I just Can't help it, 338-06 AI er ?

[med358-boise]

I have heard more complaints from hunters using solid copper bullets than anything else. Mostly because they have such a narrow velocity spread for optimum use. But Like I said, Copper is out! for accuracy and ease of loading, with the widest working velocity spread I've seen over the years, there are only two jacketed, non-partition bullets I will consider, Accubonds, or Scirocco's.

I am almost positive the Accubonds have my vote of confidence. from antelope to. African plains game, I hear the least, nearly zero complains on their performance. As I already said, I don't put much faith in reviews stating how great they are, to many variables get left out on why they worked that time. But you will always hear about any failure with anything from components to equipment. I don't hear complaints on the performance of the Accubonds. Neither terminal performance, or accuracy. I want to know that they will perform at 3000 fps- to 1800 fps, the bonded bullets have been very reliable in that range.

My only decision will be, 200 grain,,, or 225. If I ever hunted the largest most dangerous game with this rifle,, it will be using either a 250 grain Swift A-Frame, or a Nosler Partition, in that order.

I didn't read all the posts. But that is an interesting point of view. I have used Barnes TSXs and TTSXs almost exclusively 15 plus years and never a problem, very few recovered because of exit wounds and have not lost an animal. Most Barnes have a minimum impact velocity of 1800 some as low as 1500 to 1600. It actually varies by caliber and weight. But clearly your mind is made up, so enjoy your rifle and the accubonds they are a good bullet.

One thing I always find interesting about hunter's complaints about failed bullets. The majority of them talk about lost animals and the majority include the statement "it was a good shot" or even "a perfect shot". But given most of us can't see our hits because of recoil, the vast majority of the time we only have a good idea of where we were holding and no "evidence of where the bullet struck". Yet, the majority of these hunters are absolutely convinced it was a good to great shot but they have zero evidence of that. They will even claim the lack of a blood trail is proof it was a failure to expand and they completely disregard the simplest answer...which is they missed. Trust me bullet failures do happen but interestingly enough the best evidence is the recovered failed bullet from a dead animal.

You will love the 338-06. I had one in Custom Mauser with octagon barrel and took this Wyoming 6x6 on (the right) with (funny enough) a 200 grain accubond. Have a great evening.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Varget has been my go-to with similar cartridge. Definitely not top speed, but accurate.

 

[Bobcatter]

Varget has been my go-to with similar cartridge. Definitely not top speed, but accurate.

This is my goal Shane, thanks for the confirmation, for anything from Antelope to Elk, as far as 400 to 500 yards, is what is being intended for. This cartridge has the power with good hunting bullets to make quick clean one shot kills easily on those animals with up to 200 grain bullets. The only requirement for those loads to do that is enough accuracy to put them where they need to be. That is for bullets 200 to 210 grains anyways where I am going to concentrate my efforts for a hunting load.

I think you'll find Varget to be pretty close to giving as much velocity as about any powder you can get enough in the case to reach their top pressure with the lighter bullets in this caliber, and velocity. I know once you get to the 225 maybe, but the 250 grain bullets, it definitely opens more doors for slower powders to fill the case and still get their top pressures, to deliver more speed than the Varget loads would, but is substantial enough to mater at the closer range those bullets would be intended for?

I also am not as interested in accuracy for those heavier 225 to 250 grain bullets. Even 1.5 moa is plenty good for the most dangerous game even at 200 yards, and that is an awful long shot for taking dangerous game, or even Moose, which most likely the biggest and most likely game I will ever hunt with this gun. Even Moose is a pipe dream at this point, and 100 yards is more likely the distance these loads would ever be used for those animals, but 200 I doubt would ever be exceeded, and if it was, I think a second shot would be capable if needed. Which is all those big heavy bullets would be intended for.

But where i think the Varget will give me the best of accuracy and speed, is with the 180 grain AB bullet. This will be only for Antilope or Whitetail and Mule Deer. For those game animals 500 yards is a real possible distance for hunting opportunities, and the load most often used for this gun, which is likely to be used to hunt. Most accuracy available, and the least power capability of this cartridge is all that is required for DRT under these circumstances. I won't even rule out N135 or XBR 8208 for this one bullet under these circumstances?

I searched the internet for months researching options from 30 caliber all the way to 375. This just seemed the best cal to cover it all. That 35 was my toughest decision over the 338 cal. To be honest I actually was as intrigued with the 35 Whelen for it's bigger game capabilities. But think I was more impressed with the ability for smaller game at longer range with the 338 over the Whelen, a more likely used application at my age. Remember, I've mentioned adding a sporter weight 24" 257 Roberts AI barrel to this gun in the future, maybe this summer? That was what made the 35 Whelen even more intriguing for the larger game. But I know I'll shoot this even more, and be more likely not to build the second barrel, making the 338 the better one and done gun option..