338-06 / 338 WM / 340WBY or ???

[RUM]

So decision time again... Trying to decide what will compliment the 280AI? I figure going to head into a .338 caliber as I think near everything I need is covered up to there.

The 338-06 as of right now seems really appealing to me, but other than what I have searched on the web, know nothing of it. Sounds like a reasonable choice for anything really out to about 350-400yds with a 210-225gn pill in theory? Had a 340WBY, liked it, but the rifle was just too bulky to carry around, in a Mark V Accumark. I am not looking to haul around a 26-28" barrel with a break again, so maybe a little stout in a lighter rifle I'm thinking. 338 WM I have shot a few times, never owned one.

-Plan is a M70 CRF with a McMillan of a sort
-Factory ammunition availability is not a factor
-I don't need a rifle to have legs further than "average" ie: <400yds

Share some thoughts and ideas on the above and open to other ideas at this point aswell.

[KBF]

Originally Posted by RUM

So decision time again... Trying to decide what will compliment the 280AI? I figure going to head into a .338 caliber as I think near everything I need is covered up to there.

The 338-06 as of right now seems really appealing to me, but other than what I have searched on the web, know nothing of it. Sounds like a reasonable choice for anything really out to about 350-400yds with a 210-225gn pill in theory? Had a 340WBY, liked it, but the rifle was just too bulky to carry around, in a Mark V Accumark. I am not looking to haul around a 26-28" barrel with a break again, so maybe a little stout in a lighter rifle I'm thinking. 338 WM I have shot a few times, never owned one.

-Plan is a M70 CRF with a McMillan of a sort
-Factory ammunition availability is not a factor
-I don't need a rifle to have legs further than "average" ie: <400yds

Share some thoughts and ideas on the above and open to other ideas at this point aswell.

Isnt there a 338 RUM?

[REMINGTON JIM]

338-06 is a good cool cartridge- i think more efficent then the 35 whelan-bullets have a higher sectional density and coefficent-little flatter shooting- would be my choice

[RUM]

338RUM, yep, the only RUM I have yet to own... But not interested in it unfortunately anymore. If I were to go that route, it'd be the 338 Edge I think.

[Mike_W]

338-06AI would compliment the 280AI the best.
Same cartridge essentially!
But if you want a magnum the 338 win mag is a good choice.

[Lefty-Canuck]

What about a 30-378?

Lefty

[RUM]

Not sure that I require a magnum. Played around with a number of them, but I have yet to see where an animal died any quicker with an extra couple hundred fps. Think that's why the 338-06 has caught my eye, within reach of the 338WM so to speak with less powder and I can assume less recoil.

30-378 never been any interest in pushing a .308 cal bullet like that. The father has a 338-378WBY, and while I think it is an outstanding cartridge, I don't and won't ever hunt at distances to fully utilize either of them. That being said, thinking I'm on the short strokes of acquiring that 338-378 some day in the not so distant future.

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

I'm with Mike.280AI, match it with a 338-06AI

I had built a 338-06AI and picked it up late October 2008. Love the rifle-built on a Sako m75 Greywolf. More so went with the Ackley Improved - TO BE DIFFERENT, from recommendations from the gunsmith (he built and owned a few personally) and from a few comments on another hunting forum site of owners of the AI version.

Built it to shoot 225gr bullets- Accubonds and TTSX's is what I use. If I wanted to shoot lighter bullets (180-200) I would of just keep using my 300WM for that. Could go bigger-up to 250gr but I'm happy with the 225 loads. I use new Norma 338-06AS headstamped brass. First loads are medium/hot to fireform the brass. If in a pinch, my reloads in the new brass will shoot just fine if needed.

If considering a 35 Whelan, maybe AI it.

Another caliber to consider that caught my eye after I built mine is the 330 Dakota. Might build this in the future.

Have fun.

[3Dshooter]

As with "Ice Fish Maniac", look at the .330 Dakota. If not, the great old .338 Win would be my choice to fill the gap.

[Dick284]

35 Whelen AI

403-845-8712, ask for Bob.

[bearhunter338-06]

I have owned both the 338 Win. Mag. (1) and the 338-06 (2)

338 Win. Mag. Ruger MKII blued walnut stock - Kicked like a mule, replaced stock with a Bell & Carlson tamed it right down - sold it.

338-06 built on a Mauser action with a Shillen barrel Sold to build second 338-06

#2 338-06 Built on a Ruger M77 Tang Safety,#4 Shillen barrel, Boyd laminate stock, trigger set to 2#'s

I prefer the 338-06 over the 338 Win. Mag. Less recoil and it sights on the heals of the 338 Win. Mag. buy 100 -150 FPS. It is plenty good for any game. Weatherby loads for it as well, Nosler and Norma are now producing brass with the 338-06 head stamp.

[RUM]

330 Dakota has sparked my interest, I'll have to see what more I can dig up on that along with the 35 Whelen AI. That being said, I think I'll be adding another .375 to the line up, so not sure if that turns into 2 of the same somewhat with the .358. Brass for the Dakota seems to be a bit of an issue doing a quick search on it, is that the case?

Bearhunter - What kind of velocities are you getting with what bullet? From what I have been reading, looks like guys claim from 2400-2900fps with it or the AI'd version depending who is writing the article. I'd like to hear some real numbers from anyone who has spent some time with the cartridge.

One article I read made an interesting comment on the the "value" or AI'ing the 338-06. Stretching the case out to accomodate the .338 bullet knocks out most the shoulder so it is kind of a wash... makes sense picturing it in my head, any thoughts?

Appreciate the feedback

[eric2381]

I was looking for the same thing. I had a win crf m70 action with a 30-06 (.473") bolt face. I wanted a 338 win mag, but didn't want to mess with the bolt face and feed rails. I talked to D.Henry and went with a 338 Gibbs.

If you're serious about reloading, that may be a choice.

[Drop_Tine]

I have always liked the 338 lapua ... Just another option that was not listed

[Andrzej]

Don't know if this will help much but 338Win Mag is my biggest caliber in Sako 75 SS (I have 5 of them) and with 225gr is my large game gun of choice.
I like to shoot it better than friends TIKKA t3 in 300 WSM with 180gr.
Last week I tried 185 gr Barnes TSX and four of them touched the same hole !!!
It was just to use those 185 up...as i shoot 225 grainers with it ... now I am puzzled with this.

Chronied at 3200 ft/sec ... those 185 Barnes might be my large game round.
I need to do more testing now.

I like 338 Win Mag.

If i could keep one only i would keep it and before this one I would vote for 30-06.

Andrew

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

If you have the Barnes Reloading Manual #5 I believe, it has a section on the 330 Dakota. If my memory serves me correctly, the case is based of a 404 Jeffery case using .338 dia bullets. Very similar velocites to a 340 Weatherby but in a non-belted and will fit standard action. With a 210gr bullet...aprrox. 3200 ft/s with a ME of 4480 ft/lbs. With a 250gr bullet....2900 ft/s witha ME of 4668 ft/lbs.

Dakota Arms manufactures it....but I'd get a new barrel and build it personally.


When I get home tonite, I'll look up the info in the book for you.

IFM

[BallCoeff.435]

Hard to imagine a 250gn .338 bullet coming out of anything less than a 25-inch bbl with the sort of velocity it was designed for. And no less than a 10-pound platform if you want to practise getting any good with it.

If you're looking for a convenient-carry close range howitzer, why not a Marlin GBL in 45-70 or a Ruger M77 Alaskan in 375 (or 416) Ruger?

[lefty 338-06]

I love 338`S I have 4-338-06 , 2-338 WM ,1-338 Federal , 338 Marlin Express , but my go to gun for moose and elk out to 400 yds is my Rem 700 L/H with a Gillard 22" barrel all put together by Dennis Sorenson (Guntech) it clover leafs first three ,recoil is very shotable love`s 210 Nosler and 230 failsafe .I have shot 338 win mag for years but the 338-06 has less recoil and does all it needs to do.
Lefty 338-06

[Lefty-Canuck]

If you ever decide to sell one of your lefties please keep me in mind! Just drop me a PM if you ever do.

Lefty

[hardy]

Originally Posted by REMINGTON JIM

338-06 is a good cool cartridge- i think more efficent then the 35 whelan-bullets have a higher sectional density and coefficent-little flatter shooting- would be my choice

Not according to the 2008 edition of Nosler reloading. The 35 Whelen according to their data will shoot a 225 grain bullet at 2800fps, sighted in at 200yards would give -8@300y and -23@400yards. The 338-06 with a 225gr pill is max at 2600. Zeroed at 200y it would be-8.9"@300 and -25"@400y.

Not sure if the load data in this manual is correct it seems a little to good to be true for the 35 Whelen but if its not I might be lookin at buyin me one of those!

[RUM]

I'll have to check my Barnes manual when I get in, think mine is #4.

45/70 have and use as my bush gun already, not what I'm looking for as a hunting rifle out to 400yds. As for the 375, I will be getting another H&H when I finally put together Africa.

Appreciate the feedback, now I've got too many to compare without real numbers! Keep whatever you can coming. Of the ones mentioned, these are the ones of interest other than the 3 I originally inquired about.
-300 dakota
-35 Whelen AI

[Headdamage]

I really like the 338win for an all around hunting rifle and it's nice to have where big bears can be found. In fact I like it enough that I've just bought a second Ruger MkII 338win and this one will have it's barrel cut down to 20" and have iron sights installed. I intend it to be my general carry gun and defense rifle for camping and such.

35 whelen
338 federal

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

Its not in the Barnes book. I was sure it was but I flipped thru it several times during the Vancouver Chicago game. Then I grabbed my Nosler #6 Manual and there it was.

As quoted from the Nolser #6 Maunal.

"The 330 Dakota's proportions allows it to utilize the same action size as that of a 30-06 but with the advantage of approx. 15% more powder capacity than the 338WM. The result is energies nearing the 375 H7H mag with tragectories similar to the 7mmRM."

"By design, the 330 Dakota is one of a series of cartridges based on a shortened and improved 404 Jeffery parent case. The design allows for qa non-belted case, which offers more reliable feeding from magazine rifles as well as more desirable head spacing on the shoulder of the case."

Hopefully that helps you out. If you reload, and want to be a bit different than others, this might be the caliber to build. I may still get one built off a Sako m75 rifle eventhough I had the 338-06AI built on a Sako m75 Greywolf in2008. This caliber intrigues me! If I do build one, it will be handed down to one of my boys later.

If not a 338-06 or the 330 Dakota (greast bullet selection in the .338 caliber), my next suggestion is the 35 Whelan and you might as well Ackley Improve the rifle build-but thats just me!

As for my 338-06AI, I love it!! Either the 225gr Accubond or the TTSX's is the medicine for me....both shoot similar....past experience with the Accubonds in other calibers has me leaning that way. If memory serves right, I'm set up for 2 or 2.5" at 100 metres. If I'm not hunting with this and I want longer range, I take my Sako m75ss 300WM with reloads of 180gr Accubonds but I have been impressed with my 270WSM with reloads of 140gr Accubonds too at longer ranges.

[RUM]

Thanks Ice Fisher, a very interesting cartridge for sure. I am going to see what it's like to track down brass, dies, etc. for it, could be the way to go. It'll come down to that or either the 338-06 or 35 Whelen I'm thinking at this point, possibly the AI variant.

Appreciate the feedback everyone

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

Originally Posted by RUM

Thanks Ice Fisher, a very interesting cartridge for sure. I am going to see what it's like to track down brass, dies, etc. for it, could be the way to go. It'll come down to that or either the 338-06 or 35 Whelen I'm thinking at this point, possibly the AI variant.

Appreciate the feedback everyone

No Problem. As for brass for my 338-06AI, I use new Norma 338-06 A-square brass and fireform it. Norma makes the brass for Weatherby that is headstamped the same...can buy easily from couple local shops. I initially had the Weatherby (60) but thru an order I did from the USA I got Norma along with some (actually alot...lol) orange-tipped 180gr Accubonds (made for Norma by Nosler) for my 300WM and some 210 Swift Scirocco's in .338 caliber. I was going to just use 30-06 brass but when I seen the headstamped one for 338-06, I chose that way....skip a few steps that way.

Also Weatherby makes factory ammo for the 338-06, cant remember the bullet or grain size...but pricey. My reloads are definately alot cheaper.

For me, I have Redding dies that my gunsmith brought in.

As mentioned, Dakota Arms manufactures the 330 Dakota in a factory rifle. For me, I'd be doing the build off a Sako m75 rifle.....but that me...I LOVE MY SAKOS !!

[Fixall7]

I have a custom Browning A-Bolt 30-06 converted to a 35 whelen with a 22" semi contour stainless Shilen barrel 1-12 twist ... I love it , I get as tight as 3/4" groups with Barns 225 tsx and 1/2" with Nosler Partitions at 100 yards ..

If I had the choice I would go with the 338-06 cuz it will give you that little extra umf that you need at 400 yards ..

Don't get me wrong , both calibers are awesome and they don't kick as much like all those Magnums and they don't Burn Barrels ..

p.s. I forgot to mention , you have a bigger selection of reloading bullets with the 338-06 ..