What are the advantages of this cartridge over the 30-06?

Nothing in the lower 48. With larger game elswhere there is an edge. roger

I had one built in 1995 and used it on ground squirrels, coyotes, deer, antelpe, elk, bear, caribou, African plains game, etc.
I used the 250 gr Hornady for most of my hunting. The 338-06 is one of the best calibers there is for all of the lower 48 and most of the rest of the world for the non dangerous stuff. Even then it would do in a pinch much better than a 30-06 would. There is a profound difference when you whack a big ole bull elk with a 250 gr .338 bullet vs a 180 gr. .30 bullet. I have killed elk with both and much prefer the .338.

I actually have a Mauser action and a stock set aside to build one but I never have. I have a very accurate .338WM that I seem to go to that kind of trumps the 338-06. At the risk of getting e-flogged, I have never wanted a 30-06 and never felt the need for one. It was one of those things that everyone had. I do own a Model 70 barreled action in 30-06 but don't really have any special affinity for it. I may stock it at some time and use it. I'm sure it will work just fine on whatever I point it at.

Ground squirrels? I don't think it's adequate for them. Maybe should move up to say 458 Lott?
What a sight that must be!

quote:

Originally posted by mustbhuntn:
I had one built in 1995 and used it on ground squirrels, coyotes, deer, antelpe, elk, bear, caribou, African plains game, etc.
I used the 250 gr Hornady for most of my hunting. The 338-06 is one of the best calibers there is for all of the lower 48 and most of the rest of the world for the non dangerous stuff. Even then it would do in a pinch much better than a 30-06 would. There is a profound difference when you whack a big ole bull elk with a 250 gr .338 bullet vs a 180 gr. .30 bullet. I have killed elk with both and much prefer the .338.

Although I'm a great fan of the .30-06, and I've never had a .338-06, I suspect that the .338 bore might be the best possible use of that particular case....better by a quite a bit than the .35 Whelen, of which I've had a few and was never very pleased with.

Sectional density is always the measure that most attracts me, especially if it's accompanied by enough bore size to push it well. That 250 gr. .338 would be hard to beat, even by the 220 gr. .30 cal bullet...and the effectiveness of the 210 gr. Nosler Partition has been well established by the .338 WM. Recoil would be modest enough to allow for a nice light rifle.

I'd say 'go for it'. I've long meant to, but just never got around to it.

I'm with Roger (Bartsche), with one additional thought.

If you ever lose your ammo (or the airlines or customs officials do) on an expensive hunt in "Who-dat-son-Land?", good luck trying to get ammo for your .338/06.

If you want the same range as a 30-06, you'll be limited to 210 gr. Noslers which has a good reputation in that calibre. That being said, it becomes a matter of want, not necessity If you're set on using 250 gr. bullets, consider going to the .338 WM.

One final thought, I've had all three and there isn't much with the exception of large bears that a 30-06 can't handle. Shot placement is the key. My son has taken two elk with my 7mm-08 using 140 gr. A-Frames.

I have a very, very nice .338 WM on a pre-64 Win M70 action and lesser rifles in several 30 calibers and smaller. I built a .338-06 on a commercial FN action as a foul weather rifle where I might scar it up on the rocks and such. I wanted the energy transfer of the larger diameter bullet combined with "handy"ness and moderate recoil.

I think the .338-06 has a lot going for it at moderate ranges with the great selection of quality bullets available for it.

The 338-06 is a dam fine cartridge, it's allmost as good as the 9.3x62.

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
The 338-06 is a dam fine cartridge, it's allmost as good as the 9.3x62.

Those are both fine cartridges..............almost as good as the 35 whelen

quote:

Originally posted by Iron Buck:

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
The 338-06 is a dam fine cartridge, it's allmost as good as the 9.3x62.

Those are both fine cartridges..............almost as good as the 35 whelen

I laught out loud.
Goodonya Mate

quote:

What are the advantages of this cartridge over the 30-06?

The .30-06 can launch a bonded 180 grain bullet at 2,800'/sec.....and a 200 grain bullet at 2,700'/sec.....

If you can't kill the animal with that.....you really need a .375 H&H or more!

As far as I'm concerned....the next step up from a .30-06 is to go WAY up......375 or better!

The only difference between the 30-06, 338-06, and 35 Whelen is bullet selection. One thing many forget or dont know is that you can get 270, 275, 280, 300 and 310gr bullets in .358 caliber, as well as tons of pistol bullets from the lowly 90gr 9mm bullets right on up to 280gr cast bullets.

And yes .355" bullets will work in a .358" bore, maybe not all that accurate but you would only use em for small game or plinkin anyway.

So without a doubt there are lots of bullets for .358" caliber,and thats the one cartridge based on an 06 case i would take if i could only have one rifle. Which heaven forbide would never happen, besides that a 200gr .308" bullet out of an 06' will penetrate like no tomorrow so in essence all this stuff is really splitting hairs as there are also tons or 30 and 338 bullets also.

Pick one, learn to shoot it real well, match the bullet to the game and no animal on earth would ever tell the difference.

I've got both and both on Pre 64 Mod 70's and prefer the .338-06 with 210 Nosler Partitions over the '06 for larger game than deer. I've taken elk and moose with it and all with one shot. But most importantly it's putting the right bullet in the right spot that seals the deal!

I think the 06 has a slight advantage at farther distance, but the 338-06 has an edge closer w/ heavier bullets that start out w/ a larger frontal area. I've never really wanted an 06. I have a 280 & a 338-06. The 338-06 is a good killer of any game animal you can hunt in NA & most of Africa. THe 210grNP @ 2750fps (realistic in a 22"bbl) is a very good game getter. It hits noticably harder on heavy game out to 300yds. With 250gr @ 2500fps, it's almost a perfect close game getter that can still reach out to 300yds if needed. Yes, really no need for a 338-06 if you want a 338winmag. but the 338-06 gives you a 1#-2# lighter, handier rifle w/ sim. recoil & extra rounds in the mag. THe only downside is it is pretty much a handloaders round.

For game larger than deer, especially elk size, I like the .338's. The .30-06 is also certainly more than is needed for a deer rifle, so I haven't used one much for years. It is of course THE all-round rifle for everything. The availability of good 250-grain .338 bullets at a decent velocity moves the .338-06 into another realm IMO.

I used to shoot the 338-06 and its IMP version some years ago in my wildcatting days and it was and is a good caliber.

However, with the introduction of the .338 Win. I made the change and never looked back, a decision I have never regretted and I was of the opinnion at the time that a 200 or 220 gr. 30-06 seemed every bit as effective as the 338-06 from a practical standpoint and under field conditions...

Also in my decision making I realized the 338 Win could be made on the same action and in the same weight as the 338-06, so could not see a single advantage to the 338-06 anymore. Then I started shooting the 9.3x62 and that about finished off the 338-06 from my point of view. It lost its pazazzzz!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

What are the advantages of this cartridge over the 30-06?

The .30-06 can launch a bonded 180 grain bullet at 2,800'/sec.....and a 200 grain bullet at 2,700'/sec.....

If you can't kill the animal with that.....you really need a .375 H&H or more!

As far as I'm concerned....the next step up from a .30-06 is to go WAY up......375 or better!

vapodog,

Your comparison hits home with me!

I had a similar situation: My go to deer rifle is a 270 win. I choose the "next step up" as a Mauser action rifle in chambered in 9,3x62. Here' how they stack-up:

270 Win. = 150 grain bullet at 2,900 fps
9,3 x 62 = 286 grain bullet at 2,400 fps

quote:

What are the advantages of this cartridge over the 30-06?

Bigger bullet diameter, heavier bullet weight, and higher velocity with same weight bullets.

Disadvantages are:
popularity, availability of factory ammo.

A 338-06 with a premium 210gr bullet will work on anything you need it to, but the same can be said of a 30-06 and 180gr bullet.

Just can't help myself on this one.
There is nothing wrong with a 338/06 that can't be fixed by making it a 375 Whelen IM. 300gr at 2440. Or you can shoot those little bullets.

NOt trying to be a wise ass to the threads author here...

but if one has to ask what the advantages of a 338/06 is over a 30/06.. then I'd just tell him to skip the 'hassle' and stay with his 30/06...

if someone has to explain to someone else, the difference to the two rounds, when the 338/06 offers a bigger bore...
and a 200 grain at 2800 to 2900 fps
a 225 grain bullet at 2600 to 2700 fps
and a 250 grain bullet at 2500 to 2650 fps....

Well as I saw a saying on a bumper sticker once, showing the Harley Davidson emblem..." if we have to explain it, then evidently you lack the capacity to understand it.."....

and I'll wrap this up with, that's how I see it.. but I am not aiming this at any individual, nor do I have any personal malice toward anyone with the answer to the question..

Why not? I'm at the point where there is no logic needed to choose a cartridge. I really don't need anything different than what I have and most overlap so much there isn't much difference anyway other than paper ballistics and chatting up the pros and cons. I like rifles and I like to make stocks so when the times comes to choose a cartridge my thinking does not follow "needs". My current project is a 9.3x62 based pretty much on vapodogs suggestion. My next project is 7x57 simply because it sounds good in a 1908 action Heck I could do .270's the rest of my life and be happy as a clam.

I did one last year more out of necessity than anything else. I had a beautiful "guild" barrel in 8mm with a shot out bore. I had the barrel re-bored and the .338 seemed like a natural choice since I already have a 9.3X62. So far it's been a fun rifle. I have only shot it once but it shows real promise. I will use it this season. I love the concept especially in a M98 action.

I personally think a .30-06 would be a more practical choice for a one rifle hunter. I believe with 200gr bullets would also get much
better penetration with the .30-06 not to mention versatility. Most of us own more than one rifle so that argument really doesn't hold water though.

I'd say go for it. It's also one of those few wildcats that doesn't scare off potential buyers off if you ever want to sell it like an Ackley or others seem to.

Terry

Truth of the matter is I own a .338-06, .35 whelen, .30-338, 6.5-284 and exactly zero 30-06 rifles. I chose the wildcats (at the time) cuz the 30-06 is a "belly button". I generally like unitasker tools and the 06 is the ultimate unitasker. The firearms world is too diverse to be limited to one firearm. Now here's the kicker. I use them for a single task. Killing deer. How strange that the guy who doesn't want a specific cartridge for one specific task.

I'm having a 338-06 built right now. I went through this whole thing. I already own a 260Rem/.308Win and a few 8x57 Mausers. I used to own a 30-06, but sold it. Nothing wrong with it, just don't need it for GA Whitetails.

Now I'm thinking about an Elk hunt and I really don't like any of the magnum rounds - had one and sold it too. So if I wanted something bigger than .30 and not a magnum, but more than an 8x57 the list got pretty short and ended up at the 338-06.

It satisfied my jones for something different and not a magnum and not a full blown Wildkat.
If I hadn't sold that 30-06, I would have built this Mauser action into a 280 or something smaller.

Not a ton of difference between the two as far as killin' stuff goes, but the 338-06 will sling a 210-215gr bullet as fast as the '06 will shoot a 180gr.

Never try an compare any std. round to the 30-06 , its a losing battle!

So the 338-06 will send a 210 gr. bullet as fast as a 30-06 sends a 180..Well the 06 will send a 200 gr. bullet about as fast as a 338-06 will send a 210 gr. bullet according to my chronograph, I don't think there is any animal going to be able to tell the difference nor a man that can hold well enough in the field to tell the difference.

But if it makes one happy to think such miniscule differences with the edge going to the 338-06, then have at it!

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Never try an compare any std. round to the 30-06 , its a losing battle!

So the 338-06 will send a 210 gr. bullet as fast as a 30-06 sends a 180..Well the 06 will send a 200 gr. bullet about as fast as a 338-06 will send a 210 gr. bullet according to my chronograph, I don't think there is any animal going to be able to tell the difference nor a man that can hold well enough in the field to tell the difference.

But if it makes one happy to think such miniscule differences with the edge going to the 338-06, then have at it!

Come on Ray, don't kill the man's fun! I'll agree, there probably isn't much diff. but the 30-06 is just soooo boring. I love the 338winmag, but for most hunting, it offers little over the 338-06 in sim. bbl. lengths. The 338-06 will come in about 1# lighter for slightly less recoil. It's win/win cartridge for 90% of NA hunting. FOr the other 10%, I grab my 280!

My math shows approx 13% larger hole and 10%+ faster depending on bullet weight. Fairly substantial difference but I only have two of them and still three of the boring 30'06's.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Never try an compare any std. round to the 30-06 , its a losing battle!

But if it makes one happy to think such miniscule differences with the edge going to the 338-06, then have at it!

If I wanted boring, I'd have gone with a 30-06. The 338-06 might just be a 30-06 on steriods, but at least it's interesting.

Here is the one I just completed. A bit light for shooting at 7.47 lbs. but should make it better for climbing hills.


M700 ADL, 23" #3 Douglas, Ti takeoff stock, VXII 2-7x33, trued and put together by Mickey Coleman. It's starting to break in and recent groups have been 1" -1 1/4" with 210 Partitions and 4320 or RL-15.
Finally added a thumper to the battery and I think it will hunt.

I don't know what Ray's Chrono showed but my 23" shot 200's at 2909, 215/2790, 225/2670 and it FLATTENED a few deer, it was deadly to say the least. The '06 truly is a boring round for me as I like 6.5/7mms then 338/358s. Just my preference.

Now to put fair balance on what Ray said, Finn Aaggard did a comparison, and the 200 gr partition in an '06 did comparably in penetration to some 338/06 loads, but again as someone stated, the 338 has the advantage of frontal area and mass increase, and I'll take those on bear/elk size game and up if I go bigger than 7mm. Going to larger bore in same case most always gives more fps/ME but you have to run numbers as sometimes higher bc numbers on smaller bores catch up even when started slower. That said, I would always choose a 338 over an '06 as for MY hunting a 260/7-08/6.5x55 will do all needed for smaller stuff.

If someone wanted to milk an 'o6, I'd suggest an AI, a little longer tube 24-26", and a bullet of say 180-200s can gain some decent speed and you can always run factory ammo shelf bought around the world when needed. I am not much on AI's but seen some numbers recently to believe it might be worthwhile for the 180 and heavier bullets in the 'o6. If anything you'd gain a little more trajectory, and possibly killing range. You'd still have less recoil/blast than a magnum, cheap brass, and likely better bbl life than a Winnie or WSM.

I like the .338-06 too (own both) but if the only argument in favor of the .338-06 is the .30-06 is boring, well the .30-06 is the obvious winner. In it's favor you get better down range energy, better trajectory, better sectional density (wind resistance), better penetration, less recoil, a lot more versatile and easier to locate ammo for. In the .338-06's favor you get a slightly bigger bullet frontal area (0.030) which I honestly doubt would even be noticeable in the field and a slight increase in velocity which is useless because it still can't compete in trajectory or penetration department. Usually item's we consider boring are those that work without fuss and with great regularity. I'll take boring any day in a rifle cartridge.

Nothing wrong with being a little different, but there is damn sure nothing wrong with boring either.

Terry

Theres not a critter around that well know the differants of frontal dia's of .308 to .338.

A well built 30 cal bullet compared to a not well built 338 or a well built 338 bullet compared to a not well built 308 bullet.

6 of one half a dozen of the other.

I own 338-06 338 wm and severl 06's What I have found with any combo is one really has to increase MV by a couple hundred fps or bullet weight by 100 grs plus to have any differants on game.

A 200gr 308 to 250 gr 338 weight at the same vel with equel bullets one well never beable to tell what was shot with what.

Now a 150gr 308 to a 250 gr 338 One well see much better preformance on larger game by the 338.

TC1, no argument here, just cannot get into the '06, guess I prefer brunettes and red heads too over blondes.....usually.....are exceptions!

Now I have not run numbers on the 'o6 w/say a 180 or 200 gr at max loads, but do BELIEVE the 338/06 has a bit more downrange, looking at 225's at 2670....

Here we go:

338/225/2670 mv

Muzzle -1.5 Infinity 2670 3561 85.82 0.000 0.0 NaN 1445
100 2.1 -8 2478 3067 79.64 0.117 0.8 3 1155
200 0.0 0 2295 2630 73.76 0.243 3.1 6 917
300 -8.7 11 2119 2244 68.12 0.379 7.3 9 723
400 -25.2 24 1951 1902 62.71 0.526 13.5 13 564
500 -50.8 39 1792 1604

As we can see 400 yd drop 200 zero 25.2"/1902 ft lb

a 30/180/2750

Muzzle -1.5 Infinity 2750 3022 70.71 0.000 0.0 NaN 1011
100 1.9 -7 2562 2624 65.89 0.113 0.7 3 818
200 0.0 0 2383 2269 61.27 0.235 2.9 5 657
300 -8.0 10 2211 1954 56.86 0.365 6.7 9 526
400 -23.2 22 2046 1673 52.62 0.506 12.3 12 416
500 -46.7 36 1888 1425 48.56 0.659 20.0 15 327

2" flatter, 229 ft lbs less, at 400 yds.

SO, they are CLOSE, but the edge goes to the 338/06. Closer up the difference is even greater so at 100-300 yds, the 33 cal is even that much more of a round, and let's not forget, both above are Partitions, the 338 SD is .281, the 30 cal SD is .271, so again, the edge is with the 338.

For BIG nasty stuff, I'd rather a 250grain partition in 338 bore, over a 200 or 220 roundnose in 30 cal.

Just MY preferences. Sure the '06 will get the job done, but I'd guess that on average, elk drop quicker w/338s than 30s excluding nervous system hits where you get Drops on the spot.

Somewhere read a 375/06 gets max retained energy at 300 yds for the '06 case, don't know if that is true or not, but would not be surprised.