Winchester came out with a nice Model 70 LH '06 that holds 5 in the magazine and I am interested in rebarreling one to 338/06. Would appreciate some thoughts as to velocities and accuracy. Are you happy with it? Brass easy to form? etc. Thanks

Excellent caliber. The easiest way to form brass is from 35 Whelen cases.

I prefer to use 30-06 brass in my .338-06. Accuracy is excellent and about 2600 fps with 225 gr bullets and IMR 4320.

I prefer to neck up when possible. There are two bullets I use all the time in my 338 wildcat. Those are the 210pt and 180BT (being replaced by the 180 accubond) and RL15.

I always felt the 225&250 were better suited for the magnum cases.

Some will disagree but I think the .338-06 should have been standardized along time ago. With a 210grNP @ 2750fps or a 250gr anything @ 2450fps, you are pretty much set for anything in NA. The rifle can be reasonably light (8#) & not kick the snot out of you like a magnum & you get 5rds in the mag. Think med. lt.wt. 23" bbl.
You can buy factory brass from Norma or make it by simply necking up 06 brass. Accuracy is usually exc.(barrel & bedding effect that the most). Sure, do it before some of these nay sayers try to talk you out of it.

Fine round, I am currently putting together another one. #2 pac-nor CM, 23" with NECG sights, barrel band, etc, all on a 1950 model 70 in a near-mint low comb factory stock. Leupold QR bases and a 1.5-4.5x Monarch...

I just pony up for the properly stamped brass (I hate having incorrectly stamped brass laying around) - it lasts quite awhile...

Included me in the building one list. Mine will sport a LW Mauser type "B" barrel on a VZ-24 action.

I have a list of tidbits to add, I will fill in details as I get it put together, its getting lengthy and I have a few parts yet to source and procure.

I think I will like this chambering, another six months or so will tell.

I've got one of these under 'construction' right now. Using a new stainless Rem 700 BDL as the donor action (it's currently a 30/06 and shot the two packs of factory ammo I fed through it under 1 moa, which was appreciably better than expected). Barrel is a #5 fluted Maddco, which will be finished at 23". And the stock is a camoed HS Precision sporter. Leupold QRW bases, and a VXIII 2.5-10 round it out.

It will be used on Northern Territory (Oz) pigs, horses and maybe donkeys. I suspect it's bit light for a buffalo, but it should be ok for scrub bulls.

Dang fellows.....thanks for the info. Seems like a very popuar round. I would probably use the 210 gr bullets. Who sells properly stamped brass? And who sells 35 Whelen brass? My purpose for this round is to have something reasonably light to carry while deer hunting in Alaska where 99% of my shots are limited to under 200 yards but I wanted a little extra bullet weight in case I ran into a angry bear.

I get 2450 with 250gr horndays out of my 27inch barreled 98 action.

I haven't tried the 210s but I would think they would work just fine.

quote:

who sells 35 Whelen brass

Remeington makes 35 Whelen brass.
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=1&Cat...*652***670***9013***
Norma also makes 338-06 brass. I believe they made it for Wby.

Do any of you use a 20" barrel in your 338-06? What would be the expected loss of MV compared to a 24". Would it be less than 150?

I just had one put together on a Rem. 700 action & a Hart barrel. I still have a few things left to do to it so I have not shot it yet. I just used some once fired Hornady brass to form some cases. I plan on trying the Hornady 200gr bullets & Varget to break in the barrel.

i was able to pick up a stainless left handed ruger in 270 for a song. i rebarreled it with a stainless barrel cut at 21 inches. i make cases from 35 whelen because i don't have one and i can't mistake it with my 30/06 ammo.

I had one built on a pre 64 action. I think it is a fantastic cartridge. I have been using Weatherby brass only because it was available. There may be better options.

I haven't had a chance to do to much load work yet but suspect 2600 fps with a 250 grain bullet is achievable. You may want to consider the AI variant. I think it would darn near reach 338 win mag performance - close enough for practical purposes anyway. I have included some good links on the round you may find interestng.

http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/338_06_rises/

http://www.quarterbore.com/library/articles/33806.html

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerPowder2Guide/Rifl...nd%20296.pdf#search='33806'

I don't have the loads in front of me, but my 23" Hart, that was my most accurate and deadliest hunting rifle (another one I let go!)

did 200 B tips at 2909 IMR 4320
215 BTSP 2790
225 PT 2670

WW brass std primers

I picked the 200 over the 180s for better downrange smack. And it DOES SMACK well!

It truly is a shame the industry did not put an effort behind this one but perhaps it was due to the 'a-square' name on the SAAMI stamp just like the 6.5-06.

They both had a nice place for non-mag rounds with near mag performance, w/o the recoil

Oh, my Hart shot 3 in 1/2" at 100 and 1.25 at 200yds ALL day long with a 6x scope.

It likely would have done better with a bigger scope and better shooter. The barrel was .710 muzzle and was on a 700 stainless with ADL syn stock-the original kind, free floated but not bedded.

It weighed 8 lbs and had a decelerator pad.

If I did it again, the barrel would be .675-.700 muzzle and 22-23"

The guy who bought it fluted the barrel and put a nice stock-said it was the best shooting rifle he ever owned.

Hope that helps.

Oh, I owned a 700 338 Win Mag and put it in a HS stock, the gun was Stainless and the barrel chopped to 22.5

It was about 7.5 lbs or so.

Damned thing kicked me too much and I never could get those little groups. Guess I could never squeeze them off as well either.

I don't think my '06 gave up much real world 'in field' performance to the Win Mag.

Yes,yes,yes. Do it, and you will not be disappointed.

The brass is easy to form, I use 30-06 brass.
180 Nos BT (discontinued) 3000fps
210 NP 2725fps below max
200 Hornady SP 2730fps below max
210 Barnes TSX 2850fps max load
I haven't messed with any 225's or 250's, but I can't imagine anything on the NA continent that a 250gr wouldn't work on.

Snow, Norma makes .338-06 brass, check out Huntington's:
http://www.huntingtons.com/cases_norma.html
Clem, sorry, but you won't be getting anything close to 2600fps from a 250gr bullet unless you are looking @ a 26"+bbl. & even that is optimistic. The AI version is only good for maybe 50fps.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
Snow, Norma makes .338-06 brass, check out Huntington's:
http://www.huntingtons.com/cases_norma.html

Graf's carrys it too:

http://www.grafs.com/metallic/805

quote:

Clem, sorry, but you won't be getting anything close to 2600fps from a 250gr bullet unless you are looking @ a 26"+bbl. & even that is optimistic.

Agreed. Velocity is a pressure sign...

It only takes one bad case to end a lifetime of shooting...

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
Snow, Norma makes .338-06 brass, check out Huntington's:
http://www.huntingtons.com/cases_norma.html
Clem, sorry, but you won't be getting anything close to 2600fps from a 250gr bullet unless you are looking @ a 26"+bbl. & even that is optimistic. The AI version is only good for maybe 50fps.

I have not tried to get full velocity but suspect you are right. Some of the reloading manuals seem a bit optimistic on velocities. I'm not so sure it's even necessary anyway. The whole point of the cartridge is a mild medium bore.

Clem for what it is worth my G33/40 with a 23" Chanlin on it using IMR4350 and 250 SAF's runs at 2590. Not quite 2600 but pretty darn close.

I do love and appreciate the 338/06 it is one heck of a user friendly round and it has plenty of go juice.

Mark D

Well all I can say is you guys must have some real fast barrels. I have my own 338 wildcat based on a 280 case. It has 11% more capacity than the 338-06. I can make 2625 with a 250 from a 24" but I'm at 65,000 (pressure guage) to get there. 338Gibbs data list 2660-2700 from a 26" barrel.

Within realistic pressures, you can expect to reach 2500fps w/ a 250gr bullet from a 22" bbl. More than that, well, I don't know what to tell you but?
FWIW, I use H4350 or RL19 & w/ the case full & compressed, I am just getting 2450fps (22.5" bbl.).

quote:

Originally posted by Clem:
I have not tried to get full velocity but suspect you are right. Some of the reloading manuals seem a bit optimistic on velocities. I'm not so sure it's even necessary anyway. The whole point of the cartridge is a mild medium bore.

I agree. I don't currently have a .338-06 but I used to. IMHO, I liked pushing a 250 gr bullet at around 2400 fps in the .338-06. That makes for a mild yet very effective medium bore. That duplicates the old .318 Westley Richards ballistics (.330" bullet) of a 250 gr bullet at 2400 fps. I thought of my .338-06 as a "poor man's" .318 W-R. And, the ol' .318 certainly has a proven track record on game.

I also run about 2400 fps with a 250 gr bullet in my .35 Whelen and about 2400 fps with a 286 gr in my 9.3x62. Personally, if I want to push a 250 gr (or heavier) bullet faster than around 2400 fps, then that's what my .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H are good for.

Just my two cents......
-Bob F.

Fred all I can say is if you worked with the tube on my rifle then you'd know what to tell us...(grins)

Tubes are like people there are all kinds out there for sure.

I've not worked with many 338/06's or as I am want to call them OKH's but the ones I've run 250's in they have went over 2550 and were very close to 26 with good case life.

Mark D

FWIW, my WW brass was 30-06 reformed, standard primers

Hart makes a SLICK barrel having been lapped.

If my #'s above won't do the job, I would use a 338WM or bigger, not try improving on a great design, the std 338-06.

I doubt any animal at any sane range will know 50-150fps give or take.

Those big heavy bullets work, and darned well.

You folks pretty much convinced me. I am ordering a Win 70 in 06 and unless its a shooting SOB the barrel is coming off and a 338/06 going on.

Mark, fast bbls. are like good women, keepers for sure. I just know the vel. you quote are not realsitic for normal folk using 22" bbls. I wouldn't want a new .338-06 owner to think he needs to keep loading up to reach a number he probably can't get to.

My rifle sports a 24" Kreiger barrel. So (when this miserable Michigan weather clears up) I will see what I can do with various loads and bullet weights. I plan to work with 225 grain Accubonds and a 250 grain (Partition or A-Frame). I have a chrono so will be able to get velocity figures. I will come back to this thread with what I find.

I am not particularly concerned with high velocity but am curious to see the capabilities (actually I am working on my story so I can play so just work with me here ).

The 338-06 is a great round, not as good as a .35 Whelen, but still a great round

Dang! Leave AR for a few hours and all the 338-06 lovers come crawling out of the woodwork. Man, am I in some good company!?!

It looks like I'm too late to try to convince you that the 338-06 is worthwhile. My AI version with 24" Hart barrel knocked the snot out of all kinds of Namibian plains game using Barnes 225 XFB. With 200 Speer it's actually over-gunned for whitetailed deer.

But if I had it to do all over again, I would chamber for the 338 Hawk. No extra cost, either. It pushes the shoulder forward for more powder capacity, yet still leaves a one caliber neck length. The only drawback is you cannot fire regular 338-06 ammo in it as an alternative--too much headspace.

(edit) Case overall length gets shorter when you neck up an '06 case. I neck down 35 Whelen cases instead, cause my case length in the AI version doesn't seem to lengthen much even after 10 shots.

quote:

I would chamber for the 338 Hawk

If I was going to the trouble of a 338 Hawk I would go with the 340 Howell.

My favorite 338 is my own wildcat which is an improved Gibbs. But, unless I was doing it just to be different I would get a 338-06 and not look back. What you are shooting will never know the difference of the potential 100Fps.

MajorCaliber,
Well said
Cheers...
Con

Snowwolf,
If you are going the rebarrel rout, why not go with a 338-06AI or a 338-06 Gibbs? I just had a 338-06 Gibbs barrel made for my encore by David Vanhorn and it is a pleasure to shoot. I'm using 35 welen brass. I'm still in the fireform stage so I haven't had a chance to check the velocity yet, but it should give the 338 win mag a run for its money.

Fred I got ya and understand fully what you mean.

One of my shootin/huntin buds here was running the 250's @ 2550 with comfort out of his 22" tube.

Mark D

I have a nice old FN action in .338-06 with a 24 in. Douglas barrel. I've only shot 210 Noslers in it so far, is easy to get 2750-2780 fps with a bunch of powders. I have some 250's to work on next. It is a great hard hitting moderate recoil caliber. I can't think of anything better for elk or general African plains game.

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
MajorCaliber,
Well said
Cheers...
Con

Con,
One too many beers tonight?

I am sure you know a 338/06 is a better round.. better bullet availability....

I'll take the 338/06 any day over a Whelan... ooops, I already did that....

cheers mate,
seafire

often overlooked, but H 380 is great powder for the 338/06....

65 grains of it, gives me 2750 to 2800 with a 225 grain bullet..

and 62.5 grains gives me 2650 fps with a 250 grain bullet....

And I am not using magnum primers which everyone says you need with H 380...

H 380 and W 748 are too great powders for the 338/06...and will give higher velocities than say 4320, H 414, H 4350 and IMR 4350....

Another versatile load is 50 grains of IMR 4064... It gives 2550 fps with a 200 grain bullet and 2500 fps with a 250 grain bullet...
So if you like to shoot different bullet weights and don't like to have to keep re zeroing the scope.. this load combo is excellent... as long as you can live with 2500 fps with the 200 grain bullets...

I find the 338/06 more accurate than the average 338 Mag also!

I also have found that compared to a friend who built a 338/06 AI, that I actually get more velocity out of the non AI than he gets out of his AI, both have 24 inch barrels.. Mine is a winchester action and his is a Ruger Mk 2....

cheers
seafire

I've had excellent accuracy with H414 in 338-06, 35 Whelen, and 9.3x62, though rarely top velocities...

quote:

65 grains of it, gives me 2750 to 2800 with a 225 grain bullet..

and 62.5 grains gives me 2650 fps with a 250 grain bullet....

Interesting. Loadtech calculates those loads to be 64,000+ in a 338Wmag.