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?"

 

[Shane Lindsey]

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.

190 HHT at 2950 is good to 600 yards or so before it drops below 1800.

 

[BEEMAN]

190 HHT at 2950 is good to 600 yards or so before it drops below 1800.

Thanks. I'll give them a try. If that's the case, a load like that outperforms my 338 RUM with the 210 HHT at 3158 fps. I will run some numbers but am hesitant after my experience with the 210's BC in my rifle.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Thanks. I'll give them a try. If that's the case, a load like that outperforms my 338 RUM with the 210 HHT at 3158 fps. I will run some numbers but am hesitant after my experience with the 210's BC in my rifle.

I have not trued the BCs, but the 213 HH in my Lapua is at 3098 FPS with a 22" barrel. Those show 800 yards/1800 FPS. May be worth a look too on your RUM.

 

[BEEMAN]

I only shot the 210 HHT out to 500 yds. No sense going any further. Maybe the 190's advertised BC is closer to correct. I thought the 190 would be a good fit for when my 338-06 AI is finished being built. I have 100 of them to try.

 

[MagnumManiac]

338-06 is an emphatic killer, I've had mine since 1990, built it as my first gunsmithing job on a Mauser '98 VZ24 Brno action. Originally a 25" barrel, but an accident in 2006 shortened it to 24" and stock replaced.

Congrats on your deer(s), wonderful to see them getting used.

Cheers.