more modern wildcats available, but the basic fact that a 338-06 will take ANY North American game and most of the worlds game INCLUDING some/most DG with such a simple thing as a barrel change puts it right smackdab in the "best of the best" category.

Anyone who wants to get a wakeup call might just do the math comparing a 338-06 with a 26-28" bbl against a "chopped" 338 WM with a 20-22" bbl. Of course you get a VERY large difference going the other way because you start with a larger volume case.

I had a Rem 700 rebarreled to 338-06 back in the 60's and the gunsmith throated for the Speer 275gr bullet...I wish that bullet was available also, but there are other 270-300 gr bullets available today.

My "bugholer" load is IMR4320/225gr Horn SP/~2750 fs...at sea level...slightly slower at 2625 at 4500ft and all therse years later...and 250gr Horn/Nos, 275gr Hawk run along at 2450-2500fs without a problem...but only produce 1 1/2 - 2 1/2" groups..plenty good enough for ANYTHING out to 250 yds.

Do a search if you want more information...this particular cartridge has been fussed over since it's birth and some of the arguments are humerous in the extreme...and there are 1000's of pages of comments. That might give you a clue as to just how good the 338-06 is...very few cartridges that are worth a hoot cause such an uproar...if it wasn't, NO ONE would have such strong opinions...for or against.

Luck

Dave,
For all intents and purposes, the RCM & 338-06 are ballistically identical. Individual chambers, barrels, brass & lots of powder will cause just as much variation as the cartridge difference.

Just another case of manufacturers bringing out something new, for the sake of marketing and driving sales. had t the RCM been available 10 years ago, my choice may have been different.

But as stated before, I am not a Ruger rifle fan. You and I could meet at the range with your RCM and my three 338-06's and any difference will more attributable to rifle differences than cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by FOOBAR:
...very few cartridges that are worth a hoot cause such an uproar...if it wasn't, NO ONE would have such strong opinions...for or against.

Luck

Yep

The same thing is also true about the 257 Roberts and the 9.3X62.

Im going to play devils advocate on this one today for the sake of discussion. First I should mention that even though I do not have a 338-06 that I am a fan, I do have a 35 Whelen and consider the 338 variation to be somewhat superior because of a better bullet selection.

With that said, one could make an argument that the 30-06 for Elk migh actualy be a better choice than the 338-06 due to its higher BC and flatter trajectory. The 338 will deliver more energy at reasonable hunting ranges and have better penetration in most cases, but I dont know of anyone who has ever complained that a 180 gn slug from a 30-06 was inadequate for Elk.

I have hem hawed myself over comparing the 06 vs the Whelen for elk, and old reliable (the 06) keeps earning very high marks in my mind..

What is better? A 338 caliber hole or 308?

I own a wthby M-V 338-06 light weight bolt action,rifle ,I bought it b/c I got a good deal on it ....it has dropped everything I have aimed to kill with it....my 30-06's could do the same thing ,but I like unusal calibers....I have carried 338 Wim Mags,in the woods and find them to be a very heavy rifle ,my 338-o6,it's much easier to carry the 338-06 around....Brass is exspensive,but I like having the correct headstamp on my reloads ...I reload using Sierra 215 gr,bullets IIRC...with 61 gr of IMR 4350....

Ten or so years a go a box of WTHBY 210 partition bullets were $40.00 a box,now they are ~$65.00 a box....reloading in the way to go.....

a 338-06 will push a 180 gr bullet ~3000FPS...

an 30-06 will bush a 185 grain bullet ~2800FPS.

And I'm not sure why ???? any insight here ???

Merry Christmas,

BigBird34

I ment to type"My 338-06 is much easier to carry around than a 338 Win,Mag" ....(Stoney fingers).

BB34

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:

quote:

Originally posted by FOOBAR:
...very few cartridges that are worth a hoot cause such an uproar...if it wasn't, NO ONE would have such strong opinions...for or against.

Luck

Yep

The same thing is also true about the 257 Roberts and the 9.3X62.

Don't forget the .270 Win!

I'm about to start building my second .338-06 rifle, I'm looking for a lighter build than my first one. I'm looking for a rifle that weighs 8.5 lbs or less all up for chasing elk and mule deer across the Colorado mountains. I chose the .338-06 because I want another one plain and simple.

quote:

I'm looking for a lighter build than my first one.

My current project is with a custom mcgowan barrel and the contour is light indeed....add it to a blind magazine VZ-24 with a handle of your choice and I'm expecting mine to come in at 7 1/2 pounds or so.

Keep the accessories light such as aluminum Talley bases and rings (one piece) and a Leupy ultralight 3-9 X 33 scope....thinnish recoil pad and nylon style sling and it's not hard to come up with a light weight gun

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

I'm looking for a lighter build than my first one.

My current project is with a custom mcgowan barrel and the contour is light indeed....add it to a blind magazine VZ-24 with a handle of your choice and I'm expecting mine to come in at 7 1/2 pounds or so.

Keep the accessories light such as aluminum Talley bases and rings (one piece) and a Leupy ultralight 3-9 X 33 scope....thinnish recoil pad and nylon style sling and it's not hard to come up with a light weight gun

Or, go to the gun shop, get a stainless .338 Ruger Compact Magnum with a 20 inch barrel which weighs 6.75 pounds, put a scope on it and your good to go. I believe in the KISS theory!

I believe in the YAWN theory, myself. If the gun puts you to sleep, don't buy it. That's what a .338 Ruger would do for me and why, though I admire it, I don't own a .338/06. I happened upon a .318 WR years ago and snatched it up. Ballistic difference? Zero. Ambiance and aura difference? Vast. Just no fan of store bought cookies, I guess.

Dave I'm glad you are happy and like the Ruger, but I have no desire for a compact magnum. I kind of agree with not wanting a production rifle. I'm wanting a rifle in a cartridge I'm already familiar with and set up to reload my idea of KISS.

Vapo as far as my build goes, I'm thinking a #3 contour barrel Brux or Pac-Nor. The action is a M70 Classic, PT&G aluminum bottom metal. I've got a McMillan Hunters Edge stock to bed it all in and either a 2.5-8 or 3.5-10 VX-III to use. I'll be using Talley's to mount the scope in.

taylorce1,
Nice, I just got my Model 70 classic stainless back from the smith. It ended up with a 21.5" Pac-nor 3 groove 1:12 twist. PT&G bottom metal.

It is currently sitting in wood FWT stock, but have been pondering getting a Mickey Edge.

Sad part is, I have been so busy I have not had time to play with it yet. Don't plan on using any bullet weight over 210gr with it. Going to try the 185gr GMX first,then 210gr T/TSX.

I have a cooper in a 338-06. I have used it on moose and bleack bear hunts. I have never had an animal take more then 3 steps when hit with a 210gr TTSX. I had a 338 WM before and maybe i'm a sissy, but I didn't like the recoil of it. It was a Remington 700 by the way. I was loading 70 grains of IMR 4350 to get about 2850FPS. Now for my 338-06 I load 53.5 of RL-15 and I'm getting 2700FPS. Is 17 grains of powder worth it for a 150FPS difference. To me it's not. Also I had a 26 Barrel on the 338WM and I have a 24" Barrel on my 338-06. I don't like to shoot over 300 yards so the 150FPS didn't really matter to me. It is my go to rifle. I shot it better, and it weights about a pound less. Also I have a few 30-06 so I just use 30-06 brass for it and it saves on the pcoket when ordering brass.

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:

quote:

With 250gr bullets it's about 300 to 350 fps difference.

That statement is 100% false and incorrect.
Big Nate, please look it up.

Look, I went to the front page of this website to get a reference on the .338-06 because I have had no interest in it and wanted to know what the squaking was about. The reference with a 22" barrel was just over 2400fps. My rifle IS NOT a short mag it is the old Win Mag and my barrel is about 22" after cutting off a poorly executed brake. So even without a longer barrel my results are a close apples & apples comparison.

No need to get so wound up. I don't care much what you want to use, and if you think it's the greatest then by all means get several.

I don't think poorly of the .338-06, the Whelan, or the 9.3x62. I think had I gotten a screaming deal I'd own one by now. But as stated by others as well, they perform slightly lower than the mag size cases. You don't find ammo on the shelf very often for any of these, and to me I wanted a solid performer that off the shelf ammo was available for. Animals won't know the 300fps difference if you can shoot. If you do your part you probably wouldn't notice much difference in shooting them either.

What I'd like is for someone to explain how given equal wieght bullets, equal length barrels, how a case with less capacity is going to be as fast as one burning more powder if the pressure limits are the same.

If you load ammo limiting the pressure of one to very mild levels, and stoke the other to the top end but otherwise, I don't think so. Nate

Big Nate,

I am not wound up. Just stating the data out the Hornady load manual. My results have mirrored the information from said manual.

The 338 Win Mag is absolutely more powerful, just not 300-350fps difference with equal weight bullets. The Hornady manual shows 100-150fps difference, I concur.

Your 300-350fps statement is simply wrong.

Not worth playing the "what is absolutely best" game ... is not always about that. Perfectly possible to have several in different configurations that serve one well.

I have rifles in 338-06, 338 WM, 9,3x62, and .376 Steyr.

My 338-06 and one of my 9,3x62s are Mauser based and set up for lousy weather in the eastern woods. I can carry them in bad places and not worry about damaging them. The .338 WM is a pre-64 M70 set up for hunting longer ranges in the west. The .376 Steyr is Mauser based and will be a bit more on the practical side.

Each of these chamberings is very effective on real game at an appropriate range. They're all a bit different and each finds it's place in the field!

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:
Big Nate,

I am not wound up. Just stating the data out the Hornady load manual. My results have mirrored the information from said manual.

The 338 Win Mag is absolutely more powerful, just not 300-350fps difference with equal weight bullets. The Hornady manual shows 100-150fps difference, I concur.

Your 300-350fps statement is simply wrong.

So because your data supports what you want, mine is incorrect?

I quoted Accuratereloading.com data for comparisons. My results with my rifle seem to follow pretty close to what's posted here, even out of a slightly shorter barrel.

Interesting how you are "right" & I'm "wrong". Nate

Thanks for all the info and opinions here. very interesting.

So would it be possible to "convert " one of my existing .06's to a 338-06? and whats involved.
I have a Remington 700 and a winchester 70 both in 30.06

Greg

To convert is nothing but a new barrel chambered to 338-06 or a rebore/rechamber...
both cost about the same...either would make a fine rifle...mine is a Rem 700...if the W70 is a controlled round rifle I would save it for DG and a larger caliber.

The main point is everyone has their own biases...what tickles one mans gonads, turns another ones to stone.

I have a very bad attitude...I like all guns, doesn't matter what size, but I also have my preferences and I can build ANY size I chose to...AND what's worse I usually don't give squat doodly what another persons biases are, whether they like what I like or not...it's just PERSONAL OPINION.

For the most part the arguments just decend into 2 year old tantrums without any merit...no matter how they started out.

Sometimes I can just see two old goats, tied up and pissing in their beards, walking back and forth eyeballing each other while the doe runs off with some young horny buck who just wants to get it done.

After all is said and done, the old goats are still tied up and didn't get any, the young goat is happily chewing his cud and the doe could care less...she got what she wanted. NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

Do what you want, accept the reality of your choice, good or bad and YOUR responsibility in the decision and enjoy your toy...blow off the rest...WHO really cares, except you.

I've been at this game 60 years and been building rifles for slightly over 50 and killed more game with a 22LR than ALL my other rifles combined, I think.

I have rifles in calibers from 17FB to 50 Rigby, plus a 12GaFH and 620 HellBoy Express...they all overlap in killing ability to a certain extent and I enjoy each and every one of them. ...and you're welcome to your opinion whether we agree or not...ain't no Thang, Bro'.

Luck

M70 classic CRF or pushfed? If PF then it'll be the exact same price as the R700. If it is the CRF style it'll usually cost 50-75$ from what I have seen on gunsmith webpages. The cone breech and extractor cut being what adds on in price.

Big Nate,
Please look at the data in the Hornady manual.

I imagine if did some creative reloading. I could make the 338 win mag perform 300fps slower than the 338-06!

The 338-06 is not 300-350fps slower than 338 win mag with all other factors being equal.
So yes, you are wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by FOOBAR:
To convert is nothing but a new barrel chambered to 338-06 or a rebore/rechamber...
both cost about the same...either would make a fine rifle...mine is a Rem 700...if the W70 is a controlled round rifle I would save it for DG and a larger caliber.

Luck

Thanks FOOBAR,
What would be the approx. cost for rebarrel the R700 on the lowside. I realize many different brands of barrels and varied costs. Lets just say what would the minimum $$ be?
of course in your opinion,
The winchester is a pre-64 model 70 my father gave me. IF I were do do something like this I would keep the Winchester as a 30.06. The remmy hold no special "value" compared to the Win.

Greg

quote:

Originally posted by mrbofus:
What would be the approx. cost for rebarrel the R700 on the lowside. I realize many different brands of barrels and varied costs. Lets just say what would the minimum $$

$350 +/- plus the cost of the barrel.
$700 +/- if you have the GS get the barrel for you.

The other option is have the barrel company of your choice chamber and headspace the barrel for you on your action. Most of them will do this for you. If your not looking for any other gunsmith work this might be your best option.

My .336-06 AI pushes 250 gr. bullets between 2,700- 2,750 FPS. How does the .338 mag do?

Have never seen much difference.

quote:

How long is the barrel on your gun?

Model 70, with a Rebored 270 barrel on it...
24 inches...

check out older data in several manuals using H 380 for powder charge...and 250 grain bullets...

you'll find 2650 isn't that optomistic at all...

a buddy had a 338/06 AI and mine got faster MV than his did...with a 24 inch barrel... so he had it bored out using a 280 AI case instead... and even tho it is labeled as a 338/06, his will finally out run mine some...

powders in the H 380, RL 15, IMR 4064, IMR 4895, IMR 4320 burn range do real well, for velocity and accuracy in a 338/06...

Well after looking through data for close to two hours on the 'net I have seen the light. The .338-06 outperforms the .338 Win Mag by at least 200fps. In some cases data would indicate by as much as 400fps.

After reading up on all this I can throw out my real world experience with my rifle as a fluke, with uncalibrated chrony, and on game performance as a misconception, as the internet is full of wisdom that proves the .338-06 is not only superior to the Win Mag version, but exceeds the Improved version of the .338-06 as well. It surpasses the performance of many popular cartridges and will surely overtake the shooting world by storm. With this one cartidges abilities being so profound other obsolete brass will be hard to come by within just a few years. Better stock up now if you are one of those silly nostalgic types that enjoy shooting substandard old cartridges. Nate