These can be crazy accurate too. I’ve had a Winchester model 70 featherweight that has a Shilen barrel chambered in .338-06 for 30+ years. It has always shot cloverleaf groups at 300 yards with Nosler 210 partitions and IMR 4320.
I have a 33806 AI. I have taken everything in North America with it. 225 partition ,2765 fps,for the brown bear 200 accubond for everything else. 200 gr gives 2885. 1/2” groups. David Gentry gunsmith, Belgrade Montana. 👍👍😀
Interesting cartridge. I wonder if one could handload the 265 grain AccuBond Long Range. It doesn’t need super high velocities to work as designed and the G1 BC of .732 is pretty epic
Why does everything have to be about long range. Only 10 - 15% of “hunters” should even consider shots beyond a couple of hundred yards. The magnificent .338/06 is a 300 yard cartridge at best for elk. Save your heavy bullets for moose at more reasonable ranges at 100 yards
@ you are missing the point. The question is what bullet construction is best suited to work as designed while delivering the most energy on target at moderate distances. If the bullet that is doing that is called a long range bullet is completed irrelevant
My son, my 10 year old grandson, and I had a great day at the range. I put my new suppressor on my grandson’s 308. What a game changer for him! He shot like a pro today with no flinching. Great video, I’m really surprised by the performance of the 338-06.
Im just getting started into reloading got everything I need but how do I know how it set the die to seat on bullets cannelure, im reloading for 30-06,308,30-30,303British and 6.5creed using bullets with cannelure
@@warrengreen3217 With a case in your press run it all the way up, handle on press is all the way down. Turn seating die down till it just touches case, back off 1/4 turn. Turn seating plug in until bullet is in case to the cannelure.
I’m sitting on Kodiak island right now, hunting deer and caribou, sure enough, I have my 338-06AI , took my deer easily, caribou was too far away to pack out. 185 Barnes @over 3000 fps. Works like a charm
I put one of these together on a savage 110 action with a 25" Krieger 5R barrel. It's nothing short of impressive. It's right on the heels of 338 win mag with bullets up to 225 grains, after that the powder capacity of the magnum pulls ahead. 210 grain Barnes @ 2900 fps shoots under half inch @100 yards. I was more than impressed with the ability of this cartridge. Nosler does have factory loads but they are obscenely expensive. Luckily this is about the easiest cartridge to reload for. Great video 🤙
The thing I like about the 338/06 is the fact that's it's the ballistic twin to the 318 Westley Richards.If you read enough about the old hunters in Africa,they loved the 318.That round shooting a 250 gr. bullet,in both soft and FMJ rounds,got exceptional penetration.With better bullets and better powders,the 338/06 will easily match and better the performance than the 318. It's not a super long range cartridge like the ones that are all the rage right now,but as you pointed out,it's highly efficient,and will make a great stalking rifle for any game on the face of this earth,minus the ones that are regulated to use a bigger rifle.But,it needs to be remembered that the 318 has taking everything on the Dark continent in years past.I think that puts it in a strong position to be an everything,all around carrying rifle to shoot anything reasonable with,only trading out for the large dangerous game.Here in America,I'd use on everything with the exception of brown bears in thick cover.And yes,though it's a"dead"cartridge,I do plan on building at least one for myself.
Really happy to see a video about this very good cartridge! I noticed too how good the performance was and always wonder why it was not more popular?! Great content like always.
338-06 is about the optimum bore size for that powder capacity. It achieved maximum velocities with and range compared to 30-06 as you point out. Really balanced.
The 35 Whelen is no slouch either. Could be argued one of the most efficient cartridges there is. Easily 225 gr @2800 fps. Yes the 338 caliber projectiles of equal weights have higher BC's and SD's but we're talking maximum distances of 400 yards here. BC's don't really start making a difference until you get beyond 500 yds anyway and I wouldn't worry about penetration with a 250 gr partition exiting a 35W barrel @2580 within the distances stated. I'll take the extra frontal diameter on big stuff with teeth and claws.
@@aaronwilcox6417 I have not had the oppertunity to take anything with it yet. I do take it out in PA Elk and bear season. Actually it's perfect in my neck of the woods but may leave you wanting in the big sky country though.
A nice thing about the 338-06 that doesn't get mentioned much is how it's a good bit less dependent on barrel length than its little brothers. Even an 18 inch barrel won't give any deal breaking losses in velocity compared to a 24 inch barrel, the same cannot really be said for 30-06 and especially not the .270 Win. This allows you to have a shorter, handier rifle without compromising much on capability. It's a nice thing to have for long hike ins or navigating through thick brush or otherwise difficult and cramped terrain. Simply getting your gun out of or back into the case is made surprisingly easier with every inch you subtract from your boomstick.
Yes! I thought I was the only one using this cartridge. I prefer 265gr Accubond long range bullets at 2540 fps. Excellent for elk. I've been using this load for about 8 years now. Lot's and lot's of elk.
You just can not beat the versatility of the "06 Case"! 8mm-06, 35 Whelen, 338-06, 30-06, 280, 7mm-06, 270, 25-06, 6.5-06, 6mm-o6, 22-06 etc. Why, why would you want to use anything else? I have been a fan and user of this case for over 50 years!!!
There is a european sibling to the .338-06, the 8,5×63 reb. That is basicly a .338-06 improved with the shoulder moved forvard. It will get you even closer to the .338 win mag. Factory ammo and rifles are available for it over here. Mine is a real performer!
@@forrestebert5276not too interested in anything smaller than a 308 cal. Great mountain cartridge but where I hunt in grizzly country I love my 35 whelen . I’d feel naked with a 7mm lol
I have a 338 OKH and its recoil is not mild, compared to a 30-06. I built it on a 8mm Turkish Mauser re-barrelled with a 338 barrel in a light walnut stock with a 6 power Leupold scope. Use a 270 Win as a parent case, little bit longer. No wild cat is truly dead as long as the parent case is still made. I use a set of 338 win mag dies to neck size and seat. Case life is surprisingly good.
Had one built using a Remington 700 action and a ER Shaw barrel. Love it! Check the ballistics of the 338-06 AI against the 338 Win Mag. Wish that I would have went AI with mine.
Thanks for taking an irrelevant cartridge and continuing to give us good videos. I understand one man’s treasured cartridge is irrelevant to another. I know energy numbers are impressive but I’ll sacrifice some energy for more speed. Thanks for the video!
I have a 338-06 it is a great round. You need to be a reloader to utilize the greatness of this round. Being that no one is making ammo for this gem; one must make your own. I found this round to be an easy one to reload for. Some of these newer powders>like Ramshot - Big Game and 210 grain bullets, a little time at the reloading bench and the range, you could find yourself in tall cotton. Ready for any game in North America. Happy hunting friends.
I have been seriously thinking about having a 338 Federal or 338-06. The older I get the more I have a profound appreciation for the more efficient and economical non-magum Chamberings with some serious punch without the heavy recoil. I aint shy about recoil but after about 20 rounds of 338 Win Mags, it aint nearly as fun to continue shooting that second box of 20.
I wanted a 338-06 and settled on a 338 federal when it first came out thinking it may survive better since it could be chambered in the AR10 platform another good round that is fading away
@@ReloadingQuest I’m definitely considering 338-06 but leaning heavily towards 35 Whelen. What kind of performance increase do you see going to AI in that cartridge?
Im a big fan of the necked up 30-06 based cartridges, including the 35 Whelen. I remember when weatherby introduced it, and I thought one would be great. It's too bad it never caught on. I killed my first deer and bear as a young teen with the 338 win mag, but the recoil is a bit stiff. I think the 338-06 is perfect for a woods hunter for elk, in a lighter weight rifle without having the heavy kick. But i the the short mags came in a stole the thunder. Right now, I don't think it would go over because the current trend of long range hunting and prs style cartridges. The new 338rpm knocks it down a notch, because I love the 284 style cases, and I think weatherby did the perfect thing by extending it, and getting 30-06 plus performance in a cooler case. I would love to have a mark v in all the calibers, for the 6 lug action.
Having watched a good number of videos about cartridges, I have put it together in my head that the reason a lot of cartridges fail is that they just aren’t differentiated enough from some very similar cartridges. Examples; .338-06 has the granddaddy of them all on one side and the .35 Whelen on the other side. .338 Remington sits between .308 and .358 Win. There’s just no practical need for either of these .338 cartridges. Same thing I think is why the 7mm-08 isn’t more common. There isn’t much that the .308 does better except show up on shelves everywhere. 6.5 Creedmoor, OTOH, is significantly removed enough from .308 to have significantly different ballistics.
@2:39 it looks like you used a 30-378 and a 300 weatherby as a prop/ stand in for the 338-378 and 340 wby. I may be wrong but it loos necked down to me. But i get what you are doing. Visual reference.
That said I haven't reloaded ammunition in years, BUT I am pining for a 338-06 as it looks like an excellent deep woods rifle in a really sweet spot between the 30-06 and the 35 Whelen. If the ammunition were commercially available it would be a go for the 338-06.
I have a Shaw barreled Savage 110 in 338-06. I'm getting sub MOA accuracy with 230g ELD-X at almost 2700 fps. Great results on whitetail with minimal meat damage. It has excellent terminal results but without the dynamite effect of the fast 30's.
8.5x63 is basically a 338-280 AI. Still a longer neck than is absolutely necessary and maintains the 3.36" AOL. I do a 33 Rifleman I call it, shoulder is .0714" further forward than the 280 AI and has a longer throat for 3.5" AOL.
After having the 35 Whelen, and no complaints, I thought the better sectional density of the 338 would be better. The 35 allows the use of many more bullets, including pistol bullets like the 158 grain.
I have a 338-06 built on a Remington model 700 with a 24" Hart barrel. It shoots around .5 " at 100 yards with a 225 gn. Nosler Accubond with a velocity of 2725 f.p.s. .338 caliber is the optimum bore diameter for the 30-06 case.
I mean anything in the 338 class is magnificent. If you're concerned about recoil maybe the 338 class isn't your best choice? These are all very powerful cartridges. I am partial to the 340 Weatherby, but not without a brake :)
Have you ever heard of 338 federal ,,,savage and tikka both offer it in bolt actions I have one of both and both shoot very good ,,especially with the 200 grain federal fusion at 2780 feet per second
Jim Carmichael thought the 338-06 was stupid because he was a fan of the 338 Win mag. I think it is a good cartridge because 06 case feeds much smoother than any belted magnum and normally get an extra round in a bolt action magazine with the 06 case . I've never shot a 338 magnum. Reports I here is the recoil is very sharp and hurts more than the 375H&H.
I'd be curious to hear your opinion on this vs the newer .338 WBY RPM. I'm considering the 338-06 in a future elk rifle barrel but using the same boltface as the 06 the RPM is intriguing for sure
Had one built on a 111 action with a 25" Douglas. Chose the 250 SGK against my smiths advice. He said that projectile is too heavily constructed for whitetail. Yet the first whitetail dropped on the spot at 75 yards witha full passthru, a 1 inch exit wound, and very little wasted meat. I say it worked perfectly! Right at 1 inch groups at 100. Next batch I'm going to test 1 grain more powder as this load is clocking 2342 according to my Garmin. A bit more velocity wouldn't hurt.
I have a 1924 BRNO large ring 98k with a Douglas air Guage barrel. The action is mounted in an Archangel tactical stock with a Sightron optics. Of all my .338’s the 338/06 is my favorite. It’s much more economical than my lapua and made from inexpensive parent cartridge
I have been considering a rifle chambered in 338-06A-Square or a 35 Whelen. I’ve had a tough time trying to decide between the two. Maybe you can help answer this question, but in the A-Square loading manual they claim that a 338-06 can push a 250 grain bullet to almost the same velocities as the 35 Whelen. But in the Nosler loading manual, they show just the opposite, that the 35 Whelen can be loaded much faster with the same bullet. What is the best way to go?
Look at as much data as possible. 338-06 and 35 Whelen seem extremely close in performance. The 35 Whelen will have a little more velocity with the same weight bullet. You get a little more bullet options in 338 caliber. Are you going to reload?
The 338-06 is a Great cartridge I have a TC Encore in 338-06 with a 16.5" barrel that I can use as a rifle or a pistol. It works great and would like to get a bolt action rifle in this caliber. Wish somebody would chamber it in a bolt action rifle at a decent price point instead of a high cost Weatherby rifle.
The 338 Federal cartridge suffered the same fate as the 338-06 A-Square cartridge. Both are excellent cartridges and both can be reloaded easily. I have a Savage 16FCSS Weather Warrior in 338 Federal cartridge. Savage and other manufacturers discontinued rifles in the 338 Federal cartridge. Federal stopped producing 338 Federal ammunition. I reload 338 Federal Ammunition using the 308 Winchester brass. 308 Winchester brass is very plentiful and affordable. I bought a very lightly used Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 338-06 A-Square. Weatherby discounted rifles and ammunition production in 338-06 A-Square cartridge. I reload 338-06 A-Square ammunition using 30-06 Springfield brass. 30-06 Springfield brass is very plentiful and affordable.
It would have been interesting if you had included data for the 8mm-06, an older wildcat with plenty of load data. The only beef I have with the .338 Win Mag is the stupid belted case which is a cosmetic affectation.
My father and I built a 338-06 and we have two loads we really like 210 grain Barnes TSX going about 2700 ft./s and a 180 grain Nosler partition at just under 3000
One has to define the mission of the Calibe is interested in. Hunting at 400 yards max? Game size? Define the need in terminal Ballistics, then find the correct bullet/caliber needed. No more, no less. If a 338 bullet is great in a 30-06 case, how about if we can compare it to 6.5 PRC (short actions) or the 7 PRC (long action)
Neck a 7 PRC up to 338, seat the bullet out further, give it a cool new name, and if the hype hits, all those who know about the 338-06 will reveal that there's already something out there that does the same thing and maybe it'll be less dead??
@@ReloadingWeatherby I'm glad you did this video. I think if I ever become a reloader the 338-06 would be my pick for a 338 cartridge. Exceptional performance at least looking at the numbers. And no, a 338 PRC is probably not what the world needs. But I'm also certain it wouldn't go fast enough in my hypothetical configuration to excite very many people, so the 338-06 probably doesn't need to worry about it.
I think the reason it's is a "dead" cartridge is that most guns are sold in the lower 48. The 338-06 doesn't really do what the tried and trued 30-06 doesn't do in the lower 48. I'm sure it'll be better suited for bigger game in Alaska, but there is other easier to get cartridges that are suitable. With that thought, how does it work with a 16"-18" barrel?
There are amazing 30-06 derivatives. Look at 25-06, 6.5-06, 270, 280 AI, 338-06 and 35 Whelen. I mean pick 3 and you can literally do anything from long range shooting to killing bison.
Not much mention of the 35 whelen. That one is dead. Why? 35 cal bullets are hard to find. 338 cal bullets are more common. I have a 338 06 in a howa 1500 with a 25 inch barrel. The gun shoots lights out. 225 gr tsx bullets with h414 powder. Thick bush this caliber is excellent.
@@ReloadingQuest I always found it strange, after people saw the brass life advantage of the Ackley family, the 40° shoulder didn't become standard practice when wildcatting.
🕵️♂️ Well, in talking with the folks at Horneday, the reason Why they say that they use a 30 degree shoulder for both the Creedmore and PRC Cartridges has to do with Brass Production (anything over 30 degrees and the production losses go way up, because it is harder to make quality brass with the steeper shoulder, according to them)! I posed this very question to them! If we look at some of the other better performing cartridges, with 30 degree shoulders - this would include the 204 Ruger, 308 Lazzeroni Warbird, 30-338 Lapua Magnum, and 277 Sig Fury - just to name a few! Of course, cartridges with the 35 degree shoulder would include the WSM's and New Nosler Cartridges! So, do you believe Horneday? 🤔 The 30-06 cartridges were given an "Improved" 35 degree shoulder by an Idaho Gunsmith (Rocky Gibbs) back in the 1950's! Is a 40 degree shoulder really going to be that much better? What about the Weatherby blown out "Double Radius shoulder then, which can even allow for more powder? Did Roy Weatherby Get It Right? What About P.O. Ackley or Some of the Other Wildcatters and Winchester and Nosler? Or, is Horneday Right? 🤪 While their are "Tradeoffs", are we giving too much value to "a little extra potential powder capacity" (potential vs. useable is a key argument here)? What about other factors, like reliable feeding? What are Everyone's Thoughts on the Matter and what are your preferences??? 🤷♂️
Hey! To help your channel out…. You should dress up as Mongo from the movie Blazing Saddles. That would be hilarious! You’d make a great Mongo! Then you can use a coloring book and draw us pictures with crayons, (but don’t eat’m) all while you read to us from a reloading manual. Then your videos would at least be funny….. Just trying help big guy (aka Mongo)
@@ReloadingWeatherby Oh! Yes, I am done w u’r channel. I was just responding to your comment. As, again, what I’m doing here now with this comment.…. I’m just trying to help improve your channel….. I mean, really, if you dressed up like Mongo, that would be hilarious. You should do it, you’d get a lot of views!
@ReloadingWeatherby no there are actually saami spec It never got produced at scale because of some intellectual property/ royalties problems. But it's a wonderful round, to sad that investors and manufacturers can't negotiate
Seriously, with 225 grain bullets you get within 100fps of a 338 Win Mag but with less powder and without the cigar sized magnum cartridge case. Handloading is a breeze and 30-06 brass is cheap and plentiful. Mine consistently shoots just under an inch with bullets over 200 grains.
I hate to say this but I fear the 338 diameter is on its way to to the grave. Ya had the 338 RCM, 338 federal, 338-06 A-Square. The grand old 338 Winchester Magnum is hanging on by a few threads. Americans do not like medium bore cartridges that truly shine at medium range. 358 diameter is laying right beside it in the grave. Maybe bring back the 338-06 and call it, 8.59 resolute titan, it's all in the marketing my friends.
@ReloadingWeatherby according to the ballistics calculator using my real time data it's getting 3392 foot pounds at the muzzle and 1798 at 400 yds still going 2013 fps. 200 gr sst
A change in my thought process I’ve had is how much I rely on starting velocity. For my compact, lightweight hunting gun, I now carry a 6.5 creedmoor with a 20” barrel with 127 LRXs at a scorching 2600fps. Enough retained velocity out to 400 yards to still expand the copper bullet and cleanly kill deer and pronghorn. I’d choose a long heavy bullet in the 338-06 and laugh all the way to the bank. Too bad the smaller 338s have all died :(
But wait! There's another step.... the 35 Whelen! Honestly the same principles apply with other popular and established cartridges that got "wildcatted" up or down from their original caliber. .308 Winchester casing is another example of a parent that has a good number of offspring. It's all in what you intend to use it for. Yes the numbers on energy and velocity seem prominent and imposing, until you consider that energy numbers aren't everything. Yes you get more velocity from something heavier in a larger caliber from the target caliber, but that's only one factor; you also get a corresponding drop in sectional density and a drop in ballistic coefficient, all else being equal. This could translate to less penetration ability on game and certainly translates to a progressively higher deceleration while traveling to the target because of increased drag. It's all a trade off of one thing for another. .30-06, .308, and 7x57 are all excellent cartridges to serve several calibers. Another excellent small cartridge is the .222 Rem. I don't know of a single cartridge that's served as the source of such a heap of offspring as the .375 H&H, however.
@ReloadingWeatherby easier to find guns in too- not that I'm knocking 338-06, it's easier to find slippery bullets for. All of the rounds that neck up and down the 06 case rock.
A 180 gr 338 bullet has a larger service area, creates higher pressure and velocity. Also with the 180 gr in 338 being a shorter bullet you can put more powder in the case for the 338-06.
I've never really considered the 338-06, but now I need to look at it more closely. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching
It’s a cool sounding option. I also really like the looks of the 338 federal and 338 rcm over the pole options he had. :) Happy shooting.
Necking up 3006 brass is super easy too
These can be crazy accurate too. I’ve had a Winchester model 70 featherweight that has a Shilen barrel chambered in .338-06 for 30+ years. It has always shot cloverleaf groups at 300 yards with Nosler 210 partitions and IMR 4320.
I have a 33806 AI. I have taken everything in North America with it. 225 partition ,2765 fps,for the brown bear 200 accubond for everything else. 200 gr gives 2885. 1/2” groups. David Gentry gunsmith, Belgrade Montana. 👍👍😀
Thanks for sharing
This seems like a very logical round.
My favorite round.
Weatherby chambered the Mark V in 338/06
@@PerkinrBR549 the ultralight. I have one.
338-06 gives me 5+1. It need to be more popular
@@JVR-gd7zw especially for hunting black bear - same for the 35 Whelen.
My 210 grain Partition loads clock in right at 2900 fps. Enough for anything in North America or most of the world.
Great and practical cartridge.
Interesting cartridge. I wonder if one could handload the 265 grain AccuBond Long Range. It doesn’t need super high velocities to work as designed and the G1 BC of .732 is pretty epic
Why does everything have to be about long range. Only 10 - 15% of “hunters” should even consider shots beyond a couple of hundred yards. The magnificent .338/06 is a 300 yard cartridge at best for elk. Save your heavy bullets for moose at more reasonable ranges at 100 yards
@ you are missing the point. The question is what bullet construction is best suited to work as designed while delivering the most energy on target at moderate distances. If the bullet that is doing that is called a long range bullet is completed irrelevant
My son, my 10 year old grandson, and I had a great day at the range. I put my new suppressor on my grandson’s 308. What a game changer for him! He shot like a pro today with no flinching. Great video, I’m really surprised by the performance of the 338-06.
Nice!
Im just getting started into reloading got everything I need but how do I know how it set the die to seat on bullets cannelure, im reloading for 30-06,308,30-30,303British and 6.5creed using bullets with cannelure
@@warrengreen3217 With a case in your press run it all the way up, handle on press is all the way down. Turn seating die down till it just touches case, back off 1/4 turn. Turn seating plug in until bullet is in case to the cannelure.
I’m sitting on Kodiak island right now, hunting deer and caribou, sure enough, I have my 338-06AI , took my deer easily, caribou was too far away to pack out. 185 Barnes @over 3000 fps. Works like a charm
Thanks for sharing! And congrats
Caribou on Kodiak? Didn't know.
Barrel Lenght ?
I put one of these together on a savage 110 action with a 25" Krieger 5R barrel. It's nothing short of impressive. It's right on the heels of 338 win mag with bullets up to 225 grains, after that the powder capacity of the magnum pulls ahead. 210 grain Barnes @ 2900 fps shoots under half inch @100 yards. I was more than impressed with the ability of this cartridge. Nosler does have factory loads but they are obscenely expensive. Luckily this is about the easiest cartridge to reload for. Great video 🤙
The thing I like about the 338/06 is the fact that's it's the ballistic twin to the 318 Westley Richards.If you read enough about the old hunters in Africa,they loved the 318.That round shooting a 250 gr. bullet,in both soft and FMJ rounds,got exceptional penetration.With better bullets and better powders,the 338/06 will easily match and better the performance than the 318. It's not a super long range cartridge like the ones that are all the rage right now,but as you pointed out,it's highly efficient,and will make a great stalking rifle for any game on the face of this earth,minus the ones that are regulated to use a bigger rifle.But,it needs to be remembered that the 318 has taking everything on the Dark continent in years past.I think that puts it in a strong position to be an everything,all around carrying rifle to shoot anything reasonable with,only trading out for the large dangerous game.Here in America,I'd use on everything with the exception of brown bears in thick cover.And yes,though it's a"dead"cartridge,I do plan on building at least one for myself.
Really happy to see a video about this very good cartridge! I noticed too how good the performance was and always wonder why it was not more popular?! Great content like always.
Thanks for watching
338-06 is about the optimum bore size for that powder capacity. It achieved maximum velocities with and range compared to 30-06 as you point out. Really balanced.
Yep
In regards to the bore, the 338-06 cartridge is hardly overbore, making barrels last practically forever.
The 35 Whelen is no slouch either. Could be argued one of the most efficient cartridges there is. Easily 225 gr @2800 fps. Yes the 338 caliber projectiles of equal weights have higher BC's and SD's but we're talking maximum distances of 400 yards here. BC's don't really start making a difference until you get beyond 500 yds anyway and I wouldn't worry about penetration with a 250 gr partition exiting a 35W barrel @2580 within the distances stated. I'll take the extra frontal diameter on big stuff with teeth and claws.
@@BornAgain2019Have you used the 35 on bigger stuff?
@@aaronwilcox6417 I have not had the oppertunity to take anything with it yet. I do take it out in PA Elk and bear season. Actually it's perfect in my neck of the woods but may leave you wanting in the big sky country though.
A nice thing about the 338-06 that doesn't get mentioned much is how it's a good bit less dependent on barrel length than its little brothers. Even an 18 inch barrel won't give any deal breaking losses in velocity compared to a 24 inch barrel, the same cannot really be said for 30-06 and especially not the .270 Win.
This allows you to have a shorter, handier rifle without compromising much on capability. It's a nice thing to have for long hike ins or navigating through thick brush or otherwise difficult and cramped terrain.
Simply getting your gun out of or back into the case is made surprisingly easier with every inch you subtract from your boomstick.
Yes! I thought I was the only one using this cartridge. I prefer 265gr Accubond long range bullets at 2540 fps. Excellent for elk. I've been using this load for about 8 years now. Lot's and lot's of elk.
Had one built on a Mauser around 1985 or so. Express open sights, Richards laminate stock and Timney trigger. Easy to load for. Great cartridge!
You just can not beat the versatility of the "06 Case"!
8mm-06, 35 Whelen, 338-06, 30-06, 280, 7mm-06, 270, 25-06, 6.5-06, 6mm-o6, 22-06 etc.
Why, why would you want to use anything else?
I have been a fan and user of this case for over 50 years!!!
I love my Tikka 338 Federal.
Same. Sako.
Nice!
I would love to see a comparison between 338 federal and 338-06
There is a european sibling to the .338-06, the 8,5×63 reb. That is basicly a .338-06 improved with the shoulder moved forvard. It will get you even closer to the .338 win mag.
Factory ammo and rifles are available for it over here.
Mine is a real performer!
I agree the Reb is the best version or the 338-06 Werner Reb knew his cart design.
This and the 35 Whelen are the best of the 3006 offspring imo
.280 Remington is no slouch.
@@donswazy The Ackley'd 280 is a great cartridge, but in stock form it's not really all that impressive.
Many would disagree.@@phillycheesetake
Don’t leave out the 280 AI 😎
@@forrestebert5276not too interested in anything smaller than a 308 cal. Great mountain cartridge but where I hunt in grizzly country I love my 35 whelen . I’d feel naked with a 7mm lol
Lots of quiet 338-06 fans...and the very forgotten 338 Federal. A very capable small cartridge.
I have a 338 OKH and its recoil is not mild, compared to a 30-06. I built it on a 8mm Turkish Mauser re-barrelled with a 338 barrel in a light walnut stock with a 6 power Leupold scope. Use a 270 Win as a parent case, little bit longer. No wild cat is truly dead as long as the parent case is still made. I use a set of 338 win mag dies to neck size and seat. Case life is surprisingly good.
Thanks for sharing!
Had one built using a Remington 700 action and a ER Shaw barrel. Love it! Check the ballistics of the 338-06 AI against the 338 Win Mag. Wish that I would have went AI with mine.
Nice
Easy fix...
Thanks for taking an irrelevant cartridge and continuing to give us good videos. I understand one man’s treasured cartridge is irrelevant to another. I know energy numbers are impressive but I’ll sacrifice some energy for more speed. Thanks for the video!
338-06 is loved by many. I wouldn’t call it irrelevant. It’s a great niche cartridge with a decent sized fan base.
338-06 AI is still used a lot. It’s just the irrelevant people that don’t know it’s worth.
@@donswazy I did use wrong terminology. My mistake.
@@ReloadingQuest I used wrong terminology but I love the way we wear our feelings on our shoulders in defense of our cartridges we choose.
Very good Elk cartridge.
I have a 338-06 it is a great round. You need to be a reloader to utilize the greatness of this round. Being that no one is making ammo for this gem; one must make your own.
I found this round to be an easy one to reload for. Some of these newer powders>like Ramshot - Big Game and 210 grain bullets, a little time at the reloading bench and the range, you could find yourself in tall cotton. Ready for any game in North America.
Happy hunting friends.
Thanks for sharing
I have been seriously thinking about having a 338 Federal or 338-06. The older I get the more I have a profound appreciation for the more efficient and economical non-magum Chamberings with some serious punch without the heavy recoil. I aint shy about recoil but after about 20 rounds of 338 Win Mags, it aint nearly as fun to continue shooting that second box of 20.
Great Information bro.
Thanks! Nice tie
@@ReloadingWeatherby right on, thanks I wear it to church every Sunday. Except last Sunday, I was in Atlanta, Georgia.
The cartridge is basically the same as Elmer Keith's .333 OKH
I love the 338-06 AI! Less recoil then the 338 win and it’s a hammer! The 225gr auccubond in my Remington 700 strait up shoots!
Right along with this, I don't know why the 338 federal isn't more popular. It has these same advantages but over the 308
May i add to my above comment, the 338/06 is hunter's cartridge. For hunters who stalks close to their quary.
For its intended game you don't have to get that close, unless it's the big bears.
That 338/06 be a great deer cartridge for deer gere in Kentucky in the woods
I wanted a 338-06 and settled on a 338 federal when it first came out thinking it may survive better since it could be chambered in the AR10 platform another good round that is fading away
I’m looking to rechamber a used Tikka T3 that I picked up in either 6.5x55, 280 AI, 338-06 or 35 Whelen. Looking forward to this video!
Sweet
I sent my tikka to jes rebore it’s a 35 whelen now and will cut holes
Do it in a 338-06 AI!
@@frankkee8709 35 Whelen is what I was leaning towards. Where are they located?
@@ReloadingQuest I’m definitely considering 338-06 but leaning heavily towards 35 Whelen. What kind of performance increase do you see going to AI in that cartridge?
Im a big fan of the necked up 30-06 based cartridges, including the 35 Whelen.
I remember when weatherby introduced it, and I thought one would be great.
It's too bad it never caught on. I killed my first deer and bear as a young teen with the 338 win mag, but the recoil is a bit stiff.
I think the 338-06 is perfect for a woods hunter for elk, in a lighter weight rifle without having the heavy kick. But i the the short mags came in a stole the thunder.
Right now, I don't think it would go over because the current trend of long range hunting and prs style cartridges.
The new 338rpm knocks it down a notch, because I love the 284 style cases, and I think weatherby did the perfect thing by extending it, and getting 30-06 plus performance in a cooler case. I would love to have a mark v in all the calibers, for the 6 lug action.
Having watched a good number of videos about cartridges, I have put it together in my head that the reason a lot of cartridges fail is that they just aren’t differentiated enough from some very similar cartridges. Examples;
.338-06 has the granddaddy of them all on one side and the .35 Whelen on the other side.
.338 Remington sits between .308 and .358 Win.
There’s just no practical need for either of these .338 cartridges.
Same thing I think is why the 7mm-08 isn’t more common. There isn’t much that the .308 does better except show up on shelves everywhere. 6.5 Creedmoor, OTOH, is significantly removed enough from .308 to have significantly different ballistics.
An OG 8.6👍👀
@2:39 it looks like you used a 30-378 and a 300 weatherby as a prop/ stand in for the 338-378 and 340 wby. I may be wrong but it loos necked down to me. But i get what you are doing. Visual reference.
The 35 whelen had jumped up in popularity the last couple of years now that iowa can use .350 to .500 bottle neck cartridges for deer.
It would have been nice to toss the 35 Whelen into the comparison. It would show the necked up version that is still commercially loaded.
That said I haven't reloaded ammunition in years, BUT I am pining for a 338-06 as it looks like an excellent deep woods rifle in a really sweet spot between the 30-06 and the 35 Whelen. If the ammunition were commercially available it would be a go for the 338-06.
I have a Shaw barreled Savage 110 in 338-06. I'm getting sub MOA accuracy with 230g ELD-X at almost 2700 fps. Great results on whitetail with minimal meat damage. It has excellent terminal results but without the dynamite effect of the fast 30's.
Wow! Very nice
8.5x63 is basically a 338-280 AI. Still a longer neck than is absolutely necessary and maintains the 3.36" AOL. I do a 33 Rifleman I call it, shoulder is .0714" further forward than the 280 AI and has a longer throat for 3.5" AOL.
ruclips.net/video/F-nAluG09jk/видео.htmlsi=hdFuK1uL5pVDEHWR
Nice
After having the 35 Whelen, and no complaints, I thought the better sectional density of the 338 would be better. The 35 allows the use of many more bullets, including pistol bullets like the 158 grain.
I have a 338-06 built on a Remington model 700 with a 24" Hart barrel. It shoots around .5 " at 100 yards with a 225 gn. Nosler Accubond with a velocity of 2725 f.p.s. .338 caliber is the optimum bore diameter for the 30-06 case.
I mean anything in the 338 class is magnificent. If you're concerned about recoil maybe the 338 class isn't your best choice? These are all very powerful cartridges. I am partial to the 340 Weatherby, but not without a brake :)
I would enjoy your comparing .338-06 to 375-06 and .35 Whelen.
Have you ever heard of 338 federal ,,,savage and tikka both offer it in bolt actions I have one of both and both shoot very good ,,especially with the 200 grain federal fusion at 2780 feet per second
Big fan of the 338/06 and the 35 Whelen Improved. Solid Elk rifles. Killed my biggest Black Bear with the 35.
Nice
Does anyone know of a company that loads and sells 338-06 ammunition?
Jim Carmichael thought the 338-06 was stupid because he was a fan of the 338 Win mag. I think it is a good cartridge because 06 case feeds much smoother than any belted magnum and normally get an extra round in a bolt action magazine with the 06 case . I've never shot a 338 magnum. Reports I here is the recoil is very sharp and hurts more than the 375H&H.
I recently shot a 338 Win mag in a pretty light rifle. Recoil was... not fun haha
@@ReloadingWeatherby My understanding is recoil velocity has much to do with felt recoil not just simple foot pounds of energy.
A 338 Win in a very light rifle is akin to being licked by a sleepy puppy.
Hey if you get a chance can you talk about the 8mm Remington Magnum. It’s an outstanding cartridge just pretty much dead
I owned one back in the early 80's, it was a flat shooting, a hard hitting beast with 220 grain Hornady bullets.
I'd be curious to hear your opinion on this vs the newer .338 WBY RPM. I'm considering the 338-06 in a future elk rifle barrel but using the same boltface as the 06 the RPM is intriguing for sure
Good choice in the rpm
I live in a place where i hunt big whitetail and moose my father friend made itself a customs in 338-06 with a browning safari action its just perfect
Nice
Had one built on a 111 action with a 25" Douglas. Chose the 250 SGK against my smiths advice. He said that projectile is too heavily constructed for whitetail. Yet the first whitetail dropped on the spot at 75 yards witha full passthru, a 1 inch exit wound, and very little wasted meat. I say it worked perfectly! Right at 1 inch groups at 100. Next batch I'm going to test 1 grain more powder as this load is clocking 2342 according to my Garmin. A bit more velocity wouldn't hurt.
Thanks for sharing
I have a 1924 BRNO large ring 98k with a Douglas air Guage barrel. The action is mounted in an Archangel tactical stock with a Sightron optics. Of all my .338’s the 338/06 is my favorite. It’s much more economical than my lapua and made from inexpensive parent cartridge
🕵️♂️ People Love The 30-06 Case And It's Offspring For Good Reason...Good Performace, Without Excessive Recoil! 😯
It's also a cheap build. If you have a 30-06, rebarrel it and reuse your 30-06 brass.
Lots of fun and affordable possibilities! 🤑
My profile picture is my 338-06 rifle - a custom P14 Enfield.
Sweet
Cooper arms chambers new rifles in 338-06. Mine is a tack driver.
Had a 77 ruler 338 win mag with a muzzle brake didn't kick at all
If whitetail deer weighed 400 lbs, the .338-06 and 35 Whelen would the the most popular hunting cartridges in the U.S.
I have the 338RCM. That is a great round.
I have been considering a rifle chambered in 338-06A-Square or a 35 Whelen. I’ve had a tough time trying to decide between the two. Maybe you can help answer this question, but in the A-Square loading manual they claim that a 338-06 can push a 250 grain bullet to almost the same velocities as the 35 Whelen. But in the Nosler loading manual, they show just the opposite, that the 35 Whelen can be loaded much faster with the same bullet. What is the best way to go?
Look at as much data as possible. 338-06 and 35 Whelen seem extremely close in performance. The 35 Whelen will have a little more velocity with the same weight bullet. You get a little more bullet options in 338 caliber. Are you going to reload?
@@ReloadingWeatherby yes I am
The 338-06 is a Great cartridge I have a TC Encore in 338-06 with a 16.5" barrel that I can use as a rifle or a pistol. It works great and would like to get a bolt action rifle in this caliber. Wish somebody would chamber it in a bolt action rifle at a decent price point instead of a high cost Weatherby rifle.
The 338 Federal cartridge suffered the same fate as the 338-06 A-Square cartridge. Both are excellent cartridges and both can be reloaded easily.
I have a Savage 16FCSS Weather Warrior in 338 Federal cartridge. Savage and other manufacturers discontinued rifles in the 338 Federal cartridge. Federal stopped producing 338 Federal ammunition.
I reload 338 Federal Ammunition using the 308 Winchester brass. 308 Winchester brass is very plentiful and affordable.
I bought a very lightly used Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 338-06 A-Square. Weatherby discounted rifles and ammunition production in 338-06 A-Square cartridge.
I reload 338-06 A-Square ammunition using 30-06 Springfield brass. 30-06 Springfield brass is very plentiful and affordable.
If you get a 1 in 3 twist in an 18" threaded barrel and load it subsonic, it would be an 8.6 blk out.
It would have been interesting if you had included data for the 8mm-06, an older wildcat with plenty of load data. The only beef I have with the .338 Win Mag is the stupid belted case which is a cosmetic affectation.
It’s a great reloaders cartridge. You’re correct for staying at 225 gn bullet or less. 200 Hornady for me at 2875.
Very nice
My father and I built a 338-06 and we have two loads we really like 210 grain Barnes TSX going about 2700 ft./s and a 180 grain Nosler partition at just under 3000
35 Whelen has factory ammo available. And bullets of the same weight can be pushed faster.
Seems like the new 338 weatherby rpm was a modern take on the 338-06
One of the dumbest things I’ve ever done in my life was trade away my Weatherby Mark V Ultralight in 338-06. Try finding one now.
Oh dang
A very efficient cartridge
Edwin VonAtzigen swore by this cartridge...it worked beautifully with my Uncle's Rifle
I form mine on 270 brass as it's designed for higher pressure .
One has to define the mission of the Calibe is interested in. Hunting at 400 yards max? Game size? Define the need in terminal Ballistics, then find the correct bullet/caliber needed. No more, no less. If a 338 bullet is great in a 30-06 case, how about if we can compare it to 6.5 PRC (short actions) or the 7 PRC (long action)
Would you pick 338-06 or Weatherby's 338 rpm? Just curious.
338-06. If I'm getting a 338 in a Weatherby cartridge it is a 340 Weatherby
Neck a 7 PRC up to 338, seat the bullet out further, give it a cool new name, and if the hype hits, all those who know about the 338-06 will reveal that there's already something out there that does the same thing and maybe it'll be less dead??
A 338 PRC would not be good news for the 338-06
@@ReloadingWeatherby I'm glad you did this video. I think if I ever become a reloader the 338-06 would be my pick for a 338 cartridge. Exceptional performance at least looking at the numbers. And no, a 338 PRC is probably not what the world needs. But I'm also certain it wouldn't go fast enough in my hypothetical configuration to excite very many people, so the 338-06 probably doesn't need to worry about it.
The 8.6 PRC
35 Whelen?
I think the reason it's is a "dead" cartridge is that most guns are sold in the lower 48. The 338-06 doesn't really do what the tried and trued 30-06 doesn't do in the lower 48. I'm sure it'll be better suited for bigger game in Alaska, but there is other easier to get cartridges that are suitable.
With that thought, how does it work with a 16"-18" barrel?
I agree..
There are amazing 30-06 derivatives. Look at 25-06, 6.5-06, 270, 280 AI, 338-06 and 35 Whelen. I mean pick 3 and you can literally do anything from long range shooting to killing bison.
I'm looking into that 280 AI and it's pretty impressive. Especially with the handloaders that push it to it's limits.
Yeah, just stick with the 3006 and you'll do anything you've ever dreamed of.
One more. The 8mm/06
Dang now im stuck between 280ai and 338-06.
Not much mention of the 35 whelen. That one is dead. Why? 35 cal bullets are hard to find. 338 cal bullets are more common. I have a 338 06 in a howa 1500 with a 25 inch barrel. The gun shoots lights out. 225 gr tsx bullets with h414 powder. Thick bush this caliber is excellent.
35 Whelen is a great cartridge. Just seems 35 caliber is not popular in North America
8mm Remington Magnum vs 300 Weatherby Magnum!
Given its current state i would lean towards the Ackley version
I just moved from the A-sq to the AI version. Not because of performance, just for the longer brass life.
AI gets you more brass life and little more speed. I wrote a article on it in Handloader magazine back in April addition
@@ReloadingQuest True, but the larger the bullet diameter and less velocity is gained with an AI. I will go read your article.
@@ReloadingQuest I always found it strange, after people saw the brass life advantage of the Ackley family, the 40° shoulder didn't become standard practice when wildcatting.
🕵️♂️ Well, in talking with the folks at Horneday, the reason Why they say that they use a 30 degree shoulder for both the Creedmore and PRC Cartridges has to do with Brass Production (anything over 30 degrees and the production losses go way up, because it is harder to make quality brass with the steeper shoulder, according to them)! I posed this very question to them! If we look at some of the other better performing cartridges, with 30 degree shoulders - this would include the 204 Ruger, 308 Lazzeroni Warbird, 30-338 Lapua Magnum, and 277 Sig Fury - just to name a few! Of course, cartridges with the 35 degree shoulder would include the WSM's and New Nosler Cartridges! So, do you believe Horneday? 🤔 The 30-06 cartridges were given an "Improved" 35 degree shoulder by an Idaho Gunsmith (Rocky Gibbs) back in the 1950's! Is a 40 degree shoulder really going to be that much better? What about the Weatherby blown out "Double Radius shoulder then, which can even allow for more powder? Did Roy Weatherby Get It Right? What About P.O. Ackley or Some of the Other Wildcatters and Winchester and Nosler? Or, is Horneday Right? 🤪 While their are "Tradeoffs", are we giving too much value to "a little extra potential powder capacity" (potential vs. useable is a key argument here)? What about other factors, like reliable feeding? What are Everyone's Thoughts on the Matter and what are your preferences??? 🤷♂️
Hey! To help your channel out….
You should dress up as Mongo from the movie Blazing Saddles. That would be hilarious!
You’d make a great Mongo!
Then you can use a coloring book and draw us pictures with crayons, (but don’t eat’m) all while you read to us from a reloading manual.
Then your videos would at least be funny…..
Just trying help big guy (aka Mongo)
You thumbing up your own comments? I thought you were done with my channel?
@@ReloadingWeatherby Oh! Yes, I am done w u’r channel. I was just responding to your comment. As, again, what I’m doing here now with this comment.….
I’m just trying to help improve your channel….. I mean, really, if you dressed up like Mongo, that would be hilarious.
You should do it, you’d get a lot of views!
@user-cl7jw7td5q Don't forget to like the video! You're already commenting which helps push out my content. So thank you!
How about 338wsm?
Isn't that just a wildcat?
@ReloadingWeatherby no there are actually saami spec
It never got produced at scale because of some intellectual property/ royalties problems. But it's a wonderful round, to sad that investors and manufacturers can't negotiate
Seriously, with 225 grain bullets you get within 100fps of a 338 Win Mag but with less powder and without the cigar sized magnum cartridge case. Handloading is a breeze and 30-06 brass is cheap and plentiful. Mine consistently shoots just under an inch with bullets over 200 grains.
Nice
I hate to say this but I fear the 338 diameter is on its way to to the grave. Ya had the 338 RCM, 338 federal, 338-06 A-Square. The grand old 338 Winchester Magnum is hanging on by a few threads. Americans do not like medium bore cartridges that truly shine at medium range. 358 diameter is laying right beside it in the grave. Maybe bring back the 338-06 and call it, 8.59 resolute titan, it's all in the marketing my friends.
What the 338 federal. I'm getting 2760 fps with a 200 gr bullet. Using hornady load data
Nice
@ReloadingWeatherby according to the ballistics calculator using my real time data it's getting 3392 foot pounds at the muzzle and 1798 at 400 yds still going 2013 fps. 200 gr sst
A change in my thought process I’ve had is how much I rely on starting velocity. For my compact, lightweight hunting gun, I now carry a 6.5 creedmoor with a 20” barrel with 127 LRXs at a scorching 2600fps. Enough retained velocity out to 400 yards to still expand the copper bullet and cleanly kill deer and pronghorn. I’d choose a long heavy bullet in the 338-06 and laugh all the way to the bank. Too bad the smaller 338s have all died :(
This is the cats ass for mid n close range elk!
But wait! There's another step.... the 35 Whelen!
Honestly the same principles apply with other popular and established cartridges that got "wildcatted" up or down from their original caliber. .308 Winchester casing is another example of a parent that has a good number of offspring.
It's all in what you intend to use it for. Yes the numbers on energy and velocity seem prominent and imposing, until you consider that energy numbers aren't everything. Yes you get more velocity from something heavier in a larger caliber from the target caliber, but that's only one factor; you also get a corresponding drop in sectional density and a drop in ballistic coefficient, all else being equal. This could translate to less penetration ability on game and certainly translates to a progressively higher deceleration while traveling to the target because of increased drag. It's all a trade off of one thing for another.
.30-06, .308, and 7x57 are all excellent cartridges to serve several calibers. Another excellent small cartridge is the .222 Rem.
I don't know of a single cartridge that's served as the source of such a heap of offspring as the .375 H&H, however.
I want 338 Federal Back lol
I like my 35 Whelen.
35 Whelen is sweet
@ReloadingWeatherby easier to find guns in too- not that I'm knocking 338-06, it's easier to find slippery bullets for. All of the rounds that neck up and down the 06 case rock.
I don't really understand why bullets of the same weight are moving faster out of the 338-06. It's the same case capacity. Mind boggling
A 180 gr 338 bullet has a larger service area, creates higher pressure and velocity. Also with the 180 gr in 338 being a shorter bullet you can put more powder in the case for the 338-06.
Do a 224 weatherby video lol
Haha... I might
@@ReloadingWeatherby seems like it and the 240 always get left out lol
.338 Federal!
Google the .338 Sabi and .270 Sabi, made in South Africa by Magnum Arms.
338 Federal !! 200gr Fusion at 2,700ft-sec ...