Welp, I am holding my breath.. I am scheduled to hunt in Namibia in August.. I don't think I am going.. I am taking my 30/06.. Now that I am home and a I.G. buddy told my about the 338/06... Got to thinking; Winchester Model 70 FWT SS Dark Maple 30-06 as a donor.. I know it will kick because it's not heavy.. Any thoughts ?? Anyone shoot the 338/06 ??
338/06 ??
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I have and shoot both I took the 338-06 to Africa a couple years ago and it did well but I have 338-06 stamped brass and I am glad I did it was something they checked so think about it if you cannot find the brass The 30-06 will perform just as well on a plains game hunt
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
I have a 338-06 built on a custom VZ24 Mauser '98 with a 24" barrel.
Rifle weighs in at 8.5lb loaded/scope/sling.
Mine has a decellerator pad on it and is very mild in recoil.
I use 210gr Partitions or 225gr Accubonds in mine. It shoots those into less than MoA, so I am happy with that.
Have also used 250gr Partitions with good results, but they lose a bit of oomph compared to the 225gr.
This is one of my favourite cartridges actually.
Cheers.
Rifle weighs in at 8.5lb loaded/scope/sling.
Mine has a decellerator pad on it and is very mild in recoil.
I use 210gr Partitions or 225gr Accubonds in mine. It shoots those into less than MoA, so I am happy with that.
Have also used 250gr Partitions with good results, but they lose a bit of oomph compared to the 225gr.
This is one of my favourite cartridges actually.
Cheers.
I really enjoy mine, that said I love 33's and don't like 30's (for absolutely no intelligent reason...), taking the 338/06 out of country I'd want the proper head stamp on the cases. It isn't tough to find Wby virgin cases, oddly though it says "338/06 Magnum" on the box, can't recall if it's head stamped that way or not.
If you're a practical sort, then go 06, 200 grain Nozler @ 2650-2700 and call it a day. The 200 Noz will pretty much penetrate as far as the 250 would in the 338/06 anyway.
I tend to do life a bit different than most that's part of my love for the 338/06.
If you're a practical sort, then go 06, 200 grain Nozler @ 2650-2700 and call it a day. The 200 Noz will pretty much penetrate as far as the 250 would in the 338/06 anyway.
I tend to do life a bit different than most that's part of my love for the 338/06.
I just don't have time or the money to build it this year.. Great call on the Head stamp.. I was going to use the 180gr Barns and 180 Nosler Partition...
I'm very fond of the cartridge. Norma sells good quality cases.
www.norma-ammunition.com
Norma Brass 338-06 A-SQUARE
www.norma-ammunition.com
rustyshackleford
Well-Known Member
Always thought it was a neat cartridge but never fooled with one. If it were me and that's the route I wanted to go I think starline makes headstamped brass for it and Sierra makes a 215 especially for the velocities assciated with that cartridge. The beauty of running bigger bullets in my opinion is having a mono or bonded round becomes less important. Especially with the in the context of the velocities associated with this round. I don't think you'd see a difference in game but you have my full support 
I don't think you will notice much difference in recoil. I don't have a 338-06 but do have 338 win. mag., 35 Whelen and 400 Whelen. I shot my 35 whelen and 30-06 the other day, one right after the other both with 220gr. bullets, very little difference in recoil. The 400W of coarse has noticeably more but not bad. The 338 Win. mag. is a little more noticeable and a bit sharper recoil. I think the 338-06 is a grate cartridge and I would probably do one if I didn't have the 338 Win. Mag. Quality Cartridge also makes brass for the 338-06. But as you say you don't have the money this year so the 30-06 will get the job done with the right bullet, so if you get to go, go and have fun. You can still build a 338-06 later on.
I used the .338-06 for several years about thirty years ago; took my first bull elk with in Colorado. I've also had rifles in .35 Whelen, .35 Whelen Improved, .375 Whelen Improved and the .411 Hawk over the years. All of these were enjoyable to work with but all are gone now and I don't miss any of them.
I think the .30-06 with heavy bullets will likely perform as well as a .338-06, unless you have a need for real heavy bullets. Same for the other cartridges, though the .35 Whelen is probably the exception. .338-06 recoil with Hornady 225 grain SP bullets at about 2600- 2650 fps in a sporter of average weight is not much different from a .30-06 with 180-200 grain bullets in a similar rifle.
I think the .30-06 with heavy bullets will likely perform as well as a .338-06, unless you have a need for real heavy bullets. Same for the other cartridges, though the .35 Whelen is probably the exception. .338-06 recoil with Hornady 225 grain SP bullets at about 2600- 2650 fps in a sporter of average weight is not much different from a .30-06 with 180-200 grain bullets in a similar rifle.
IllinoisBurt
Well-Known Member
If you want a bit more thump for African game from a 30-06 as a donor, you would probably be better served by going to 9.3x62. Readily available ammo throughout Africa, not too terribly expensive here in US. Easy to make from 30-06 ammo - simply run through a full length sizer, trim slightly, and load. Not a great long range round, but capable for any plains game and stout enough for dangerous game (legal minimum for elephants in some areas).
ofbandg
Well-Known Member
I'm a 338-06 fan. I load mine with 180-185 for deer size animals and 200-210 for larger. I can get 3000fps with the 180's and 185's, which I can't do with my 30-06. I like the bigger bore and the range of bullets available from 160 to 265 grains in premium manufacturers because I sometimes run into large animals. The rounds are easy to load, I neck down 35 Whelen, and it works with a large number of powders, although I have had my best results with BLC2 and the accubonds and triple shocks. It has enough taper to feed and extract well, which is big in my hunting life, and all it requires is a properly chambered barrel to make the conversion from any '06 type action. It's one of my favourite all around cartridges.
Ronald W Schaefer
Well-Known Member
Nothing in Africa you can't kill with a 30-06...even dangerous game if they'd let ya. PHs over there love 30-06 with Barnes bullets.
nicholasjohn
Well-Known Member
I'm very fond of the cartridge. Norma sells good quality cases.
Norma Brass 338-06 A-SQUARE
I didn't know that Norma made brass for this cartridge. I have been using their brass for decades in the 30-06, and more recently 280, and I like it. If I had a 338/06, I would definitely want to use this brass. Thanks for pointing this out.
