338-06 load development

Tagging in on this one. I need to get my .338-06 out and let it play. 57.1 grains of RL-15 and Hornady 200 grain bullets hit 2900 fps in my old 03A3 rifle. It was a shooter with a 24" fluted Lilja barrel, but heavier than I liked.

I traded that one, and built a M-70 on a Stainless Classic action, SS #3 contour 24" SM PacNor barrel, and McMillan. It weighs 8.5 lbs all up with mountain sling and 2.5-8X36 B&C reticle, and 5+1 rounds. I bought 120 rounds of Nosler custom ammunition with 200 grain AB for cheap on closeout. Zeroed the rifle with it and then fell off a ladder shattering my leg in 2015. I don't think I've shot it since then.

Holy Hanna, 2900 is really horn honking on it...57.1 if 15 is a bunch! If I recall right with the 200's Nosler is at a top end of 53.5

Nice rifle. I'm putting together a 338-06AI this winter. First bullet I'll try is the 190 HHT. I was tempted to get the 175 HH. But we will see how the 190 HHT shoots. Another nice bullet is the 200 gr Apex Afterburner.

Hornady book load with 200 grain SP. It's a max load, but my rifle liked it.

BEEMAN said:

Nice rifle. I'm putting together a 338-06AI this winter. First bullet I'll try is the 190 HHT. I was tempted to get the 175 HH. But we will see how the 190 HHT shoots. Another nice bullet is the 200 gr Apex Afterburner.

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Thanks! It finally all came together after some trial and error with scopes and triggers. I know the Hammers have quite a good reputation on game and easy load work up.

Equalizer said:

I know the Hammers have quite a good reputation on game and easy load work up.

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Yes they are,,,

I built mine on my first ever 'smithing job on a Mauser '98 Brno VZ24 action. 24" barrel, 10" twist 4 groove.
2 powders have always given me the best performance being H4350 and Win 760. I use 210g Partitions for mostly every deer species here, or 250g Partitions for scrub bulls, donkeys and the odd camel to eat.
I also use the 225g Accubond to reach out there some, but this is generally rare. I use Winchester ww-super brass or Norma, loads are very different between the two.

Cheers.

Loading data for the 338-06 and 338-06 AI has been covered in threads on here quite extensively in the past and like many others I contributed my experience with my 338-06 AI also. I am seeing here now some powders and bullets that I haven't seen before which is good, one can never get too much information. In my 338-06 AI I use 56 gr of IMR 4350 behind a Speer 200 gr SP for fire forming Winchester cases years ago, they shoot very accurate and I have killed a bear with this load. My standard hunting load is 53 gr of IMR 4320 behind a Hornady 225 gr Spira Point. 58 gr of IMR 4350 shoots very accurate behind this bullet as well.

dogz said:

Holy Hanna, 2900 is really horn honking on it...57.1 if 15 is a bunch! If I recall right with the 200's Nosler is at a top end of 53.5

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I know you were referring to Ducky's post but I got 2930 fps with the 200 SST and 57.6 gr of Varget…. I'll probably back it off to the 56.7 or 57.0 charge depending on accuracy. Now that I know it's throated long I'm gonna test longer coal's too.

I shot this group a year ago when I was fire forming the first rounds. 1.18" at 100 and I just chose an arbitrary charge weight that I thought would form the case.



I'm sure it will do better but not too bad for the cobbled together recipe.

I just ran out of RL for my 338-06AI. Working up a load now with H335 and 160gr TTSX. Hoping to get a chance to shoot this week. Great cartridge, enjoy!

58gr IMR-4350 is a typically accurate load for most cartridges in the '06 size & case capacity. I really like the 210 Nosler Partition for 338. Use it for everything from 338 Fed to 340 Wby Mag. Very accurate and quicker than the 250gr. In big bear areas where I'm hunting elk or muleys, my first shot will usually be the 210 NP, with 3 250gr NPs behind it. Knowing the POI of each, I can adjust whenever additional shots are required. The 210 NP has always gotten the job done, though I did need a second shot on a very tough caribou. The animal was dead on his feet, but just didn't know it. After he stood there for 20 sec, I got nervous and hit him again. It really wasn't necessary!

Shane Lindsey said:

Yes they are,,,

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So that's your load development? 9 shots?

levers4life said:

I just ran out of RL for my 338-06AI. Working up a load now with H335 and 160gr TTSX. Hoping to get a chance to shoot this week. Great cartridge, enjoy!

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I couldn't find any of the 160 gr TTSX when I was getting components for this rifle. I bet they will really be moving from your AI!!!

ducky said:

Hornady book load with 200 grain SP. It's a max load, but my rifle liked it.

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I looked at this closer and noticed that 57.3 Gr of Varget got me 2899fps. Hornady data says 1fps more. Idk if it's a fluke or what but I find that pretty reassuring for my velocity data… Still want the Garmin though lol