Cast in the 338-06

[Ben]

Recently , I had my gunsmith in Golden , CO re-barrel one of my Remington Model 700's with a new Shilen , Match grade, 8 groove, 1-10 twist barrel , chambered in 338-06.

The barreled action is glassed & pillar bedded in a laminated stock with a crisp and clean 2 lb. trigger. ( I did all that work ) I also did the camo job. This is a hunting rifle, not a rifle to sit and look at ! !

When discussing the project with my gunsmith, I specified " tight head space ". The barrel is a medium heavy contour, 25" long with a target crown. The loaded rifle with scope will weigh about 9 lbs.

My gunsmith trued the front of my action and lapped the bolt lugs. The rifle currently has a Bushnell , 3200 with " Fire Fly", 3 X 9 X 50 mm. This is a FINE scope !

I've yet to shoot a jacketed bullet in it. I had fun with it today at the range !


This 1st group really isn't very impressive, but I'm just getting on paper at 50 yards , prior to moving to 100 yds.

Ben

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/009_zps634e4bfe.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/009_zps634e4bfe.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/011_zpsaeda0ac0.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/011_zpsaeda0ac0.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/016_zpsf0c0f4df.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/016_zpsf0c0f4df.jpg.html)

The aiming square below is 1.5 " on all sides :

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/007_zps5ebf5580.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/007_zps5ebf5580.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/009_zps733de699.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/009_zps733de699.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/010_zps42213b43.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/010_zps42213b43.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/011_zps19860e67.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/011_zps19860e67.jpg.html)

[dh2]

do you have any more load data for cast boolits in the .338-06 or are you having to work it out your self as you go?

I have a 220gr. mound I would like to push it with IMR4198,

thinking I can learn some thing here

[Yodogsandman]

That's some really good shooting there, Ben! Great looking rifle and scope combination, too! That boolit looks like it's just the ticket for filling your tag.

[Ben]

do you have any more load data for cast boolits in the .338-06 or are you having to work it out your self as you go?

I have a 220gr. mound I would like to push it with IMR4198,

thinking I can learn some thing here

Maybe I'm wrong ? ? But I treat this rifle like a 30-06 shooting heavy 220 gr. Cast Bullets ( like the 311284 ) . I use that data ( and there is plenty of it ) as " suggested starting data " and " inch up " keeping good reloading data records and watching primers.

[Ben]

That's some really good shooting there, Ben! Great looking rifle and scope combination, too! That boolit looks like it's just the ticket for filling your tag.

I don't think there is a white tail in Alabama that can take one of these through the front shoulder and walk away from it .

Ben

[Maven]

Impressive shooting, Ben!

[Yodogsandman]

I don't think there is a white tail in Alabama that can take one of these through the front shoulder and walk away from it .

Ben

From any angle!

[Ben]

Impressive shooting, Ben!

Thanks Paul,

Ben

[35 shooter]

Wow, more good shooting as usual! Impressive looking rifle and boolit as well.
Alabama's deer are in trouble again!

[Ben]

Wow, more good shooting as usual! Impressive looking rifle and boolit as well.
Alabama's deer are in trouble again!

35 shooter

Many thanks, I'm thinking that you'd like this one !

Ben

[35 shooter]

35 shooter

Many thanks, I'm thinking that you'd like this one !

Ben

Ben, yes, the 338/06 has long been my idea of a perfect all around rifle, along with the 35 whelen. I love my whelen but have to admit the 338 has a much better b.c. going for it, especially for longer ranges.
Congrats on yours, you are truly a cast boolit guru!
LOL, you've got me thinking about another bbl. for my encore now.;)

[Hardcast416taylor]

When a Michigan buddy of mine moved to northern Florida to teach at Fl State he made a comparison of Southern deer to Michigan deer. He said at first seeing a buck he thought it was a german shepard with a hormonal problem and grew horns till his new neighbor told him different.Robert

[Magana559]

Good shooting! My that's a beautiful rifle.

[EMC45]

Well done! Nice rig!

[Eddy Stone]

I would like to ad a little to this discussion on what 35 Shooter says is his favorite cartridge. Almost anything created from the old work horse, 30-06, is a winner. I don't have a fancy high dollar rifle. Mine is a Ruger 77 converted to 338-06 with a 24 inch barrel for a touch more velocity.
Anyway, I've had good luck with the bullet illustrated here as well as a 300 gr. GC from a mold owned by a friend of mine. I use WCC-867 up to the base of the bullet and a Federal LR primer. Approx. 60 gr. with the NEI for 1750 fps. and 57.5 gr. with the 300. Don't know the velocity of the 300 but it sure hits hard.

[AKtinman]

That’s a nice rifle, Ben!

About 1985, when I was living in Alaska I sent a Model 700 action off to Shaw and had one of their varmint-weight barrels installed in .338-06. Length was 21”, which was plenty for the area I was hunting.

The Shaw barrel proved to be accurate, although it was a bit rough internally. My woods load used a 210gr Nosler Partition Bullet over 55.0gr 4320 powder at 2610 fps and it worked very well on the Sitka blacktail we hunted. The Hornady 200gr over 57.0gr 4320 averaged 2760fps.

A friend talked me out of the gun and I sent my Ruger 77 with Shilen SS barrel in .280 off to Cliff LaBounty, who rebored the barrel to .338, leaving the chamber alone. After crowning, the barrel was 20.5". I kept that one until I moved from Alaska. Same 210 Nosler worked fine on deer, and had enough oomph for a bear, if needed. I never had any desire to shoot a bear, just liked to eat deer ;)

I had two molds for .338, the old RCBS 200gr for the .33 Winchester, as I remember. I think the current RCBS 33-200 FN is the same mold. The other was a Lee 220gr RN.

A load I used in the 338-06 for plinking was the 200gr RCBS, over 19.5gr of MP5744, CCI 200, and TW42 brass. That chronographed 1415 fps in my gun. I also loaded a 220gr Lee RN over the same powder and charge for 1800 fps.

In the 338-280, the same 200gr RCBS over 50.0gr of 4320, CCI 200, and Remington brass chronographed at 2360 fps.

The load data worked for me in my guns. YMMV. I chronographed all the loads I listed.

The 338 on the ’06 case is a versatile cartridge and I think you will really enjoy the rifle you have made up.

[dougader]

I'll be thrilled if I can get my Savage in 338-06 to shoot like that!

[TCLouis]

Ben

That is a nice looking gun and I lke the paint job . . . . be careful where ou lay it down, don't go far and try to find where it is.

338 does not get credit for being the great cast boolit cartridge it can be.

The Lee 220 is a real performer out of a 338 Mag with 39 grains of 3031 (NOT A LOADING RECOMMENDATION).
I had high hopes for the 200 grain RCBS boolit for hunting, but accurate loading for hunting load has not fully developed yet.

Winelover had some luck with his loading combinations with that boolit.


I realize you are safe and check things But I would feel better i that bolt was open when you are using your shoe as a muzzle rest.

Years ago a fellow student had a 22 LR "accidentally" go off and shoot through his foot, going down there was little damage.

The damage to the bottom of his foot from the gravel, dirt and boolit fragments almost caused him to lose the whole foot.

[Ben]

Your right, but I wouldn't put a loaded rifle on my foot.

Ben