338 Cartridge?

[Tackdriver]

I'd like to try a 338 caliber, but I'm not looking for heavy recoil. I have a Long Action with a .473" bolt face and a Short Action Single Shot with a .473" bolt face and a Mag bolt face. So far I'm considering a 338-06 or 338 RCM. I think the 338 Federal would be too small to take advantage of the high BC bullets. This would be a fun build for me, with a heavy barrel just to play around with a different caliber. Any thoughts?

[D.ID]

Even the 338-06 and 338 rcm are to small to take advantage of the high bc 338 bullets, a heavy loaded high bc 30cal would out perform them when fired so slow.
If you want to take advantage of .338 cal 300 grain bullets you'll need a bigger cartridge (heavy rifle with a break to minimize recoil).
The 30-06 with .30 cal 208-210 or 230 would make cents if you don't want to move up.
225 grain 338s pail in comparison to 210 30s.
If you want the advantage of going big= you'll have to go big.

[Klondike]

Even the 338-06 and 338 rcm are to small to take advantage of the high bc 338 bullets, a heavy loaded high bc 30cal would out perform them when fired so slow.
If you want to take advantage of .338 cal 300 grain bullets you'll need a bigger cartridge (heavy rifle with a break to minimize recoil).
The 30-06 with .30 cal 208-210 or 230 would make cents if you don't want to move up.
225 grain 338s pail in comparison to 210 30s.
If you want the advantage of going big= you'll have to go big.

As a 338 win mag fan I would go even further and state that the 338 win mag doesn't fully take advantage of the great high bc bullets like a 7mm mag or 6.5 calibers do.

I think the 338 Federal is interesting simply for short to mid range thump in a short action that can use a modern bullet.

I also agree with the other poster on looking at 30 calibers. My next purchase is going to be a 300WSM build as you have a short action that can be loaded to recoil like a stout 308 (150 gr bullets with mid 50 gr powder charge) but obviously can be loaded with 180's and 300 win mag performance that it was designed to mimic in a short action.

[olddav]

I can't speak to the BC of the 338 bullets, but if you want a hunting round that does not recoil like a magnum, uses less powder than a magnum and has more thump than a 30-06 then either the 338-06 or the 338 RCM will be a good choice. I'm not sure about the avalilable brass for the 338 RCM and if it's a problem then the 338-06 would be my pick. If hunting is not your intended use then I've no input but wish you good luck in what every you decide to build.

[pighunter284]

338-06. Especially if your going heavy with a break. 26" magnum contour.. I have one built for elk hunting and I'm using 210-225gr out of a 24" mag contour. I can do 20-30 Rounds before i start to feel it. Easy to load and lots of choices

[hookahbruthaup]

There's no such thing as a light recoiling .338. Big heavy bullets at decent velocity brings a spank at the shoulder.

[Jamie]

I would skip the RCM idea unless you already have a line on brass, think hen's teeth. Just sold off a HS Precision in 300 RCM with the little brass I had because finding more was turning into impossible. Well, that and the horrendous muzzle blast from a 15" barrel.

[Tackdriver]

I'm starting to think having a Magnum bolt face on a short action is pretty useless. I might end up going the 338-06 route at some point down the line.

[Jamie]

You have the WSM cases to go off of. Neal has lots of experience with the 338 WSM. I think his wife killed her buffalo with one on the Striker platform.

[Monkeymaster]

338-06
Run 30-06 brass thru dies for your "brass"
IMR 4350 with Speer 200 grns - Nosler 210 partitions, Sierra 215 game kings"boattail", and even use it with Hornady 225 grains.
Stevens 200 25-06 donor
A@B 24" magnum contour barrel
Rem primers
1" 3 shot groups at 200 yds off sand bags, and I have shot one 200 yd clover leaf.
Recoil is like a big shove to shoulder.
My mule deer load is the 215 Sierras with 61 grns of IMR4350. Boom, Drop, Gut ect
I have several 270's, several 308's, 1-30-06, several 250 savages, several 300 savages, several 22-250s, 1 - 223 , 1 -257 rbrts, and this 338-06 shoots as good or better, and is less finicky then them.
I keep find myself taking it to go shoot .
Now, if shooting whatever at over 400 yds, then you may want more powder.
I am quite happy with my build.
Good luck

[CharlieNC]

My first Savage build was a 338-06. Shot great, recoil not bad, and dropped my first and only moose with it. Sold the barrel and regretted it ever since.

[mattri]

FWIW I built a 338-06 off a 110 platform, really liked the round but it kicked like a mule. Shooting 210-225gr bullets it absolutely hammered me, everyone's different but it was like a 12 gauge shooting slugs. I shoot a 7mm wsm now and its nowhere near as bad.

[yobuck]

Even the 338-06 and 338 rcm are to small to take advantage of the high bc 338 bullets, a heavy loaded high bc 30cal would out perform them when fired so slow.
If you want to take advantage of .338 cal 300 grain bullets you'll need a bigger cartridge (heavy rifle with a break to minimize recoil).
The 30-06 with .30 cal 208-210 or 230 would make cents if you don't want to move up.
225 grain 338s pail in comparison to 210 30s.
If you want the advantage of going big= you'll have to go big.

But but i dont really really want a real race car, i just want people to think i have a race car. lol

[geargrinder]

33 Nosler with a heavy barrel and brake.

I find the big boomers pleasant to shoot. The recoil feels slower, more like a shove. I can comfortably shoot more rounds from my sporter 338 RUM than my sporter 308. That 308 beats me up.

[Dennis]

I don't know if this really fits your need BC wise, BUT,

I have a 338 Edge and shoot 160 Triple Shock bullets. NO recoil to speak of, very fun to shoot, and very destructive.

102 grains powder plus, equals over 4,200 fps. It's my go to gun when wanting to have fun!

Dennis