Gunsmith has recieved my new Benchmark .338-06 barrel for rebarreling my Win. Mdl 70.He is buying a Clymer AI reamer.My chamber will be the first cut with this reamer.So that should make for a tight chamber.
I am ready to buy dies and a little confused between the difference of the A-Square Ackley Improved 40 deg. shoulder and just plain .338-06 A.I.Can I use the A-Square A.I. dies for loading .338-06 A.I. ?

The 338-06AI and 338-06 A Square AI are the same

Thank You Ramrod 340,

That's the answer I was looking for.I thought I knew enough about loading that I would not have to ask a silly question.But not so silly if you just don't know

quote:

I thought I knew enough about loading that I would not have to ask a silly question.But not so silly if you just don't know

Man there are no silly questions when it comes to reloading. A-Square just happened to be the ones to commercialize 338-06 so they stuck their name on it. Same as Remington did with the 22-250 & 25-06 wildcats.

Congrat's! My favorite caliber. You will like it.

Just to make sure I know. Are there actually 2 different 338-06 A-Squares?

The 338-06 A-Square which would be the '06 case with the neck increased from .308" to .338".

And the 338-06 A-Square with the straight-sided body and 40 deg shoulder.

Weatherby (Norma) on left...40 deg shoulder on right.





And then we have the 338-06 Weatherby Magnum designation to deal with. Oh brother!

Too much confusion here so I will simplify:

There are only two:

338-06 A-Square (sometimes simply called 338-06 and that is all)
338-06 Ackley Improved with the 40 degree shoulder (also referred to as 338-06 AI)

No one makes commercial 338-06 AI brass. The Norma and Weatherby brass is made for the 338-06 A-Square. They do not make any 338-06 AI brass.

To get 338-06 AI brass it must be fire formed from 30-06 brass.

You can also fireform 338-06 brass to form 338-06AI. Or neck down 35Whelen and fireform. Any number of ways to skin the cat. I "believe" Quality Cartridge lists 338-06AI brass not cheap for sure but does give you a headstamp.

You can neck up 30-06 brass to 338-06 and then fire-form it to 338-06 AI - I've done it for years with great success and no problems. PM me if you want some load data for the 338-06 AI.

.338-06 AI is (IMO) the most powerful (short and long range) cartridge you can build on a standard '06 action, that is without making modifications to the action. The 225 gr. Accubond is a fabulous bullet. Redding makes good commercinally available dies. You're making a good decision. It's interesting that Weatherby refers to it as a "magnum". Regards, AIU

Is there a reason why RCBS dies are so much more expensive (~+$65) then Redding dies?



Thanks!
Sid

quote:

Originally posted by Sid Post:
Is there a reason why RCBS dies are so much more expensive (~+$65) then Redding dies?



Thanks!
Sid

an opinion....

When I look for dies I find RCBS to be quite competitive....but they charge a premium for very low volume die sets....and even more for wildcats and customs.....as it should be!

IMO Hornady and others that sell for much less in the low volume sets have something to learn about accounting....until then we get some bargains.....want custom dies?....try Hornady....far and away the best bargain!

Ackley Improved User speaks volumes. I'm using all the same equipment he is and getting fabulous results. Get the Redding 338-06 Improved 40 Degree Series D. That's what you're looking for. Goodluck.

quote:

Originally posted by lagerboy:
Ackley Improved User speaks volumes. I'm using all the same equipment he is and getting fabulous results. Get the Redding 338-06 Improved 40 Degree Series D. That's what you're looking for. Goodluck.

x3

My 338-06AI loves 225gr Accubonds and TTSX's

RCBS made the dies for my 7-08AI. They asked for 5 expended shells that had been fire formed and then made the dies based off of those five shells. Took a few months and cost $130ish if I remember correctly.

Shoots .5-.75 out of a factory A bolt.

I have a TC 338/06 AI that came with a set of Redding dies. Most of my dies are RCBS, after useing the Reddings, I wonder why I never tried them before. They actualy seem to work better!

Have 2 sets now, can't afford to change everyone of my calibers over to Redding.

CH4D makes good dies, http://www.ch4d.com/. Check out their site...Your dies would run $81.38 and have them listed by shoulder angle.

I like Redding Type S FL bushing sizer die and continue to add/switch over...slowly...and buy a sizing die whenever I build/buy a new rifle if they're available.
Used with a set of Redding Competition shell holders I can tailor the shoulder setback and neck sizing to the chamber and polish out the die if needed, to get the least amount of squashing and hardly any case stretching. Makes the cases last so much longer. What I've learned I've posted, several times so you'll have to do a search...you might find it interesting...or argumentive.

Luck