Just a quick note to thank everyone for all of their previous posts about the 338-06.

I picked up my Vanguard with new 22 inch 338 douglas premium barrel last Friday, put my new zeiss conquest 4x32 scope on her and headed to the range last Saturday.

I had been routinely using various folks suggestions for .338 -06 loads and had put together a variety of bullet and powder combinations.

I am very happy to report the rifle shot like a champ...I damn near clover leafed 3 rounds of 225 gr hornady sp's ahead of 57 grs of h380...first 3 shots out of the new barrel...

Great results with 215's, 225's, 250 rn's..using h414, imr 4350, 4064, h380, rl-19, varget...Whoever said the .338-06 was a handloaders dream got it spot-on.

Geez...the hardest part is deciding which combo to use..they all seem to work! What a great cartridge!

And...please...no need for stomping by 35 whelan and 9.3 x62 fans..I am sure those are great rounds as well!

Thanks again to all for great advice..I couldn't be more pleased with new rifle!

Can't wait for the Fall huntin' season...bring on those elk!


Cheers

Congratulations! Rifle certainly seems to be performing. Glad the choice worked out for you.

I have a .338 Win Mag and a couple of 9,3x62s and still built a .338-06 on a commercial FN action. Went with a 22" Douglas barrel as well. Turned out fine too. Am impressed with the cartridge and am glad I built it.

STOP TALKING. I'm still saving the $$$ and I'm a long way off.

Just a quick note on the 338-06. Mine is a 338-06AI on a savage action , 24" Douglas brl. and a savage composite stock pillar bedded. A Nikon 3X9. With 200 gr. and some H414 it can touch five for five at a 100.(from a rest) a very fine Cal just to shoot, hunts well also.
Dick

Don't forget to try RL-15 in your .338-06, works very well in mine. 200 grain Hornady bullets at 2800+ and sub MOA. 56.5 grains of powder is what mine likes.

My 338-06, likes IMR-4064.

338-06 Now there is some good stuff!

My 338-06 really likes Varget under a 210gr Barnes TSX.

I think you are truly going to like that rifle.
It is a great cartridge.

There is absolutely nothing that it won't tackle with the exception of the Big 5 in Africa.

My 338-06 is on a Husqvarna 1900 action. And it really likes the 225 gr. Accubond with 4064.

It's a great set up.

Mine is a pre 64 fwt bored to 338 in a Mickey G&H. Loves the 210 TSX and 52 gr RL15. Also likes 250 gr AFrame w/58.5gr H4350. Great caliber and love the rifle all in at just under 8lbs.

I built one 338-06AI on a VZ24 as a hobby rifle, and I liked it so well I ended up building another short barreled lightweight 338-06AI for back pack hunting and tree stands...and I love it!!

The 24" barrel thrives on IMR4350 and 210gr partitions...the 19" barrel does great with 180gr Accubonds and H4895...

Sure like my 338-06's....

Z

Thanks!! Now I have even more powder/bullet combo's to try..damn the luck...

Cheers!

Mine has a Douglas 26" bbl and is very accurate. Built on a vz24 action.

The .333 OKH was Elmer Keith's favorite rifle for N.A. hunting for years before the advent of the .338 Win. There had to be a reason. I think you have discovered it.

I think the 338-06 is one of the best carts for all around hunting. Abit heavy for small deer & antelope way out there, but 300yd shots are within it's ability. I've been hunting w/ mine since 1995 & pretty much have settled on the 210grNP @ 2750fps. I started w/ RL15 & IMR4064 but my best loads today are coming w/ H4350.

I just got mine, trued 700, 23" #3 Douglas in a Ti stock. 7.5 lbs with scope. So far it's not doing too well, but after 200 rounds is starting to settle down. Now I'm getting a few 3 shot groups around 1.5" or slightly smaller instead of everything over 2". Using mostly Hornady 225, with some 210 partitions and 225 Accubonds thrown in. H4350 and RL-15 so far. VXII 2x7 will be the one that I hunt with, but also tried a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9. Bases and rings are lapped Dual Dovetail Leupys. If I can get it to shooting better, it will get some use!

I like the .338-06, but mine with the standard
FN stock is at least as hard-kicking as my FN .338 WM with a McMillan stock. There is only 150 fps or so difference between the two. My .338 WM is also a bit better shooter, so I always end up hunting with it. Anybody like to buy a nice FN in .338-06?

Unless I missed it, no one mentioned 4320, that powder did 2790 w/215, 2670/225's, 1/2 MOA ALL DAY EVERY DAY EVERY BULLET, so was the 200 b tip at 2909 fps....THINK 4320 but MAY have been 4064. If it was 4320, 4064 warrants trials with lighter bullets.

Heard RL15 is great, but don't overlook IMR 4320, did LOTS of research when I did mine in mid 90s and Finn Aagard and others found some top accuracy and speed with 4320.

Good luck, GREAT ROUND that SHOULD have been in the US what the 06 is, IMHO for a big game round.

quote:

Originally posted by ole_270:
I just got mine, trued 700, 23" #3 Douglas in a Ti stock. 7.5 lbs with scope. So far it's not doing too well, but after 200 rounds is starting to settle down. Now I'm getting a few 3 shot groups around 1.5" or slightly smaller instead of everything over 2". Using mostly Hornady 225, with some 210 partitions and 225 Accubonds thrown in. H4350 and RL-15 so far. VXII 2x7 will be the one that I hunt with, but also tried a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9. Bases and rings are lapped Dual Dovetail Leupys. If I can get it to shooting better, it will get some use!

Try something other than the Hornady 225gr. My rifle, for whatever reason, will not shoot 225gr bullets of any brand into less than 2" unless I slow them down to 2500fps. It will shoot 200gr, 210gr & 250gr bullets into nice 1" groups w/ several; powders, but hates the 225gr.
6.5, I started w/ 4320 & it does a good job. RL15 was abit more accurate & H4350 is just crazy uniform, very good accuracy & vel.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by ole_270:
I just got mine, trued 700, 23" #3 Douglas in a Ti stock. 7.5 lbs with scope. So far it's not doing too well, but after 200 rounds is starting to settle down. Now I'm getting a few 3 shot groups around 1.5" or slightly smaller instead of everything over 2". Using mostly Hornady 225, with some 210 partitions and 225 Accubonds thrown in. H4350 and RL-15 so far. VXII 2x7 will be the one that I hunt with, but also tried a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9. Bases and rings are lapped Dual Dovetail Leupys. If I can get it to shooting better, it will get some use!

Try something other than the Hornady 225gr. My rifle, for whatever reason, will not shoot 225gr bullets of any brand into less than 2" unless I slow them down to 2500fps. It will shoot 200gr, 210gr & 25gr bullets into nice 1" groups w/ several; powders, but hates the 225gr.
6.5, I started w/ 4320 & it does a good job. RL15 was abit more accurate & H4350 is just crazy uniform, very good accuracy & vel.

Just goes to show that every rifle has it's preference. My first loads were the Hornady 225's and some AA2230C. I shot 1.5" at 200 yds with them. The hunting load I used in January used teh same bullets and RL15. Higher velocity but half the accuracy.

I've got 210 grain Partitions and TSXs coming. Will try them with RL-15, Big Game, and H4350. Hope I don't have to go below that weight, makes it more like the parent 30-06, not that that's a real negative.

quote:

Originally posted by ole_270:
I've got 210 grain Partitions and TSXs coming. Will try them with RL-15, Big Game, and H4350. Hope I don't have to go below that weight, makes it more like the parent 30-06, not that that's a real negative.

To me, the 210grNP was made for the 338-06. It is abit tough, as it was designed for 338wm vel, but expands well down to 2000fps or so. I have shot quite a few big game animlas, a couple of elk & several elk size animals. I have only ever recovered one & it was classic NP exp. but w/ 80% wt. retention. Just a great fit for the 338-06 @ 2700-2800fps.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by ole_270:
I've got 210 grain Partitions and TSXs coming. Will try them with RL-15, Big Game, and H4350. Hope I don't have to go below that weight, makes it more like the parent 30-06, not that that's a real negative.

To me, the 210grNP was made for the 338-06. It is abit tough, as it was designed for 338wm vel, but expands well down to 2000fps or so. I have shot quite a few big game animlas, a couple of elk & several elk size animals. I have only ever recovered one & it was classic NP exp. but w/ 80% wt. retention. Just a great fit for the 338-06 @ 2700-3800fps.

Damn Fred,

I'm barely able to get 2800 fps much less 3800.

If I didn't have a 1000 of those Hornady 225's and if they didn't shoot so good in my riifle I'd be using the Nosler 210 Partition too.

I had one built on a persian mauser action with an elk ridge stock. Reminton sights and some very nice claw mounts for the scope. I load using one of the standard load books. 210 gr bullits do a number on deer.

z1r, 28000 in a 338-06 thats one flat shooting rifle. I used the 200 Accubonds on elk this year at 2800. Flat shooting and full penetration on my bull at a lasered 240 yds. Dropped him DRT. You might try them.

z1r, have you used any of those Hornadys on game bigger than deer? Seems I've read someone thought they were a bit soft.

Drilled right through my Elk in January. I had no problems and no recovered bullets.

But, if I didn't already have so many I'd probably be using Noslers.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:
Damn Fred,

I'm barely able to get 2800 fps much less 3800.

If I didn't have a 1000 of those Hornady 225's and if they didn't shoot so good in my riifle I'd be using the Nosler 210 Partition too.

Really, I shute bedder than I tipe.

Fred, I remember testing Hornady, Speer BT, and PT all 225's and ALL 3, shot 3 shot groups into 1.25 at 200 yds from MY gun, a Hart barrelled 700, 23", .730 muzzle, would do .675-.70 muzzle if I built another, used WW brass also. 6x42 M8 and later a 2.5-8x was used. Factory ADL stock, when they were heavier on first run SS ADL/SYN rifles in mid 90's.

Did good till bolt handle broke, it got sold after handle reattached, never trusted it again, nor wanted to....but love the round.

To me, once I need a larger round than a 6-7mm, I desire a 338 or 350 bore, and a 9.3 would be something to consider. Recoil just at my tolerance level, 8lb naked gun/pachmayr decelerator pad. Comfortable.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:
Damn Fred,

I'm barely able to get 2800 fps much less 3800.

If I didn't have a 1000 of those Hornady 225's and if they didn't shoot so good in my riifle I'd be using the Nosler 210 Partition too.

Really, I shute bedder than I tipe.

I did the very same in my reply.

I used the 338-06 in both std. and Imp. versions for many years and until the .338 came about...It is a grand caliber..

I happen to much prefer the .338 Win. over about any caliber for and all around rifle....I decided it would do anything the 338-06 could do and in the same action and the .338 just out performed the .338-06 in every way..I can tell no difference in recoil...

I think the 9.3x62 out performs the 338-06 but thats not to put the 338-06 down, it's just a fact for whatever its worth...

I have only used the Hornady 225,the best powder was a powder that two grains faster than the 4350 class and four grains slower than the 4064 class.When I had it built,I had some old Nobel that fit the bill.The powder should fill the case without too much compression,that's important in a standard boxed rifle. I use Big Game,but N-550 aand the new IMR-4007 fit the bill as well.