New Build .338-06 - Range Results

[kschilling]

After this year’s monster deer season in Kansas with my Savage F Class .308 (168 Berger Hunting bullets – 4 killed from 330 to 500 yards) I decided to step up on my caliber for a medium to long range hunting rig. The .308 did fine, but I need something with more energy. After researching all the .338’s flooding the market, I decided that was ticket. However, I wanted one that was efficient and I didn’t have to feed 100 grs of powder too nor did I want a muzzle break.

The .338-06 was the choice I settled on. If this performs as planned, I’m never looking back… I’ll still stick with my 6.5 Sweede in Texas. The Hornady brass I’ll neck up from .30-06, the bullet will be the Hornady 225 gr Interbond (Not SST), BR2 primers and Alliant Power Pro 2000MR or 4000MR (still pending load data from Alliant). My calculations should put me at 2700 fps without any issues. Load development results to follow.

Here’st the spec’s:
Action: Savage Model 111, LA, Center Feed DBM
Trigger: Rifle Basics
Lug: NSS
Barrel: Shilen Select Match, 26 inch, Varmint Contour
Stock: Hogue Over Molded, full length 7075 aluminum block (skim bedded)
Base: Weaver 20 MOA
Rings: Leupold QR
Scope: Nikon Buck Master 6-18 Fine Cross hair with target dot and target turrets

[kschilling]

The Range Results:

After some interesting results, here is my current load. Still have some testing to do on others, but I'm very confident in this one out to 500 yards.

Case: Hornady .30-06 reformed
Primer: BR2
Powder: Alliant Power Pro 2000 MR
Charge: 55.5 grains (disclaimer.... for "my rifle")
Bullet: .225 Hornady Interlock
Vel: 2690 fps
Group size: Sub 3/4 inch MOA at 100 yards.
Group confirmed at 200: 1.5 inch
Group confirmed at 300: 2.75 inch
Group confirmed at 400 (by another shooter): 3.5 inches.

Will try the SST, InterBond and Nosler next.

[Aircraftmech76]

Under 1 MOA at 400 yards with what's considered a non-premium bullet: good job!

Kevin

[kschilling]

Thanks Kevin! Already got folks taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd dibs for it. My brother is one of them!

[CharlieNC]

Glad to see you were able to complete this project so quickly with good results! I got comparable results with Interbond and Interlock (cheaper) bullets, and H4350 and H414 both performed well. About any loads I tried with these worked great, except using Accubond. The 338-06 is a great round, and sure bucks the wind! Since I didn't sell my barrel and reloading stuff I'll probably hold onto them for another day (wife doesn't pay that much attention to this stuff anyway ;D ).

[kschilling]

Thanks Charlie.... I've got a couple folks looking real hard at it. If they jump, I'll get in touch with you. They wanted shorter barrels.

[efw]

VERY nice lookin' & shootin' rifle!

What exactly would NOT fall to that thing? I can't think of anything on this continent that I'd balk at chasing w/ that rifle/cartridge combo!

Good shootin'; thanks for sharing. In my mind, that cartridge & 225s go together like PB&J.

[thatguyshm]

Hey there!

I understand that this is a three year old thread, but I am hoping that maybe some other 338-06 loaders could chime in possibly.

I have a very similar rifle, 25" barrel though, and am looking at working up a new load with MR-2000.

My current load is 61.3gr RL17 loaded t 3.470" OAL, gets me 2800-2810 fps with a 225gr Nosler Accubond and neck sized WW .30-06 brass. Shoots sub-moa out to 300 yrds, haven't put it to paper past that.

I would like to load some MR2000 with 200gr NAB and Speer HotCor. My 338 Fed LOVES the HotCor, I have a rather ample supply of them. I have lots of different 225gr, 200gr and 180gr projectiles, even a box of the 165 TTSX. I have a large supply of MR2000 and was hoping to have some luck with new brass FL sized to FF with, but that could also be accurate hunting ammo.

Thank you for your time, hopefully someone chimes in. All shot out of my Stevens M200 that I built this past summer. Not sure how to upload pictures or I would add one! SHM

[243LPR]

"168 Berger Hunting bullets – 4 killed from 330 to 500 yards" Call me confused but what is the logic here? Seems like what you had worked fine. Other than doing it just because you can. Now you're burning more powder ,money and increased recoil for the same results. Seems counter-productive to me. Just my 2¢,for what it's worth.

[thatguyshm]

Ten grains more powder isn't that much. Recoil depends on rifle. Price difference isn't much when you can buy premium bullets at shooters pro shop as "seconds or overrun". I picked up seconds from MidwayUSA of Hornady interlocks, dirt cheap also. There's that addressed.

The 338-06 is just a nice cartridge. There isn't too much you can't do with it. I wouldn't go after a big bear with a 308, but if you wanted to, you can toss 250 gr in a 338-06 and knock down anything in NA. Want to go after hogs? Load up some 160gr Barnes and smoke them out over 3150fps and drop them in their tracks.

Am I going to take my 338-06 to 1000 yrds? No, probably not. But that's why I have more than one horse in the stable. It's just an amazing round, very glad I got into it, and will not be getting rid of it.

Just my thoughts..
Shm

[Twostepct]

I believe he was talking about his load for his 308

"168 Berger Hunting bullets – 4 killed from 330 to 500 yards" Call me confused but what is the logic here? Seems like what you had worked fine. Other than doing it just because you can. Now you're burning more powder ,money and increased recoil for the same results. Seems counter-productive to me. Just my 2¢,for what it's worth.

[thatguyshm]

"168 Berger Hunting bullets – 4 killed from 330 to 500 yards" Call me confused but what is the logic here? Seems like what you had worked fine. Other than doing it just because you can. Now you're burning more powder ,money and increased recoil for the same results. Seems counter-productive to me. Just my 2¢,for what it's worth.

I assume LPR was referring to "don't fix what ain't broke." I agree, but I always like to try and justify in my own mind and to the misses, why I'm adding another one to the safe. -SHM

[Twostepct]

Ah, I misread.