Anybody mess with a 338-06AI? I have a really nice FN Mauser action and a nephew that needs a new rifle for elk, bear, and moose. This one sounds like it ought to knock the tar out of most anything from either end.

The standard 338-06 will do that!.

The AI version might gain you 25 feet/sec.

I agree, I have a .338-06 & I don't think the slight extra hassle w/ fireforming is worht the maybe 50fps? 210grNP @ 2750fps or 250gr Hornady @ 2450fps is a game getter for sure.

To my recollection the 30-06 military may have been 150 gr. around 2700 fps or a bit more - perhaps 2750. Can't recall. I fired the M-1 and BAR after bootcamp (1966 in Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, Calif.)

If you can get 210 grains out the door at 2750 fps that is not bad. Reasonable bullet weight and I'm sure it will stop quickly in a properly chosen target. I am messing with the 338 Whisper which is based on the 7mm Remington BR hull but haven't fired it yet. This is ideally made for 300 gr. and suppressed guns but for cost factors of production bullets I have limited test loadings of bullets into reformed hulls with 225 and 250 gr.

There is a chance you might go a bit faster with the usual experiments in powders and barrel lengths. I did read that the .35 Whelen, which I think is a .357 rifle bullet in a 30-06 hull, produces some ideal statistics of impact for the velocity, etc.

Fred, I know you may not want to give out your exact powder charge, but could you give which
powder you use, primers, & make of brass, in other words as much info as you are comfortable with, please.

Also, what barrel length do you have? This 210 NP load sounds like the all-round load for that cartridge to me.

There is a post on th reloading section going right now for the .338-06. My go to load has been 54gr RL15, Fed210M, Norma 06 or .338-06 brass w/ the 210grNP on top. On good days it will stay right at 1moa for three shots. I have been playing w/ H4350 as of late & 61gr gives about the same vel. but my groups are a bit smaller & more uniform, it may be my new go to load, although I have used the RL15 for a bunch of critters from little Duiker to elk & zebra.

I've been shooting a 338 AI for about 18 years and I would agree that it isn't a wholly different class than the original 338-06.

But it will go about 75-95 fps faster without pushing pressures. I use 64.0 gr of Rel-19 and the 200 gr Nosler BT for about 2880 fps from a 25" Sauer 200. The single stack magazine on a Sauer lets you seat the bullets way out which helps. Even so, that is a compressed load in the AI. Rel-15 pressure peaks before I get good loading density. So does 4064. It needs one notch slower powders than the standard.

I own three 338-06's.
Go the AI route if it suits your fancy but it is not needed.

IMO, I don't feel the gain is worth the hassle.

Fred, thanks for the info!!!

Actually, the only hassle is loading and firing a case; pretty much what has to be done to go "bang" anyway. But I agree it won't produce anything tremendously useful over the standard 338-06. I'm not even sure the famed "extended brass life" applies to an AI unless it starts life as a highly tapered case like the 300 H&H or 22 Hornet.

If you need more horse power just step up to the 9.3x62.

200gr at 2880 in a 25"?

My 23" did 2909......
215.....2790
225 2670

this was a STANDARD '06 with WW brass

Had plenty of speed as is/was and had no desire to change it, or fireform cases.

There is some Varget data for the AI that claims 3000 from a 24" barrel. I was just relating what my rifle did with the load I like. I didn't know it was a competition.

I think I might do a .338 06 one day too. I like the though of it as a dual purpose round. Lighter bullets like a 180 grain for deer would be plenty flat for 350 yard shots and the 210 grain pills would be dandy for elk.
I already have a whelen , and its fun, and not a bad way to go...tj3006

Any powder that works in the 308 Win will be OK in the 338-06. My favorites are Rl 15 and Varget in the lighter bullets and H380 and Big Game in the 210's. My latest load is the 210 TSX over 60 gr- Big Game or 59 gr of H380 for 2770. Remember this is in my 24 in barrel and only safe in my rifle reduce by 5% and work up.

I once had a 338 wildcat similar to the 338/06 AI. It was based on the 280 Rem case with shoulder blown forward etc. It was a little more powerful than the 338/06 AI, but needed a lot more case forming effort. Top loads featured a compressed load of 65 gr of AR-2209 behind a 275 Speer, which is a big load for an '06 type case.

Personally if are keen on the 338 bore and want to stick to the '06 case, I would suggest the conventional 338-06 over the AI.

Other options to consider if you are interested in something bigger / exotic are 9.3X62, 9.3X66 and 380 Howell. Cases and dies for the 380 are available from AHR.

Joe

From what little experience I have had with the Ackley Improved version of the 06 case. The gain is not worth it. According to the newest Sierra manual there is not that much gain in case capacity.