.338-06 anybody?

Does anyone here have any experience with the .338-06? I’m building one in the not so distance future and was just curious to see if anyone else loads for one here? My barrel just arrived this week and if I can find some time this weekend, I’d like to get it on the rifle. Building off of a Savage 110 using an ER Shaw barrel kit. Right now I’m thinking of focusing on the Barnes bullets around 200 grains, though I might buy some Sierra or Hornady bulletin to start the project with for some cheaper trigger time.


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I load for 338-06 improved. Great caliber. I’ve mostly stuck with 200gr and under bullets. My main bullet for years was barnes 185gr tsx. I’ve had success with 180gr accubonds and 200gr ballistic silver tips. I’ve got some 210gr partitions and 225gr hornady spire points to try but haven’t got around to it yet. My best powders have been 4895 4320 and 4064.


JTD

JTD, thanks for that info! I was looking at that 185gr, but worried it would be too short. What barrel twist does yours have? Mine is 1:10” I have been reading about good results with IMR4064 so that was going to be my first powder to try.


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Mine is a 10” twist also


JTD

Started forming brass last night. Using a bunch of once-fired RP .30-06. I got a chance to sit down at tee bench last night and finished 50 of them. I have about 150 more to do before I’ll start some load development. Imperial case lube in the outside and hen inside the case neck for good measure. Wiping off with some mineral spirits. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fcbb7e4715.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2f4c136eee.jpg


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Looking good. What bullet did you decide to start with?


JTD

Will it have anything on the short action 338Federal ?? --- SAWMAN

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Originally Posted by JeffreyDeGraff

Looking good. What bullet did you decide to start with?


JTD

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JTD, I haven’t decided quite yet. The more I read others opinions the more I shy away from the 210gr TTSX. But the 185gr version doesn’t speak to me as much. Trying to find a middle ground with other brands and think I might give the 200gr Nosler Etip a try, as a compromise. I ran some numbers through a ballistic calculator (which I fully understand to not take as Gospel truth) and even with the 210gr TTSX, it is still carrying 2000fps at 400, which in my research is nearing the lower recommended velocity of 1800 for most all copper bullets. Probably never take a shot that far, but it’s nice to know it’s still within the limits. Comparing that to the 185 which at 400 yards is spinning along at around about the same of right around 2000fps. Kinda a dilemma I’ve run into with my stubbornness for all copper bullets, but just more to research. That’s why I’m looking at the 200gr Etip as it is about as close to being in the middle of these two as you can get.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SAWMAN

Will it have anything on the short action 338Federal ?? --- SAWMAN

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Not really. A couple more FPS as it burns a bit more powder, but I like the .30-06 family and have become intrigued with this cartridge. I’m planning building it as my future elk rifle.


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Couple things - - ->
Disclaimer- - -> I have no expierance with the 338 solid copper bullets . . . BUT . . .
On more than several ocassions I have talked to the Barnes people on the phone re. their TSX and TTSX line of .308",.224",and .458" bullets. Also in re. to the .308" bullets for use in my 300BLK guns. These are <131grs.
On every ocassion they tell me that their published or stated minimum opening velocities are for "optimal expansion". They will not elaborate on that,but as I understand it you will get a lesser level of expansion at the < "optimal expansion" velocities. Question is . . . how much less ????
Obviously,if your bullet drops off 100fps under their "optimal expansion" velocity,it will still expand. But how much ?? Remember also that a bbls faster twist rate will help with expansion also.
All in all,I have not got too hung-up on the velocity vs impact distance thing. If my figured max distance for a 110gr coming out of one of my 300BLK's is 225yds,would I attempt to kill a critter at 250,275,etc. ?? Yep,I sure would . . . within reason.
Also,Barnes will tell you that their solid copper bullets like a little jump into the lands and not right on them. I load accordingly and get some amazing accuracy from their bullets. --- SAWMAN

I’ve shot Barnes Bullets out of the 338 federal and 338-06 Improved, for years. The 338 federal shoots the barnes 160gr TTSX at 2750fps, and the 338-06 Improved shoots the 185gr TSX at 2900fps. Every deer and hog I’ve shot with these rifles has been under 200 yards. Every animal shot with these 2 rifles, has died and been recovered. On thin skinned, easy to kill, deer I have found the tipped version of the barnes bullet to be a quicker killer. In my experience, the 338 federal with the tipped 160gr at 2750 puts deer down faster than the heavier faster 185gr UNtipped bullet out of the 338-06. On hogs, the bullets perform the same, but they are bigger tougher thicker skinned creatures. I have zero experience with the Hornady GMX line of bullets so I cannot speak on those with experience. For elk, the barnes tipped or untipped 185gr - 210gr bullets should perform admirably out of the 338-06.


JTD

If expansion at long distances is a concern, then you could also look at the Nosler 200gr accubond and 210 partition. Both are soft enough to expand at lower velocities, but tough enough to get the job done at close range higher velocities.


JTD

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SAWMAN

Couple things - - ->
Disclaimer- - -> I have no expierance with the 338 solid copper bullets . . . BUT . . .
On more than several ocassions I have talked to the Barnes people on the phone re. their TSX and TTSX line of .308",.224",and .458" bullets. Also in re. to the .308" bullets for use in my 300BLK guns. These are <131grs.
On every ocassion they tell me that their published or stated minimum opening velocities are for "optimal expansion". They will not elaborate on that,but as I understand it you will get a lesser level of expansion at the < "optimal expansion" velocities. Question is . . . how much less ????
Obviously,if your bullet drops off 100fps under their "optimal expansion" velocity,it will still expand. But how much ?? Remember also that a bbls faster twist rate will help with expansion also.
All in all,I have not got too hung-up on the velocity vs impact distance thing. If my figured max distance for a 110gr coming out of one of my 300BLK's is 225yds,would I attempt to kill a critter at 250,275,etc. ?? Yep,I sure would . . . within reason.
Also,Barnes will tell you that their solid copper bullets like a little jump into the lands and not right on them. I load accordingly and get some amazing accuracy from their bullets. --- SAWMAN

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Thanks for this post SAWMAN. I appreciate it! I can honestly say I didn't really stop to think about that. Like you mentioned, if the Barnes people say 1800fps, it's not like at 1750 or even 1700 they will just stop expanding. The numbers that everyone has heard is for "optimum expansion" which to me means that will cover their butt a bit as they probably start seeing inconsistencies under that veloity. Inconsistencies don't mean complete failure of performance. I think I'm over thinking this, and your post has helped calm me down a bit. Thanks also for the seating length hint! That is much appreciated!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffreyDeGraff

I’ve shot Barnes Bullets out of the 338 federal and 338-06 Improved, for years. The 338 federal shoots the barnes 160gr TTSX at 2750fps, and the 338-06 Improved shoots the 185gr TSX at 2900fps. Every deer and hog I’ve shot with these rifles has been under 200 yards. Every animal shot with these 2 rifles, has died and been recovered. On thin skinned, easy to kill, deer I have found the tipped version of the barnes bullet to be a quicker killer. In my experience, the 338 federal with the tipped 160gr at 2750 puts deer down faster than the heavier faster 185gr UNtipped bullet out of the 338-06. On hogs, the bullets perform the same, but they are bigger tougher thicker skinned creatures. I have zero experience with the Hornady GMX line of bullets so I cannot speak on those with experience. For elk, the barnes tipped or untipped 185gr - 210gr bullets should perform admirably out of the 338-06.


JTD

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffreyDeGraff

If expansion at long distances is a concern, then you could also look at the Nosler 200gr accubond and 210 partition. Both are soft enough to expand at lower velocities, but tough enough to get the job done at close range higher velocities.


JTD

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Thanks JTD for sharing your experiences with these! I appreciate that a bunch! I think I'm going to go with my gut and give the 210's a try. I can't say I have plans to shoot big game at 400 yards and realistically 300 will probably rarely happen, but I don't think the projected ballistic numbers I was getting are anything I should be too worried about. I've heard very positive results from both the 200gr Accubond and the 210gr Partition seems to be the standby bullet for the .338-06 from my research. As a fall back, those are definitely some great options I'll look into if I every decided to stray from the non-lead options.

On a different note, I have completed over 100 sized cases this past week and am getting antsy for some time to screw the rifle together and get to shooting! I saw that MidwayUSA had a deal on some factory seconds .338" 215 Sierra Gamekings for about $0.30 apiece so I scooped up 100 to get my barrel broken in and get comfortable with my rifle before I go ahead and get serious with some load development. Should have some ammo loaded up in the next couple of weeks!

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Originally Posted by Jbotto

Thanks JTD for sharing your experiences with these! I appreciate that a bunch! I think I'm going to go with my gut and give the 210's a try. I can't say I have plans to shoot big game at 400 yards and realistically 300 will probably rarely happen, but I don't think the projected ballistic numbers I was getting are anything I should be too worried about. I've heard very positive results from both the 200gr Accubond and the 210gr Partition seems to be the standby bullet for the .338-06 from my research. As a fall back, those are definitely some great options I'll look into if I every decided to stray from the non-lead options.

On a different note, I have completed over 100 sized cases this past week and am getting antsy for some time to screw the rifle together and get to shooting! I saw that MidwayUSA had a deal on some factory seconds .338" 215 Sierra Gamekings for about $0.30 apiece so I scooped up 100 to get my barrel broken in and get comfortable with my rifle before I go ahead and get serious with some load development. Should have some ammo loaded up in the next couple of weeks!

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Awesome! You are just about ready to go. That’s a good deal on those sierras. Great idea to break the barrel in, fireform brass, and get acquainted with your rifle. Keep us posted.


JTD

Instead of starting a new post in this, I figured I’d wake this one up again. Been looking for data on those Sierra 215’s and it seems most data includes 210 or 225. Info not have any Sierra manuals and maybe I should get one. Does anyone have one that they could look through for me? I’d appreciate a picture of any of at all .338-06 data that Sierra has!

Edit to include: I have seen the data for this weight bullet on Hodgdon’s website but I always go for two data sources before I start loading.


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Here’s a mock-up of the rifle with the new stock. Have some sanding to do on the barrel channel and the trigger guard. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f0d384d649.jpg


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Only data I could get my hands on was the hogdgon/imr/winchester data. I love the rifle!


JTD

Thanks JTD. Jumped on a good deal for the stock. Wasn’t exactly what I wanted but definitely close enough. Even was made for me, a left handed shooter of right handed rifles. I’m out of town this weekend, but I’m hoping to eat it sanded out next week! I just want to shoot this thing!


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I am right handed, but shoot rifles left handed. All of my rifles are right handed. I feel like at this point in my life, if I were to pick up a left handed rifle, I wouldn’t be able to use it properly.


JTD

A little addition to this thread. Im trying to stay motivated to do the bedding job on this rifle. Been dragging my feet a bit and don’t enjoy working out in the heat of my garage. So this weekend from the comfort of AC I did some load development. I have a bunch of 215gr Sierra Gamekings that I figured I’d shoot up before working with the Barnes I want to use. This way I can get a good feel for this rifle while I break in the barrel and rough sight-in.

I had some issues with the CH seater die as I set it up three different times and had three failed attempts. I resorted to doing it the old fashioned way. Screwed the die into the press until I felt it contact with the case. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5c6a3ff180.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3cf578de68.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4b4d448176.jpg
I had some successes at last. Pulled the bullets and recycled everything but the cases.


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I hate crushing brass



JTD

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffreyDeGraff

I hate crushing brass



JTD

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Same here! Especially something that I’ve just put in the work to get it started on the right step. All of my .338-06 brass is once-fired Remington brass but still kicks me in the teeth a bit to throw brass in the recycling bucket.


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