I really like the 338 bore. Doesn't seem to matter much what cartridge, 338's are just so cool. Even a 338-08 would be neat.

Weatherby introduced the 338-06 A-Square in 2001 I think. They currently chamber 2 rifle, the MKv UL & the SBGM. The factory load is a 210 gr. Nosler @ 2750 fps, that's smoking!

Now, when will a manufacturer other than WBY come out with a rifle so chambered? Remington, Ruger, Winchester, Browning, Savage, etc

Has it been trampled on by all these new Short Mags? I just think a factory rifle in 338-06, with a factory load & component brass other than $$Norma or Wby$$ would be awesome, and quite popular.

Anybody else thinking like me?

While the 338-06 is a fine hunting calibre I doubt it will be chambered in any more factory rifles. Several other very good calibres are no longer chamered (or have limited offerings)because they just didn't sell. 358 win and 35 whelan are examples.I doubt Weatherby had to run the factory on overtime to keep up with the demand for 338-06 rifles. Add in the interest of the short maguums and that should be all the nails required in that coffin! Most North American hunters are happy with a 30-06 or a 300 mag. If they need more rifle they usually move on up to a 338 win or larger. I don't see this being a huge problem for anyone who wants one. Pick up a used rifle in 30-06 or 270 ,rebarrel and refinish all for about the price of a new rifle and you will probably have a better shooting rifle that if it was fresh from the factory.

I want one too! As a matter of fact, I want to try the .338 Gibbs, which, according to the little book Stowers put out full of Gibbs loads, is very close to the .338 Win. Mag. when fired min a 26" barrel!!

Isn't the .338-06 a proprietary cartridge? Seems like I recall it being called the .338-06 A-Square. Of course, anything Weatherby makes is automatically over priced and usually overrated, in my opinion.
Paul B.

Paul you & I are of one mind.

I just picked up a Weatherby Ultralight in .338/06. I've wanted one for a long time. I was almost ready to go the custom route when Weatherby announced this chambering in 2001. Last Nov. I learned that they discontinued it in the Ultra light and now only chamber it in the SBGM. It seems one certain wholesaler bought all of the remaining inventory and was offering them at a very good price. I got my dealer to secure the last one they had right before Christmas. The low-ball price, coupled with some judicious trading on my part resulted in me owning one for a total investment of $625.00. MY reloading dies came in yesterday, and my new Talley's should be here any day. I can't wait to get a 2.5x8 Leupold on it and do some shooting!

I agree with Paul B 100%.

A 338 WSM would outperform the same bore on a 06 case and do it in a shorter action. We don't need that one either. Cartridges over .30 don't sell very well.

[ 01-29-2003, 07:55: Message edited by: Savage 99 ]

According to what I have heard, the demand for Weatherby's .338-06 (.338-06 A-Square) has been good. I have seen a few around Alaska, but the price for them up here has been high ($1,200 or so for the ULW). Cabela's sells stamped Weatherby .338-06 cases. I also saw an Ultra-Lightweight .30-06, and I was very impressed to say the least. It had a 22" stainless/fluted barrel with a blued receiver, and a dark granite-looking stock.

The .338-06 is an excellent cartridge, that like the .35 Whelen is easy on the shoulder. Some people don't like the recoil the .338WM produces. My favorite is the .338WM, but for those who want a .30-06 in steroids without too much recoil, the .338-06 or .35 Whelen are excellent choices.

If I was thinking of buying a new rifle in 338 cal., I would either go W/a 338 Win mag, or even a 338 RUM cal. Both can be downloaded to be easier on the shoulder when one wants it to be. However, when you want to throw the lead down range faster, well you then have that option also. All things, one being a reloader.

Nothing wrong though W/the 338-06, it's just that it has some very good competetion against it. It is a good looking cartridge, and one usually gets more in the magazine! The cartride does have it plus's.
Dennis

Why is faster always better? Just because a 338 WSM or SAUM would beat the 338-06 in fps, doesn't mean it would be a better cartridge. What is a better cartridge, a 308 or a 30-378? I feel the 338-06 is a solid choice for hunting big game out to 300 yards. No?

I don't like the WBY UL rifles. My buddy has one in 25-06, and it is light, at 6 lbs w/o scope. But, for a $1700 CND rifle, it doesn't shoot to well.

Like I said before, I think any rifle with a 33 caliber hole in the end is a pretty neat rig. I wouldn't want a 338/378 WBY though. A 338 Ultra will give you lots of range and energy, but the 338-06 just seems like such a nice, mild cartridge that will kill well. I guess a M700 re-barreled will have to be my dream.

[ 01-29-2003, 13:34: Message edited by: todbartell ]

Some calibers are better than others, but it does not meen the other calibers are not great, the others are just better, and like they say, every man kisses his wife in his own way

Actually I would like to see a Winchester M-70, CZ550 or a Ruger 77 in the 338-06. I sent a Persian Mauser action in to be rebarreled for that exact round last week. I will start with a modified military stock, bent bolt handle and open sights. I will be using it on black bear up here so a scope isn't required due to the expected short ranges.

My .338-06 is on a Ruger RSI M77. Very easy to use in the brush, with only the 18 1/2in. barrel, yet still delivers when needed. My hunting is done close in and long range is not a consideration so this seems to work just right, which is why I think we load and have diverse choices, to find what we like and works best for us. I load 250gr Noslers and have had very good results with it. Easy to use, easy to load for and the rifle's a pretty one too.

John

I don't know why this is alway overlooked... when threads of '06 based cartridges -vs- magnum is made (Magnum, Short mag, Ultra mag).... with the '06 rifle you get an extra poke in the magazine. Is this just not an important factor to anyone else but me? But damn, the 338-06 is a fine cartridge!

I am with Brad about the Alphin thing, if anything the cartridge should of been named the OKH.

Also Flip I loved the wife smoching comment.

I also have gone the way of the 338/06, Brad and I basically gooned each other into it a while back. And had a ton of fun with the project.

I feel it is an excellent round,having been a 340 fan for years I found this round to be big time fun and nice to shoot.

I got awfully good speeds (I thought) and it shoot like a dream.

G33/40 with a 23" tube
160=3100
180=3000
210=oops can't remember
250=2600

The gun is nice and light at 8 with a 2-8 on it.

Too me and to the point here is part of the problem with the round.

The round doesn't look like it is going Mach 4 with its hair on fire. Neither do the charts say that it it. I guess I am trying to say that it isn't all sexy looking like the WSM's and RUM's.

To me it is one of the best rounds ever conceived, (Thanks Elmer) but it doesn't get the
press because of the sexy thing.

Is it pretty much all that 90% of the hunters/shooters need. It is a darn good round to say 350, which is a lot further than most have any right to be shooting. I see soo many people at the range pop off at the 300-500 yard gongs (which are usually darn big) from the bench and say they are ready for those ranges. Now get them off the bench and without a known range or a range finder and they rapidly become good strong 250 yard to 300 yard shooters. Most of the rounds out there run way beyond the abilities of the shooters!
Just because a car can go 60 around the curve doesn't mean we should. Now Mario can but should most? I think not.
But I tell you this, you get to guns and the old macho thing big time comes into play. Everything one thinks they are Johnny Leather Legs and that they can shoot to 500 because the ballistic chart says they can. Or because they did it once,generally without using a range finder.

Well gang I am sorry for the tirade-couldn't sleep so I kind of got off on a run here.

To my point it is a excellent round that for most all people it would work just great.(if they truly new their limitations). I have a worlds supply of respect for the 06 and to me the 338/06 is kind of a 06 Improved -just like my 270 right Brad! grins

Have any awesome day gang, make it your best!

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

D. Peterson at Wells Sport Shop in Tucson, AZ has a list of 7 smiths in the country who still rebore. He's one. So just go down to the local pawn shop and get yourself an '06 that doesn't look to abused and have it rebored. I think the cost is around $120. You don't need to rechamber or do any magazine work.

And if you do think that you need a WinMag, just dial the scope up so that you're hitting 4-5" high at 100 yards instead of 2". The terminal ballistics at 300 yards aren't that different, especially considering the difference in recoil and muzzle blast. Besides, terminal ballistics don't kill game, bullets do and a 250 grainer from one will do the same as the other.

BTW, that isn't "Thanks, Elmer" it's "Thanks, Westley Richards!" All Elmer did was copy an older British round using .33 Winchester bullets.

Why not just go buy a VZ 24 that is a mauser 98. get one that has a cracked stock basically a good action and barrel replace the stock with a nice one tap for scope mounts and there you go pretty much a 338-06 from a ballistic standpoint for very little $