Which one & why???

[TCTex]

Comparing a 338-06 and 35 Whelen. Which one would you pick and what would your load be.


Thanks for looking.


Duane

[Dean D.]

Never loaded for the 338-06.

I'm still working on developing a cast load for my Whelen. So far I've had good luck using the 358318 247gr GCRN with 29.5gr. of SR4759 and C-Red loob running at 2272 fps chrono'd. Groups roughly 1" @ 50 yards. I'm really looking forward to some bench time to work on this load more as I think it will perform much better with refinement.

My J-word recipe for my .35 Whelen is 52.0gr IMR-4064 behind a 250gr. JSP.

[SciFiJim]

I've been thinking of converting a 8MM Mauser to 35Whelen. I hadn't thought of converting to 338-06, but using 30-06 brass the neck would be stretched less. Hmm. I already have the 35 caliber mold and none for the 338 but it is still an interesting thought. I will have to consider it some more. The 35Whelen is a venerable old cartridge with lots of info out there. I am interested in seeing what results people have gotten with the 338-06.

[longbow]

Well, I have always liked the .35 Whelen but never got around to getting one. When the .338-06 showed up I wondered "Why bother?"

I think the .338-06 is a little more ballistically efficient than the .35 Whelen due to bullet styles available in reasonable weights. On the other side, the .35 Whelen is more versatile in that you can also use an .38/.357 bullets in it as well for plinking rounds. There is a pretty limited selection of bullets and boolit moulds for .338.

If I ever do head in that direction, I would go with the .35 Whelen partly because of its history and partly due to its versatility and variety of moulds available.

I think it depends on what you want to do with it. If you plan on shooting only one or two weights of boolits I doubt there is enough difference to worry about in performance.

Just my thoughts.

Longbow

[waksupi]

For cast boolits, you are better off with a .338 Federal, or a .358 winchester.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Fatter holes always leak out faster.
Have been shooting a Marlin 336 rifled by JES to .412 that was then chambered to caliber .414 Supermag. It will probably push a 255 grain GC to about the same velocity as my 38's. The advantage to my little thinker is that a .414 hole clean through the intended target will be that much more capable of "going dry" faster. Larger dismeters add a condiderable amount of area far exceeding just the added radius. That old formula " Pie R Squared" does give the benefit.
So bottom line for me.. I hunt in woods and river bottoms. My longest shot to date on a deer with a firearm was 37 yards. I have no need of long range balistics as many of you do. So a fat bored .414 Marlin 336 makes alot of sense. When I lay a .414 boolit base next to a .380 boolit base I can see the difference that fatter one makes.
Mike in ILL

[Wolfer]

Some years back one of my rem 760 in 270 win shot out so I sent it off to be rebored. Once he received it he called and said my options were 30-06, 338-06, 35 whelen. Well I already had a 338 WM so I stocked bullets. I felt the 338-06 was ballisticly superior to the 35 whelen. With full house loads this gun kicks like a bay mule. I haven't bought a mold for it yet but plan to. Now I wish it was a 35 whelen because of the better boolit selection.

[EdS]

Several folks have already commented on the ballistic superiority of the .338-06 over the .35 Whelen, and I agree; but that's only a factor at longer ranges. For the average hunting rifle, it's buyer's choice in my opinion. However, there probably is a real difference betweent the two in maintaining proper headspace when resizing. The more substantial shoulder on the .338-06 should make it the easier case to keep in spec. -Ed

[Shuz]

I made the .35 Whelen decision many years ago and never looked back. Boolit mould selection is prolly THE most important factor when considering 338 vs 35cal. At least it was for me!

[TCTex]

I hadn't thought of converting to 338-06, but using 30-06 brass the neck would be stretched less. Hmm.

Not worried about that one. LOL

I have a couple hundred pieces of 35 Whelen brass... Life is good.


For cast boolits, you are better off with a .338 Federal, or a .358 winchester.

Great point and probably correct 99% of the time. Most people don't consider the short barreled TC platform like I do and it gives it a little different twist. I have a 15in 338 Federal and it rocks BTW. It is pushing a 200gr RD at 2200fps.

Mike, wonderful observation about range!!! I have a 15in 414 SM barrel that is a shooter with the 255gr RD. I have to agree 100% with titan rounds at moderate distances!


The entire point of this post was my dilemma. I have an SSK 16.5in 35-06 JDJ (EG, 35 Whelen,) and a 15in TC Custom Shop 338-06 barrel. The 35-06 is decked out with all the bells and whistles and the 338-06 is still NIB. I am currently working with the 358009 and the 35-06 and we will see what happens. With the 15in 338 Fed shooting cast well already, I am trying to think of the best application for the 338-06.

Personally, I have found that good molds for the 35 are just as hard to find as good molds for the 338. However, that may still be my use and application.

[Olevern]

How about .375-06?

[UBER7MM]

Generally 338'06 hace a 1/10 twist, the 35 Whelen: 1/16. .338 bullets might be more expense, being that that caliber comes with Magnum price tags. 35 caliber are popular because of the 35 Remington is 100 + years old. Plenty of pistol bullets to choose from for practice during the off season. If you casting, the point becomes mute.

SciFiJim,

You might consider reaming out the chamber of your Mauser to 8mm'06. Cheaper than rebarreling or re-boring. If you already load for the 8x57, your half way there. You'd be the only one on your block with one. 1/9.45 Twist.

Just a thought,

[JesterGrin_1]

I have the 35 Whelen and the little brother the 358 Winchester. Sorry I have not played with the 338-06 as when I went into this I wished to have a Cast Boolit shooter and learned a bunch even though I am new to this.

If you primarily wish to shoot cast go with the .338 Federal 338-08 or the .358 Winchester as there powder capacity does well with Cast Boolits in mind.

To me the 35 Whelen just has too much case capacity for Cast Boolits unless you have a 1-12 -1-14 twist to push heavy Cast Boolits such as the 358009 of around 280Gr +. Can it be done. Yep it sure can as I am sure many here on the forum will attest to. But the same thing can be done in the .358 Winchester with a shorter action and a shorter barrel length and a lighter rifle as well and last but not least less powder.

At this point I plan to regulate my 35 Whelen to Jacketed only loads and use the .358 Winchester for cast more often than not.

[TCTex]

I own:

Encore's

15in 338 Fed (Factory)
15in 338-06 (TC Custom Shop)
16.5in 35-06 JDJ (SSK's version of a 35 Whelen)
17in 375 JDJ (26in TC Custom Shop cut down by Dixie Gunworks.)


The 338-06 is NIB.


Duane

[TCTex]

PS,

That is why I asked about:

1, Which one

2, what load


There was a method to my madness...

[JesterGrin_1]

Nobody can tell you a load for Your Firearm. But they can suggest powders. As each Firearm is a law unto itself. So that means a bit of load work up.

As far as picking one that is also a personal opinion 6 one half dozen the other they are both good rounds.

Which one I would pick well the 35 of course. :)

[MT Gianni]

For me the ideal would be the shorter of the two the 358 or 338 Federal. If going strictly with custom molds I think a 338 Fed with custom 180 and 220 gr molds could do almost anything. As I own rifles in 357, 357 max, 358 & 35 Whelen and molds from 105 gr to 280 gr in 35 cal that makes much more sense to me.

[1Shirt]

6 of one half dozen of the other in my opinion!
1Shirt!

[KCSO]

I would go with the Whelen as I can use all my 38-357 bullets in it for light loads. I can form my own brass from cheap 30-06 for plinking loads and for full loads I can push a 250 grain cast bullet fast enought to drop anything in the USA with ease. Around here 338 bullets are some hard to come by and 358's are plentiful. In my mind either one is a little large in the case for an ideal cast bullet gun as my 35 remington will push a 200 grain bullet at over 2000 fps and is plenty gun for this area.

[TCTex]

6 of one half dozen of the other in my opinion!
1Shirt!


It is like comparing the 44 and 45 IMHO... LOL


I think the 338-06 will just stay in the box for a while... ... ... ... ...


Duane

[outdoorfan]

I haven't shot the 338-06, and I would imagine that would be the better option with jacketed. However, I like my 35 Whelen because of the friendly twist rate (1-14) for cast. My load is a 250 grain LFN behind 52 grains of RL-15. It's accurate. I once shot a 4 1/16 inch 5-shot group at 375 yards. I've shot two deer at just shy of 300. Fantastic cartridge for cast.

[MT Gianni]

It is more than just molds 338 gas checks are hard to find as well.

[quilbilly]

If you are a pathological tinkerer like me, the 35 cal has such an amazing array of molds from 100 gr on up to 220 and more, you could spend a lifetime having fun at the casting and reloading benches.

[clintsfolly]

Just to be different look at the 9.3x62! NOE makes a GREAT mold,Graff has brass, and is just plan Cool. Clint

[TCTex]

For those who haven't been reading the posts...
:popcorn:

I have multiple 35 and 338 caliber barrels and was looking for pet loads, uses, and niches that could be filled with each caliber, (Eg-the 35 Whelen vs. the 338-06)
[smilie=s:

With that being said, My sincere thanks goes out to all for their responses and thoughts.
:CastBoolitsisbest:

I already own:
35’s:
357 Max, 357 Herrett, & 35 Whelen

338’s:
338 Fed & 338-06


Duane