338-06 help, please

[x101airborne]

Been donin some searching and cant find anything for cast load data for the 338-06. I have the NOE 225 Ranch Dog in both gas checked and plain base. I am looking for something around 1900 fps from a 24 inch barrel. Can ANYONE help me with my quest?
Thanks
Trey

[TCLouis]

If you want to do some calculating based on case capacities, I used the Lee C338220 in a 338 Mag with 39.0 grains of 3031 for about 1800 fps and change. Worked up from 36.0 and went higher (41 or 42), but the accuracy was at 39.
NO pressure signs, and really small group at 50, never tested beyond that.

Somewhere way back before it was valid cartridge I saw the same load in 338-08 with 200 grain coated bullet.

[Hardcast416taylor]

101st Screaming Eagles!!! This is 1 of my favorite rounds, so here are some loads for the LEE 220 gr. and the 230 gr. BRP boolet. All loads should be considered near max, alloy used was wheel weight + some tin and air cooled. The lube I used once I sized the boolets with an RCBS .338 sizer was a mix of 1 stick of Lars Carnuba Red mixed with 3 sticks of Lars BAC lube and poured into my 450 Lyman sizer with a Hornady GC added. You shouldn`t have any trouble tailoring your 225 gr. bullet between these loads below.

LEE 220.
IMR - 3031 48 gr. 2300 fps
IMR - 4064 50 gr. 2200 fps
IMR - 4895 50 gr. 2300 fps
IMR - 4320 52 gr. 2300 fps
IMR - 4350 57 gr. 2300 fps
Varget 50 gr. 2250 fps
H - 414 55 gr. 2300 fps
RL - 15 52 gr. 2325 fps
RL - 19 60 gr. 2325 fps
W - 748 51 gr. 2330 fps


BRP 230.
IMR - 3031 49 gr. 2260 fps
IMR - 4064 49.5 gr 2230 fps
IMR - 4320 51.5 gr 2260 fps
IMR - 4895 50 gr. 2280 fps
IMR - 4350 57 gr. 2260 fps
AA - 2495 49 gr. 2260 fps
RL - 15 51 gr. 2270 fps
RL - 19 60 gr. 2290 fps
Varget 50.5 gr. 2230 fps
H - 414 55 gr. 2280 fps


These ought to keep you occupied for a while. Robert

[x101airborne]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it. I did not realize this was such an "unrealized" caliber.

[TCTex]

Oh man this isn't fair... I have a 15 in TC "Custom Shop" in 338-06 barrel sitting in my safe at home.... I even have the 200 gr Ranch Dog bullet mold... LOL

[frank505]

I use case full of WC 860 with a 240 gas check and Federal 215 primer for 1800 fps. shoots right with sights set for 275 grain Speers. It is very accurate. Cant tell you the exact charge weight as it is all packed up.......................

[TCLouis]

If you don't have it yet, I would suggest a hard look at the 338-08 before building a rifle.

[Chill Wills]

I have the NOE 225 Ranch Dog in both gas checked and plain base. I am looking for something around 1900 fps from a 24 inch barrel. Trey

Trey, It was my first true love. I had the first one built in 1980 and like eating popcorn, could not stop. Had three and one more in 338-08 just to make sure I had not missed something. Both good but I love the 338-06.

A 1900 fps cast load is very easy with the right bullet. The Lee is, well, a Lee but I have two Hoch moulds and two LBT moulds that fit my chamber better and shoot lights out. I passed the Hoch along down the road and now stick with the LBT bullets and lead with overcoats;) for the now and then Elk.

As you likely know, the GC cavity will be the useful one at your desired speed.

So, for powder, any med. to faster RIFLE powder will get you close. Reloader-7, 3031, 4198, and good grief all the other stuff in that class. This really is the good o' days of powder availability. Do not forget SR-4759 which is very good for general use in this velocity range. I did not have AA-5744 but I bet it would be really good if you have that powder. If you need real data I can unpack the old notebook but you really should not have any trouble. PM me if you want.

BTW, what action and barrel do you have? Mine is on a Mark-X, and the second rifle is a rebarreled Ruger #1-B. Sold the third one to my hunting pard's son built on a Rem 700.

[x101airborne]

This is a 338-06 TC encore rifle barrel that I was lucky enough to buy at a really good price. I think this will be a fun little piggy whacker.

[TCTex]

This is a 338-06 TC encore rifle barrel that I was lucky enough to buy at a really good price. I think this will be a fun little piggy whacker.

I hear you loud and clear! I bought my 338 Fed & 338-06 barrels for 200 a piece. I currently have 50 rounds loaded up for the 338 Fed. 10 different loads using the 200 Ranch Dog.

[x101airborne]

How is the neck length on the -08 case versus the -06 case? I was often tempted by the 338 Fed type cartriges, but had only ever seen the -06 case in person. And I liked the long neck of the -06 case. That and I have a real nice surplus of -06 cases lying around as comfort brass, so I can spare some for fireforming.

[TCTex]

Give me a day or two and I will post some pictures of my 338 Fed and 308 Win. Hopefully that will answer all your questions. I have my 338 Fed 100 up and running. However my 338-06 barrel is still in the box. I currently do not have any components to shoot it and it will be a little bit before I will.........

[x101airborne]

Well, whenever I get my checks and sizers, maybe I can send you some of my NOE 225 Ranch Dogs. Always happy to share. is that 338-06 barrel pistol length? I dont know why, but I feel intimidated loading that cartrige in a rifle, much less in a pistol!

BTW.... I am of course looking for dies for the 338-06 if you know of a set lying around some where.

[TCTex]

Is that 338-06 barrel pistol length? I dont know why, but I feel intimidated loading that cartrige in a rifle, much less in a pistol!

I have had a 17in 375 H&H AI and I currently have a 16.5in 35-06 JDJ in handgun barrels. My 375 JDJ load for my 17in Encore barrel has more inertia/kick than my 35-06 JDJ loads…

I actually can have an advantage with the shorter barrel I just need to look at rifle data that is around the 2500fps area with the appropriate bullet and load them up. With the Hornady book listing 2400 to 2900 fps with the 338-06 rifle data shooting a 200gr projectile, I will actually be at the bottom half of the pressure scale and have significantly less recoil. On the flip side, full house 250gr projectile loads max out at 2500fps, ya, those are going to get your attention. That is when you send the barrel of to SSK and have them put their break and 6 hole base on the barrel...

[Three44s]

My foray into the .338-06 consists of a ER Shaw barrel for the Savage 110 bought used. It became obvious that the barrel had been fired little if any and I found that until I get it broken in, a powder like SR 4759 and speeds south of 2000 fps are the ticket.

I have ran full power loads in J-words and for the most part, cast with SR 4759 (the Lee boolit).

Both Robert and the fellow who until recently made the BRP molds sent me samples of his product and that boolit is much more to my liking than the Lee. That said, the Lee shoots much better than you would think. I feel the lube groove is too small to offer enough lubrication for high speed in a long gun. ......... yet when I kept the velocity down, the Lee shot very well with not much leading from a barrel I would not consider broken in.

The .338-06 in my opinion is a very well adapted cartridge for both J-words and cast. In the '06 case, one has an unlimited supply of brass to neck up (a process that's very easy with this number).

As good as the .35 Whelen is in cast, it's easy to see why the .338-06 gets overlooked but I have yet to hear anyone overlook it after they actually own one and use it for a while!!

So ..... have fun with your new caliber, it won't let you down!!


Three 44s

[Moonie]

I've seen molds from Accurate Molds that are up to 310gr. I was planning a 35 Whelen but this has me thinking 338-06, and the BC would be much better with a 310gr .338 than a 250gr .358.

Any body have any ideas on load data for something as big as the 310gr?

[Chill Wills]

I've seen molds from Accurate Molds that are up to 310gr. I was planning a 35 Whelen but this has me thinking 338-06, and the BC would be much better with a 310gr .338 than a 250gr .358.

Any body have any ideas on load data for something as big as the 310gr?

Just a thought, you might not have a fast enough twist with a long 310gr bullet in a 12 or 10 twist .338.

I don't know everything but 250-275gr bullets will slay anything I have run unto here in the Rocky Mtns. That extra weight may be more trouble than it is worth. I have some 300gr Barns bullets from 30 years ago, never shot up all I had, They did not do anything a 250gr'er wouldn't do to an Elk.

Just a thought, Chill

[Moonie]

That boolit is stable at 1050fps with a 1-12.7" twist and 1-17" at 2000fps, I think it will be fine.

[Hardcast416taylor]

If these 310 gr. slugs are to be shot from a single shot type rifle, you can do it. For use in a magazine fed rifle it isn`t worth the hassle due to limits on O.A.L. of cartridge with that long bullet in the magazine.Robert

[frank505]

I have been shooting an NEI mold casting a 300 grain round nose gas check boolet. With WC 860 it will shoot quite well but the velocity is just over 1700. Have not found a load that does 2000 with accuracy. The barrel is a 1/10 twist and the reciever is a 98 Mauser. The rifle does like 275 grain Speers at 2350, got any you will sell me?
The mold # is 103. Also opened up my .339 size die to .341.

[badgeredd]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it. I did not realize this was such an "unrealized" caliber.

Actually it is a great cartridge and has a slight edge over the 35 Whelen BUT I have a Whelen and there are more boolits available in 35 caliber. I also have a 358 Norma that also gives up a little to the 338 Win Mag. Still isn't going to change my mind about the 35s though.

Edd

[mstarling]

Edd,

No flies on the 35s ... and not many on the 33s or the 9,3s.

Mike

[x101airborne]

I chose the 338 out of PURE personal interest. If I were more logical, I would have chosen the 35 whelen. Many more load combinations possible and many more boolit choices available. They will both take the largest of game, but I wonder if you could load a 90 grain wadcutter over 5 grains bullseye and go squirrel huntin with the 338. Practical, maybe not. Possible, YOU BET!!

[frank505]

I chose the 338 because Elmer Keith said to.

[shotman4]

you may find that useing military brass is much better. much of the commerical 06 will split. i sized about 400 military and never had a split. about 50% rems split first time and 4 split on first fireing.
I like the 200gr range but the Lee 220 is very good but checks are hard to seat. The RD mold would be better

[Hardcast416taylor]

I have had my .338-06 for going on to near 30 years. It is built on a 1917 Enfield action. I have Redding loading dies simply because they were about the only maker that made them back then. The decap/sizer die has a tapered expander button shape so I have never yet lost a case, irregardless of what make, when sizeing them up. I always dunk the unsized case mouth in Imperial (Redding now) neck sizer graphite to lube the inside of the neck. I tend to favor Winchester brass, mil. and commercial, over Rem. or FC. As far as loadings available for this cal. over 35 cal., look at what you expect to be using it for most and settle on 1 bullet to fill those needs. In my case I chose to use the 220 to 230 gr. bullets for both speed and energy for 100 to 150 yd. shots. There are heavier boolet molds available up to the 300 gr. range, BUT you must also remember that O.A.L. dictates the cartridge length for magazine fed rifles and pushing the boolet farther back into the case area.Robert

[x101airborne]

That wont be an issue with my single shot, but a very valid point. I have only the ranch dog mold and it was just meant to be with the neck of the -06.
Talk about dies..... I ordered a set of RCBS dies from midsouth for the mere pintance of 57.00 and change!!!! My 300 whisper dies and my 338 lapua mag dies did not add up to that!

[Hardcast416taylor]

Look at those dies as an investment, besides they are guaranteed for life against about anything that can happen to them. Good investment!Robert

[shotman4]

RCBS is better set I had the lee and went to Rcbs. watch the boolit seat depth I like it to ride at touching rifleing . I have a mod 70win rebored and it likes the lead touching Js dont seem to matter
redding is good too but but at time rcbs was cheaper NOT MUCH
lee set was not good for me

[Rick459]

x101airborne,
when i built my .338/06 back 1983 RCBS was the only die maker that made .338/06 dies. they cost me $110.00 so at $57.00 that is a decent price for the dies. i am using the Lee 220 grn. mold and getting good results. good luck with yours.
Rick

[doghawg]

I have a .338/06 40 degree Ackley Improved built on a Whitworth action (Mark 10) with a Douglas barrel and stocked with a Brown Precision fiberglass stock. The barreled action was done by a smith by the name of Wally Strutz and the stock was my first attempt at that sort of thing....This was done before black guns were cool.
This gun has served me well over the last 30 some years but I've never tried to cast for it. Reading this thread has me fired up to take a run at casting .338's....

[Moonie]

If these 310 gr. slugs are to be shot from a single shot type rifle, you can do it. For use in a magazine fed rifle it isn`t worth the hassle due to limits on O.A.L. of cartridge with that long bullet in the magazine.Robert

Actually I have a Savage Edge and can load the 245gr .30 cal boolit with room to spare. The Edge uses the same length action for the 7mm and 300 magnums and the 30-06 magazine is VERY long.

The 310gr .338 and 245gr 30-06 boolit are the same length.

[TCTex]

How is the neck length on the -08 case versus the -06 case? I was often tempted by the 338 Fed type cartriges, but had only ever seen the -06 case in person. And I liked the long neck of the -06 case. That and I have a real nice surplus of -06 cases lying around as comfort brass, so I can spare some for fireforming.

As requested, I hope this helps... ... ... ... ...

Left to Right: 308 Win, 338 Fed, 30-06 Spring

http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/data/545/308-338-3006.jpg

:guntootsmiley:

[x101airborne]

So it would seem that the -06 has a bit more neck than the -08 case does in 338 form. Cool pic. I would think the 338 fed would be a bit more efficient in operation with gas checked cast boolits. Glad to see others playing with this diamater.

[TCTex]

Glade you liked it!

Like I said before, I have a 15in SS Encore in 338-06, but it might be a year before I can get a scope and set of dies for it... LOL

[Wolfer]

Glad to see y'all getting this sorted out. I have a rebored rem 760 that kicks like a bay mule with full power jacketed loads. Planned on casting for it as soon as time and money allow. For me both are always in short supply.

[x101airborne]

Just ask obama for the change he promised us and buy your supplies on the communist credit card. It is not your responsibility to pay for it.

Speaking of such..... I will gladly share or swap some boolits with anyone who would like to try them. A simple PM will do and I dont ask anything for em.