338-06 load development

[Shane Lindsey]

@Equalizer

Have you shot it without the brake? I used my brake for fireforming, but not for hunting. I actually prefer mine without it. It doesn't feel as snappy as a 30-06, more of a hard push. Very tolerable + no ear pro in the tree stand.

 

[Equalizer]

@Equalizer

Have you shot it without the brake? I used my brake for fireforming, but not for hunting. I actually prefer mine without it. It doesn't feel as snappy as a 30-06, more of a hard push. Very tolerable + no ear pro in the tree stand.

I have not. I did get some fancy electronic ear muffs for the short term and have been doing a little shopping for a suppressor. There is basically very little recoil with the brake but for a hunting rig it's not a necessity. I'm sure I can handle the recoil impulse but time is a luxury I can't afford too often so never got around to trying it without the brake. And tbh the gun is very well balanced as is.

 

[levers4life]

Got him this morning. First blood on my 338-06AI. 160gr Barnes TTSX in front of BLC2. He went maybe 15yds. High shoulder shot; ribs are no good but zero meat loss. Mine has the integral brake so it feels like shooting a 308. A bit noisy tho....

 

[Equalizer]

Nice buck!!! Glad you got to harvest one with it.

 

[levers4life]

Nice buck!!! Glad you got to harvest one with it.

Thank you! He's not bad for a hill country deer. I'm not seeing any axis this year on my place, and he hung around chasing a doe just a little too long...

 

[BEEMAN]

I don't put too much stock in BC for these as they are just close range woods guns for my area of hunting. Longer range hunting/steel would use a different cartridge.

I'm running the 210 HHT in my 338 RUM. I won't post any numbers. But it's really handicapped my rifle. I only need to shoot 650 yds max. Impact velocity isn't there with this bullet. 450 yds or less it would be great. Sheds velocity very quickly.

 

[Equalizer]

Mine has the integral brake so it feels like shooting a 308. A bit noisy tho....

@Equalizer

Have you shot it without the brake? I used my brake for fireforming, but not for hunting. I actually prefer mine without it. It doesn't feel as snappy as a 30-06, more of a hard push. Very tolerable + no ear pro in the tree stand.

I will have to try it without the brake.
I know it sounds dumb but it's very rare for me to feel recoil, especially when talking a shot on game. I do have a neurological issue and that might be a factor. Of course a poor fitting, 5 pound 300 win mag shooting 220 grain bullets at max load would register but for example my M77 338 Win Mag doesn't register for a half a dozen shots or more from the bench. Eventually my nervous system will catch up and some time later in the day I'll be like "I wonder why my shoulder hurts?"