Hi folks,

Next week I should be in possesion of a new to me 338-06. It's built on a Parker Hale mauser copy. I know nothing about these actions, but the price was right and I want a 338-06 so I took the chance.

Anyway.... The real question I have is on bullets. As a preface, I'll say that I tend to like bullets at the heavier end of the spectrum for a cartridge, and like to work up one load that I use for everything I use the rifle for. (I like to keep things simple, though my wife says I'm just lazy.) Everything in this case will be elk and moose in the long run. In June however I hope to take the 338-06 to Namibia. Eland, oryx and kudu are the big ticket items for me but a springbok pretty high on the list too. So, the bullet I'm looking for should be good for kudu/oryx, hard enough for a back up rifle on eland (a .375 H&H is coming along for as the primary for that) yet soft enough to still open up on springbok at longer range.

I'm thinking the old nosler partions in 250 grs would be a good place to start. I'm a little worried about harder bullets like the NP Gold, FS or Barnes X. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,
Dean

I'd think hard about the Nosler 225 Partition.

I would stay away from the super premiums in the great .338-06, you just don't get enough vel. especially from the 250gr to get good expansion. If your rifle will shoot the 225gr bullets well (mine won't) then it may be your best compromise. My .338-06 loves the 210grNP. It seems made for this caliber. It's designed for the 3000fps of the .338wm so pref. @ 2750fps is quite good out to 350yds or so. I think vel. is down too much after that to get reliable expansion. I've only ever recovered one bullet, from a frontal shot on a big Kudu bull. Every broadside shot on elk, zebra, obviously deer size game, have been complete pass throughs.
Start w/ the 225grNP & see what you get. The combo wil serve you well for Eland. The 210grNP or 210gr XLC would also be great for the more open country in Namibia.

quote:

Originally posted by 9.3x62:
I'd think hard about the Nosler 225 Partition.

I agree with the weight as ideal for that cartridge but my own tastes tend towards the tougher Swift A-Frame.

quote:

My .338-06 loves the 210grNP. It seems made for this caliber.

Exactly.

As soon as I tried the Nosler 210 gr Partition, and found that it shot well in my rifle, I quit looking.

It's all I'll ever need.

210 PT 'nuff said!

If it were mine it'd be shooting the 225 grain A-Frame for those animals.....but the noslers are going to do well too.

I'd not go the heavy bullet route in this cartridge. The 225 seems to be ideal for it.

If you want to shoot 250 grain bullets there's a lot of them to pick from. Either the 225 or 250s will handle the eland nicely and the .375 is a lot more than needed.

vapo & cobra, have you guys killed anything w/ the 225gr Swift in the .338-06? I'm just curious because the Swift is a "tougher" bullet & I'm wondering how expansion is @ the lower vel. That's why I don't think you need a Swift or Barnes 250gr in the .338-06, too slow for really good results much past 200yds. Good old Hornady's work great @ 2500fps.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
vapo & cobra, have you guys killed anything w/ the 225gr Swift in the .338-06? I'm just curious because the Swift is a "tougher" bullet & I'm wondering how expansion is @ the lower vel. That's why I don't think you need a Swift or Barnes 250gr in the .338-06, too slow for really good results much past 200yds. Good old Hornady's work great @ 2500fps.

To your point, I've not used the swift in the .338-06 but have used the swift A-Frame 200 grain in the .30-06 and it functioned well....very well actually.

I only projected that since I can push the 225 in the .338-06 to (actual) 2700+'/sec it'll perform as well as the 200 in the 30 cal.

The Swifts have been extremely accurate for me and they have not failed me in any use I've tried. Even at lower velocities they perform well.

I'm also a fan of Hornady's innerlock and believe it's (possibly) the best non premium bullet a going. But when I shell out a lot of cash for a hunt I'll spend a bit more on the best bullet I can buy.....and so far it's Swifts. Are they that much better than the innerlocks?...maybe not....but it's what I do...the confidence is worth it to me if nothing else.

For moose, mine gets 225 Hornadys,but Nosler 225 AB should work better,they do fly better,and to the same point as well.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
vapo & cobra, have you guys killed anything w/ the 225gr Swift in the .338-06? I'm just curious because the Swift is a "tougher" bullet & I'm wondering how expansion is @ the lower vel. That's why I don't think you need a Swift or Barnes 250gr in the .338-06, too slow for really good results much past 200yds. Good old Hornady's work great @ 2500fps.

Fred, I've used mine on several moose and mule deer. Like Vapodog, I have found it extremely accurate and since I lean towards premium bullets anyway, I use the same load on everything. As to your other question, the A-Frames are one of the better ones for expansion at lower speeds.

I really like the 210 TSX accurate and gets more vel. than the Nosler with a better BC. Should be the perfect bullet for your hunting.Enjoy your rifle I love mine.

Thanks guys, it's the only 225gr I haven't tried in my .338-06, it just won't group this weight unless I slow it down to 2500fps or. Then I might as well shoot the 250gr. I am happy w/ my 210grNPs @ 2750fps & submoa groups, so I should just not worry. Thanks for the info.

I am using the 225 gr woodleigh protected points in my .338 winnie and I like that bullet.

I have used a lot of different bullets in my .338WMag and .340 Jaden (similer to 338-06) but when it's time to hunt the WinMag gets 225gr. X bullets and the Jaden round gets the 210gr. Partition (from advice from fredj338). Black bear are the primary target for both but the Partition will open up on medieum sized deer. I have never recovered any of these bullets from black bear or deer. Sorry that's the only real experience.

There's a common feeling that premium mbullets are meant for higher velocity rounds such as the ultra mags and weatherby mags etc....and this sure makes a lot of sense but this is not to say that they won't produce results in cartridges such as the .30-06 or .308 Winchester or even the 7-08 style of cartridge.

There's also a feeling that they're a tougher bullet and need the extra velocity to open up and this I believe is just not the case. What they are is (typically) bonded to prevent the core from separating from the jacket to retain weight and insure deeper penetration.

Whether or not this extra design is needed is debatable and will be debated forever. This much I know however.....when I shell out $5,000 for a hunt I'm going to the loading bench and making the very best ammo I can. So far this has meant A-Frames but I suspect there's many as good that I haven't tried yet.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
There's a common feeling that premium mbullets are meant for higher velocity rounds such as the ultra mags and weatherby mags etc....and this sure makes a lot of sense but this is not to say that they won't produce results in cartridges such as the .30-06 or .308 Winchester or even the 7-08 style of cartridge.

There's also a feeling that they're a tougher bullet and need the extra velocity to open up and this I believe is just not the case. What they are is (typically) bonded to prevent the core from separating from the jacket to retain weight and insure deeper penetration.

Whether or not this extra design is needed is debatable and will be debated forever. This much I know however.....when I shell out $5,000 for a hunt I'm going to the loading bench and making the very best ammo I can. So far this has meant A-Frames but I suspect there's many as good that I haven't tried yet.

My sentiments exactly.

Thanks for the input guys. The concensus seems to be running to a lighter bullet than I was thinking about. I'll guess this is for trajectory improvement. Does any know where I could find some data on this? How much flatter will a 338-06 shoot a 225gr bullet than a 250 gr bullet?

Thanks,
Dean

quote:

How much flatter will a 338-06 shoot a 225gr bullet than a 250 gr bullet?

The velocity difference is only about 100'/sec between the 225 and the 250 and this is also true of the .338 win mag as well. tradjectory differences are minimal to non existant.

The tradjectory is similar to a .30-06 with a 180 grain bullet which IMO is fairly flat.

It's really not so much an improvement in traj. but bullet performance. Once you get below 2200fps or so impact vel., expansion starts to get iffy, especially w/ bullets designed for higher impact speeds (all .338 are designed for magnum vel.). I like the 210grNP for an all round hunting bullet out to 350yds or so, about as far as I would shoot w/ this buulet. For timber hunting, the extra weight of the 250gr could be an improvement but I haven't tried them on game yet, the 210grNP just flat out work.

maki,heres my 2cents load up some 210 nosler partitions,and some 210 triple shocks and some 225 accubonds and 225 interbonds shoot them at 100 yards then shoot them at 300 yards yes they are liter for caliber but they will give less recoil and fly flater,i think you''d be hard pressed not to fine one your rifle realy loves heck thats half the fun, great advice as usual guy''s regards to all jjmp

I have been more than impressed on elk with the 210 Nosler Partition or the Barnes 210 TSX. I have never recovered one.

If you like heavier bullets, I think a 225 grain would work great also. I feel the 250 gr is not warrented unless hunting dangerous game.

The 180 gr work on deer size game. I am thinking the 180gr Accubond will work great on deer without undue damage.

My two cents.
Chad

Have been loading for four .338-06's, mine, my grandson's, a friend's, and his son's (different barrels, three different make actions). After much trial and error, found the 210gr Nosler PTs worked the best on Colorado elk and black bear. Some of the 225 grainers had accuracy problems in all four rifles. The only 225gr that seemed best was the new Barnes TSX. JMHO

The folks at North Fork Bullets say this about the bullets for the .338-06.

It's an interesting read.