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I was thinking of building a new .338-06, now I'm not so sure. I love the .338-06 and think it is a great cartridge to shoot. I'm down to the point of ordering a barrel for my build and I keep thinking maybe I should selecet a .270 or .30-06 over the .338. My build is a M670 push feed action, McMillian Edge stock, PT&G bottom metal that I've already collected. I'm thinking possibly as well of doing the Tubb's speed lock kit for the M70. Barrel maker is up in the air right now but it will probably be Shilen, Pac-Nor, or other maker of comparable quality. I figure I'll top it off with Talleys holding a 2.5-8X36 Leupold VX3. The closer I get to having all the parts on hand for my build the more I'm having second thoughts on the chambering I wanted. The main purpose I have for this rifle is hunting here in Colorado on game up to elk size. I've killed all my elk in the past with either a .270 or .30-06 and I keep thinking that might be the better route to go vs. the .338-06. I presently have a Parker Hale 1200 in .270, JC Higgins FN .30-06, and 1903 sporter in .338-06. So I'm familiar with all three cartridges but probably the most familiar with the .270 as it was my only rifle for several years. The .338-06 has been the rifle I've used the least hunting because it is heavier than my other rifles and have only taken a pronghorn with it. | ||
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The .338-06 is a good choice and being a non mainstream calibre, you can make it any way you want. My recommendation for barrel would be a 23" Pac Nor. Loaded with something like 225 gr. A-Frames, you're good for about anything you come across. I know the favourite is the 210 gr. Nosler but personally, I like the 225 gr. better. Mine likes RL-19.  | |||
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I'll second the 338-06 as a good choice based on what you already have. I'll add that a 9,3x62 would also be a good possibility - It would fit the same bolt face and give you a range of bit heavier bullets from 250 to 300 grains. ________ Ray | |||
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Build the new rifle in .270 WCF. You will get more use out of it both on and off the range, it is more pleasant to shoot, cheaper to shoot, and a classic for a Winchester action. I have owned all three cartridges and still have my .338-06. Love it. But I have used it less than I did the others, even the 27 years I lived in Alaska. You already have a .338-06 if you ever really need one. Built the new custom in .270 WCF. . | |||
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I say stick with the 228/06 and consider looking at the Ackley Improved version. This is one of teh cartridges where the Improved version realy give you some additional performance. It will do pretty much every thing the 06 will do by steping down to lighter bullets and you get the advantage of heavier bullets in the 250gr class if you need them if you want to step up to moose, big bears or larger plains game. My preference in mine is the Barnes 210 triple Shock although you could not really got wrong with the 225 grainer either. Either of these will do wonderfully on elk and honestly woudl also make a fine plains game rifle in Africa. For me the 270 has nothing to recommend it over an 06 or a 338/06.I am sure there will be many here that will vociferiously disagree with me. DRSS Kreighoff 470 NE Valmet 412 30/06 & 9.3x74R | |||
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Build what you like best. I have the .338-06 AI and it is my all time favorite cartridges. Mine has a 25" Kreiger barrel and get's better velocity then my old .338 WM. At 2,750 FPS with a 250 gr.Sierra and about 12 grs. less then the WM. Between that and a .30-06, I use them about equal. You'll find it will all be nothing but personal opinions. Which one do YOU like? | |||
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This is my train of thought as well, but my other train of thought is I can buy decent light weight .30-06 and .270's pretty easy. Pretty much my only option in .338-06 is a Cooper and I'll have this rifle built for almost the same amount of money. Anyway I have some time to think more on this one before I make any final decisons. | |||
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If you already have a 338-06, why not go bigger like 35 Whelen or 9.3x62? If you think every possible niche has been filled already, thank a wildcatter! | |||
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I already have a .35 Whelen and .375 Ruger. While the 9.3 could be a option it just isn't a cartridge I'm interested in at the present time. Plus I've got to shoot a light 9.3X62 and it had worse recoil than my .375 Ruger | |||
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For Colorado elk hunting, how about a stainless .338 Ruger Compact Magnum. It's a .338-06 but in a short, light, handy gun. God, I wish I had had my little .338 RCM magnum when I was climbing the mountains of Colorado some years ago hunting elk. Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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9.3 is light recoiling. Was it a poorly stocked rifle? | |||
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Here's my opinion for what it is worth. It sounds like the rifle you are putting together is well though out and certainly will become your favorite rifle. I don't think the cartridge is going to matter. 270, 30-06, 338-06? Whatever you chamber in, is what you will hunt with, as long as you like the way the rifle handles and performs. After playing around with many different rifles and cartridges over the years, I find myself gravitating towards the rifles that feel best to me. Cartridge choice is secondary. Besides, any of the cartridges you list will work on anything you will hunt in Colorado or NA. The big bears would suggest a 30-06 or 338, but do you have plans to ever hunt them? I see you have a 375 Ruger for them. I am an unabashed fan of both the 270 and 338-06 and I own multiple rifles of each. I too had a 338-06 on a springfield action and sold it because of it's weight. So I think the 338-06 is the perfect combination to the 270 you own, but a 30-06 would not be a mistake either. Of course, extreme practicality would suggest selling all three and chambering your new rifle in 30-06. Or selling the 270 and 338-06 and owning a pair of 30-06's. But what fun would that be? | |||
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The .338 RCM is an interesting round and I wish that Ruger would have came out with a .338 on the full size case. I'll stick with the action I've got for now as I have the Edge stock that fits it, to change now I'd loose a bunch of money. BTW are you able to fully duplicate .338-06 loads when you reload the .338 RCM? | |||
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You betcha! In my little 20 inch barrel, I am getting a chronographed 2600 fps with a 225 grain Hornady. If you want more reach, try that little 185 grain GMX or, get the one with a 22 inch barrel. With a 22 inch barrel it will nip at the heels of a .338 Win. Mag. This is an incredibly efficient cartridge. I have lugged around a .338 Win. Mag. and I'll never do that again.  Michael and Jeff are right. The new mantra is short, light, and handy!Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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I have all the calibers you mention and like them all. My 338-06 is my newest and I built it an elk/African PG rifle and love it. But if I were going to build a light weight do-all rifle for up to elk, it would be a 280 Remington with out a doubt. You have such a broad range of .284 bullets from 100 to 175 grains you can cover about anything. My 280 is factory Rem 700 Mountain Rifle. Light, handy and accurate. 30+ years experience tells me that perfection hit at .264. Others are adequate but anything before or after is wishful thinking. | |||
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I doubt I'll ever try another 7mm cartridge again. I just don't care for them, I know the 7mm is proven but I can't say why I can't warm up to them either. I've tried a 7mm-08, .280 Rem, and twice with the 7mm Rem Mag. I've even tried a .280 GNR wild cat based off of the .405 Winchester. All shot well but did nothing better than my .270 or .30-06. I'll probably hunt larger game than elk in the future but my immediate use will be elk. I hope that all my years of applying for moose will eventually pay off. Plus I'd like to hunt out of country some day as well. | |||
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I always liked those Rem Mtn Rifles. Never owned one though. Two thumbs up on your caliber too. | |||
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I put my 338-06 together in 1995 by having Cliff LaBounty rebore a WallyWorld 270 ADL. It generally is my go to rifle and has just worked on elk, black and grizzly bear, hogs, nilgai and deer. I have used the 185 gr TSX, the 210 gr Partiton and, most recently, the 225 gr AB which I will now use going forward. A great round that can be made into a nice light rifle. Go for it, you will be pleased.  | |||
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I shot the 338-06 for a number of years but when the .338 Win. came out I went to it and that is a choice I have never regretted..If I want a 338-06 then I load it down..You can use the same action, same weight, same barrel length so why not take advantage of more bullet weight and velocity if needed...Recoil is the same imo. The recent rebirth of the 9.3x62 pretty much killed off the 338-06 IMO..It is a much better caliber than the 338-06, or the 35 Whelan with a 250 gr. bullet at 2700 FPS or a 320 gr. Woodleigh at 2400 FPS its damn hard to compete with, and you can use 30-06 cases if you wish, but plenty of 9.3x62 brass is available.... I just purchased another 9.3x62 in the new Ruger African model, it is soooo nice. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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I love mine, built it way back when on a M77 w/ tang safety. It's a great game getter, moderate recoil & hits things very hard, especially larger critters like elk, zebra, kudu, etc. I would make another in a heart beat. I see no need to ever own a 30-06. LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT! | |||
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I have the .338/06's granddaddy, the .318 Westley Richards. It is a wonderful round. But you already have one. You also already have the other calibers you're thinking of building in the new rifle. I'm with Ray, make up a properly designed 9.3x62. I think you will be pleasantly surprised that it is both comfortable to shoot and absolutely deadly on game, especially in the size range you're talking about. There are reasons it's been around for as long as it has . . . Sarge Holland's .375: One Planet, One Rifle . . . for one hundred years! | |||
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If I had wanted a 9.3X62 I'd just buy a new CZ or Ruger rifle. Just like Mr. Atkinson did, and I'm not doubting his load data but I'm unable to find any published loads that push a 250 grain bullet to 2700 fps in the 9.3X62. I do however have plenty of published data that gets the .338-06 to 2600 fps with the 250 grain bullet.
I have no doubts that the 9.3X62 is a fine cartridge just one that I'm not wanting at the moment. I have a .35 Whelen and .375 Ruger if I want to shoot larger than 225 grain bullets. Besides I think the debate is closed, as I've been offered through PM a great deal on a Shilen barrel in .338. The biggest factor for me wanting to build this rifle is I can do it for about the same price as a new Noseler or Cooper rifle. I guess if I want a light weight .270 I'll buy a FWT or EW Winchester rifle. My FN .30-06 is already pretty light and a joy to carry, just that the wood stock got beat up pretty hard in a fall a couple of years ago. I was able to fix it but it sure made me wish I had a synthetic stock. I'll still use the 06 from time to time but, I'll not use it when I have to hunt steep country in snow and ice again. | |||
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Your thinking is not wrong. But then I am biased.  | |||
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By that logic one should never buy a std. cartridge, but instead buy the magnum equivalent[7mmremMag over 270win/280rem,,308magnum over the 30/06, 375magnum over the 9,3x62.....and load it down when one wants std cartridge performance. Actually I'm not against such approach to opt for the larger case, I preferred to load my 270Weatherby below max rather than straining the 270win to its utter limits in pursuit of the vel I wanted. I got the vel. I wanted, with less strain on the gun....likewise, I prefer to load a .280rem to get velocities that one would need to strain a 7x57 to achieve. having said all that, My .338win [with mono metals] killed-penetrated well beyond expectation!...so much that a .33/06 or down loaded 338win, would well suffice me to 400yd. | |||
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I've got a Dakota in 300 mag - The M.97 all weather - It's a great gun, but a little heavy. I had a single shot Cooper in .218Bee - It was WAY accurate - The extractor broke and I had a hell of a time getting it fixed - I'll chalk that up to the previous ownership of the company. I'd go with whichever fits you the best. JDA-CO | |||
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So many cartridges, so little time.. Its kind of bizzare to me that you dont like the 7mm's. I have many variations of the '06 as well but I think the 280 is my personal all time favorite.. Fantastic bullet availability with the 7mm's and I used the 7RM for several years.. Different strokes I guess..  AK-47 The only Communist Idea that Liberals don't like. | |||
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Loading a more powerful cartridge down if all else is equal only makes good since to me, the only reason I don't do it is I wouldn't own very many guns!! and that does not fit my plan to own every caliber ever made and shoot somethng with it!! Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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