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338/06 Barrel Length
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What barrel length and velocities are people using? I'm in the process of building a std 338/06 and haven't decided to go with a 22 or 24 in barrel. Would appreciate any input anyone may have.
 
Posts: 2443 | Location: manitoba canada | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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I no longer shoot a 338-06. I shoot my own wildcat. More like a 338Gibbs. I prefer the 24" however you wouldn't give up much going with a 22. I'd call it a matter of what you prefer.


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
 
Posts: 12881 | Location: Mexico, MO | Registered: 02 April 2001Reply With Quote
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you wouldn't give up much going with a 22.

tu2


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Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003Reply With Quote
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If you can't decide, just split the difference and go with a 23".
 
Posts: 519 | Registered: 12 November 2007Reply With Quote
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If you can't decide, just split the difference and go with a 23".

rotflmo That is exactly what I did with my 280PDK.


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
 
Posts: 12881 | Location: Mexico, MO | Registered: 02 April 2001Reply With Quote
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My 338/06 also wears a 23" barrel.



Doug Humbarger
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Posts: 8350 | Location: Jennings Louisiana, Arkansas by way of Alabama by way of South Carloina by way of County Antrim Irland by way of Lanarkshire Scotland. | Registered: 02 November 2001Reply With Quote
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Jepp!

57cm is perfect!

m
 
Posts: 413 | Location: Norway | Registered: 14 May 2009Reply With Quote
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My Douglas air gauged CM barrel is 26"...at the time I had the barrel installed I almost wore out my Powley cardboard computer trying to decide which way to jump. I wanted a 28" length but at the time the 2" difference put it outside my pocket book, but I'm very happy with the 26" tube.

I chrono ~2700fs plus a bit at sea level, ~2635fs at 4500ft and 40 odd years later...with Hornady 225gr SP's and 4320...near enough to 338 Mag factory velocities to smile whenever the whiskey talk around the campfire starts and close enough to take a few "shot and a beer" after the dust settles, when comparing my rifle to most 24" 338 Mags and factory ammo.

There isn't a whiffenpoofs difference in a 1" difference in barrel length as far as velocity is concerned, but 3-4" can make a significant increase in velocity and a much LARGER increase in ENERGY. To my way of thinking it was just plain dumb to buy a stallion for it's vigor, then nut it. Same thing with rifle barrels... Seems like the fact of loss of energy with loss of velocity gets conveniently lost in translation.

You might also look at the overall length of the rifle and the type of action...you can get a much longer barrel length on a single shot action than on a bolt gun, overall length being identical.

And as far as the "too long for handling in the brush" argument is concerned, if I have to hunt or dig something out of the "sh**" I use an auto or pump 12 ga shotgun with buckshot and slugs...my own very stout reloads.

Plus the balance, handling and esthetic look need to be addressed.

And we all have built in prejudices concerning barrel length, stock shape and stock material and so forth when it comes to rifles...Don't depend soley on the barrel length as the defining criteria for your rifle.

You can always start long and "bobbitoff" much easier than going short then looking for a pipe welder.

Enjoy your project.

Luck
 
Posts: 1338 | Registered: 19 January 2006Reply With Quote
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Mine is a 23" Kreiger. Don't think anything more is necessary.
 
Posts: 1292 | Location: I'm right here! | Registered: 01 July 2004Reply With Quote
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26" for me. AIU
 
Posts: 3720 | Registered: 03 March 2005Reply With Quote
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My puny 22" barrelled one has dropped everything it has been fired at. I see no need to go any longer.
 
Posts: 1577 | Location: Either far north Idaho or Hill Country Texas depending upon the weather | Registered: 26 March 2005Reply With Quote
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Mine has a 22" barrel and I have had the same experience as Boxhead


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Posts: 2122 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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I have a 338-06AI and use a 22" barrel. Works just fine.
 
Posts: 430 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 July 2006Reply With Quote
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My 8x60S Mauser has a 25" barrel.

I think that on these rounds the hole is actually such (and the barrel taper usually a medium) that you lose a lot of the weight "issues" you would get with say a 25" 6mm Remington or .22-250 calibre.

You can always go long and cut down later. It is difficult to go short and add on later I've found!
 
Posts: 6823 | Location: United Kingdom | Registered: 18 November 2007Reply With Quote
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+ 1 for 23". I have had two rifles with 23 inch tubes and liked them both.
 
Posts: 1016 | Location: Happy Valley, Utah | Registered: 13 October 2006Reply With Quote
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Ran the numbers on LOAD FROM A DISK and with a 90% load of IMR 4064 (closest to IMR 4320 that they show) with a Hor 225gr SP a 22" is 2349fps---a 24 is 2380fps---and a 26 is 2412fps or 18fps per inch---his load was in the area of 45.7--45.8K cup.
 
Posts: 538 | Location: North of LA, Peoples Rep. of Calif | Registered: 27 November 2004Reply With Quote
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I have a .338-06AI with a 24" Krieger barrel. I'm getting 2600fps with a nosler 225gr accubond and H4350.


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Posts: 124 | Location: land of sky blue waters | Registered: 30 January 2008Reply With Quote
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I've carried my 20"bbl for the last 2-3yrs and kilt'd 2 bull moose with it...I think 20" is perfect.
 
Posts: 1019 | Location: foothills of the Brooks Range | Registered: 01 April 2005Reply With Quote
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Mine (338-06AI) is a PacNor supermatch grade stainless cut to 24".
 
Posts: 431 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 02 May 2005Reply With Quote
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Mine has a 24" Shilen, kills like lightening!


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Posts: 1641 | Location: Green Country Oklahoma | Registered: 03 August 2007Reply With Quote
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I don't have one but have shot custom rifles so chambered belonging to friends and am a serious 9.3 slut. That said, I would go with a 22" tube, Micky Edge stock and light CRF action were I to build one, a HVA or P-64-70 with alloy bottom metal and Talleys-Recknagel front.

You could get it down close to 7 lbs. using a blind mag and a Leupy 4x, this would kick no worse than my .338WM rifles weighing 1.5 lbs. more and would be a pretty skookum mountain rifle.
 
Posts: 2366 | Location: "Land OF Shining Mountains"- British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 20 August 2006Reply With Quote
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23


Mike

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[i] Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10145 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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23.08325"




Aut vincere aut mori
 
Posts: 4865 | Location: Lakewood, CO | Registered: 07 February 2002Reply With Quote
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Mine is 23.08326"



Doug Humbarger
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Yankee Station

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Posts: 8350 | Location: Jennings Louisiana, Arkansas by way of Alabama by way of South Carloina by way of County Antrim Irland by way of Lanarkshire Scotland. | Registered: 02 November 2001Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by D Humbarger:
Mine is 23.08326"


Can you be more specific? Big Grin
 
Posts: 495 | Location: South Texas | Registered: 13 November 2003Reply With Quote
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I'd call it a matter of what you prefer.


Exactly.

The velocity difference is neglible. It truly only matters what you think. And what vision you have for the finished rifle.

My next 338-06 is getting a 21.5 inch barrel, simply because the barrel blank I found is already cut at 22". This is a Model 70 Classic FWT. Fits the overall vision of the rifle. Not worried about losing anything in the field.

I have two 338-06's with 22" barrels and I easily get 2750 with 200-210gr bullets. One load pushes 2850 with 210gr TSX. But that rifle has a fast barrel and his typically 35-50fps faster with the same load as my other 338-06.

The 338-06 is not a speed round, it is a very efficient, practical cartridge. If you are worried about speed, there are other cartridges that do a better job.
 
Posts: 2034 | Location: Black Mining Hills of Dakota | Registered: 22 June 2005Reply With Quote
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Thanks everyone for your input. There seems to be quite a few fans of the 338-06 Imp out there as well. Now I'm wondering if I should go with the std or the imp version?? Anyone out there have a set dies for the 338-06 Imp they no longer use??
 
Posts: 2443 | Location: manitoba canada | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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Once again, whatever floats your boat. If you are looking for all the velocity you can get, go with a 24" barrel and improved cartridge.

It is pretty much a reloading proposition anyway. One more step in forming the brass is no big deal to a rifle nut anyway.

I chose not to, but that is simply my choice. I built mine before the cartridge was SAAMI'd and Weatherby came out with a factory rifle and exhorbitant priced ammunition.

What are the details of your rifle?
 
Posts: 2034 | Location: Black Mining Hills of Dakota | Registered: 22 June 2005Reply With Quote
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SD Details of the rifle. Not sure just yet.I have a couple nice German 98 mauser actions that I may use. I also have an older Win pushfeed that may be the donor rifle or something else. What I want to build is a powerfull lightweight rifle that has a decent trajectory and is easy to carry. Yes I want all the velocity I can get and no I don't want a barrel 24 inches or longer. If I put a long barrel on this rifle I might as well carry one of my 338 Win or my 340 Wby. However I would like something with a little flatter trajectory than my 358 win or 9.3x62. This is going to be a hunting rifle not a show piece so it will likely end up with a synth stock and a low powered scope.Probably a 2x7. What do you think so far?
 
Posts: 2443 | Location: manitoba canada | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by metric:
Jepp!

57cm is perfect!

m


+1 (just to be different Big Grin )

FYI 57cm = 22 7/16


DRSS member

Constant change is here to stay.
 
Posts: 626 | Location: The soggy side of Washington State | Registered: 13 July 2003Reply With Quote
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I think you are on the right track.

I think you should go with a longer barrel for velocity and flute it for weight reduction. Say 23-24" lightweight barrel.

You should also AI the cartridge. Not a huge gain but you stated you wanted all the velocity you could get.

Since velocity is important to you, the extra inch of barrel length and AI will get you, what 75-100fps more?

What weight bullets? If you are going to shoot lighter weight bullets exclusively, you can go with a 1:12 twist instead of standard 1:10. That should allow you a small velocity gain without having to load it too hot.

If you want to shoot heavier bullets, you already have the bigger cartridges, and heavier rifles to take out hunting.

Honestly, a premium 200-210gr 338 bullet will handle almost everything you will probably be hunting.

I have taken an elk (275 yards) and deer (330 yards) with my 338-06 and 210gr TSX. The new TTSX should have a higher BC and on paper at least, will be better at those ranges.
 
Posts: 2034 | Location: Black Mining Hills of Dakota | Registered: 22 June 2005Reply With Quote
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My wife has a 24" barrel on a Rem 700 action and I have a 26" on a Rem 78 action and both rifles are no problem even considering overall length.

Both are Hart barrels and the velocities run very close with the edge to mine of course and that would be related to the extra 2"s.


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Posts: 327 | Location: The Beautiful Sandhills of America | Registered: 29 January 2006Reply With Quote
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Thanks for everyones input. I purchased a new 24 in barrel chambered in the std 338-06 from an AR member and it arrived today.Hopefully I will have this ready to shoot by the time it starts to warm up up here.
 
Posts: 2443 | Location: manitoba canada | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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nice, that should work for you.
 
Posts: 2034 | Location: Black Mining Hills of Dakota | Registered: 22 June 2005Reply With Quote
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Snowman,

Whatever floats your boat!

I already had a 24" Kreiger barreled .338 Win Mag when I built my 338-06 on an FN Mauser action. So I built that one with a 22" tube. Makes it very handy in the woods. Your 24" will work GREAT!


Mike

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Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com
 
Posts: 6199 | Location: Charleston, WV | Registered: 31 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Mstarling Yes you are quite right. However this barrel came along and it is 24 in in length. So I will try it at that length, chronograph some loads and if I find it a little long it is a small job to shorten it up a couple inches.Then I can re-chrono the loads and see exactly what I've lost.
 
Posts: 2443 | Location: manitoba canada | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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Assuming you want a hunting rifle then what and where you plan to hunt should be the decideing factors. Heavy brush then short barrel, open country stalking rifle then a longer barrel would be appropriate.

465H&H
 
Posts: 5686 | Location: Nampa, Idaho | Registered: 10 February 2005Reply With Quote
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I have a #5 at 23" on mine. Wouldn't get a .338 again.
 
Posts: 956 | Location: PNW | Registered: 27 April 2009Reply With Quote
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I installed the barrel and worked up some test loads to determine safe max loads with several powders and bullets. Loaded up some 3 shot groups and shot them for group. Using win 06 cases and CCI250 primers and 60 grs of W760 and 225 gr Speers went into 3/4 in @ 100yds. 55grs of 4320 and 200 gr Horn shot into 1 in. 57 grs of RL 15 and 200 gr Hornady went into 1 1/4 in. 57 grs of IMR 4007 and the 200 gr Hornady went into 3/4 inch. A pleasant surprize was that all these loads point of impact was within 2 inches. Not fussy at all. I think I'm going to like this rifle.
 
Posts: 2443 | Location: manitoba canada | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by snowman:
I installed the barrel and worked up some test loads to determine safe max loads with several powders and bullets. Loaded up some 3 shot groups and shot them for group. Using win 06 cases and CCI250 primers and 60 grs of W760 and 225 gr Speers went into 3/4 in @ 100yds. 55grs of 4320 and 200 gr Horn shot into 1 in. 57 grs of RL 15 and 200 gr Hornady went into 1 1/4 in. 57 grs of IMR 4007 and the 200 gr Hornady went into 3/4 inch. A pleasant surprize was that all these loads point of impact was within 2 inches. Not fussy at all. I think I'm going to like this rifle.
Big Grin

I'm just hoping my new barrel does as well!!!!! dancing

BTW.....This one I cut to 22".....


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Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003Reply With Quote
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