338-06

[Brian in Montana]

Any of you guys load for and hunt with a 338-06? What has been your experience with this cartridge?

 

[Durango Mike]

one of my favorite elk cartridges, particularly with mono bullets, getting close to 3k with 180 Barnes in a 23 inch barrel. My only issue is not having a can that I can use on it. It was my favorite for Nilgai, probably shot 20 plus with one I built on a mauser action. My favorite today is a pre 64 mod 70 with a light Shilen barrel that I have used on elk.

 

[Sheltowee]

Seems like several guys on here tote a .338-06. I had one built last year off of a Tikka action and love it: https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/338-06-build-completed.319174/

Mine has liked the 210gr. TTSXs on top of H4350 but I'm thinking about playing around with 185 grainers this summer.

 

[klampson]

Great cartridge, easy to load for. Mine loves 185TTSX bullets.

 

[klampson]

338-06 Rem 700 with McMillan Mountain Rifle edge fill stock, Shilen barrel. Lightweight and easy to carry. Sure thumps things.

 

[Sheltowee]

Great cartridge, easy to load for. Mine loves 185TTSX bullets.

What velocity are you getting with the 185s?

 

[noharleyyet]

338-06 Rem 700 with McMillan Mountain Rifle edge fill stock, Shilen barrel. Lightweight and easy to carry. Sure thumps things.

View attachment 319117

Nice set up...big McEdge fan.

 

[Bambistew]

I have a AI'd version. I don't hunt with it much these days, blue/wood isn't very conducive to most hunts here. If I had to do it over I would build a lightweight in SS. It would make for a fantastic AK rifle.

I killed a few elk, a bear and a few deer with mine. it now sadly sits in the safe only to get shot a few times a year. I played with a lot of powders and bullets and settled with H4350 and 200gr accubonds, which shoots better than I can most days. Its a rebarreled pre-64 M70

 

[klampson]

Currently using H4895 with the 185TTSX. Was able to reach a tad over 2,900 fps before I started to see pressure signs. Best accuracy was at 2,850 fps, so I settled there.

 

[Sheltowee]

Currently using H4895 with the 185TTSX. Was able to reach a tad over 2,900 fps before I started to see pressure signs. Best accuracy was at 2,850 fps, so I settled there

That is cruising. I have decent stock of Varget so thinking of trying that with the 185 TTSXs or the 186 Hammers for deer.

 

[klampson]

Varget should get you there in terms of velocity. I really like the 185TTSX bullets, I have yet to be disappointed with there performance on game. Those 186 Shock Hammers look interesting. Have you considered the 175 Hammer Hunters, should be able to reach over 3k fps with those. Be interesting to see what velocity those bullets top out at in a 338-06.

 

[Jbotto]

I’ve got one that I’ve shot two does with. One year the doe I shot was with the 185gr TTSX and then the year after that with the 210gr TTSX. Currently down with a broken stock and haven’t worked up the motivation to fix it, but I’m getting there. Did mine on a Savage/Stevens 200 with an ER Shaw barrel. I’m already planning my next one, on a different action and lighter weight.

 

[Sheltowee]

I’ve got one that I’ve shot two does with. One year the doe I shot was with the 185gr TTSX and then the year after that with the 210gr TTSX. Currently down with a broken stock and haven’t worked up the motivation to fix it, but I’m getting there. Did mine on a Savage/Stevens 200 with an ER Shaw barrel. I’m already planning my next one, on a different action and lighter weight.

Pure Precision (formerly Mesa Precision) makes their Altitude carbon fiber stock for the Savage 110 footprint. Would that work with the 200? I have Altitudes on my .338-06 and a 6.5 Creed and really love them.

 

[Jbotto]

Pure Precision (formerly Mesa Precision) makes their Altitude carbon fiber stock for the Savage 110 footprint. Would that work with the 200? I have Altitudes on my .338-06 and a 6.5 Creed and really love them.

It should work just fine for that. The Stevens 200 is just a Savage 110 with a crappier (rougher and duller) finish and without the accutrigger, it originally sold with a very cheap plastic stock.

I just don’t think I want to do a Savage action in the future, so I’m probably not going to stick any more money into this rifle. The ER Shaw barrel they used to sell in a kit with a barrel nut wrench and go/no-go gauges is a heavier profile than I should have used too. Overall, I went cheap on too many components for this rifle and regret it.

With limited experience, I love the cartridge but I’m only so-so on the rifle I chose for it.

 

[brockel]

Enough h4350 under a 225 grain accubond to go 2650fps.

 

[Sheltowee]

It should work just fine for that. The Stevens 200 is just a Savage 110 with a crappier (rougher and duller) finish and without the accutrigger, it originally sold with a very cheap plastic stock.

I just don’t think I want to do a Savage action in the future, so I’m probably not going to stick any more money into this rifle. The ER Shaw barrel they used to sell in a kit with a barrel nut wrench and go/no-go gauges is a heavier profile than I should have used too. Overall, I went cheap on too many components for this rifle and regret it.

With limited experience, I love the cartridge but I’m only so-so on the rifle I chose for it.

Just FYI, RedHawk is clearancing their Pure Precision stocks for the 110 right now.

 

[kiwi hunter]

I have a AI'd version. I don't hunt with it much these days, blue/wood isn't very conducive to most hunts here. If I had to do it over I would build a lightweight in SS. It would make for a fantastic AK rifle.

I killed a few elk, a bear and a few deer with mine. it now sadly sits in the safe only to get shot a few times a year. I played with a lot of powders and bullets and settled with H4350 and 200gr accubonds, which shoots better than I can most days. Its a rebarreled pre-64 M70


View attachment 319123

i spend two summer as a professional culler on the west coast of the south island looonng before ss came out, we just cleaned every nite after the hunt and all good.

 

[Sheltowee]

I have a AI'd version. I don't hunt with it much these days, blue/wood isn't very conducive to most hunts here. If I had to do it over I would build a lightweight in SS. It would make for a fantastic AK rifle.

I killed a few elk, a bear and a few deer with mine. it now sadly sits in the safe only to get shot a few times a year. I played with a lot of powders and bullets and settled with H4350 and 200gr accubonds, which shoots better than I can most days. Its a rebarreled pre-64 M70


View attachment 319123

I promise to give that gorgeous shooting iron a loving home far away from the salt air if you ever decide to get rid of it. Just name your price.

 

[Bambistew]

i spend two summer as a professional culler on the west coast of the south island looonng before ss came out, we just cleaned every nite after the hunt and all good.

Easier said than done when living in a tent for 2 weeks in high humidity conditions. Its just so hard on wood stocks when they can't dry out. The metal is easy enough to keep rust free.

I promise to give that gorgeous shooting iron a loving home far away from the salt air if you ever decide to get rid of it. Just name your price.

Find me a ss version and I'll trade you. Seriously.

 

[turbobrick]

This necro bump is funny to me, I'm, just getting ready to list my 338-06 for sale.