Had my Rem 700ADL rebarreled to 338/06. It has a 24" Shillen barrel, #4 contour, in a factory Rem synthetic stock with a Leupold Vari-X III 1.5x5 scope in Leupold low rings. Hopefully it will be here by the weekend and I can begin the break in process. Planning to shoot Hornady 200gr bullets in Norma brass with Rem 9 1/2 primers over 53grs of IMR 4320. Bullets will be seated touching the lands. I had all the componets except for the brass and got the data from Hodgdon manual #26. This is to be a break in and starting load and I'm looking for advise on loads from any 338-06 shooters out there. Any and all comments will be appreciated. Thanks!

Chief
Welcome to Accurate reloading.

I had a 338-06 several years ago. Great cartridge!

4320 was the powder of choice back then. I suspect RL-15 and varget would be worth a try as well.
I used the 210 Nosler almost exclusively, but because of the reduced velocity I think almost any good bullet would work well.
I have used the light(160 and 175 grain) X bullets in the faster 338s with wonderful results.
Penetration is not an issue on deer sized game, nor is expansion in case you are wondering.

I hope your rifle shoots! Good luck.

Jamie

Chief,

Welcome! I posted a batch of chronographed loads on the board from last elk season.

I have been shooting one for about 5 yrs.

Check out that post: 388/06 Fresh off the Chrony.

Welcome, I have a spread sheet with several 338-06 loads on it in all bullet weights. Some I have Chronographed some,some are out of reloading books, and some are the ones posted here.I can send it to you just remember to start 10% any load listed and work up looking for signs of pressure.

Several reloading manuals include the .338-06 as if it was a standard cartridge including the excellent Hornady manual. Even though it only lists loads for their own bullets the data is transferrable and can be interpolated well enough to shoot almost all bullets.

My prejudices with this kind of "big game" cartridge trends to Premium bullets for the larger game such as elk and bigger. Others weth lots of elk hunting experience have disagreed and I understand their opinions.

I've had such good fortune with Swift A-Frames with accuracy and performance that I just can't see running off on a $3,500 and up trip without the assurance of $42 worth of premium bullets.....and that 50 rounds is likely a lifetime supply!

It's your money.....spend it your way!

A great choice in carts. I have been hunting w/ one for 7-8 years & it has never let me down. I am also a big fan of the 210grNP as an all round bullet for deer to elk, if you get to Africa it will also handle all of the plainsgame, though I might switch to a good 250gr bullet for Eland or moose in close.
I have had good results w/ RL15 & 4320. Some of the other guys have had good results w/ H380 & varget. I'm hoping to get the new 225gr Accubonds to shoot from my rifle. I like the idea of the 225gr bullet for everything, but have never been able to get any of the 225gr to shoot much better than 1.5MOA.

I stopped looking when I tried I4064, CCI 200 and 210 grain partitions. Very accurate at 2670 fps. That two ten partition did a great job on a good bull this year.

Chief,
Try this, it's my favorite.

Federal cases; trimmed, flashed. partial sized.

H4350 powder; maximum listed load

Remington 9-1/2 primers

210gr. Nosler Partition bullets; I seat bullets a few thousanths back of the lands, Speer Manual does not recommend seating on lands - causes high pressure. OR I seat @ 3.30" maximum LOA 'cause that's all my Mauser will hold.



That's my homemade 338-06 Mauser.

I use R15 with the 160-210's and for the 225-250 I use IMR 4350.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

My best loads come with H380. Fed 210 primer,
Winchester or Remington Nickel Brass.

225 grain Hornady:
65 grains of H380: 2826 and 2834 fps last
chronographed record I have done.

250 grain Hornady:
60 grains of H380: 2600 and 2585fps

275 grain Speer ( why did they have to quit making this bullet)

58 grains of H380: 2466, 2456 fps;

rifle: Winchester Model 70, 24 inch barrel
rebored 270 done by Bob West of Eugene Oregon.
one of the last two guys that actually worked under Parker Ackley.

OHHH! 2800+ is FAST for a 338-06! It's pretty good for a 338WM.

I had a 338-06AI for close to five years. It would shoot the 210 NP to 2801 ave. with WW748. For the most part I used both H-4350 and Imr-4064 at the top book loads for the 225's (Hornady and Barnes X) to take a couple of moose and bear. Worked great.

Just recently I've rechambered the rifle to 338 WM and am really enjoying it. Mind you, the 338-06AI was a pretty sweet shooting rifle as well.

Turok